The Republican journal., 1870-06-02
WASHINGTON MATTERS.
REVIVAL OF AMERICAN COMMERCE..

washington, May 70
Lynch's bill for the revival of American COM
merce came up again in the House to-day and, in
order to test whether the opposition, which comes
mainly from the West, would favor any measure
looking to the relief of the shipping interests. MIR.
Lynch moved to take up the substitute offered
yesterday and TO consider the old bill, with all its
amendments, laid upon the table. AS was eX-
pected, the Western men who seem to have an
idea that other interest is to be taken care OF but
that of the farmer, were as violent i'll their OPPOSE
ton as ever notwithstanding the fact that the
proposition contains many concessions to the de-
mands of the agricultural Representatives. Farms
worth, who opposed the Old measure, endeavored
to explain why he would support the new one,
but he was met by Logan and others with the cry
of "You are on both sides" In order to put the
matter to a test Lynch moved the previous ques
ton on the substitute, and lively debate followed
in which personal compliments of the lett-handed
order We're thrown around promiscuously, and the
lie was given and returned with interest several
times. A more sectional spirit was not manifested
during the reign of the peculiar institution than
was shown upon the floor Of the House to-day by
some of the Western men, like 1ngersoll and Logan
of Illinois, Allison, of Iowa, and Shanks, Of Indi-
ana. They seemed to ignore all else in the country
except their own districts and the farmer interest
''What do | care, said Shanks, whether the
English or American flag flies at the masthead of
vessels on the coast? My constituents have no in
terest in it." This was evidently the feeling that
governed the opposition to the bill. Mr.. Lynch
finally got the floor and delivered very sharp clear
concise argument in favor of the bill, taking the
ground that it was national, not a sectional meas
ure, and that not alone New England, New York
or any of the sea-board States and cities would be
benefited by it, but the whole country. He charged
upon the opponents of the bill that they We're the
conscious or unconscious agents of the Clyde ship
builders, the Lairls. the Dennys and other anglo
rebels, who, failing to destroy the Union. were
now here by their paid agents to prevent American
commerce from recovering from the blow which
thew dealt it during the rebellion. He said the ar
guments produced against the bill were borrowed
from the pamphlet of John Goldman and one Oak
ford, who We're in the employ of the foreign ship
builders. During the debate both Goldman and
Oakford were in the gallery and became greatly
eyasperated at the remarks of Lynch. Allison. to
test the strength of the opposition, moved to table
the bill, but met with defeat; nays l05 yeas 50.
1t is thought this is an indication that the measure
will pass.
VOORHEES, U.ON THE CUBAN QUESTION.
In speaking Of the debate in Congress on the
Cuban question the other day in which our mbece
administration received such II raking down from
members of both parties, the lively correspondent
of the n. y. Commercial Advertiser (republican)
says Mr.. VOORHEES, is man whose words al
ways command attentive listeners. Notwithsand-
ing his occasional flights into the realms of ultra
Democracy the grace OF his manner, the polish Of
oratory and the originality of his views make him
at all times an entertaining speaker Upon the
present occasion the charm of his style was
heightened by the character of his subject He
carried the House with him from the very start.
The picture he drew of the infamous acts of the
Spanish authorities; of the contempt in which they
held the rights of our citizens: of the cruelty
practiced upon the unhappy Cubans who We're
struggling only to achieve the common aim of all
men to be free; of the repeated insults heaped up
on our consuls; of the threats made against the
life of an officer, whose person is sacred by the
very laws of international comfy; Of American
citizens seeking shelter beneath the British flag,
while American squadron either would not, or
dared MOI afford them protection, and his conclud-
ing declaration that the blood OF snate,l Amer
leans was crying ont against the sloth, imbecility.
want of regard for honor, glory, and safety OF the
Republic manifested by the "dead old man" who
presided over the Department of State, produced
such sensation on the floor and in the galleries as
the House has not witnessed since the times when
bulletins of Union victories read from the
Speakers chair,