The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-02-24
XLIst O0NGREsS.--eeoona Session.


SENATE.
WAsHING TON, Feb. GA resolution was
adopted instructing the Naval and Military
Committees to inquire into and report upon
the expedency of abolishing the Naval Acade-
my at Annapolis and the Military Academy at
West Point, and the substitution by assign
ments to duty in the various colleges through
out the Union of the naval and military Off
GERS as instructors in navigation, naval war
fare and military tactics, or the Inauguration
OF some other system calculated to relieve the
government of large expense and enable all
who desire it to secure an education for the
army or navy at their own expense.
Mr. Wilson presented the credentials of III.
r. Revels, the colored Senator elect from Mis-
sissippi, for the term ending in 1871.
Ms. Salisbury objected on the ground that
the certificate of Gen. Ames. the Provisional
Governor of Mississippi, was not valid evil
dence of legal election.
A long discussion followed on the technical
points involved in the case, and finally the
Senate decided, without DIVISION to receive the
papers presented by Mr.. Wilson, they being a
certificate from the Clerks of both Houses of
the Mississippi Legislature, the Secretary of
the State and Gen. Ames, the Provisional Gov
erpor, of RavePs election.
Mr.. Stockton moved to refer the credentials
to the Judiciary Committee, which Messrs.
Wilson and Trumbull opposed.
A very bitter debate followed, conducted
principally by Mr.. Davis in opposition to Mr..
Revels, and Mr.. Nye in favor; but the Senate
adjourned without disposing of the matter.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the journal
Gen. Banks announced the death of Hon. An
son Buringame. He remarked that although
Mr.. Burlingame had rendered great services to
the country, he was not at the time of his death
officially connected with this government, it
was not proper to interrupt the proceedings of
the House at this time, but that fitting and
proper opportunity will be presented in the
regular course of the business "to express our
appreciation of his great character and great
services
Messrs. George E. Harris, j. L. Morphis,
George h w. Mckee aud L. w. Pierce, MEM
beers elect from Mississippi appeared and took
the 9th of Office.
The bill TO prevent and punish polygamy in
Utah was then taken up, and Mr.. Fitch oppos-
ed Ut on the ground that the cost Of its exec j.
ton would throw the country into a civil war.
Mr. Sargent also opposed the bill on account
of the danger its execution would work to the
people OF California.
David Atwood, a member from Wisconsin in
place of Mr.. Hopkins, deceased, was sworn in.
The resolution for the expulsion of Mr.. Whit
temore came up at o'clock. the galleries ard
corridors being crowded with spectators.
Mr.. Poland, of Vermont, asked leave to offer
a resolution of postponement on the ground
that the case was not in a condition to be de-
cided upon intelligently.
Mr.. Logan, of Illinois, declined to yield for
that purpose. As chairman of the committee
he would not consent to any postpOnement
whatever for any purpose except to let the ac-
cused member present such defence as he de-
sired to make.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, remarked that
he should not vote on the question before the
House, as he had undertaken to give advice to
Mr.: Whittemore. He had prepared and ask
ed leave to present in his behalf (Whittemore)
an affidavit, because he did not think that he
should he called In for hir,co bar
1T being proven OF the legal profession that he
who is his own counsel has an ass for his client.
Nh. Logan declined to yield to have the aft
davit read.
Mr. Butler-I am here now as the counsel
of this party, showing the cause why this judg-
ment of expulsion should not pass against him.
and nobody but the House can control me. I
am asking leave of nobody but God. Excite
ment in the House.)
