The Portland daily press., 1870-03-31
NEW s
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
Kills. OONGRESS---Second Session
SENATE

WASHINGTON, March 30-The Senate insist
ed on its non.concurrence in the House amend
ments to the District of Columbia usury bill
and Messrs. Hamlin, Thurman and Harris
were appointed GU q conference committee.
Bills were passed providing for a post Office
and other public buildings in Montgomery
Ala, and Little Rock, Ark
"A bill was introduced, and referred to the
Judiciary Committee, fixing the Tuesday next
alter the first Monday in Novexlber as the day
GU which representatives aud delegates to
Congress shall be elected Throughout the whole
country.
The concurrent resolution appointing joint
special committee on Indian affairs was taken
Mr.. Thurman opposed and Mr. Morrill, IA
vored it. The resolution passed after debate,
in which the fact of that steamer landing a.
Boston man at Halifax who had the small nox
was fully ventilated.
Mr.. Sumner moved to proceed to the consd-
Grafton OF executive business. and after a dis
cusslon with reference to the necessity of dis
posing OF the Gen. Ames case to-day, the mo-
ton was agreed to, and at 1.15 P. M. the doors
were closed and the Senate went executive
session on the San Domingo treaty. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the journal
MIR. Randall, o! Pennsylvania offered a con-
current resolution, declaring that the Senate
and house of Representatives have heard with
deep regret of the sudden decease of Major
Gen. George H. Thomas, who was endeared to
the country by series of unbroken patriotic
services during period OF thirty years; that
his distinguished career in the defence of The
country against foreign and domestic enemies,
his never taltering faith and zeal in the main
t9nance of the Union and the integrity of the
Government, and his stern execution of every
trust confled to him constituted a record in
life made memorable in death; and authoriz-
ing the President of the Senate and the Speak
er of the House to make such arrangements in
connection with his obseques as will test the
sympathies of Congress in this national be.
reavement
Mr.. Randall remarked that. having in the
early part of the war served as a non-com-
felt it his duty to Offer the resolution. No
words of his could add lustre to Gen. Thomas
record of heroic deeds, which were insepara-
bly, interviewer in the history OF the country
The RESOLUTION was unanimously adopted.
A bill removing political disabilities from
three Virginians was passed.
Mr.. Butler. OF Massachusetts, from the Re-
construction Committee, reported back the
Senate am endmept to the bill admitting Texas
to representation in the Union, with the rec
CURED in. The amendment is to strike out the
provso that nothing in the bill shall affect the
conditions on which Texas was originally an
nexed to the Union. Mr.. Butler explained
the amendment, showing that thee obstruction
put upon the provso in the Senate was that
some of the original conditions were that Texas
might be divided into four States wherein
slavery should exist. 1t would re-establish
slavery there. He protested against that con-
struction. IF the bill contained direct pro-
viso establishing slavery in Texas it would be
simply void and Of no effect. How could any
man in bis senses come to the conclusion that
q proviso in a bill saying that nothing in it
would affect that question would establish
slavery which was prohibited by the Cpnsttu-
ton? He was not surprised after such an
Iu fhn o1,osr &c H.
Judiciary Committee 10 the Senate that the
consideration of the Texas question had been
taken away from the committee
Mr.. Wood, of New York, member of the
heconstructlon Com mittee. expressed his sur
prise at the facility with which the gentle nan
from Massachusetts changed his position
That gentleman had deemed the proviso of
such Importance that he had drawn it with his
own hands and presented it to the Recoustruc-
ton Committee, where it was agreed to with
out dissenting voice. For himself he ad-
hered to the opinion which he then had, that
the proyiso was matter Of grave Importance
and ought to be retained in the BILL
Mr.. Paine, of Wisconsin, another member of
the Reconstruction Committee, repudiated the
absurd construction put upon the nroviso in
the other end of the Capital After debate
the Senate amendment was concurred in by
yeas 132 TO nays 80. party vote.
Mr.. Hoar, of Massachusetts. reported bill
to establish system of national education,
second Tuesday in December.
Mr. COX, OF New York, said he would like to
have the opinion of the brother of the member
who reported the bill (Attorney General Hoar)
as 10 the consttutionality of the measure, to
which Mr.. H0ar replied that he was not aware
that members were in the habit of consulting
the Attorney General as to the CONSTITUTIONAL
ty of pending measures.
Mr.. Arnell, of Tennessee, introduced bill
from the Committee on Education, discontinue
limo 20
to the Educational Bureau it's educational
work and property, and to the War Depart
ment its other functions.
Mr.. McNeely, of Illinois, from the minority
committee, desired to offer a substitute, thru
ing over all the funds of the bureau to the
treasury and placing its hospitals and asylums
under the charge of the Secretary of War and
transferring its buildings to the States in
which they are situated; all accounts to be
closed within month.
Mr.. Arnell declined to allow it to be offered.
and the former bill went over.
Having adopted the order that the general
debate on the tariff bill be closed Tomorrow
one hour and a half after it is taken up in
committee. the House then went into Commit
tee of the Whole on the bill, and Mr.. Maynard,
of Tennessee, proceeded TO defend and adve-
cate the bill.
Pending his argument, the committee rose
and the Presidents proclamation announcing
The ratification of the 10Th amendment was re-
ceived and read, followed by applause on the
floor and in the galleries.
Mr.. Peters, of Maine, moved that the mes
sage and proclamation be referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee. and the previous question
was seconded, 88 20 1, Mr.. Wood, of New
York, being the only Democrat that voted.
The Speaker asked Mr.. Wood whether he
insisted on further count
Mr.. Wood said he did,
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts, suggested to
Mr.. Peters to withdraw his motion of reference
as the good accomplished by the proclamation
would not be effected by its reference.
Mr.. Peters assented aud withdrew his motion.
The House then went into committee, and
Nj. Maynard resumed his argument and at
the conclusion of his speech the House passed
the bill for the relief of Capt P. Baine, and
then adjourned.