Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-17
F0RTY-FIRST. CONGRESS-
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is.

chased by the United States for National
Asylum for disabled soldiers, came up and
was debated for several hours by Mr.. Sher-
man in favor and Mr.. Thurman in opposition.
Mr. Sherman explained that the bill was
made necessary by recent decision of the
Supreme Court of Ohio, under which some
! three or four hundred soldiers in the Asylum
near Dayton, under the laws of the State
and otherwise entitled to vote, were disfran-
chised as nonresident, because not within
one mile ceded to the general government by
Ohio, preparatory to establishing an insttu-
/ ton. He went on to show that the accept
ance of this land by the general government
was upon the condition that no resident upon
it, otherwise eligible. should by. that change
OF jurisdiction be deprived of his right to
| vote.
! He commented upon the decision referred
| to as shock to the feelings of every citizen
of the State, and said that there was a strong
public sentiment in Ohio, that tho right to
vote should be restored to their soldiers.
Mr.. Thurman defended the decision re-
ferred to, as having been rendered unin-
| tiuenced by demagogism,' and independent
and corruptible Judiciary. In regard to the
inevitable effect of passing the bill of charity
known as the Dayton Soldiers Home, he
proceeded to show the justice and proprety
of the decision made by FIVE Republican
judges against the wishes of their party in
that State.
After a long discussion of the legal and
constitutional points involved, Mr.. Thurman
said in reply to Mr.. Shermans remarks, that
he would prefer the disbandonment of the
Asylum to the Acknowledgement of the coun-
try's defenders, and that he did not propose
to be carried away by the unwearing glorifi-
cation of soldiers, while he earnestly APP
preciated the soldiers in the late war. He
thought where they owned no allegiance to,
and partook of none of the responsibilities of
the State, it was no great hardship to deny
them participation in its government for the
time being. He had been one of the first to
secure the ballot to Ohio soldiers in the field
in 1862, hut that was not penitent. The bill
was unconstitutional in ceding to the State
of Ohio jurisdiction over this Asylum, and
the act of the Ohio legislature in extending
the franchise to Ohioans who were inmates
thereof, was an excess of its authority.
Messrs. Bayard and Carpenter also spoke
against the bill, and without disposing Of the
subject the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
A memorial of Hugh J. Hastings of the n. Y
Commercial Advertiser was read to the House.
denying authenticity of the affidavit ascribed
| to him, and claiming that the controversy was
of personal character and should be left to
the Courts.
a bill for an air line railroad between New
York and Washington came up from last
Monday, the question being whether the
House would grant leave for its introduction
which was decided in the affirmative-11 to 2S.
All Democrats voted in the negative, together
with number of Republicans.
The credentials of Messrs. Price, Young.
and Bethure, representatives elect from
Georgia, were presented, and NO objection
being made those gentlemen were sworn in.
After some discussion the Hastings memo
rial was referred to a select committee with
out instructions.
Mr.. Cox of New York offered resolution
which was referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means, requesting the Secretary of the
Treasury to transmit all correspondence since
July 18th, 1870, relative to the repeal of the
general order system of the New York Gus
tom House, together with his views as to the
necessity of additional legislation to compel
the collector to re-establish the system.
Mr.. Long, member elect from the fourth
district of Georgia, appeared and took the
oath of Office.
Mr. Getch moved to suspend the rules and
return to its place on the Speakers table, the
Senate bill of last session, relating to the
central branch of the Union Pacific Railroad
being in the affirmative.
Mr.. Banks, of Massachusetts,, moved to
suspend the rules and pass concurrent reso-
luton, resembling resolution passed last
Monday, which was referred to special COM
mttee on the subject of ocean telegraph cable
legislation. He represented that the resolu-
ton was passed hurriedy and without being
understood by the House, which had alrea dy
referred the subject to the Committee on For
eign Affairs. He said the subject involved
appropriations to the amount of S20, 100000
or S25, 100000. One enterprise alone called
for subsidy of $40, 900, 900, and their are four
or five others which would follow in the same
wake. The subject has been considered for
five months by Committee on Foreign Affairs,
and that Committee are ready to report.
Mr.. Starkweather of Connecticut, who
offered the resolution on Monday, opposed its
being rescnded and advocated the propriety
of having the subject referred to joint Sc
lect committee, as no less than thirteen bills
on the subject had been referred in the Senate
and House to various committees. The Chair
man of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Affairs had stated in the Senate to-day that
tn Committee would not report this session,
thus leaving the whole business of ocean tele-
graph in the hands of monopoly that charge
triple rates.
The question was further discussed by
Messrs. Butler of Massachusetts,, Wearfield,
and Dawes, against the resolution offered by
Mr.. Banks, and by Messrs. Judd, Wood, and
Myers in support Of it.
Mr.. Dawes said as in the original PROPOSE
ton he was in favor Of placing the subject in
control of a joint special committee, and that
he did not apprehend there was any danger
of subsidies being allowed.
Mr. Banks argued that the Joint Commit
tee of the two Houses were inconsistent with
the nature and character of general legisla-
ton, and if his colleague Dawes proposed
each House should act on the subject separ-
ately, referring it to a committee of confer
encc, he did that which would bring dishoner
on the House.
Mi. Dawes-What is the matter with my
colleague.
Mr.. Banks--I will tell any colleague what
is the matter. l complain of the surprise
practiced. on the House, to which my col
league himself seems to have been party
and complain of injustice done to my Com
mittee, and complain of the manner of Leg
slaton proposed by my colleague.
Mr.. Dawes remarked that his colleague
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