The New York herald., 1871-12-19

Cosgress Yesserday-The Asti-Adaiaissra-
tIes Flight Renewed In the senate-Bills
and Bsacsnbs In the House.
We had hoped that the caucus Of the repub-
lican Senators last Friday would have had the
effect Of restoring peace and harmony among
them, and that the country would have wit
messed no renewal Of the scenes of discord and
strife which had been exhibited In the Senate
Chamber last week. That hope, however. has
been cruelty disappointed. The republican
brethren in the Senate, instead Of presenting
the spectacle of the beauty of dwelling to-
gether In unity, spent the whole day yesterday
In abusing each other and attributing to each
other motives the reverse Of honorable or
patriotic. The quarrel was renewed over the
resolution, offered by Senator Anthony, OF
Rhode Island, as the spokesman of the eau
Gus, nominating seven Senators as Com
mittee Of Investigation and Rstrenchment
to examine into official corruption The
Senators named were Buckingham, of Con-
necticut; Pratt, of Indiana Howe, Of Wis
consin; Harlan, of Iowa Stewart, of Nevada
| Pool, of North Carolina, and Bayard, OF Della
ware, the latter being the only democrat on
the committee. Subsequently, however,
another democrat, Casssrly, of California, was
added to it. Mr.. Sumner was the first to at
tack the committee, and he did it on the
ground that it was composed, not of Senators
who had urged and voted for inquiry, but of
those who had opposed and voted against 1t.
He argued that this was not only unjust but
unparlamentary, and quoted the rule laid
down in JefFersons Manual, that ''those are
| not to be put upon committee to consider q
subject which they have voted directly
against" as child is not to be put to nurse
who cares not for y. He held that, under
parliamentary usage, Senators Trumbull
aud Schurz, who had proposed and advocated
the inquiry, should be on the committee, and
that even if they were to be oyerslaughed in
the matter the chairman (Mr. Patterson) and
members Of the like committee, which had
been in existence for the last three years,
should not have been treated in the same
manner. He insinnated pretty broadly that
the organization of the committee had been
got up with view to smothering, not to pro-
noting, an investigation. His points were
strong and ably put and although they may
have been Intellectual as addressed to the
Senate. they certainly will not be without in
auence on public opinion. y was in vain for
Senator Anthony to try and parry the thrusts
aimed at the proposition by throwing himself
back on the character of the Senators nomi-
mated, and challenging any denial Of their
eminent respectability. The question, as was
shown, was one not Of general good character,
but of the special position Of the Senators Of
the question involved.
The debate went on, chiefly turning on this
point, throughout the whole day, aud far
into the night Finally Senator Anthony's
resolution was adopted, aud proposition
which was subsequently offered by Senator
Wilson, authorizing the committee to send for
persons and papers and to sit during the
session, but not during the recess, was
adopted-yeas 81, nays IL. The committee
stands as in the regular report, although Sem
ator Pool announced that he could not serve
upon It. Mr.. Conkling tried to obtain action
on his resolution directing the committee to
investigate Senator Schurz's charges affecting
the management of the Custom House in this
city, but failed, and then, after a long and
exciting session, the Senate adjourned.
Prior to the breaking out of this question
several matters of minor Importance had been
presented TO the Senate. A report on the
Georgia Senatorial question was made from
the Committee on Privileges and Elections in
favor of giving the seat to Thomas NJ Nor
wood and against the claim Of Foster Blodgett
A new plan for reaching specie payments was
embodied in bill introduced by Senator Cor
bett, of Oregon, the plan being to require the
national banks to add three per cent half
yearly to their gold reserve until the proper
tion Of gold to circulating notes reaches fifteen
per cent. What Is to happen after that is
not stated. Senator Conkling, In order to show
how anxiously he desires to purify the civil
service, introduced q distinct resolution In
reference to the famous General Order busi-
ness" of the New York Custom House, which
he characterized as "a monstrous abuse, sus-
tanned against the protests Of the merchants of
New York and against the wishes of the Sec
retary of the Treasury" and directing the
| Committee on Investigation and Rstrenchmsnt
to inquire into the matter fully, and particu-
larly as to whether there is any colusion or
improper connection with such business on
the part of any officer Of the United States
The resolution was allowed to lie over for fu-
ture action.
Under the Monday call of States for bills the
usual large supply of the article was fur
nished and referred to committees, never
more TO be heard Of The most nota-
BILE among them were several proposing
wholesale raids on the public lands-some
under the pretence Of granting bounty lands