The Portland daily press., 1871-04-21
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
XLIId OONGRESS---First Session.
SENATE

WASHINGTON, April 20.-Messrs. Conkling
and Davis of Kentucky, were appointed to wait
on the President and inform him that unless
he had some further communication to make
Congress was now ready to adjourn.
On motion of Mr.. Scott all bills on the table,
petitions, ETC., we're ordered to be referred to
their appropriate committees. ae
Mr.. West introduced bill to incorporate
the Louisiana, Kansas and New Mexico rail-
road company. Referred. At 12 20 the SEN
ate went into executive session.
At two o'clock the doors were re-opened
when the committee to wait on the President
reported that he had no further communica-
ton to make. The President pro tenn Gan
thony) then declared the Forty-Second Con-
gress adjourned sine de- 10 t
HOUSE.
The House met at half past ten o'clock and
received message from the Senate announc-
ing its agreement to the conference report on
the Ku Kiux bill and the passage of the con-
current resolution for the final adjournment at
two o'clock to-day. The House proceeded to
bill. Mr.. Poland of Vermont, who presented
the report, proceeded to explain and advocate
it. At the conclusion of Mr.. Poland's remarks
Mr. Cox of New York remarked that the sec
ton submitted for Mr.. Sherman's amendment
did not mean anything
Mr.. Schofield of Pennsylvania -"Of course it
does not and was not designed to-"
Mr.. Cox-"Go on with your music.'-
(Laughter.)
Mr. shellabarger of Ohio thought it was
quite unfair to the true effect and scope of the
substitute to say of it that it did not mean any
thing and was not designed to mean anything,
and proceeded to explain the provisions and
effect of the substitute.
Mr.. Whitehorn, minority member Of the
conference committee, said he had not signed
the report, particularly on account of its re-
tanning the section for the test oath to jurors,
measure which the Democratic side of the
House regarded with more horror than it did
the Sherman amendment He appealed to the
House to pause before it sent such message to
the people of the South and not irritate and
provoke them more. He thought there was
much virtue in it and that it would be bene-
fcient and restraining element in the bill.
Mr.. Beck, in the course of his remarks in Op
position to the report, argued that the effect Of
the clause relative to jurors oaths in the bill
would exclude every honest white man from
the jury and to pack juries for political pur-
poses.
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts denied that the
law was properly subject to the construction
as Mr.. Beck gave 1t was not enough that per.
sons had fed or clothed confederate soldiers
1t was necessary to show that it.was done for
the purpose of aiding the rebellion. 1t was the
act of rebellion and not an act of charity that
would keep them out of the jury box. He rid
culed the constitutional objections yesterday
to Mr.. Shermans amendment and said he had
known men who had mistaken dyspepsia for
conscience and doubts and qualms tOr cOnsti-
tutiOual law. He looked upon the substitute
| for the Sherman amendment as utterly fruit
less and useless, mere illusion. The effect
would be as absurd as to brig suit against
three hundred foxes with fire brands tied to
their tails as remedy for burning corn. As
| far as be knew they were the original Ku
Klux. (Laughter.) There was not the first
pretepce of remedy in that substitute. There
was not a man who believed there ever would
be verdict under it. The object was merely
| to throw dust in the eyes OF the people, but af
| ter all he should go for it just as often as be
| had to be passed. He would therefore take
| this bill with the load.
Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, replied 20 Mr.. Beck:
| objections in regard to the jury test oath, and
a remedial measure, as it modified the existing
law on the subject In reply to tho remarks o
| Mr.. Butler, he reminded the House OF tn,
| NEUROLOGICAL God who ate up his own children
as fast as they were born into the world.
Mr.. Butler-What was his name?-Naugh
| Mr.. Garfield-He was very saturnine gen
| tleman. Laughter.) The gentleman from
Massachusetts, had child of his own he wishe'
to get born into life or get it a home in tn
Congress of the United States, but the mon
| ster could not get its status here in this Hons
| at all, and from that hour the gentleman ha'
been dissatisfied with everything attempted il
the way of Ku Klux legislation. Now tina
the whole Republican party is in line on thi
report the gentleman acts in character whel
he comes up to throw all the contempt he pcs
sibly can npOn this bill. do not regard it a
measure either OF wisdom or patriotism thu
to dismiss with curses and maledictions an
contempt the fruit OF these six weeks of labo
| on this question.
The report was then agreed to, 90 to u
strictly party vote, and the bill was sent t
| the President for his signature.
Mr.. Kerr OF Ind, In the course Of his re
marks in opposition to the bill, said it was
remarkable fact that One-half OF the entir
press Of the country, almost without dissent
ing voice, condemned and denounced sue
legislation, and that very large and most re
spectacle class of the other half of the pres
with great earnestness and ability equally cor
denim and denounce it. That was true of som
of the ablest organs of the Republican party
He invited attention to the latest expressie
| of one of the most sagacious, able and h0nOrs
BILE organs of the Republican party in th
country, the Chicago Tribune. loud an
sneering laughter from the Republican side.)
Mr.. Kerr said he would wait for the gentle
men to conclude their laughter. He was er
was yery good thing, and in order to aid the
eniovment he would ask the Clerk to read a
article from the Chicago Tribune of last Thur
day. entitled, "Shall the sword superced
Iaws?" The article having been read, Mr. kel
said he commended it to the careful and pray
erfnl Consideration of the gentlemen on IL
other side Of the House. who have been 80 vel t
merry at the idea Of the ChiGago Lranure .rt -
! ing the leading organ of the Republican part
Whether it was or not, he believed the q a.
would soon come when gentlemen on that SIC
of the House would be sorry that they had ~
followed the wise counsels given them by IN
paper,
The motion by Mr.. Conger, of Michiga
, that Mr.. Foster, the member elect from Mich
gan be sworn in was opposed by Messrs. Dave
|, Banks and others, as establishing a dangero
precedent, Mr. Foster having no credentials