Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
RELIEF on LAND PURCHASERS.
Mills PassCd..ArtieIes Exemut Crons
Duty &c.

Mills PassOd---ArticIes Exempt crons
Duty &c.
WASHINGTON, Dec. J5.--phe bill apuro-
priating three hundred thousand dollars
for revenue cutters passed.
\ bill was introduced directing the sec
rotary of the Treasury TO refund penalties
and taxes Illegally assessed under tho di-
rect tax law.
Tho Amnesty bill was resumed.
tarnswouh made u powerful speech in
favor Of "a clear amnesty.
Lawrence opposed any amucstytll those
excluded gave evidence of repentance.
Woods said the bill was in no sense an
amnesty bill. Its class OF exceptions in
VolvCd many who suffered no disabilities
under The Fifteenth Amendment. Instead
OF I'm amnesty, il was property grabbing
bill. Instead Of being measures of grace,
IL was 81 bill TO defeat justice n bill to de
ny the right of men TO recover property :
10 was q measure, the effect of which he
would not say; the design of it was to SO
injustice, tn deprive litig0nts of their pro-
perry and redress, and to grant a boon and
relief 10 those who were least entitled to
Maynard argued against the principle of
universal amnesty.
Sargeant will vote for Farnsusorth'a
substitute removing all disabilities.
Revels introduced resolution regarding
the Mississippi River lcVecs, upon which
he will address the Senate.
Several bills removing political disabili-
ties passed
Tie bill incorporating the Southern Fx.
press Company was reported back, with
amendments.
a bill was introduced to sell certain lands
in South Carolina belonging 10 the GOV
ernment.
Sehurz then delivered an address of un
usual length, which the Senators listeneC
TO with marked attention. He reviewed tht
/ history OF the party division in Missouri
/ for which he said he and those who actcl
with him had been denounced a. traitor
to the Republican cause.
/ WASlIINGToN, Dec. tG.-Cndcr the cal
of the States a large number of bills an,
| resolutions were introduced, among then
/ q bill by McKensie for the appointment o
Il commission to investigate the claims o
/ Southern loyalists.
! Drake took the iron clad oath and as
sumed Chief Justiceship of the Court o
Claims. This is the only court which CX
acts this oath.
The Judiciary Committee of the House
have agreed to report in favor of the Senate
bill for the relief of purchasers Of hands
sold by direct taxes i'm the South.
The agricultural report estimates The
cotton crop at $3,S00,00O.
y
! Senate bill extending the time for reduc
ing the army.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were bills for regulating the compensation
of contested elections, incorporating the
Southern Express Company, amending
! the bankrupt laws, preventing corruption
! in Congressional elections, enforcing the
/ rights of citizens To vote i'm several States
authorizing ono cent postal cards, placing
} tea and coffee on the free list, appointing
/ commission on the claims OF loyal citizen,
/ for damages done during the rebellion
! providing that accounts and claims adj
| iustcd by the proper Treasury officers shal
not be opened, except by law, and limitins
/ the time for the presentation OF claims anC
! accounts, and making the issues of golC
, and bank notes receivable for customs.
The House bill regulating the classified
ton of duties on sugar 10y striking out tn
words Raw, or MuscoVadO' from tn
act of last session was briefly considered
! Nickcrs said he had received letter oh
jceting to the bill from n large sugar dCale
in Baltimore, and the bill went over till to
morrow.
Bills were introduced to admit ColOrad
a. II State and to incorporate the Red Rive
Raft Company, providing for the rcmova
! of the raft by private enterprise, the col
pOratOrs to be reimbursed by tolls.
! The bill to indemnify j. Milton Best, o
Paducah, Kentucky, Union man, for tn
destruction of his dwelling during the bat
tie ut that place in 1864 was debated upon
/ General questions Of policy We're consider
ed without action and and Scoatc adjourn
! ed.