New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-14
XLIsT CONGRESS-3D SESSION.

raR SOLDIERS HOMESTEAD BILL AMENDED IN
THE sENATE-ANINATED DISCUSSION IN THE
CASE OF sENAToR-ELECT MLLER-THE TEST
OATH REPEAL BILL-THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE
AGITAToRs AGAIN BEFORE THE HOUSE,
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THR TRIBUSE1
WASHINGTON, McndSy, Feb. Is, 1871.
In the Senate to-day, resolutions Of the Ohio Legisa
ture protesting against any moro land grants were pre-
eented by Mr.. Thurman. Mr. Stewart wished 10 COM
ment upon them, but Mr. Sherman objected. Mr.. sher-
man presented with a strong Endorsement, memorial
asking behalf Of the Cincinnati and Southern Rail
road authority from Congress TO bud its road through
,he State Of Kentucky II cannot obtain State char
ter by reason OF Kentucky preudices. The Committee
Public Lands reported the House bill TO enable hon.
oraby discharged soldiers and sailors TO acquire home
steads the public lands, with amendments striking
out the assignment clause which will prevent spectators
from buying up the soldiers warrants, as would I'M
doubtedly he the case under the House Dill.
Some debate occurred the subject OF evening
sessions and the opinion seemed TO be gaining ground
that the best economy OF time would be to dispense with
evening sessions and TO sit hour or two later during
the day; and Mr. Morton notice Of a resolution to
meet an hour earlier The OF DR. Miller Of Georgia
was taken up after the morning hour. Mr. Trumouil as
rumed that the validity OF his election had been settled
by the Senate in its admission Of Mr. HILL and the only
question was 20 prescribe modified oath for him. he
being unable 20 take the test oath because he had
served as surgeon in the Rebel army That
assisted in forming the present Constitution OF Georgia
Mr. Trumbu said was well established. and as he dd
not labor under the disabilities imposed Dy inc
Fourteenth Amendment, there was no possible reason
for refusing him admission taking the same oath as
that taken by those Senators and representatives whose
disabilities had been removed. Mr. TrumDull was Ioi-
lowed by Mr. Edmunds and Mr.. COnklng, In elaborate
arpuments against DR.. Millers admission, principally
upon the ground that Miller having been seecteu ~
the Georgia Legislature when by law ne was
not eligible, his election was nun anu 'oiu'
MI Edmunds very positive IN pronlsis
TINT IA matter what he had done in the past he Wouu
never again vote relieve the disabilities OF any man
Ia enable MIN TO take office Mr.. Carpenter made an IN
terestng argument show that the test oath was ln
lucrative as 10 all the persons pardoned uhoer Ine
different proclamatons OF Andrew Johnson anu III
Miller being one Of the pardoned, he could not pe
debarred from taking his seat Mr. Hill made an earnest
argument his colleague, whose right to the seat ne
said WAS as clear as his own The debate was unneces
sarily continued and II looked as II some Senators
were talking merely to XIII time. MI Morton
characterized the Test Oath Repeal bil now
In the hands Of the President fraud and said that
had passed the Senate without three Senators knowing
anything about it, and had passed the House because the
members Of that body had been told the Senate
unanimous on question. He also expressed the hope
that the President would veto the BILL and Mr. Edmunds
sad il not law yet and he hoped 1t would not be
for several years Mr. Trumbull said the bill had been
reported by the Judiciary Committee was alluded 10
several times before IT finally passed. and that 1t was
no fraud. In reply question Of Mr.. Sherman, as TO
why he did movefor a reconsideration, Mr.. Morton
said he had not the slightest idea that corporas
guard in the House would favor It. just before
o'clock motion made to adjourn, but 1t was voted
down nv large majority The Democrats had very
wisely abstaned from participation In the debate to
this time and vote about to he taken, when MI
Thurman coud no longer restrain his desire 10 speak,
and started the whole debate over again Mr. Morton
having stated on the authority Of member OF the Ju-
dietary Committee that the pending resolution reported
by the Chairman Mr.. Trumbull, had not received the
sanction OF that Committee, both Mr.. Trbull and Mr.
Thurman denounced the statement as untrue, and Mr.
Thurman said that the offending member should be cen
Fured. which resented by Mr. Edmunds, who
however, dsclaimed having communicated the infor-
nation 10 Mr.. Morton. The debate became quite AMI
mated. Mr. Thurman disclosed some Of the secrets OF
tho Judiciary Committee room, and Mr.. Edmunds was
about 10 follow his example, when he called TO order
10y Mr. Sherman whose point sustained by the Vice
President Mr.. Howe planted himself by the side OF his
colleague Mr. Carpenter In opposition to the test oath,
orny other requirement from DR.. Miller than those
prescribed by the Constitution Mr. Sawyer the author
Of the Test Oath Repeal bi who had been temporarily
absent came n and eloquenty defended 1t Of the
wsest measures Congress had ever enacted, and the
potential TO promote the era OF good feeling III the
South. He also hoped Inalign influence wond pre-
vent the President from signing IT, After voting down
several motions 10 NOtN WIS az
q o'clock and the joint resolution admitting Dr. Miller.
on his taking the modified oath of July 1863 was passed
by vote of o 20 90 Before Dr. Miller take his seat
however must pass the House and be signed by the
President.
After the Democrats OF the House had wasted the mos
Of the morning hour today in order TO prevent action
on the NewYork aud Washington Airline Railway, the
first motion 20 suspend the rules made by Mr. Dixon
Of Rhode Island, who wished the House to set aside
Thursday evening Of this week for reports OF the
Committee Commerce, of which he Is Chairman
1t was agreed it supposed by some that it
had some steamship subsidy bills to report This was
however mistake, as the Committee has considered
none the bills referred to except TO hear arguments
IN their favor. Then Mr. IngersO attempted to get the
Airline Railway bill out Of the Monday morning
hour, and moved TO suspend the rules for
ats immediate consideration. The Democrats
renewed their fibuserng, and demanded reading OF
the biu which occupied half hour. vote then
taken twothirds did not vote in the affirmative
yeas, III Nays 7D, the attempt failed The attempt
he Committee Commerce 10 get before the House It's
hill directing that the Newport and Cincinnati Railway
isridge be placed feet above the also
s.ucoessfu the vote standing l3 TO rs. resolution
sntroduccd authorizing the appointment Of Commits
inquire into the eXPediency OF consolidating the
GsIesOwn and Kttery Navy Yards. The House had its
visionary Monday afternoon laugh at the Woman
laiTrage 'agitatOrs" to-day, when Mr.. Roots Of
nAausas attempted 10 introduce, as question Of priv
o. resolution reciting that whereas certain women
d without any authority taken possession Of one OF
!. 'GommitteeIOoms Of the House. and whereas these
= a. were provided for the use Of members OF Con-
= and their clerks, in the discharge OF their
=. the Speaker be directed to his
- rs1y ~ exEel the The Speaker,
. roar Of laughter i the House, de-
has tins n0t a question OF privilege and not in
rder -DiV' =. - 800 - -, 80, ~, -, 80
heerfd VfN -, 49,. ., a-",."
'' ~ AZ the statements in the Presidents late
,P""'" tia. the Constitution OF the German En-
""sI Ally resemblance TO that OF the United
az WV NAT bpfOyP he ma ~