The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Amnesty Question Resu1ned-An
Interesting d c \ e--Rutler's Little
.Game--The San Domingo Squabble--
More Bonds.
WASHINGTON, December 20.

HOUSE.
In the House, after unimportalt business,
| the amnesty discussion was resumed. Degener, of
Texas, spoke In favor Of general amnesty: but 1t
had been buried last week under Arlington Gene
terry. Himself and colleagues had therefore con-
cluded that tn interests OF the National Republican
party required them to vote for Bingham's amend;
meut; that falling, for Beck's. Manning favored
general amnesty.
Bingham said that the question touched the
honor and, In some sense, the prosperity Of the
American people The first vote would be rpon
his amendment, which excluded only officers Of
the United States In 1850 and 1861, and those who,
since the FIRST of June last, had held Office to which
they were Ineligible and they should vote against
Farnsworth's bill for general amnesty. The coun-
try was not prepared 10 take that step. Bing-
ANS bill only excepted some two hundred; those
relieved could not by any possibility harm the re-
public; there were about twenty thousand among
those suffering disabilities who were about as
guilty OF the blood Of their country as the men,
bers O. this House. II his own were rejected, ne
would vote for Beck's, but under no Circumstance ces
for the bill as reported by Butler
Fitch favored universal amnesty. He believed
that Breckinridge might safely be aliewel to de.
fend the prnci pies Of secession In the Senate
Sheldon, OF louisiana spoke in favor Of univer-
sal amnesty, and remarked that his State, which
| had TWENTY-FIVE thousand Republican majority,
had abrogated every vestige OF disability by u
vote Of one hundred and three thousand in the
Affirmative to less than one Thousand in the neg.
ativ,. Believing with the people Of his State, he
was in favor OF universal amnesty, and he warn-
| ed his political friends that the time was coming
| when every one O! them would take the same po.
| sitIon.
Conne-. o! Texas spoke in favor OF universal
amnesty, denouncing the corrupt Southern State
governments, especially that Of Texas.
Hamilton, Of Florida, protested soemnly
against universal amnesty.
Butler moved the previous question upon the
| pending amendments.
Bingham asked Butier to keep faith with the
! House.
The previous question was seconded by vote
OF g6 TO 81, Wien Butler yielded TO motion to ad-
jonrn.
Buffers programme appears to be to have the
amendments defeated, then have the bill recon-.
mitted, which viii defeat amnesty OF any kind at
this session. The vote on the amendments occurs
tomorrow.
SENATE.
In the Senate struggle occurred between the
| friends Of change in the sugar tariff and san
! Domingo. Sherman favored the sugar bill, saying
| it is only to clear an ambiguity and ought TO
pass. Edwards asked for the reading OF the San
Domingo resolutions, and saw no objections to
them as It called only for information He was
| opposed to the acquisition Of San Domingo, and
probably should remain so, but would be glad to
&c: the Information which the resolution would
! :icit.
| Sumner and Morton came into sharp collision,
and business was much clogged by struggle for
The precedence of the various bills in which sena-
tors seemed to have persona! interest. mo-
ton to refer the sugar bill to the finance commit.
Zee was lost. San Domingo was resumed and
| discussed to adjournment.
Tic finance committee reported ID favor Of ave
| Hundred millions additional i've per cent. bonds
aud adversely TO a proportion making the issue
Of gus, NOES By banks receivable for customs.