The New York herald., 1870-01-14
FCRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
second Session.
SENATE.

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1870.
The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate commnnl.
cation from the Secretary OF the Treasury in answer
10 q resolution OF inquiry relative To the United
states branch mint at New Orleans. lie also referred
to committees various bills from the House, among
Others . bill relative to the Des Moines river IN
Iowa, which, on motion Of Mr.. Harlan was taken
up and passed.
RELIEF OF J. ROSS BROWNE.
Mr. WILLIAMS, Tep) Of Oregon. presented pet,.
ton OF J. Ross Browne late Minister to China. re-
presenting that by reason Of extraordinary expenses
connected with the Oflce during the nine months
held by HIM he had been subjected to loss OF about
81, 900, and asking for relief.
THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1872
Mr.. CAMERON, trcpl OF Pa, presented q petition
from number Of survivors OF the war OF 1912.
asking recognition OF their services The Youngest
OF the number was not less than seventy-two years
OF age, and ne believed their PATRIOTISM should be
recognized by the usual pensions.
POST OFFICE IN ALBANY.
Mr.. FESTON trep) OF N. r.. presented petitions or
Thomas W. Oicott and 400 other citizens praylnp for
the erection OF public building for the accommo.
dation OF post ONCE courts, &C., in the city OF
Albany, N. Y.
MIR. ABBOTT, frep.) OF N. c., presented similar peti
ABoLIsHiNd THE FRANKIEG PRIVILEGE.
Mr.. SCOTT, lrep) OF Pa presented peiilion from
the citizens or Pennsylvania for the abolition OF the
Petitions on the same subject were presented BY
Messrs. HARLAN, Thayer and sherman, ana were ap.
prOprateiy referred.
NEW YORK AND EUROPEAN STEAMSHIP LINE
Mr.. RAMSEY, (rep.) of Mimi, from the COMMITTEE
on Post OInces and Post Roads, reported win
amendments, joint resolution deciaratory and
amendatory OF the act OF July ~, 1865 to provide
ior an American line OF steamships between New
AS amended the joint resolution directs the post
master General TO contract with the company named
III tue act Tor ths conveyance Of the United States
mails weekly or semI-weeky between New YORK
and Bremen and semtweekly between New York
and Liverpool, according to the true intent ana
meaning OF SAID act The time for the Compilation
OF the steamships Is intended to be one year and six
months from the date Of the contract. The Post
once Department is to pay $500, 900 interest on
the bonds OF the company. which shall be in fun
payment for the transportation OF the mails. new
section Is added. which provides that no officer or
the government shall be In any way directly or in
directly interested In any contract under tins act
REPLACING LOST RECORDS.
Mr.. CARPENTER, Qep) OF WIS.,, from the Committee
on the Judiciary. reported, with amendments the
bill 70 provide q remedy Tor the or destruction
ceedngs In United States courts
LIGHT STATION ON THE CHOPTANK RIVER.
Commerce, reported, without amendment, the JOINT
resolution for the establishment OF light stanoil on
the Choptank river, In Maryland.
BILLS INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.
BY Mr.. RICE, trep.) OF Ark.-A bill TO change the
judicial circuits. Referred TO the Committee on the
BY Mr. KELLOGG. (rep.) OF La.-A bill granting
lands TO aid In the construction OF rail-
road from the Texas line to the Mississippi river
and - sections OF public lands per mile to ala in
the construction OF railroad and telegraph line
from Marshall, Texas, TO San Diego, California with
branches and connections. Both referred to the
Committee on Public Lands.
BY Mr. HOWARD, trep.) OF Mich.-A bill TO prevent
the collection Of taxes on property exempt from
tax.
BY Mr.. EDMUNDs, (rep.) OF vt.-A bill prescribing
the rules OF evidence In certain cases.
by Mr.. SCHURz, (rep.) OF Mo--A bill to remove po-
litlca disabilities IRON persons therein named the
State OF Texas.
BY Mr.. THAYER, rep) OF Neb.--A bill to aid In the
construction OF railroad from Omaha, Nebraska.
to Fort Berthold, Dacotah Territory.
CONSIDERATION OF TREATIES
Mr.. DRAKE, rop.) OF Mo-, called up the resolution
to amend the rules OF the Senate so as to reaulre
the consideration OF Indian treaties IN the open
Senate. He said the subject had previously been
discussed In the Senate and In Difference TO its i'm
portance to the interests OF the country definite ac-
Mr.. FERRY. (rep.) OF Conn.,, offered an amendment
70 require that al treaties for the acquisition OF
territory q Se be also
saoxn tqs Esssssity for informing the county, Nv
.hrOugn .e pubic press. OF the reasons governing
the Senates action In the acceptance rejection OF
ton that negotiations had been prosecuted for the
purchase or large area OF territory Of q foreign
government and money taken without any appro.
pration 10 that end, and SO far a. he knew, with
out sanction OF law. from the United States Trea-
sury for payment Of the purchase. 1t also ap-
peared from the public press that the people OF the
territory thus sought to be acquired were state
OF civil war; and having obtained tho consent OF but
OF the parties, 1t might be necessary for the
United States defend by force arms the posses.
sion thus acquired.
Mr. DRAKE said ne understood the Senator from
Indiana lMr Pratt) desired TO address the Senate
this morning upon another subject and he asked
that the resolution lie over for the present, which
request was complied with.
COURTS.
Mr.. PRATT trep.) OF ind, then delivered an argu-
ment In support Of the bill giving TO State courts
concurrent jurisdiction with United States courts IN
maritime causes or torts on Davigable rivers above
the ebo and now or the tide. The bill extends to
state admiralty jurisdiction by
federal courts as remedy for hardsnips now i'm.
posed upon tigants.
The consideration OF the Virginia bill was then
sumed. The amendment OF Mr.. Wilson having been
withdra wn, tho Senate voted on the amendment
offered by Mr.. Drake, which was reJected-yeas IL /,
nays 45.
That before the measure goes into effect each men,
ber and ocer OF the Legislature shall subscribe to
all oath as f0llows:--
L., do solcmniy swear that have never taken an
any State az executive or judi.
Ia ea oces o. any STATE to support tas Of the
rebellion against the same.
OF that such person shall take an oath that the
disabilities imposed upon him by the fourteenth
amendment have been removed by the act OF Con-
gre5s. In the event OF the person swearing falsely
the amendment specifies penalty OF fne and I'M
prisonment; and furter tnat on all cases OF failure
TO take the oath within thirty days from the passag
Of the b the ONCE OF The person thus offending by
neglect shall be deemed to have been vacated.
Mr.. NYE rep.) Of New. inquired whether the pur-
pose Of the amendment was not to disorganize the
Legislature.
Mr. EDMUNDs said that under the amendment
every member not entitled to hold Office under the
fourteenth amendment would be elected within
thirty days alter the passage or the bill.
MI, CoSkLING, Tep.l OF NJ u. said the eject OF 1T