Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-15

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-mr. Stevenson
presented a resolution of the National
Board of Trade IN favor of an appropria.
ton for the Improvement of DesmoinE
Rapids, Louisville Canal, Mouth of Mis-.
sissippi River; protesting against railroad
bridges beingBo built as to obstruct navi
CATION, and asking that all bridges ovel
naviga5le streams be made public high.
ways.
Philadelphia Wants q Fourth Of
July Centenary.
MIR. Morrill,, of Pennsylvania, from thu
Committee on Manufactures, reported {
bin TO providefor celebrating the one hun
dredth anniversary of American indie
pendence by holding an international ex,
hibition of arts, manufactures and pro.
ducts of soil and mines, IN Philadelphia,
in the year 1876. he asked that it be
made the special order for the fourth
Thursday in January.
Objection by Mr.. Allison, and the
House proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr.. Morrill, said he was authorized &c
state that if Congress gave to the celebra
ton a national character by the passage
of the bill, the authorities of Philadelphia
would put up all the necessary building
in Paramount Park, and make all thC
proper srranements without any expense
10 the general government
Mr.. Cleveland said be calculated thu
mileage of commissioners, whose appoint
ment was provided in the bill, would
amount TO between $3.50, 900 and 5000,
600.
Mr.. Daniels moved.to amend the bill by
striking out the provision for mileage fol-
mmissioners, and inserting that they
Should be paid their actual travelling ex
penses.
Dir. Morrill, accepted the amendment
Mr.. Allison objected to the large mum.
Der of commissioners provided in the
bill-three from each State and Territory
and moved to reduce them to one fol
each State and Territory. Agreed to.
Mr.. Wilkes moved to amend by prOVid
ing that no expense be incurred by The
United States under the bill.
Mr.. Cleveland moved to amend by pro
vidiEg that the appointment of Commits
siouers be made by the Governors of thu
several States instead of by the President
The last two amendments were peDding
when the bill went over till tomorrow.
Amnesty BILL
The House then proceeded, al 1:30 P
NJ, TO the consideration of bill for full
and general amnesty and oblivion of al
wrongful acts, doings, or omissions of all
persons engaged in the war of the late re
bellion -.
The bill excerpts West Point and An
Dapolis graduates, members of eithel
House of Congress and of the Confede.
rate Congress, heads of departments, for
eign ministers, judges of any of The
United States courts who engaged in the
rebellion, members of secession cOrven
tons and The Governors of seeded States
during the rebellion, and any persons who
cruelty treated Federal prisoners of war,
or who have not fully accounted fol
United States funds entrusted to them du
ring the rebellion, or who have embezZleC
or secIeted any of the money, property,
or public stores of the United States, and
all deseIteTs from the States army
or navy, and all bounty Jumpers.
The bill also excerpts all property con
fiscated or forfeited, the title of which il
now held by the United States or any
third person, and ali lands occupied by
national cemeteries. The act does no
impair the previous removal of disabili
ties from any persons whom it except:
from its provisions, and declares invalid
every right of action and liabilities arising
in any ordinance, law or contract, in aiC
of rebellion.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, said be
wished that the state of the country wal
such that all exceptions could be strucl
out; but such was not the state of thu
country. The bill swept out everything
that had been done wrong on one side a
well as the other, and said that no more
suits could be brought for acts done o.
committed during the war either by thos'
who warred in behalf of the United
States or those who warred against il. AS
to the provisions referring to nations
cemeteries be said he thought it time, aft
ter hearing eulogy in the Senate on Gen
| Lee, that the idea that these cemeterie
could be in any way transferred, shoul,
| be put an end to. If Union soldiers di(
anything during the war they certsinl.
| conquered land enough to be buried in.
MessTs. FarnswOrth and Beck offered
| substitute, the former removing uncon
4 stituiionslly all disabilities under the 3
section of the fourteenth amendment, an
the lister excepting only the West PoiI
and Annapolis graduates, members o
Congress, the heads of departments, fol-
eign Ministers and United States Judges
who aided and participated in the rebe
lion.
Mr.. Bingham moved a substitute 70
the first section, removing al polite,
disabilities from all persons except sue
as were Senators, Representatives in Cor
gress in the years 1860 and 1861, or we1
in either of such years officers in Ii
army OF navy of the United States, head
of departments United States, Judge
| United States Ministers, aud excep
all persons who in violation Of TIL
amendment have held offices since II
LIST of January, 1870.
Mr.. Beck opposed the bill. He d.
clared that instead Of its being bi
granting general amnesty, it was q bi
of pains and penalties bill maxim
various determinations. He believed Ii
Republican party desired TO have generi
amnesty extended. He thought the part
had lost State after State by Congress rC
fusing to pass such bill, aud that
would continue to lose so long as Congre
maintained that position.
Mr.. Potter advocated the adoption {
Mr.. Farnswolth's substitute. He believe
that proposition would be found not onl
most generous, hut most patriotic, an
the wisest proposition in that respect b,
fore the House.
At fhe conclusion Of Mr.. Potter's +
marks, the bill went over ill tomorrow
Appropriations, etc.
Mr.. Dawes, from the Appropriate
Committee, reported legislative, judici
and executive appropriation bill, whiC
was made the special order for Tuesds
day next. 1t appropriates about $2O
600, 900.
Mr. Stevenson offered resolution ca