Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-05
Summary of Congressional Proceedings.

SENATE, Dec. 21st Sumner obtained leave
to make personal explanation in reference
TO an article which appeared IN the Washington
Patriot. The article stated in substance that
friends of Sumner and the President had been
endeavoring to effect reconciliation between
them; but that the efforts had signally failed,
the President declaring that Sumner had
barshly criticised his acts; that he had imputed
unworthy and dishonest motives to him (the
President) and that he would, il it were not
for his official position, hold tho Senator per-
sonaliy RESPONSIBLE for these utterances. Mr..
Sumner said that so far as he was concerned
there was no truth in the article; that he had
never, either in public or in private, spoken
harshly of the President or imputed unworthy
motives to him, and he appealed to Senators
and members of the Cabinet to witness the
truth of what he said.-Several bills were IN
troduced, among which was one increasing the
pensions Of soldiers aud sailors 20 per cent; ;
and another, increasing the salaries of heads
OF executive departments to $4,000, of the
Chief Justice to S11 600: of the Associate
Justices to 10000, of the Circuit Judges to
$500, of District Judges, the Judges of the
Court of Claims and of the Supreme Court of
the District of Columbia Sc 000.-The House
bill amending the law regulating the classifca-
ton of sugar was taken mp and passed.-The
Senate then resumed the consideration of tAe
resolution for the appointment of a commits
San Domingo. Sumner made strong and
somewhat bitter speech against the measure,
and was followed by Morton in it's favor. The
former sharply criticised the course of the
President on this matter, and Morton as warm
" defended 1t. The remainder of the session
which was continued all night, was devoted TO
this discussion, and at six forty-tiye in the
morning the resolution was passed by a vote
OF II ayes and nays. The Senate then ad-
iourned after most exciting session.
HoUsE.-A few bills were introduced. but
none Of them were of general interest.-Peti-
tlons were presented from working men of
New York asking for the emigration by corpo-
aud the right to purchase lande from the
Creek Indians, on which they can settle. 160
acres to family.-A memorial was presented
from Victoria C. Woodruff. claiming the right
of suffrage under the 14th and 18th amend
ments to the Constitution. and asking the
enactment OF certain laws guaranteeing that
right to the women of the United States
The vote on the amnesty bill was, after some
discussion, postponed until the 11th of JAN
uary.-The contested election case from Ohio.
OF Eggleston against Strader. was disposed of
by resolution declaring Eggleston not enti-
tied TO the scat.-The death of Commissioner
Smythe, late representative from the Second
District of Iowa, was announced, and appro-
pirate eulogies spoken. Adjourned
SENATE, Dec. 22.-The credentials of r. J.
Jewett. appointed by the Governor of Missou-
n to I'LL the temporary vacancy caused by
brakes resignation, were presented by Schurz,
and Jewett was sworn ina short executive
session was held after which the House bill
for the relief of certain citizens of Virginia
from political disabilities was considered for a
time, when it was laid aside and the death of
Hon. VIM. Smythe, of Iowa. was announced
and the customary eulogies pronounced. The
Senate then adjourned until January 4th
HOUSE The House went into Committee of
the Whole for general debate on the Freei-
dents message Jones, of Kentucky, spoke
IN eulogy of the South and in favor of univer-
sal amnesty. Porter, Baker and Barry also
spoke in favor OF universal amnesty. Ad-
journed 10 January ith.