Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-24
Forty-second Congressional Session
WASHINGTON, D. c Jan. %.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON, ID = Jan. 3D.
SENATE
Several petitions were presented in favor Of
civil rights, and for the repeal OF the duties on
salt, coal and iron.
Mr. lrumbull, on presenting several of the lat
ter from western states, called Mr.. MorilPS at
tcntion thereto, saving that Mr., Morrill, appear
ed almost alarmed at their number.
MI Morrill, responded that he had the utmost
respect for spontaneous petitions, hut none for
such petitions as these (Which showed by their
uniformity of language and their yellow covers
that they all emanatad from the British free
trade league in New York. Uaughter.)
The apportionment bill was reported to the
senate with amendments, tables, &c.
Discussion took place on the amnesty bill
Mr.. Morton declared himself opposed to uni
yersal suffrage and characterized the arguments
in its favor as based upon SiCkly scntimcntalism
and spurious generosity. He thought there was
a good deal of misapprehcnsion throughout the
country in regard to the disabilities now resting
upon those who engaged in the rebellion. 1t
was, perhaps, not generally known that Jcfler-
son Davis and all his followers had as much
right to vote as any man who served in the union
army.
1t was argued that amnesty would conciliatG
the people of the south, hut he believed the
leaders could no more be concacd in that way
than rattlcsnakes could be conciliated by re-
storing their extracted fangs. They would die
as they had lived, rebels. Mr.. Morton further
said he would vote for Mr. Summers supplement
tary civil rights bill as an amendment to the
amnesty bill.
A personal controversy was kept up for some
time between Mr. Morton and MIR. Blair.
At four O'Clock the senate went into eXccu-
tive session, and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Petitions for the reduction of the tobacco tax
to 16 cents and for the repeal olthe tax on spirits
were presented.
Mr. ll0ar. ON the committee on education
and labor, reported back the communication of
the secretary OF war in relation to Gen. Baloch's
affairs as disbursing officer of the lreedmen's
bureau, and it was referred to the committee on
military affairs.
AT halGpast one O'Clock the house proceeded
to the consideration of the executive, legislative
and judicial appropriation bill.
Mr.. Garfield, chairman of the appropriation
committee, made speech explanatory of the
bill.
Mr.. Pierce, from the committee on education
and labor, reported a bill to establish an educa-
tional fund, and to apply the proceeds of public
lands TO the education of the people, and asked
that ii be put upon its passage.
The house went into committee of the whole
on the legislative and executive appropriation
| bill.
Mr.. Garfield spoke at some length in eXplana-
ton OF the bill, which appropriates S235600
less than the same bill of last year, and S3,000,-
600 less than the estimates.
Mr.. Wood attacked the administration for its
eXtrayagant and enormous expenditures.
MIR. Hale replied by a comparison with Bu-
chanan's administration, which, he said, in
creased the debt S3l 1000, 900 in a time of pro-
found peace,
General debate closed, and the clerk pro-
ceeded TO read the bill by clauses for amend
ment.
After progressing through thirteen pages of
the bill, which contains tifty-siX pages, the
committee rose.
At four O'Clock, adjourned.