The New York herald., 1870-02-09
F0RTY-F1RST CONGRESS.
Second Scssion.


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Second Sessions.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. g. 1870.
THB FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
The VICE PREsieEST laid before the Senate reso.
luions OF the Iowa Legislature ratylng the fseenth
amendment
FRENCH spoLnrIoN CLAIMS.
Mr.. SUMNER. Tepl Of Mass, presented resolutions
OF the Legs ature Of Massachusetts relating to the
French spoliation claims. Laid on the table.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REPORTED.
MIR. SUMNER, from the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, reported bil TO provide for the appoint
ment OF Solicitor OF the Department. Of StaIe and
for additional clerks In the department. Also from
the COMMITTEES the District OF Columbia bill to
repeal the charter OF the Medcal Association OF the
Mr.. snERMis lrep.) Of ONO, nom the Finance
Commrtee, reported q resounon requesting the
rests, to institute corespondsncs Win GFsai BRIAN tain
and other foreign Powers with . view TO promote
as Pnyass ADOPTION p ny the egisst,s y Of the several
@ ss9 !a4t Sse 0e submitted to
mittee, reported iavoraby b for the relief OF yns
owners Of the brig Ocean Belle. Passed.
Hills EErxRRlA 10y
vi lands sGe g M q s raESas fEsas
from Dacotsh Territory to Iowa. Referred.
.nsso,lsau At; klMsEx reDl q Mlan iplrSducsd elll
the same by morseage. Referred.
M RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
Mr.. ABBOTT. trep OF n. c., offered resolution
calling upon the President for ipformaton as 10 now
much OF the appropriations heretofore made.
amounting to one hundred thousand dollars to pro.
vide for the defence OF certain suits known as the
cotton cases, now pending IN the Court Of Claims,
a m p,nf,
have been rendered by the clerks In the Treasury
Department and other persons. Agreed to.
insructing the Committee on Judlciary to report
whether the act OF Congress OF 1862 prescribing an
oath OF Office IS now IN force. Adopted.
Mr.. EDAUNDS (rep.) OF W.T. offered O resolution,
which was agreed 70, calling upon the Postmaster
General for Information rs to tue number and cost
Of blank petitons, II any, for the abolition or the
iranklng privilege sent nom the Post once Depart
ment since September l, 1869, the number and cost
Of circulars On the subject out OF what funds pay
1ple unu the quantity OF lrauked matter sent and
received by the Postmaster General during January
1870, with an analysis showing the quantity referap!e
to each department ana to the tHo houses of Con-
Rress, ana also now many persons In each depart.
lnent are entitled TO frans man matter
Mr. Bayards (deni.l Of Dol, resolution calling for
Information oi 81 niir casractcr was called up and
passed.
Mr.. DRAKE, rep:) of No.. called up the resolution
10 amend the rules OF the Senate SO 10 provide
that hereafter Indian treaties shall be considered IN
open session. The resolution was so amended as
not TO apply 10 treaties transmitted by the President
Tor confidential consideration aud agreed TO.
BILLS PASSED.
Point Appropriatlon b and tie bil settInr mar q
portion ol the Fort Smelling Military Reservation for
permanent military post and in tue settlement OF
all cGiils TeialinS thereto, were passed.
REMOVAL Or DISABILITIES.
On motion OF Mar. KELLOGG, lrep.) OF La, the b.
10 relieve all persons named therein rom rcga ana
political disabilities imposed by the fourteenth
amendment 10 The constitution or the United States
was taken en- up. me OH contains large number OF
various amendments inserting additional names
were agreed 10.
Mr.. FOWLER, (rep.) OF Tenn. referring to a pre-
vions statement OF Mr.. Edlnunds tnat ten iudict-
ments were stu pending against one OF the persons
named from tennessee, said that nearly All the
names from that State were those OF persons whose
higu moral Character was personally known to nlin.
ar. EDMUSDS gave the name OF the person TO
whom he lad referred and stated his authority for
the statement 10 be responsible member OF the
House. The name occurred, however, in the list Of
Virginia names, add not among those from Ten
nessee, aud the party himself strcnuously denied
the truth oi tue allegations upon winch The indict-
Inents were framed.
