Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-19

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. is.
SENATE

Mr. Sherman, from the finance committee re-
ported back and asked to be discharged from Il
further consideration Of the letter of the secre-
tary of the treasury, relating to n tax on the
S45,0O0,00O of scrip dividends of the New York
Central railroad. The committee was dis
charged
Mr.. Fenton, from the finance committee, re-
ported without amendment the bill to provide
for the redemption of copper and other token
coins, Mr.. Fenton explained that the bill had
received the approval OF the secretary of the
treasury. 1t requires the secretary Of the treas
ury TO redeem in lawful money all copper, nickel
and other base metal coinage when presented
in sums not less than $40.
Mr.. Morton asked leave to introduce a reso-
luton, which was read for information, pro-
viding for the appointment of select commit
tee OF five senators, to whom shall be referred
the documents and papers, recently laid before
the senate, by the president, in reference to the
condition of The southern states, and that such
committee have power to employ secretary
and stenographer, and to send for persons and
papers, administer oarhs and investigate the
matters referred to in the documents and papers
aforesaid, and the truths or falsiy of the crimes
and outrages of political character alleged to
have been committed in southern states.
Mr. Bayard objected.
Mr. Morton, in order to accomplish the pur-
pose of his resolution by avoiding objection,
| then moved to take from the table the papers
accompanying the presidents message, with a
| view to their reference to committee.
The motion was agreed to- when Mr.. Morton
moved to refer them to a special committee on
| the subject.
Mr.. Casserly moved, as an amendment, to re-
fer the paper to the judiciary committee.
| Mr.. Casserly declared that the whole object of
| the proposed investigation was to revive the
| feuds and hatreds of civil war, and thus create
republican party capital. He argued that the
| present uniayorablc condition of affairs in the
i q ~
| civil war, and cited the quarTelS Of bands OF
| "skinners' and "ploughboys" in the years fol-
| lowing the revolution, which were far more bit
ter and desperate than anything which has yet
occurred in the south.
Mr.. Warner said he would vote with the Sena-
tor from California for amnesty for the rebel
lion, but would be sorry to propose that it should
| carry with ii amnesty for the rebellion and muir
| der of to-day. While for amnesty, he was also
for the halter for the murderer. As an illustra.
ton of the political feeling indicating the law
less condition of society in the south, he cit ed
an incident within his own experience OF an or,
| ganized attempt, during the late canvass, to
| break up republican meeting at Eutaw, Ala
| which was attended with the most serious con-
sequences. Fitty-four of the participants in the
meeting were killed or wounded. Though in
| the interest of the democracy, and intended by
| them as Il means of carrying the county in
| which il occurred, there was no greater provo
cation for it than there was now for him, Warner
to fire a shot in the senate chamber.
| 1t was impossible 10 punish the offenders, be-
cause they were thoroughly organized, and had
| control of the county.
Mr.. Wilson said that since the war he had
| Striven, us far as was in his power, to secure
return of peace and order TO the whole country
| and never failed to express kindly feelings to-
| wards our cOuntTymen who went into the rebel.
| lion. This policy was one of generosity, as in
dictated by the bill he had introduced grant.
|
| were cabinet officers and congressman in
| 1860 and 1861. He would vote to
relieve the disabilities Of many OF those, if they
| asked Tor it, He should vote to-day to relieve
breckenridge, because, since the close of the
war, he had, so far as the speaker knew
acted like high toned and honorable gentle
| man. He advocated the proposed investigation
| as looking to means OF encouraging men all
| over the country who were in favor OF law and
| order.
Mr.. Chandler, Mr.. Nye and others sustained
the resolution, and Mr.. Bayard and Mr.. Thur.
man opposed it.
Mr.. Chandler disclaimed any party motives
in the proposed investigation.
Mr.. Wiley appeared surprised that senators
| should attribute sinister motives to those who
| favored the investigation.
Without reaching vote the senate, after an
executive session, adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Swami of Maryland from the committee
on foreign affairs, reported bill appropriating
100000 for the expenses of a joint commission
to fix the northwest boundary along the 49th
parallel, between Lake of the Woods and Rocky
Mountains. 1t was made the special order for
Tuesday.
Mr.. Julian of Indiana offered resolution in
structing the committee on public lands to in
quire into the eXpedency of legislation to guard
the rights of states to lands granted them ior
educational purposes, and to prevent their mo-
nOpoly. Adopted.
Mr.. Porter of Virginia asked leave to offer n
resolution instructing the committee on military
affairs to inquire what Legislation is necessary to
prevent j. W. Smith of the military academy. a
colored cadet, from being maltreated and perse-
cuted on account of color.
Mr., Wood of New York objected
Mr. Stoughton, OF Michigan, from the com
mittee on military affairs reported bill to en-
able honorably discharged soldiers and widows
and orphan children of soldiers to acquire
homesteads. Recommitted.
The house then proceeded to vote on the
amendments to the legislative appropriation
bill.
The amendment for paying J. w. Douglas,
the late acting commissioner of internal reve-
nue., his salary as commissioner for November
and December was agreed to-g1 to 80.
An amendment increasing the appropriation
for the bureau of education from $500 TO $4,000
was agreed tO-119 to 81.
An amendment increasing the salaries of the
chief justice and the associate justices of the
supreme court to $4,000 and $4,000, respectively
was agreed tO-1l2 to 7J-and the bill was then
passed.
The bill authorizing the sale of certain lands
reserved Tor the use Of the Menomonee tribe of
Indians, in Wisconsin, passed, with an amend
ment, prohibiting the making of any contract
with the Indians for commission or compensa-
ton for services in regard to the sale of their
lands Or the obtaining Of their annuities
The post office appropriation bill, having been
considered in committee of the whole, was
passed by the house.
Mr.. Bingham, from the select committee on
the BrookS-Hastings recent controversy, report
ed the proceedings of the committee Yesterday.
including Hastings communication declining 10
participate farther in the investigation on the
ground that the matter was pending in the
courts of law, and he should not be forced into a
premature disclosure Of proofs; also including a
communication from Mr.. Brooks, stating his
readiness to establish, by evidence the fact that
Hastings signed a reuaction of the libel upon
Henry d. Stone, and that Stone was still living
in Albany, and amenable to a summons of the
house report; also the refusal of Hastings to tes-
tity as to the truth or falsity of the charges
against Brooks.
Mr. Bingham therefore reported the following,
which was adopted: Resolved, that il is the
Judgment of the house that, by reason of the re-
fusal OF Hugh j. Hastings to testify before the
select committee to the truth of the accusation
Hon. James Brooks is fully exonerated from the
charge so made by said Ii astings, and that the
committee be discharged from the further con-
sideration of the subject"
Adjourned.