The New York herald., 1870-02-16
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, REQ. 10, 1870.
NATIONAL COAST DEFENCEs.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before tue Senate com.
munlcaton from the Secretary OF War, with an ac.
companying bill, relative to the acquisition OF sites
for national coast defences. Referred to the Com.
mittee on Military Affairs.
DONATION OF CAPTURED ORDNANCE
Mr.. THAYER, (rep.l OF Neb from the Military Com.
mttee, reported tho House joint resolution author
Izng the Secretary Of War to place at the disposal
OF Bridge's Battery Association a. Chicago certar
captured ordnance. Passed.
THE IRON-CLADs IN THE NAVY.
Mr.. MORTON, trep) OF Ind, offered q resolution
which was agreed 10, calling upon the President fol
Information as to the number and character OF the
lrou-ciad5 belonging to the navy OF tho Unitet
states, what they cost. by whom Designed by VIVA
aud what Is their present condition.
COMMITTEES OF CONFERENCE
Committees OF conference on the part OF the Senate
were appointed on the disagreements between the
two houses on the Naval Deficiency and Military
Morrill, OF Maine Cragln ana CasserIy; on the
latter, hessrs. Wilson, schurz and Stockton.
THE FRASKING PRIVILEGE.
On motion OF Mr. RAMSEY. (rep) OF Minn., the bill
to abolish the irankin0 privilege was taken up the
question beng on the amendment OF Mr.. Drake TO
through the mails, as at present
Mr. MORRILL,, trep.l OF W., delivered an argument
n ,le me ~ 90 ao nat th .ne
t0ns Of the Agricultural Department In the circua-
tion Of vanaD.e information might not bo impeded
VISION was aao necessary relating to the free trans
mission Of the correspondence Of the foreign govern
ments and Otner matters. He regarded the frank.
ing privilege as privilege not to members OF Con
gress, but To the people to communicate freely with
Their representatives 1t Was one OF the sources ol
political light and know ledge, and could not safely
be abridged. Tue people were entitled to know wlal
their representatives did here. and 70 know 1t at
little cost. He suggested that the Dill should be
recOmnLted, with view TO being perfected BY those
or Its ricndS who might be willing to lick 1t into
shape.
The bin was then laid aside, and the unfinished
busness--tne Mississippi bill-was taken up,
THE MISSISSIPPI BILL.
Mr.. BAYARD, tdein.) oi DEL, in reply to the Scna-
tlOn that the CONSTITUTIONAL definition OF republi.
can form VI government progressed or changed with
tie times, claiming that the constitution was now,
as heretofore, the supreme law or che States. He
held That conditions could not be imposed upon a
State, such as prohibitions OF any change IN the
State constitution, without attacking the underlying
orty sna rule that the majority Of the people or
q State shall regulate their own institutions. G
cited at length from various authorities upon con.
satutlonal law 70 show tnat the dangers or egisla-
tive usurpatiUn had been I0rcsecn by the founders
OF the government, and that the apprehensions
there expressed were now being realized In the
sequences of the revolutionary and violent recon.
stfuctlon system OF Congress,
Mr.. MORTON said the construction put by the Sem
ator from Delaware tdr. Bayard) upon the constitu.
tonal clause guaranteeing TO every State repuDiI.
provision. While denying TO Congress the power to
preserve its work, that Senator also denied the Con
gres.ionM power TO reconstruct; but If the clause
referred TO did not vest this power ID Congress Il
had no meaning whatever
MT DAVIS tdem.j OF KY, delivered lengthy or.
gunent upon the relative powers OF the federal and
State governments, and proceeded to give Ms inter-
alu pointed out the infringement thereof by the re-.
construction policy or Congress.
At nalI-past i've O'Clock the Senate adjourned.