Nj. FOREMAN, trepl OF W. Va, expressed conf
dence IN the personal hlgn standing OF tue party,
remarking that he was a republican and had been
the candidate or MS party Tor The Legislature.
Mr. SALISBURY, idenl.) OF Del, said that man
who became republican and gave evidence OF the
soundness OF hs conversion by becoming q cand-
uale OF tnaL party for Office had doubtless furnished
the Senate with sufficient reasons for removal OF
his disabilities. He suggested that upon these evi-
uences being forthcoming 1t would be consistent to
remove The disabilities OF Jefferson Davis. the former
irlend and associate OF some OF the Senators.
.Mf. hOBERTsoN, rep OF >. u. remarked that out
OF large number OF names nom South Carolina
there we're only i've persons claiming TO be republi-
cans.
Mr.. STEWART, (rep) OF New, moved to amend by
inserting the following as an additional Section:
That all persons disqualified hold Office by the third
section o the toursesnh article Of the amcndment 70 the
gress Judges of the United States officers OF
lion shall relieved from such disabilities upon ding an
for such rsiet IN any circuit or district court OF
tho ratncstion Of the fifteenth amendment to the cons
ton and the proclamation thereof by the proper department
Mr. DAVIS, (dem.) OF KY, said he honored the
Senator for the magnanimty and nberaity that had
Induced him To offer the amendment; but he ap-
peaed 60 HIM not To press 1t now, but to offer II
separately, as It's effect would be TO eopardize the
measure.
MIR. STEWART said the time was rapidly approach
ing when general legislation on the subject must be
lad, NOS only upon considerations OF policy but To
remedy practcc which had grown up, OF In
posing upon members OF Congress false representa-
ons IN regard 10 applications for political re.iel.
lie then Withdrew his amendment IN Difference "a
what, he SAID. appeared TO be the general desire.
| additional names.
Mr.. SUMNER demanded the regular orders, re-
marking that the names proposed should not be in
serted unti after they had Undergone careful con-
sideration OF q committee. He had lately received
letters from Virginia lntmating that Congress had
acted imprudently in relieving the disabilities OF
various persons that such persons had since spoken
disrespectfully OF Congress. He desired the Senate
| TO proceed cautiously IN dispensing such favOrs
! hr. NORTON, ldem.) OF Minn said the Senator
| from Massachusetts, appeared to be governed en-
trey by partisan CONSIDERATIONS IN extending Con-
gressonai clemency, and therefore, In the eyes OF
| that Senator, any one VINO had spoken disrespect-
| fully Of Congress, and thereby indicated purpose
| u act independently In politics, had committed
| grievous onence. For himself he wished to under
{and whether the test TO be applied to persons ap
ylng Tor relief from their disabilities was to be
What Of supposed future party influences, Of ope
| dience to law.
The amendment being agreed to the bill was
| passed.
| THE CENSUS BILL.
The Census bill was then taken up, and
| Mr.. SUMNER continued his argument in advocacy
or the House bill. He claimed that the cost OF an
improved census, such the country required, was
not . sufficient ground OF objection inasmuch as IT,
taking II under the law Of 1850 the census would In
| the end require q similar amount Of expenditure
various amendments OF the old law being indispen
sable In the matter Of compensation. The limitation
OF prices winch were sunicient in $780, were totally
inadequate IN 1870 and that at the rate OF one dollar
and eighty-nine cents per day, which was the aver
! age pay of an enumerator under the old law, II
| would be Impossible for the government to secure
the services OF competent persons. He proceeded 70
| show that the machinery OF the old lawowas made
! qiate and would not do the work now required
that the schedules prepared in 1860 would not ac
commodate the returns from our present greatly in
creased manufacturing industries and mining inter