The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-06-06
49d CONGRESS.
SENATE.

4
Gulf Railroad Company, which was reat
and passed.
Mr.. MORRILL,, ol Vermont from th,
Committee on Public Buildings anC
Grounds reported without an amendment
House bills for the construction Of gov
eminent buildings in Port Huron, Mlchi
gan and Nashville, Tennessee.
MIR. PoMERoY moved to postpone the
consideration Of the sundry appropria
tton bill, and to take. up His resolution
setting aside the provision Of the Senate
rule governing the amendments to the
appropriation bills which limits the
amendments 10 said bill to the matter
pertaining thereto.
Mr.. CAssRRLY objected to any modifi,
catiou Of the rule which had been
adopted.
After much consideration the motion
was lost and the Senate proceeded "a
consider the sundry civil appropriation
bill.
The question being on the motion Of
the committee TO strike out the sixth
section appropriating $250OO0 to pay the
unsettled claims against the government
on account Of the services rendered in
carrying the mails In the late rebel States
prior to May 81, 1861.
Debate ensued, thereupon Mr.. SHRR.
NAN moved as an amendment 10 the pend.
ing motion to strike out "that the section
shall apply to the claims OF mail contrac.
tors prior TO the passage of the so.called
ordinance OF secession Id States where
services were rendered" Rejected. Yeas
IS; nays 90.
4r. CoNKLNG said If such legislation
was TO be carried through Congress, there
would be a door open to payments TO The
rebel soldiers.
MIR. THURMAN saw no analogy.
Mr.. MORRILL,, Of Vermont, moved to
amend so that no compensation shall be
made except on proof that the contract.
ors have not received pay, or promise Of
pay from any other person for performing
this service.
MIR. CAssERLY moved an amendment 70
require the claims agent 10 show that the
service for which they ask compensation
was actually rendered. Agreed 10.
Mr.. PRATT moved to make the section
apply 10 services in the increased mails Of
the United States exclusively, the ques.
ton being on agreeing to Mr.. MoRRiIi1's
amendment.
MIR. SAWYER moved to amend by pro-
viding that no compensation shall be al.
lowed where the liability has been as.
sumed by any party other than the Unit
ed States.
Mr.. MoRRIIA said the distinct PROPOSE
tion now before the Senate was for the
United States TO step in and pay that
which has already been paid or assumed
to be paid by the Rebel government.
MIR. ALcoRN said the claimants under
this action had carried out their contracts
with the United States up TO this time.
They were suspended BY the Postmaster
General, and that the amounts due such
contractors had been carried to their
credit on the books Of the Postofice De.
partment.
The amendment suggested by Mr..
SAWYER was then. agreed to; yeas 25,
nays Is.
Mr.. RAMSEY moved to further amend
Mr. MoRRELL's amendments by adding to
them proviso that in no case shall pay
ment be made for carrying mails on any
route on the date at which the contract
was discontinued in the regular report Of
arrival and departure Of mails.
Pending action onthis amendment, MI.
COLE moved to lay the sundry civil ap.
preparation bill on hetable. Not agreed
to-yeas, 10; nays, II.
MIR. SHERMAN read from the constitu.
ton Of the Confederate government to
show that 1t was adopted on the 11th-of
March, 1861, with congress then in ses.
sion, and that 1t went into immediate
operation without ratification by the peo.
pie. Among, the powers named in that
instrument, was that over the postal ser.
vice and under that power, all contracts
then existing with the United States were
continued under the rebel government.
He thought any attempt to pay disloyal
men for carrying rebel mail for three
months alter services had been broken
off with the United States, would shock
the moral sense Of the entire northern
States that were engaged in putting down
the war of the rebellion.
The amendment Of Mr.. RAMSEY was
rejected. Yeas, 10; nays, IS.
Mr.. STEWART moved to amend Mr..
MoRRILL's amendment by a proviso that
voluntary aid, comfort or assistance rem.
dered to the Coniederacy by any contrac.
tor during any time for which his contract
was made, shall be doomed for forfeiture
of contract and OF all sums OF money due
him thereon. Not agreed to-yeas 81
nays "a.
MIR. CoNKLIEG renewed his amendment
with modification so as to make for.
feiture apply to an act of aid and assis.
lance rendered the rebel government at
any time before the contract was termi.
mated by the United States. Not agreed
to-yeas 10, nays 81.
MIR. CoNKLING renewed his amendment
again with q modification, making for.
teiture apply to the acts of aid or comfort
TO rebels after such aid or assistance was
rendered.
Mr.. TRUMDuII moved to lsy,the amend
ment Of Mr.. MORRILL, on the table.
Agreed to; yeas-2li nsys-20.
Mr. iTRUMBULL then moved to amend,
providing that to entitle person to pay
for service rendered under the provision
OF this section, the service must
have been rendered while the mail
service was actually under the control Of
the United States BY person who was
loyal to the United States.
Mr.. SCOTT moved 10 amend the amend.
ment providing that no payment shall be
made to any party until the Postmaster
General shall have certified that such
nnntronf Hyan aIInJ ,,..u