Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-07
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TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Forty Second Congressional Session
w AsHINGToN, =.
SENATE.

Mr.. Sherman. from the finance committee,
reported a bill requiring the Secretary of the
Treasury to call in 100000 Of three per
cent certificates monthly, in addition to the
amount he was now authorized to retire each
month by the existing laws.
Mr. Conkling offered a resolution which
was adopted, directing the committee on re-
trenchment to investigate the abuses of ex-
tortion in connection with the quarantine and
health regulations of New York.
Mr. Robertson called up in regular order
the amnesty bill and the resolution went
over.
Mr.. Edmunds said that he would call it up
tomorrow
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial Of the
house holders OF the District of Columbia
asking protection against the extravaganza OF
the territorial government, which has already
incurred a debt of $4,000, 600, equal to one
sixth the value of the whole district.
Mr. Frelinghuysen presented the resolu
ton of the New Jersey legislature recon-
mending the purchase of independence Hall
for the centennial celebration in 1876, the
purchase money to be used by Philadelphia
for the erection of a museum of revolutionary
arts.
Mr.. Sherman reported bill making it an
offence punishable by years imprisonment
firm or individual to issue any obligation or
promise to pay for the use as circulating
medium or currency.
House.
The educational bill came up at halt-past
one.
Mr.. Pierce offered a proviso that the bill
shall not effect any existing laws kr disposition
of public lands, nor to be constructed as pre-
4. ~. L L.
ress may hereafter see fit to make.
Mr.. Finklenburg of Mo, intimated that he
would vote against the proviso it seemed
to make reservation for failure railroad
grants.
Mr.. Poland of VT, offered an amendment
providing that the act is not to have any eff
feet to impede any law authorizing pre-
cmption of public lands, nor shall it be con-
strued as limiting in any manner the power
of Congress to alter or extend the right of
homesteads.
Mr. Dunnell spoke in advocacy of the bill.
He saw nothing in it recognizing the right of
the national government to interfere in edu-
cation in the States.
posed to exclude religious denominational
schools from the benefit Of the bill.
Mr.. Dunnell replied that denominational
schools as such, were not entitled to partici-
patton in the proposed fund, any more than
they were under the laws setting aside GER
tain township sections of the public lands for
school purposes.
During the discussion Mr.. Butler of Tenn
declared that the democratic party had stolen
three millions of the Tennessee school fund,
and the republican party only three hundred
thousand.
Mr.. Garnett asked when, and Mr.. Butler
cd bap he how 6
the legislature and expelled.
Mr.. Garnett said the latter statement was
willfully false and was called to order.
Mr.. Blair Ci Michigan and Coburn of Indi-
ana spoke in support of the bill, while Harris
of Va, and Storrs of Penn. spoke against it.
Harris saying that Virginia never would sub
NIT social equality between whites and
blacks, while Storrs denounced the bill as
humbug because under distribution for school
purposes would hardly amount to cent and
half head for every man, women or child
in the United States.
Mr.. Storrs also charged that the boosted
education of Massachusetts, had resulted
in producing infdelity in religion and de-
generacy in the race. Two of the greatest
evils which has afflicted Massachusetts and al
most driven out the old fashioned ideas of Pu-
ritanism. He read statistics upon the physi-
cal degeneracy III Massachusetts, showing
that the birth rate in Massachusetts, was
constantly diminishing, and that although the
native population exceeded the foreign pop
ulatan four to one, the birth rate among
the latter were greater than among former.
The number of deaths among the natives
population exceeded the number of births.
Mr.. Kelley of Penn, eulogized the educa-
tional system of his own State and said that
while Virginia was making it a felony to
teach colored child to read, Pennsylvania
had provided a collegiate education for col
ored people, both at Pittsburg and Phila-
delpha.