The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-02-18
TIE LONDON Sn nsEEEENoE'
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
Congressional.

WAsHINeTeN,,ssFeb. IT, House. Mr..
Jones, Of Kentucky, presented petitions in
favor of the Government pushing the Gin
cinnati and Southern railroad through
Kentucky.
The House then went into committee ofthe
whole upon army appropriations, and the
Democrats attacked the President for the
use of the military in elections. The bill
appropriates $27 100000. The committee
rose without action. a-. go:
The report of the conference committee
on giving territorial government to the
District of Columbia was adopted, and the
bill goes to the President, who will un-
doubleday approve it..
The balance Of The day was occupied with
local legislation. ...
Senate.-Mr. Fenton presented petitions
from leading New York merchants asking
for the correction of abuses in the customs
regulations.
The appropriations were resumed. An
amendment to strike from the Legislative,
Executive, and Judiciary the clause inserted
last year by Senator Drake, was proposed,
which prohibited as evidence in the Court
of Claims certain Presidential pardons. The
amendment authorizes as evidence any par
don or amnesty granted before the suppress
sion of the rebellion under the prOclama-
| tion Of President Lincoln. This amend
ment is not to apply to suits in the Court of
Claims arising under the act of March 9th,
to provide for the collection of abandoned
property and prevention OF frauds within
the insurrectionary districts. The Court OF
Claims would be opened by this amend
ment to the prosecution. Of about 10000
600 worth of claims. The amendment does
not help persons pardoned by president
johnson after April, 1865. a.
noes. 30.
Mr.. Trumbull renewed the offer Of por-
ton of the amendment repeating the pro-
wise of the law which makes a pardon evil
dence of the guilt of the party accepting it.
Mr.. Conkling said the acceptance OF q
pardon was virtual confession OF guilt.
Mr. Trumbul's amendment, that par
don's should not exclude the pardoned
party from the Court of Claims, was car
ried by the casting vote Of the Vlce-Presl-
dent. -..--.-.....-. ..,,,...r-, ri.
The debate was quite bitter, showing no
disposition to give to southern claimants
generally a more generous consideration
| than heretofore. =
After Executive session the Senate adj
journed.
Cases I'm the u. .. Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE case OF
Bleyer g. Kennard VS.. United States, up
| from Kentucky, will soon be argued before
the United States Supreme Court. The
question involved Is whether the second
section Of the fifteenth amendment, author
izing appropriate legislation BY. Congress
| to carry into effect the first section OF the
amendment, vests Congress with the con-
stitutional power to enact the civil rights
bill of April, 1885. =
The case of Knox VS.. United States, up
from Texas, will be argued early next
week. It involves the legality OF the con-
fiscation Of property by the Confederate
Government and the legal-tender question.
A case growing out of a collision IN San
Francisco harbor, in which is involved the
question whether foreign prince can sue
in the Supreme Court, is also to be argued.
The Federal Right of Way for Kali
roads.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator DAVIS,
of Kentucky. made an argument before
the Committee of Commerce OF the Senate
against the proposed national charter for
| the Cincinnati and Southern railroad;
Mr.. Davis thought that the constitutional
grant to regulate commerce between the
States does not cover such proposltlon.
Teuesraphic Communication North.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE telegraphc
lines to the north Of this city are working
badly, and not much intelligence from that
| quarter was received tonight.