Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-22
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Daily Kennebec Journal.
Forty Second Congressional Session

WASHINGTON, 81.
SENATE.
The Vice President announced by letter
that he would not be present to-day, and Mr..
Anthony was chosen President pro tenn.
Mr.. Sumner introduced joint resolution
proposing an amendment to the constitution,
contining the President to one term. Mr..
Sumner in introducing his amendment, said ::
| shall content myself with brief remarks,
that is, the era of civil service reform, and
the President of the United States in his
message has already called our attention to
that important subject, and made recommen-
dations with reference to it. 1t may be re-
membered that hailed that message at once
as it was read from the desk. l forbear then
to state that missed one important recon-
mendation, one without which all other rec
concentrations, l fear may be futile.
| missed the recommendation of amending the
constitution in conformity with the best pre-
cedent of our history, and with the recon-
| mendations of illustrious men, limiting the
person holding the office of President to one
term. Sir, that is the initial point of civil
service reform. That is the first stage in
that great reform. The scheme of the Presi-
dent is the play of Hamlet without Hamlet.
propose by the amendment offer to see that
Hamlet be brought into the play.
MIR. Sherman-Does the Senator propose
to postpone the play of civil service reform
until we adopt the amendment!
Mr.. Sumner-No, but l propose to put
Hamlet into the play. 1t need not take long
to do it.
The joint resolution was read and laid
over.
Mr.. Sumner called attention to the fact
that the amendment was not to go into effect
till March Ath 1879 and
interfere with the preference to Senators for
any particular candidate next year.
Mr.. Kellogg introduced a bill relating to
proposals and contracts for transportation of
mails. Referred to the Committee on Post
offices.
The bill makes it misdemeanor for any
one to refuse to perform a contract after re-
ceiving the award, and therefore declares that
no bidder shall be released from the obliga-
ton under his contract, after the award is
made to a lower bidder until it is duly signed
by the latter. 1t also provides that the Post
master General may retract bids for the mail
service which shall appear upon investigation
fraudulent or fictitious, and among other pro-
visions there is one that after regular bidders
or contractor shall have failed, either to enter
into contract or fulfil his contract when
made, the Postmaster General shall proceed
any responsible party, whether a bidder or
not for performing said service. Mr.. Clay
ton rose to a personal explanation. He
called attention to the article in the Chronicle
of Washington, stating that the Judiciary
Committee had been for some days investi-
eating certain charges against him, and that
investigation was likely to result in his ex-
pulsion, and asked the Chairman of that Com
mittee, (Mr. Trumbull, what information he
had upon the subject.
Mr.. Trumbull replied that no such investi-
CATION was going on and he never heard of it
before.
Mr.. Thurman offered resolution to admit
Goldthwait of Alabama to a seat in the Sem
ate pending the investigation by the Commit
tee on Elections, of his right to seat. 1t
was in accordance with the uniform practice
to admit Senator having prima facie claim
to seat pending the investigation Of the
claim.
Mr.. Sherman was opposed to admitting Mr..
Goldthwait because the evidence laid before
the Senate that several members of the Leg
islature which elected him held their own
seats by grade and violence and that others
were ineligible to Office under the fourteenth
amendment. Pending the discussion the
morning hour expired and the unfinished
business, the House general amnesty bill was
taken up.
Mr.. Morton's amendment providing that
the act shall not be construed to validate the
| election of anybody to Office under the United
States Government who at the the time of
his election was ineligible to Office, was re-
Jected % yeas to 20 nays.
Mr.. Summers amendment to the ''suppe-
mentary civil rights bill" then came up.
Mr.. Thurman made point that it was not
hpNonsn u-os n,ao arti o1,
it stood alone could be passed by majority
vote, while the pending bill required a two
thirds vote.
Mr.. Trumbull raised point that the
| amendment was not in order, because it
would require the approval OF the President
in order to become a law, whereas the am
nesty bill could become law without the
Presidents approval
The point was discussed at length by
Messrs. Trunlbull, Carpenter, Davis Conk-
ling, Thurman and Edmunds.
Both points were overruled by the chair.
Mr.. Sumner addressed the Senate in favor
of his amendment.
Mr.. Sawyer opposed attaching it to this
bill. The amnesty bill was so important and
urgent measure of public policy, that he
did not want to have it embarrassed by any
other measure, however meritorious. He
| believed that the great mistake in recon-
struction of the Southern States was the i'm
position of any political disabilities, and it
was due to that mistake that his State (South
Carolina,) had now a government which was
a disgrace to the republican party, and a
| scandal to the country before the civilized
world. The Senator from Massachusetts in
his zeal for equal rights, was seeking to tack
| his amendment to this bill. But the colored
people at the South, if they could be heard,
would themselves say to that Senator, "Give
US amnesty first; we will be sure to get our
rights sooner or later under your bill"
| After long discussion without acting on
| the bill, the Senate adjourned to the Stl OF
January.