Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-25
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
TuunspAr, FrnnuAnr "a. 1870.


the House were concurred In, and the bill
now goes TO the President.
Mr.. Drake, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported bill for the relief Of Mrs.
a z. Gray stephensI which was passed.
Mr.. Howe, from the Committee on the
Library, reported IN favor Of indefinite post
ponement Of Joint resolution TO provide for
the purchase Of a portrait Of the late Presi.
dent Lincoln by John II. Llttleacld. ...
Mr.. Cameron presented resolutions OF the
Common Council OF Philadelphia In refer
ence TO the centennial celebration OF the
Declaration Of Independence which were
laid on the table. .....
Mr.. Wilson Introduced a bill TO incor-
porato the Island Institute Of Washington.
Referred to the Committee on the District
Of Columbia.
Also, bill TO incorporate tho United Aid
Association Of Washington.
Mr.. Stewart introduced bill TO provide
school Of Mines. Referred to the Committee
on mines and Mining.
Mr.. Pomeroy introduced a bill TO provide
for the disposal Of the Great and Little Usage
reservations In Kansas, aud TO provide for
the removal Of the Usage Indians TO the In
dian territory.
Mr.. Harlan suggested that It lie on the
table, a. the Committee on indian Affairs
had already matured bill on tho subject,
and II was accordingly laid on the table.
Mr.. Salisbury offered q resolution request
Ing the President TO communicate whether
q commission as proyialonal governor Of
Mississippi has ever been Issued TO General
Ames, and II not, by what authority the said
General Ames has been acting AZ said pro-
vlslonal governor.
Mr.. Edmunds objected to ia present con-
slderatiou, and It accordingly went over.
Mr.. Stewart moved to take up the bill To
secure 10 all persons the equal protection Of
the laws, on which
81 Mr.. Hamilton demanded the ayes and
noes, when 1t was taken up by ayes ~,
noes Q. -
Mr.. Stewart stated that the only object Of
the bill was 10 extend to aliens tho protec-
tlon Of our lava.
Discussion occurred on the bill, and the
morning hour expiring, It was laid over.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Sherman, Mr..
Patterson, OF New Hampshire, desiring to
make speech on the finances before leaY-
Ing for home, the funding bill was inform
ally considered to be before the Senate 10
afford him the opportunity.
Mr.. Patterson then read from manuscript
an argument upon finances. In regard to
the national banking system, he said that II
played into the hands Of the gigantic stock
gamblers. He favored a system OF free bank
Ing, based upon bonds drawing the least pos
slble rate OF Interest.
The views Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury were entitled TO great consideration, but
did not altogether meet his approval. He
eounseled n more rigid system OF economy
In the public expenditures; that the army
and navy and civil service should DO reduced
He did not believe that the consideration OF
debt was a restraint upon the extrayagance
Of a nation. Under Its pressure, rather, q
people may become reckless Of their good
name. Heknew our people would faithfully
pay the debt incurred 10 crush treason, but
Ii should not be paid In such q manner as to
arrest the material development OF the coun-
try. ..... ...
Mr.. Fentou said great national resources
arc the frat and most obvious elements Of
strenth, but the subtle aud sensitive powers
Of public credit 10 hardly less essential. No
nation can be exempt from the necessity OF
borrowing, and public credit Is no less essen
tial lu peace than In war. Great Britain, by
the faithful fullilment Of her obligations, IL
enabled TO borrow at per cent? but II our
credit was what II ought to bo We could
convert our debt into securities at 4 and ~
per cent? and he hoped the present bill
would DO amended so as to provide for q
single bond at ~ per cent, payable In not
less than forty nor moro than any years.
Al the same time, while retiring the 6-s0's,
effect gradual contraction by the gradual
absorption. Of the greenbaeks In tho new
securities, which would result In the resump'
ton Of specie payments.
and thought the agricultural interest was
most In need Of relief. Taxation should be
40 arranged as not 10 trench upon the capl-
tai value Of property, but only upon revenue.
In reply TO Mr.. Morton, he held that the cur
tencY was now too redundant, causing gold
70 Cow abroad. In conclusion, he expressed
the hope that funding bill would prevail,
and thought IL would be improved II his aug.
gestlon was adopted. ~
When Mr.. Fenton concluded, the I'M.
finished business being Mr.. stockton's
resolution 10 refer 10 the Judiciary Commit
tee the credentials Of Mr.. RoVsls, Senator
elect from MlSslssippl, was taken up.
Mr.. salisbury adverted In sarcastic
manner to what he styled the great dsVo,
tlon Of the dominant party tothe negro race
Mr.. Drake interrupted him TO say that
Mr.. ReVels was not q negro but an octo
room, and he supposed the sufferlngs OF the
Senator from Delaware would DO mltlgated
upon learning thosmall quantity Of black
blood there Is 10 the veins OF Mr.. Reyels
[Great lauRhter.l
political dlsquisltlon, arraignlnE the actor
OF the Republican party. He declared, Al
his opinion, that the 18th amendment wal
no more legally adopted than II the Vic
President should write on a piece Of pape
and assert Il to be part ofthe Constitution
Supposeit however, TO be valid, then he a.
serted tuMb heNoth was nOt OhklDlt3 poCuub
no had not been q citizen OF the UniteS
States for nine years. In conclusion, Mr.
8. said he had little hope for tho future o
tho country but he loved his country, an
he wished, IL possible, TO preserve the proul
heritage len 70 us BY our fathers.
Mr.. Wilson entered q motion TO recon
slider the vote passing the bill for the re
moyal OF political disabilities. -.
Mr.. sumner. That ought to DO donei
Mr. Pomeroy, Let M do II now,
Mr.. Fowler asked the reason why the mo
ton was made, and objected 70 the c0nsid
grafton Of the motion now, and IL went owe
until tomorrow.
MI. Howard then obtained the floor II
wanted to see this question disposed OF Q
ohco. All this dlAcusslon In regard TO Nj
HoVels' right TO a scat was mere waste {
time, and the Senate should proceed 10 col
slder the really important business that wa
awaiting their action. Mr.. II. thon argue
that Mr.. ReVels was legally and proPerl
elected, and that his certificate OF election
which had been presented hOre, was In du
legal form. The Senator from Delaware ha
no right to assume that Gen. Ames was NJ
the Provisional Governor Of Mississippi an
had no power 10 sign ReVels' eertl1catI
Now this objection Ia not worthy Of tho gray
consideration which the Senator has give
to II. OF course, Il Is not TO be presume
that Gen. Ames would style himself Pr
vislonAl Governor II he had no authority 1
70 do.
Equally furious was tho Senator'S objei
tIon that Reyels was not citizen. IL
Reyels was never aslRve. He was born fire.
and being free was as much citizen as an
other freeman who was born in this countr!
and he (Mr. H. did not know but that
would have been citizen even had he bee
born q slave. Every one who was boz
here who was not attached 10 q foreign en-
bassy owed allegiance, and allegiance an
"A citizenship should certainly 60 together.
regard 10 the bred Scott decision, he WI
surprised that he should DO quoted here,
was decision that never should have bee
made by any judicial tribunal, and shou
not for one moment DO thought Of In tn
connection, . .
Mr.. Williams said Chief Justice Tame
in the bred Scott decision, had 6xpreas