Mr.. Logan denied the right of any member
to divest himself of his judicial character and
become an attorney in the House unless he
first rendered his resignation to his constitu-
ents, for which he Mr. Logan) presumed they
would be very sorry. Laughter.) After the
read to the House. He declared in it that he
is advised and believes that he cannot safely
proceed to show cause why the resolution of
the Committee ON Military Affairs should not
be passed unless time be granted by Congress
to produce and examine witnesses in his own
behalf in explanation of the matters alleged
against him. He declares that he had never
had an opportunity to examine or cross-exam-
inc witnesses, and that when he was called be-
fore the committee and asked for an explana-
ton. all the testimony in the hands of the COM
mittee was not read to him. He says certain
witnesses, whose testimony has been reported
by the committee, were examined after his
statement had been made, and whose testimony
he had no means of meeting or explaining. He
states his information and belief that other wit
n oad in 10 no.
ported testimony, and who are important to his
defence; that he is informed and believes that
this prosecution is carried on for the purpose
of levying black mail upon him and obtaining
large sums of money from him; and that wit
nesses have been procured and have testified.
and are now testifying against him, because
they were disappointed in that purpose. 1t de-
clared that if time be given he will show whet
he declares to be the truth, that he never re-
ceived or used dollar of money for his ap-
pontment to the military and naval academies
for his own private purposes or for any pur-
pose of gain or emolument, but that all that
had been paid to him by any person had been
expended, and much more, for the relief of the
people of his district; and that he is not guilty
of or Justly chargeable with any unlawful or
wicked act in anything he had done in regard
to the nomination. He asks that as much
BE gssn as maH b and the
enabling him to prepare for defence, and that
his case be postponed till the final report of
the committee on the whole matter be made to
the House.
Mr.. Whittemore gave up his hour to Mr.
Butler, and allowed Mr. Poland to offer a reso-
luton that the further consideration OF the
question be postponed till the final report of
the committee, and directing the committee to
summon and examine w. f. Shaw, of BOs-
ton, M. D. London, of New York, and recall
the previous witnesses for cross examination.
Mr.. Butler made an argument for the post
ponement affirming that the Importance of
the case and the rights of the accused de-
manded it, 1t is claimed that the testimony
of Keigler showed that other persons were in
stigated in it. He referred also to the card Of
another witness (Brooks) published yesterday
in the Washington Republican, stating that his
business was business was buying and selling
Congressman like sheep, and that he had
bought them, and that having bought all he
could he approached Mr.. Whittemore in way
not to alarm him into any ideaiof corruptness
or wrong. This Brooks was a newspaper man
and so were Cathcart and London.
A member asked Mr.. Butler what news
paper man meant.
Mr.. Butler-It means a man who lounges
about this city and writes lies home to his
newspaper. Naughter.) Almost every man in
vOlved in that illicit and abOminab1e traffic is
newspaper man, and we are to be frightened
out of our propriety by kilograms which they
send home stating that we will expel Mr..
Whittemore in order to defend our own digni-
ty. These selling and buying rascals' laugh
ter) kilograms have been sent to my own State
and published in the journals since had the
hardihood of moving that time be given to the
accused, and saying that nobody would vote
for Mr.. Whittemore except those who had been
selling cadetships or had schemes which they
dare not have ventilated in the House. will do
my duty here before God and man, independ-
ent of the newspapers, for if there is any one
thing on earth am superior to it is the news
papers. Very general laughter.)
Mr.. Logan argued at length against Mr.. Po-
lands resolution. Mr.. Poland's resolution for
postponement was rejected-38 to 155.
Mr.. Logan moved the previous question,
which was seconded. On the adoption of the
resolution Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee, moved
that the House adjourn. Refused
Mr.. Sehenck, of Ohio, asked Mr.. Logan to
yield that he might offer resolution.
Mr.. Logan declined TO yield for that purpose,
but said he would yield to Mr.. Whittemore to
make any defence he choose.
Mr.. Whittemore appealed to the leniency of
the House to extend the time of action till to-
morrow.
MIR. Logan said he did not wish to be con-
sidered to press the matter beyond the desire
of the House, and as the gentleman from
South Carolina asked for time until tomorrow
he certainly would make no objection.
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts, made an inef-
fectual attempt for an evening session on the
legislative appropriation bill.-Adiourned.