Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-27
F0RTY-FlRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings
"WEDNESDAY. Anril y.

WEDNESDAY, April q.
SENATE.-Mr. Edmunds reported from Ju-
0iciary Committee, bill 10 provide for the re-
mo'al oi causes in certain cases from the State
courts 10 the United States courts, and tor other
purposes.
Mir. Hamilton, OF Maryland, from Committee
OF Patents, reported bill 20 extend the term of
letters OF patent issued to Richard NJ. Hoe.
Mr.. Trumbull, from Judiciary Committee,
reported House bill to rix the time for the cleo
uon Of representatives TO Congress.
Mr. Cameron introduced bill 20 incorporate
The connecting railway Of Washington, ID. e.
Referred to Committee on District of Columbia
MT: Stewart said in view OF several State
electlens soon 10 take place he desired TO make
the bill for enforcing the fifteenth amendment
spselai order lor as early day as possible.
MT: rerry could not see no necessity for max
ing this bill special order, as there were no
state elections to come OF before the adjourn
ment OF Congress. He favored the bill as a
whole, but wished TO call attention to the fact
that the third section, Intentionally usin-
tentionally repealed every registry law in the
United States.
Mr.. Edmonds said this was bill affecting
| the internal interests Of every State in the
Cnion, and the bill should be acted on, 50 that
the Executive officers IN the different States
| should arrange the election machinery TO con-
| form TO the law. There were undoubtedly
faults in the bill, but they could be remedied.
The bill was then placed second on the list Of
special orders, coming next after the House bill
| 10 abolish the franking privilege.
Ihe bill to provide fol the payment 20 loyal
citizens within the States lately in rebellion for
| quartermaster and commissary stores taken by
or furnished to the United States, was taken up.
Mr. Pratt said We were looking forward TO the
| speedy extinguishment Of the national debt
and felt just pride that our securities com,
manded such fair prices in the markets of the
| world, where they were almost at par although
| our debt was larger than any nation i'm the
world but one; and, in addition, there was a
| large amount OF debt scattered around, and Tor
| the non-payment OF which day by day cries
/ are made against the honor and justice of the
| government. His position on the Committee on
| Claims had given him the opportunity of dis
covering how much injustice was done 20 so
| many loyal and worthy men and women and 20
| orphan children. He considered the claims OF
these unrecognized creditors as valid as those Of
Mr.. p. gave an account of individual sacrifices
made by the loyalists of the South for the cause
OF the ohion, and argued that their claims upon
| the government were just, equitable, and the
government was bound in honor TO paw them
| l91 ,sls of these men, white and black, entered
our service, and yet they are to be treated as
| constructive enemies. This is q monstrous doc
| trine.
MIR. McCreery said he would 70 further than
the Senator PRATT who had spoken SO well and
| so eloquently. He Mr.. McCo would move to
| strike the word loyalty" from the bill where
| ever it occurred. The time for the use of this
| term had gone by. Whatever il may have
| meant in the past, now IL means only devotion
4 to the Radical party. There was more TO be
gained by conciliation than by revenge.
HoUSE.-Mr. Schenck (ohio) moveSthat the
| roll be called, and MIR. Beaman (Mich.) de-
| manded the ayes and noes upon the motion
The House refused to order the roll to be
| caled-ayes "a, nays l13.
Ar. Kerr, (Ind. y from the Judiciary Commit
| tee, reported a bill to regulate the time and
places for holding the courts of the United States
in the District OF Indiana. Passed.
Mr.. Farnsworth (Ill) reported a bill, which
he said was from the Committee on Reconstruc-
ton, for the removal OF the political disabilities
| of certain persons therein named.
Mr.. Wood IN. W raised the objection that
this was not the report of the committee, as the
committee had not had a meeting.
MIR. Fsrnsworth admitted that the bill wa
! got up informally. The chairman OF the com
mittee Is absent and il was impossible 10 get the
committee together, while il was necessary tina
the persons named, who were all ofice-hoider
in Texas, should have their disabilities removed
The cases being urgent, a majority of the COM
mittee had got together in the hall of the House
and agreed TO report the bill. The names of
members OF the committee who approved the
actlonMere uIon the back of the bill.
Mr.. Wood objected TO this irregular way of
doing business. 1t was violation of the rules
OF the House and Of the rights of the MINORITY
A discussion here ensued IN relation TO the
action of the committee, Messrs. Beck Wood
ward, Morgan, and Farnsworth defending its
action, and Messrs Wood, Banks, Eldridge and
others denOuncing il.
Mr.. Brooks ing uired when this thing of special
legislation was to end, and when a general
amnesty bill would be introduced.
MT. farnsworth said he was ready now or al
any other time to vote for bill for general
amnesty, but the chairman of the committee
was absent, and it was well known that such
bill had been considered at different times be-
fore the committee. He had no doubt a bill
would shortly be introduced, and he would sup
port it.
Mr.. Cox (N. Y.) denounced this system of
special legislation. He wanted te cali the at
fact that this bill, like an Others for
this purpose, was to remove the disabili-
ties Of State officers. The misfortune
was that these bills were generally
partisan in their character, and men Of one class
only were relieved. He did not see how a gem
eral act could be compelled, unless the House
refused to vote for these special bills got up for
Mr.. Morgan (Ohie) said he had voted for all
| these bills, because he wanted to see the aisa-
| bilities Of the Southern people removed as
speedily as possible, and il he could not get
| general bill he would not hesitate to vote for
| special acts. He deprecated the sentiment that
partisan feeling should enter into the question,
| party, and with enlarged views of statesman
ship vote for the removal Of disabilities from
men of all political parties. He wanted the
country to know that there were only few
very few of the Democrats on this door Who
| voted against these bills. He regretted to see
his friend from New York (Mr. Brooks) oppO-
sing these bills persistently.
Mr.. Brooks denied that he was opposed TO the
removal Of political disabilities.
| Mr. Morgan.-You do oppose these bills, and
| oppose them persstently.
| recommend amnesty, and to urge il by speech
| and vote. But he soon became convinced that
all these bills were partisan, and that while the
disabilities OF Republicans were removed
| nothing was done for men OF the opposite party
| He was not opposed to removal OF disabilities
but he was opposed to this special legislation
In this respect the colored people OF the South
/ set this House and the whole country an excel
| lent example. The colored people, through
their State Legislatures, were willing to re-
ieve all classes OF the people, and in that they
set an excellent example 10 the majority Of this
Heuse, and showed they better understood the
| situation.
l the colored vote. -
Mr.. Degener (Texas) said there was an urgent
necessity for the passage Of this bill, or the
Texas delegation would not have urged r. He
was opposed to the removal OF disabilities unlo9
the person desiring relief asked for II over his
own signature. In this case al the persons
named had asked for relief, and among those
named In the bill were Dem0crsts % vol Q Re.
pubhcana. These Democrats had petttioned fDr
relief, and we Radicals Of Texas had aeroed 10
help them out. lLaughter.
Mr.. C0vode (Pa-) Was oPFosed to relievins
rebels, and Is Q warning 10 tie House he oncte4
from the history Of Ahab and the conaeo nenc~~
that followed the pardon Of Ben Hadad and his
rebels.
Mr.. Morgan (ohio) questioned vhetssr N.
cause OF the people would he much sAve ccod