Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-19
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
WEDNESDAY, January 10.

a.
Fillmore, enclosing the resolutions of the Louis
Vile Commercial Convention relative to the
Southern Pacific Railroad, which was ordered
to be printed.
Mr.. Conkling presented memorial and reso-
lutiOns OF n. u. Chamber OF Commerce. setting
forth that the State OF New Jersey is preparing
to make encroachments on the harbor of New
York, and asking action of Congress. Laid on
the table.
MIR. Sumner presented memorial of citizens of
New York against the proposed enlargement OF
West Point, on the ground that it has not con-
duced to the security of the country. Referred
to Committee on Military Affairs.
Also, memorial of the Trustees Of the COrco-
ran Art Gallery, asking its incorporation. Re-
ferred to Committee on Military Affairs.
large number of memorials were presented
asking the abolition of the franking privilege.
MIR. Thayer desired to know by what authority
the Postmaster General was having these blanks
printed at the expense OF the Government, and
sent to postmasters to obtain signatures. He did
not consider it voluntary expression Of the
opinion of the people.
Mr.. Howe said 1t was the duty Of the Post
master General TO do all he could to break up
one OF the grossest abuses under the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Conkling said the people were not COM
PEELED 70 sign these memorials even if the post
masters did present the matter to them.
Mr. Ramsey was glad that the Postmaster
General had taken this action, because il COM
mitted the people, and they could not complain
when they got no more documents. He alluded
to the state Of affairs in Georgia, when
Mr.. Morton asked to explain that Gen. Terry
hsd instituted no military commission to try the
members Of the Georgia Legislature, bat had
merely appointed some of his secretaries to de-
termine what members were eligible. General
Terry was required to do this BY the reconstruc-
ton acts, and as he had not the time himself, he
had designated his assistants to do it.
Mr.. Norton insisted that Gen. Terry had no
right to interfere in this matter at all, and Con-
gress could confer no such power upon him
The question of determining the eligibility OF
the members was with the legislature and
with no one else. As a sequence to your recon-
struction acts, we have the fact by telegraph to-
day that General Ames has been elected to the
Senate by the Legislature Of Missssippi
military officer, who is not even citizen of the
State, and who manipulated the election tor his
own purposes. Ihls Is a spectacle for the people
Mr.. Wilson moved that the bill be referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary, so that both
sides could be heard, and then in a few days a
bill may be presented which will meet the views
OF all. Let the committee e> anime the facts and
make report on the subject
Mr.. Stewart suggested to Mr.. Wilson to with
passed in an hour or two.
Mr.. Sumner.-Impossble.
MI. Pomeroy thought it would be better to re-
vlye the Special Committee on Reconstruction
and commit this subject to them.
M; Conkllng asked Mr.. Wilson to name fact
in relation to this subject OF which the Commit
Tee on 1ne Judiciary were not cogaizant.
Mr.. Wilson could not mention any new facts
put II was claimed that they could be presented
MT. Irnmbull asked the necessity of this
motion. The facts had been presented by both
sidts 10 the Reconstruction Committee of the
House, and had been printed and pnt before tn,
public and the Senate. II this bill was to be
sent back he hoped it would be to a specia, COM
mittee ana not To the Judiciary Committee but
ne begged to remind Senators that every Hill
q at had been passed i'm reference to reconstruct
5on t had come from the Judiciary Committee
ne eHreateq Senators to dispose of this matter
one way or the other. If a maiority of this Sen
ate believes that Virginia is not entitled TO ad-
MISSION after she has comp lied with all the con
.. uiuohs we nave imposed upon her let us know
Mr.. Sumner was just as anxious for action Oil
TINS matter as the Senator (TrumbulI, but tn,
anstesy ana Oh .nat senator was all the wrong way
lhat senator was anxious to admit a State sti,
smoking with rebellion, but he (Nr, S0 wa
ANXIOUS to admit it when it could be done viii
glnla was one huge colossal fraud
Mr.. D read extracts from letters which he sai,,
he had received from loyal men i'm iifferen.
PARTS OF Virginia, all stating that the rebel eIe
.ment were expressing the loyalists. and that In,
lives OF the Onion men were in danger. Amono
tne Letters was one from Lynchburp. statinS
tnat the pastor OF one of the churches in tina.
Sisy Sy nad, IN ms sermon on the Sabbath before
scOundrels. ""
Mr. Stewart.-Give us the name of the writer.
MI. Sumner.-in the days Of the slave drivers
when rose here and read letters exposing their
outrages, the cry came from all parts of the
chamber for the name, and to have given fhe
name would have been to seal the fate of the
writer. L declined then, and must declin,
EOw.
HOUSE.-On motion Of Mr.. Brooks. (N.Y.D
the General Of the Army was directed to inform
the House by what authority or under what act
of Congress certain officers of the United States
army are occupying seats as members Of the
legislature Of Georgia.
Mr. Crebs tlll.l offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, reciting that a large number OF
private soldiers, non-commissioned officers. and
commissioned officers of the ARMY, who seryee
IN the late war, who were absent from theiI
commands from unavoidable causes are born,
upon the rolls in such a way that thew canno,
receive their pay and bounty due them. and
directing the Committee on Military Affairs to
tn, .nIo the expediency Of reporting bill
Ior COMMISSION Of Army officers to investigate
sucn cases. S's"'e
On motion of Mr.. Gilfllan, pal the Com
mittee on the District Of Columbia was author
lied to send for persons and papers i'm pursuinp
their investigations under a resolution directins
an investigation of the Washington and GEORGE
town Railroad Company.
Mr. Peters, (Me.) introduced bill to amend
the bankrupt act, so as to exempt from it,
operation certain interests in life insurance
the Laws.
NJ. IDgersolI Qll.) reported back the bill fo,
ship canai around Magee Falls. Ordered t.
be printed and recommitted.
On motion of Mr.. Ferry, (Mich.,) the Com
mittee on Pensions was directed to enq uire int
the expediency of providing that no invalid
pensioners shall be deprivedof their pension
during the time they were employed in the civil
service OF the United States.
MI. Stiles (Pa.) introduced resolution pro-
yldlng for the adjournment of this session of
Congress at ~ O'Clock on the second Tuesday Of
April.
Mr.. Benjamin moved to Law the resolution on
the table. Rejected-yeas 72, nays S3.
Ihe previous question was then seconded by
a vote Of "a to 66.
The resolution was then defeated on the mas
sage by a vote of "a ayes to 81 nays.
A number Of Executive communications were
presented and referred.
The House resumed the consideration of the
League Island bill, and Mr.. Kelley (Pa.) ad-
dressed the House. He contended that ali that
had been said detrimental to League Island by
the opponents OF this bill was founded I'm error
ana because the case was not properly under
stood: He argued to show that League Island
was the natural place fox the safe-keeping of an
lron-ciad heet, which required fresh water for
lts protectiQn. With regard to Mr.. Dawes ar
r& gnment of the Administration YESTERDAY. Mr.,
Kelley said he did not feel il to Be his duty 10
reply. because he could see no connection he
tween the alleged extravagance of the Admin
lstration and League Island.
The ALABAMA LEGISLATURE Nayr;ooe
Larss-The Alabama Senate has passed the bin
the Mobile city government. but IL Is
70 amended rs to leave the appOintmenfs With
the Governor and Senate. In the House. yester
day, bill was introduced to relieve all persons
during the war from the Oblieations
created. This Is done in consequence OF the re-
cent dtctum Of the Supreme Court declaring all