The Portland daily press., 1871-12-22
xLIId CONGREss..sECOND SESSION
SENATE.

XLIId CONGRESS.-SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec 21-Mr Sumner Offered
a resolution which was adopted, directing the
Committee ON Retrenchment to inquire wheth
er any moneys had been paid ON account of the
lease of the Bay of Samana to the United
States it so, by whom, out of what funds and
to what amount; also if such moneys were paid
by private persons, to report the names of such
persons, their business and the inducement to
the outlay, and whether they were interested in
land grants or other speculations ON the Island
OF San Domingo, and whether there has been
any understanding that such moneys shall be
refunded by the United States; also to ascer-
tain the application of such moneys and the
agent in obtaining and discussing the same
with power to send for persons and papers
Mr. Sumner offered a joint resolution amend
ing the constitution so as to confine the Presi-
dent to one term and said that President
Grants civil service reform recommendations
omitted the important recommendation of the
adoption of the one term principle The civil
service reform without this would be playing
Hamlet with Hamlet left out. His amend
ment would not go into operation until the 4th
of March, 1873. The resolution was laid over
Mr.. Kellogg introduced a bill relating to pro-
posals and contracts for transportation of mails.
Referred to the Committee ON Post Office. The
bill makes it a misdemeanor for any one to re-
fuse to perform a contract after receiving the
award therefor; declares that no bidder shall
be released from the obligation under his bid
even after the award is made to a lower bidder
until the contract is duly signed by the latter
1t is also provided that the Postmaster General
may reject bids for the mail service which shall
appear upon investigation to be fraudulent or
fictitious; and among other provisions there is
one that after the regular bidder or contractor
shall have failed either to enter into contract
or fulfill his contract when made, the POstmas-
ter General shall proceed to contract on the
best obtainable terms with any responsible
party, whether bidder or not, for performing
said service.
MIR. Clayton rose to personal explanation.
He called attention to the article in the Chroni-
Gle of Washington stating that the Judiciary
Committee had been for some days investigat-
ing certain charges against him and that that
investigation was likely to result in his expul-
sion, and asked the chairman of that commit
tee (Mr. Trumbull) what information he had
upon the subject
Mr.. Trumbull replied that no such nvestiga-
ton was going on and he never heard of it be-
fore.
Mr.. Thurman offered resolution to admit
MIR. Goldthwaite, of Alabama, to seat in the
Senate pending the investigation by the Com
mittee on Elections of his right to a seat. 1t
was in accordance with the uniform practice to
admit Senator having prinaa fac5e claim to a
seat pending the investigation of the claim
MI ouermau WAS opposed TO admitting MT.
GOldthwaite because the evidence laid before
the Senate that several members of the Legis-
lature which elected him held their own seats
by fraud and violence, and that others were in
eligible to Office under the 14th amendment.
Pending the discussion the morning hour ex
pired and the unfinished business was taken up.
THE GENERAL AMNESTY BILL.
The House General Amnesty bill was taken
up.
Mr. Morton's amendment, providing that the
act shall not be construed TO Validate Jne e1eC-
ton of anybody to Office under the United
States Government who at the time of his cleo
ton was ineligible to Office, was rejected.
Yeas-Messrs. Ames Anthony, Buckingham,
Caldwell, Carpenter, Chandler, Clayton, Conk-
ling, Corbett, Edmunds, Ferry of Michigan,
Flanagan, Frelinghuysen, Hamlin, Morrill, Of
Maine, Morrill, of Vermont, Morton, Nye,
Pomeroy, Pool, Pratt, Ramsey, Rice. Sawyer,
Scott, Spencer, Sumner and Windom-2S.
Nays-Messrs. Alcorn, Bayard, Blair, Cas-
serly, Cooper, Davis of Kentucky, Davis of
West Virginia, Fenton, Ferry of Connecticut,
Hamilton of Maryland, Hill, Hitchcock, john
son, kellogg, Kelly, Lewis, Logan, Norwood,
Robertson, Salisbury, Schurz, Sherman, Stew
enson, Stockton, Thurman, Upton, Trumbull,
Vickers and West-2S.
Mr. Summers amendment to the supple
mentary civil rights bilP' then came up
Mr.. Thurman made point that it was not in
order, because it was measure which if stood
alone COulu D0 passed. Dy lldJOIlty NOtcS, WHhc
the pending bill required two-thirds vote.
Mr. Trumbull raised point that the amend
ment was not in order because it would require
the approval OF the President in order to be-
come a law; whereas, the amnesty bill could
become a law without the Presidents approval.
This point was discussed at length by Messrs.
