Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-11
Congress-.

putVT Il unTclenllllS
Congress.
In the Senate. Yesterday memorial Of the
New York Reform League was presented. ask
ing the appointment of Il special commission on
the Improvement Of the colored race in the
South. The Naval Committee reported the
House bill regulating line and staff rank in the
navy, with amendments making the rank Of
the staff assimilated instead of positive. and
changing the original bill in other respects
Mr.. Morton introduced bill to raise the [. ;.
Mission at Berlin 20 the first class. The death
of Mr.. Covode was announced. and the Senate
adjourned \ night session was held, at which
the Legislative Executive and Judicial APP
preparation bill WAS read without any action
upon it.
Tn the House of Representatives Il bill was
offered authorizing the President tn restore
VIM. j.. Hanscon 4 Naval Constructor who
had resigned to his rank in the navy. on which
a very animated debate ensued, during which
Admiral Porter formed prominent subject of
discussion, Mr. Butler stating that another
letter written by him would soon be produced.
The BILL and another to provide for the enlist
mcnt of three hundred additional seamcn in the
navy. was passed. The Naval Appropriation
bill was passed. and the House adjourned
ADMIRAL PORTER AGAIN.-Y esterday, in the
House of Representatives. Mr.. Starkweather
reported bill authorizing the President TO
allow VIM Hanscom. late Naval Constructor,
to withdraw his resignation. and to restore HIM
to his former position in the navy.
Mr. Archer, Of Maryland. and Mr.. Sargent.
Of California. opposed the bill.
Mr.. Banks. Of Massachusetts,, said that this
was a case that concerned not only the honor OF
the citizen but the honor of the country 1t
was case where highly capable officer had
been hunted down and driven from his
place by the officers OF the Bureau. As regards
the letter from Admiral Porter. which had
been read. he declared that Mr.. Han>com stood
as much higher than Admiral Porter IN the
estimation of the people as the Apostle John
stood above the traitor D udaS
Mr. Sargent urged the House to proceed
cautiously. and not pass this bill On stump
speech He did not know what feelings existed
between former officers of the army and navy.
but man whose services were OF a character
rendered by Admiral Porter duringthe late war
did not deserve to be compared with the traitor
Judas
Mr.. Farnsworth Of Illinois. defended Nd
lniral Porter
Mr.. Butler Of Massachusetts. reviewed the
provisions Of the bill and held that they were
Just In reply to the assertion OF Mr.. Hale
respecting the time the Navy Department was
called upon in the case. he said that he held in
his hand letter from Admiral Porter Admiral
Porter by the grace Of the Senate. letter
which was written almost as soon as the bill was
referred
Mr.. Archer. Of Maryland, said that the let
Ter was letter Ia him as an individual member
If the committee.
Mr. Butler trcadine ID. b. Porter, AS
sistant Secretary Of the Navy He never was
Assistant Secretary Ct the Navy.
Mr.. Archer said that he had been recognized
a< such By members Of the House.
Mr.. Butler said he never should have been.
Mr.. Banks said he could explain how he calnt
to be recognized He had had occasion TO call
upon the Secretary Of the Navy for certain III
formation. and when he made his desire known
he received the reply, why the devil did You
not ask Admiral Porter as he went out
Mr.. Stevens asked ii il was the present Sec
rotary.
Mr.. Banks replied that it vas not.
Mr.. Butler sarcastically reviewed The naval
exploits Of Admiral Porter. and said he had
written three letters the forth would appear in
good time. Notwithstanding the threats that
had been made. But he was disposed TO speak
we'll OF the dead, and he would let him lay in
his grave if he would lay still. but he had been
resurrected and brought up here. :. stencil III
the nostri!s Of the House He appealed 10 the
members TO let him rest in the grave hc had
chosen for himself.
The bill was then passed-yeas lab. nays IL.
\ LONG LIVED FAMILY.--Dolly Morse. who
recently died at West Woodstock. Conn. in
the S7th year Of her age, left one sister. III her
S5th. and TWO brothers, one in the >ls1, and
the other in his Goth year-all cousins OF Pro-
fcsSor Morse and of the founders OF the New
York Observer The grandfather of these
grandfather brother in the Old, and one of
his sisters in the SSth year, another in her 18th.
his eldest son in the Sjth. and his mother in
the 99th year of their respective ages.
The descendants Of the great grandmother.
at the time of her death. numbered 3l9. OF
whom thirty-one were of the fifth generation
and one or more of each of the last four genera
tons resided under the same roof with the old
lady when she died. If the great grandmother,
who was born in l10l. had at the time of her
birth any living ancestor over cighty-one years
old, three lives. viz. the life of this ancestor,
of the great grandmother, and Of any one Of
her surviving eat-grandchildrcn, would cover
the whole period of American history. from the
landing on Plymouth Rock to the present hour.
THEFoLIY OF STRIKEs.-The folly of strikes
is again well illustrated inthe experience of the
nailers employed by the Weymouth Mass
Iron Company. who struck some six months
ago, have been idle most of the time since and
at last have returned to work at the same wa
ges which they refused when they struck. The