The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-01-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January IL
SENATE.

By Mr. Edwards-PrescIlbi Jules
evidence in certain cases.
Mr.. Drake called up the resolution t.
amend the rules so as to require the con
sideration of Indian treaJles in opel
Senate, The subject had previousl!
been discussed and in Difference to IT
Importance to the interests of the coun
try definite action should now be taken
Mr.. Ferry offered an amendment II
require all treaties for the acquisition
of the territory of foreign Government
to be also considered in open session.
The resolution was then laid over or
motion of Mr.. Drake, and Mr.. Pratt ad
dressed the Senate in support of the
bill giving State Courts concurrent
jurisdiction with the United States
ICourts in maritime cases of torts Oh
navigable rivers above the ebb and flow
of tides.
Mr.. Carpenter from the committee Oh
Judiciary reported, with amendment, q
bill 70 provide a remedy for the JnSs CT
destruction OF Judgments, records and
DEGREES appertaining to the proceedings
| in the United States Senate.
Mr.. Rice introduced bill to change
the Judicial Circuits. Referred to the
committee on Judiciary.
The consideration of the Virginia biII
was then resumed.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment having been
withdrawn, the Senate voted On the
amendment offered by Mr. Drake, which
was rejected.
Mr.. Edmunds renewed his amendment
providing that before the measure goes
| into effect each member and officer Of
the Legislature shal! subscribe 10 an
oath which he read.
Mr.. Nye opposed tho amendment be
cause its effect would be to disorganlze
the Legislature.
Mr.. Edmunds advocated it as most
efficient means of Kidding the Legisla'
ture of those who had no right to be
there under the Fourteenth Amend
ment.
Messrs. Morton and Trumbull ex-
pressed opposition to it because 1t pro
vided that before the bill went into eff
feet the oath prescribed should be
taken, aud by the refusal of any OF the
members to take the oath, the pending
legislation Welfd be rendered abortive.
Mr. Trumbull earnestly advocated I'M
mediate admission as the means OF re-
storing the South to prosperous com.
mercial relations with the North, and
as indispensable to preserving the faith
of Congress with the States.
After further debate very animated
personal colleqHy took place between
Messrs. Tlumbull and Sumner. The
former called the attention of the pres
ence near Mr.. Sumner of an outsider
advising and influencing his actions.
Mr.. Sumner said it was G. b. Porter
a member elect from Richmond, who
represented the loyal men of Virginia
Mr. Trumbull said : "Who made Mr.
Sumner iufallible judge of loyalty
and he then read the proceedings OF a
court martial. which found Mir. Porter
guilty of sedit.ous language, drunken
ness, &c. He further commented on
Mr.. Summers attack on Governor
Walker, aud showed that he had priv
ilege of the floor, while Mr. Porter had
not.
Personalities were lndulged in, and
considerable bitterness of feeling was
manifested on both sides.
Mr.. Wiley submitted an amendment
as substitute for that portion of MIR.
Edmund's amendment that requires the
taking Of an oath by q Legislature
before this act could take effect, provid
ing simply for the imposition of the
oath preparatory t. member taking
his seat.
Mr.. Edmuuds explained that the
oath presented in his amendment wa
not applicable to the Legislature as {
body but to be imposed upon each indi
vidual member. Therefore no delay
need bs Occa.ioned in the admission o.
the State if each one could not take tn,
oath. If q quorum could take it theI
the State ought not to be admitted.
Mr.. Ramsey moved that the SeDat,
90 into Executive session which was
agreed to and the doors closed. SOor
after they were re opened and the Sen
ate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Willard offered resolution
which was referred to the committee o
the Whole, favoring the reduction Q
taxation to the lowest possible point
and declaring any annexation of for
eiga territory for which o considera
tion of money or its equivalent is to bs
made, is q direct assault upon the pub
lie credit, and is not called for by any
eXigency of public affairs.
Mr.. Morri |, of Maine, by unanimou.
consent, introduced bill providing
that no officer or clerk in the employ o.
the United States Government shall al
any time solicit contributions of othel
officials or employees in the Government,
service for a gilt or present for those il
superior official position; that no Official
or clerical superior shall receive any
gift or present a contribution of Gov.
ernment employees receiving less salary
than himself, and no officer or clerk
shall make by donation q gift or present
to any official superior. Any person
violating any provision of this bill tc
be summarily dismissed and be ineligi
bic to any official position under the
Government for three years.
Mr.. Bingham moved to law the bill
on the table. Negatived.
B Mr.. Bingham suggested that the bill
was of doubtful constitutionality as il
provided for q penalty to last three
years without conviction by the Court.
he therefore moved to refer it to the
Judiciary committee. Rejected.
Mr.. Morrill, then amended the bill BY
striking ont that part of the penalty
relating to ineligibility to office for three
years and the bill passed without q di-
vision.
The House at 2:30 took up the Viz.
ginia bill, and was addressed by Mr..
Lawrence in it's support and advocacy
as the best bill he could get.
Mr.. Logan briefly expressed the diff,
Guilty which occurred to his mind in
case that hereafter Virginia should I'M
,dertake to subvert any of the funda-
mental conditions by which she was ad-