Trumbull, Carpenter, Edmunds, Conkling,
Thurman and Davis of Kentucky. Both points
were overruled by the chair.
Mr. Sumner addressed the Senate in favor OF
his amendment.
Mr.. Sawyer opposed attaching it to this bill
The amnesty bill was SO important and urgent
a measure of public policy that he did not want
to have it embarrassed by any other measure
however meritorious. He believed that the
great mistake in the reconstruction of the South
ern States was the imposition of any political
disabilities and it was due to that mistake that
his State (South Carolina) had now govern
ment which was a disgrace to the Republican
party and scandal to the country before the
civilized world. The Senator for Massachusetts
in his zeal for equal rights was seeking to tack
his amendment to this bill, but the colored peo-
pie at the South if they could be heard, would
themselves say to that Senator, 'Give us am
nesty first and we will be sure to get our rights
sooner or later under your bill.
Mr. Thurman appealed from the decision of
the chair upon his point of order, and the decis-
ion was sustained-yeas 2S, nays 26.
Mr. Summers amendment was rejected by the
following vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Ames, Anthony, Brownlow,
Buckingham, Caldwell Carpenter CLAYTON,
Conkling Corbett, Edmunds, Ferry of Michi-
gan, Flanagan Frelinghuysen, Hamln, Kel-
logg, Morrill, of Vermont, Morton, Nye Patter-
son, Pomeroy, Pratt, Ramsay, Rice, Sherman,
Spencer, Sumner, West, Wilson and Window
-29.
Fays-Messrs Alcorn, Bayard, Blair, Bore
man, Casserly Cooper, Davis of Kentucky,
Davis of West Virginia, Fenton, Ferry of Con.
necticut, Hamilton of Maryland, Hill, Hitch
cock, johnson, Kelley, Lewis, Logan, Morrill,
of Maine, Norwood, Pool, Robertson, Sauls-
bury, Sawyer, Schurz, Scott, Stevenson, Stew.
ard, Thurman, Upton, Trumbull-30
| Mr.. Edmunds offered an amendment to ex
| clude all members of Congress succeeding the
| 35th, who participated in the rebellion, which
| was lost-ayes 81, nays 81.
Mr.. Pratt offered an amendment prOvidins
that the removal of disabilities does not give
persons relieved any status in court they de
| not now possess in asserting their claims agains
the United States, Yeas %, nays "a.
Mr. Wilson moved to amend by striking on
the exceptions in the bill, and excepting onl.
| the members of the 36th and 37th Congresses
who aided the rebellion, Judges of the Supreme
Court of the United States and heads of execu
tive departments of the government in 1860 ant
1861, who joined the rebellion-yeas 4, nays 50
Mr.. Morton offered substantially his amend
ment of yesterday, when it was rejected to-day
and it was adopted 20 to 26.
MIR. Sherman offered an amendment, whicl
was rejected-yeas %, nays 81
Mr.. Morton offered an amendment excluding
from the operation of the bill all who are o
have been within twelve months members o
the Ku-Klux Klan. Lost-yeas 27, nays 2S.
| Mr.. Conkling offered substantially the sam
amendment as Mr.. Pratt which was rejected
Yeas q, nays 80.
Mr. Pratt offered an amendment excludin
members of the Ku-Klux Klan organization
Lost Yeas q, nays 20,
The bill having been considered in Commit
tee of the Whole was reported to the Senate
and the question taken on concurring In II
adoption
Mr.. Morton's amendment was concurred in
Yeas %, nays 26.
Mr.. Sumner again offered in the Senate h
supplementary civil rights bill
MIR. Kellogg opposed it and urged the passas
of the bill as it came from the House, as ma
ter OF justice and sound policy. The people {
the South had naturally affiliated with the II
publican party, but We're opposed to it now b.
cause 1T was identified in their minds with law
that oppress them subject them to heavy an
grinding taxation and put them at the mere
OF loaters, thieves and adventurers.
MI. Thurman denounced.
Mr.. Summers amendment as proposing
most HaSrant violation of the constitution,
Mr. Robertson wished to call the attention
the country to the fact, that men who heraldt
themselves as friends of amnesty had voted
trammel the bill with amendments.
Mr.. Sawyer was confident that this Congre
would very soon pass the amnesty bill and WI
willing to wait for it, for the sake of getting
properly framed bill.
Mr.. Logan charged that certain Senators wi
urged the passage of the amnesty bill, had t
day voted for amendments intended to del;
, the bill till the committee should have report
f on the claim of one man to a seat in the Sc
ate, referring to Gov. Vance, of North Carolin
He had himself seen men on the floor butto
Q holing Senators to postpone the bill until t
case was settled. The measure was now d