Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
Ranscms Of North Carolina, Seated.
The Case Of DIR. Howard Taken up.
SENATE.

| SENATE
WASHINGTON, April 24.-Mr. Ransom
was sworn in as Senator from North Caro-
lima.
A. G.. Thurman said that now, for the
| first time since 1861, every seat was filed
and every State represented, fact upon
which the Senate and the country might
well congratulate themselves.
A resolution giving salary from the 4th
Of March, 1871, to April %, 1872, and mile
age, to Abbott Of North Carolina, was
passed.
Mr.. Sumner presented petitions Fl ON 1885,
600 citizens of the United States against
recognizing God in the constitution.
The Revenue Row.
The report of the Senate Privileges and
Election Committee on House reslution
| declaring that the substitution by the
Senate of its bill TO reduce existing taxes
for the House bill repeating duties on tea
and coffee was unconstitutional, and noti-
flying the Senate that the same had been
land on the table, presents an extended ar
gument, and comes to the following eonclu-
sions:
Your committee are therefore of opinion
that the House bill under consideration was
not bill for raising revenue within the
meaning Of the constitution, and therefore,
while the Senate might have amended it so
as to abolish the duties altogether on other
articles, the Senate had no right to engraft
it as it did in substance, with en- amend
ment providing that revenue should be col
lected on other articles though at a less
rate than previously fixed by law. 1t is
due, however, to the Senate, to say that its
nGr1affT1rp from fbn frI1n .it,o oivla in
this case was owing to desire
to conform to the views of the
House of Representatives as expressed by
the House in relation to the Senate
bill abolishing the tax on incomes, and thus
to preserve harmony between the two
houses; but since the House of Representa-
tiVes, exalting its prerOgative, asserts on one
occasion what it denies on another, it has
become necessary to review in the light of
principle and seek for a solution of the diff
ficulty in conformity with the Constitution,
to which it is hoped the House will assent,
and 10 which it is the duty of the Senate to
adhere, whether the House shall assent or
dissent. Your committee recommend that
the Senate adopt the following resolution
"Resolved, That the Secretary of the
SenateLbe and he is hereby directed to de-
liver copy Of this report to the House of
Representatives"
The Court of Claims.
The Deficiency bill was then taken up,
the pending question being on Mr.. Bayard's
motion TO lay on the table the amendment
of Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, restricting the
jurisdiction of the Courts of Claims in suits
for the value of captured and abandoned
property to cases commenced within two
years after the suppression of the rebellion,
and in which the claimants must prove that
they never gave aid or comfort to the rebel
lion.
The vote was: Yeas, 25; nays, 25, and
the Vice-President voted in the negative, so
the motion was lost.
The question then recurred on the amend
ment. Mr.. Hill spoke against it at length.
Mr.. Trumbull favored it. Mr.. Sherman
said if Congress had not limited the juris-
diction of the court of claims to claims
brought by loyal men, or could not so limit
it, he was in favor of abolishing the court.
Mr.. Alcorn moved the following amend
ment to the pending amendment: "PrOvid-
ed that the provisions of this section shall
not extend to claims for property seized or
taken by the military forces of the United
States or any officer of the same, or seized,
taken or impressed by any agent or agents
of the United States Government at any
time after the proclamation by the PreSi-
dent declaring the war TO have ceased; but
claims for property so seized or taken may
be presented before the court of claims by
sny citizen of the United States at any time
within twelve months from the approval of
this act"
Messrs. Howe and Sherman said that in
the cases described in the amendment no
body, whether of loyal or disloyal ante
cedents, could have a remedy through the
Court of Claims.
Mr.. Alcorn advocated his amendment.
The Senate went into executive session,
and soon adjourned.