The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-02-02
XLIss O0NGREss---Third Session.

WASHINGTON, Feb. mir. Buckingham pre-
sented remonstrance from the women of Ne
Esglanu against female suffrage, protestin
,nsalnst tne lmpostlOns upon them of burden
i't,mately belonging to the sterner sex.
srI...:. Nye submitted a written report, with
of Oklahoma 'A'
MI. Pomeroy offered the following substitute
Ior the resolution of yesterday: That in obedi
e enc TO that Christian charity which seekeIl
.ne good and ministers to all human distresse
we heartily commend the sufferipgs of the bel
llgerent nations in Europe to the American
people, and recommend that generous sys
tenn De organized of charity seeking out an(
providing first for their most pressing necessi
Ties De speedily organized for their relief The
I Ie was preceded by preamble recitins
the prospect of peace between two great ma
tions, each entitled to the friendship and good
Will OF the American people, and depjctine the
devastation and suffering caused by the wal
and particularly the existing Institution in the
republic of France
Mr.. Sherman moved as an amendment an
additional resolution requesting the President
10 communicate to the French government the
profound sympatbes of the American people
for the people of France now suffering under
unexamped msfOrtunes and to extend to
tnem every encouragement and support con-
sistent with the laws. The resolution was
amended SO as to make it concurrent resolu-
ton, requiring the assent OF the House. Agreed
to.
, The resolution admitting Joshua F. Hill as
senator from Georgia was adopted and Mr..
hill was sworn in.
Mr.. Thurman, by unanimous consent then
addressed the Senate in support of the claim of
n. ID. Miller to the other Senatorial seat from
georgia, and Mr. Trumbull also gave notice
That ne would offer resolution declaring
Miller duly elected and that if it was adopted
ne woula follow it up with concurrent reso-
fprv nfo II 10 ha fob oA
IN such cases. Mr.. Thurman's resolution pre-
vlously offered prescribing the oath of Office for
Miller was then referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee
MIR. Williams then moved to proceed with
the steamship subsidy bills, and after consider
able discussion, Messrs. Sherman and Cole
urging that the appropriation bills should have
tne precedence, the consular, diplomatic and
west Point appropriation bills were passed
with unimpOrtant amendments
Mr.. Thayer introduced a Joint resolution
which was lad on the table and ordered to be
printed authorizing the Union Pacific Railroad
Co. to issue mortgage bonds to complete its
bridge across the Missouri at Omaha.
The subsidy question again coming nm Mr..
Kellogg remarked that he did not wish his
consent to take up the bill construed as an in
dication that he favored it.
After further discussion it was informally
agreed that Mr.. Kellogg should have the floor
III favor OF his bill after the next morning hour
SESSION
subsequently adjourned. %
HOUSE.
The House resumed the consideration of the
Senate bill passed on the 22d of April last, pre-.
scribing the oath of Office to be taken by per-
sons who participated in the late rebellion Int
who are not disqualified from holding Office by
the l4th amendment. The bill provides that
such persons shall take the oath prescribed in
the act OF July II, 1868, prescribing the oath of
office to be taken by persons from whom legal
disabilities shall have been removed. The bill
was advocated by Messrs. Epson and Bingham
Of Ohio.
=, Mr.. Long. the colorel Representative from
Georgia, made his first speech in the House in
opposition to the bill, claiming that the men
whom it would relieve were leaders of the Ku-
hlnx. He declared that since the close of the
rebellion more than 500 loyal men had been
killed IN Georgia. and not one of their murder
ers has been brought to justice. He believed,
bill.
The debate was continued, Mr.. Porter of
speaking in opposition to the bill.
After noisy and excited discussion the bill
passed without amendment, 118 to SO, and now
goes to the President.
The bill enacts that persons eligible to Office
under the 14th amendment who cannot take
the iron-clad oath may take instead, whenever
assuming any government office, the oath pre-
sented by Congress tor persons whose legal dis
abilities have been removed.
The judiciary Committee reported number
Of bills, which were passed, among them the
following: Dividing Ohio aud Virginia into
three judiciary districts each; authoring the
appointment of an Assistant Attorney Gene
raj; directing the Secretary Of the Treasury to
pay judgments recovered against collectors of
customs tor money paid in excess OF duties; al
owing the discharge of convicts sentenced to
imprisonment and fine when the term of i'm
prisonment has expired and they make afida-
Wits before o. S: Commissioner that they
nave no means Of satisfying fine; allowing
cases to be appealed from the Court of Claims
10 the Supreme Court when the consent of the
former court is given, and providing that when
! railroad company is operating in State and
mas its officers there they should be deemed
'itizens Of the State in SO far that it shall not
De permitted to remove the causes brought
against 1t by the citizens OF that State from
Inc State to the United States courts
Ihe Judiciary Committee presented q report
against, and minority report in favor of Mrs
w oodhulPs petition for woman suffrage, all of
which were ordered to be printed and recon-
nitted. - -
A bill was also passed from the Judiciary
Committee allowing parties in certain cases to
testify, making the laws of each State govern
IS to the competency of witnesses in all crimi
1al trials in the Hnitad States courts in such
States.
Mr.. Bingham of Ohio, from the same COM
nittee, reported bill to amend the act of the
list of May 1870, to enforce the rights of cit-
'ens OF the United States to vote in the sever
Il States. The bill went over till to. morrow.
Mr.. Lynch of Maine offered resolution in
eference to the consolidation of the Kittery
md Charlestown navy yards, which was refer
ed
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Logan, Schol.
ield and Butler of Massachusetts committee
" conference on the bill to abolish the Offices
# admiral and vice admiral. Adjourned.