Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-01-14
CONGRESS.
Saturday.


CONGRESS. Senate was not in session,
and the House met only for debate. There
were not more than twenty-five members pres
emit. Mr.. Rogers. of Arkansas opened the de-
bate with some pointed remarks on that por-
ton of the Presidents message in relation 10
the reversal of the decision of the people IN
some Of the States by intimidation and fraud.
He showed that in Arkansas the intimidation
and fraud were on the side the reverse OF that
intimated by the President. He claimed
that Gov. Clayton had more unlimited power
than King William over his subjects, and as
serted that the boards of registration were so
constituted as to make anything like free
expression Of the will Of the people impossi-
bic. Several members took up the NATTER
Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee, defended Gov. Clay
ton. and denied the assertion that had been
made that the constitution of Arkansas dis
qualified citizens from voting under it who
had voted for it; but Mr. Mccormick, of Mis-
souri,, claimed that this was exactly what was
done by the eleventh section CT the registry
law. A running debate upon this law ensued.
Monday.
In the Senate, memorial was pre-
sented from many citizens of Baltimore
protesting against the appropriation of public
money for sectarian purposes, and asking the
passage Of an amendment to the constitution
prohibiting the appropriation Of money raised
by taxation for any religious purpose. The
memorial was referred TO the committee on the
Judiciary The same committee reported ad-
versely upon the bill providing that elections
for presidential electors and members of Con-
gress shall be by ballot The bill revising the
laws in relation to minis was taken up, and a
proposition to abolish the coinage charge was
discussed at length, but was defeated, and the
proposition Of the finance committee to contin-
ne tie charge at the rate Of three-tenths in
stead of one-half Of one per cent, was agreed
to. The correspondence of Minister Motley
with the State Department, was laid before
the Senate.
In the House, as usual on Monday under
the call of States, large number of bills were
introduced and referred, many of them being
private bills for war claims and relief from
disabilities. The rest of the day was consum-
ed on St. Domingo. Several unsuccessful eff
forts were made to take it up from the Speak
er's table, aud every parliamentary practice
was put into Use on both sides, but the admin
istration men could not get the necessary two
thirds vote, and finally, by a compromise, it
was agreed to allow debate until > o'clock p
NJ. Tuesday, when the vote will be taken I'M
der the previous question.
Tuesday.
In the House, after an interesting debate, in
which nearly all the prominent opponents Of
annexation made speeches, according to pre-
vious arrangement, the resolutions were pass
ed, with TIE proviso Of Mr. Amber, as an
amendment, that "noihing in the resolutions
shall be held, understood or construed as COM
hitting Congress TO the policy ofannexing the
territory of said republic of Dominica" The
amendment was passed by a vote of los to 76,
and the resolutions as amended were adopted
bS aSOSe OS l2s to Gs. The work Of the
House was at once returned to the Senate,
where it was determined, after some amicdble
discussion, to defer the vote till Wednesday
The Senate passed the bill to revise the laws
regulating minis and assay offices, but reject
ed the proposition to tax gold coinage $40
Of per cent. The House passed the bill for
holding the International exposition in Phia-
dclplia in 1876, in honor of the Tooth ami
versary the Declaration of Independence.
Wednesday,.
In the Senate, after some slight debate on
one or two bills, and the delivery of speech
by the cUlored Senator, Reyels, of Mississippi,
on King cotton" the ST. Domingo resolu-
tons, as amended by the House, we're taken
up. Senator Schurz of Missouri, made an
able speech reviewing the whole subject Of the
proposed investigation aud annexation which
he opposed, because it was dangerous to the
republic. He urged the Senate not to intro
duce this poison into our system, and took the
ground that there was no tropical country on
the face of the globe where labor, left free, did
not run into thriftlessness, and where attempts
to organize labor did not run into slavery. =
Mr. Wilson said this was only the repetition
of the arguments made in the Senate year af-
ter year by the advocates Of human slavery
lie did not believe in this philosophy, and if
it was so, God Almighty should have called
these philosophers into his counsel before he
created the tropical regions" the enunciation
of which bit Of theology created laughter and
applause. At 4 O'Clock the Senate proceeded
TO vote A frutlesS effort was made to put
the matter off again till to-day, in order to al
low other Senators to speak. \ number Of
amendments offered by Senator Sumner were
voted down in succession, aud after all the
Senate Gnally concurred in the House amend
ment by voteof 81 yeas, nays none, thus in
dicating, as tits interpreted, the sense Of Con-
gress against annexation. The resolutions will
be sent to the President fcy his signature.
The House passed an additional aPpropria-
ton of 100000 Scr the improvement Of the
Louisville and Portland canal, and S84I, coo
for the improvement Of the pes Moiues Rap
ID AIiss,sSipni river / TELEGRAM WAS read