Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-26
EVENING STAR.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Conclusion Yesterday Proceeding,


SENATE--After our report closed-the de-
feiency appropriation bill being under consid-
eration-the question was taken on Mr.. Sher-
mans amendment to strike out the provision
that judg ment of the court of claims. in form of
suits arising out OF the rebellion, shall not be
made by congress, and il was carried-ayes q Z,
noes II.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen then moved an amendment
to the amendment of Mr.. Alcorn, just adopted,
adding the following words: sin which it snail
be found as proven fact that the claimsn has
not given aid or comfort TO the rebellion"
Mr.. AlcCTn said the adoption of this would
destroy the effect Of his amendment.
The amendment was adopted-yeas p, nays 10.
Mr.. Bayard offered an amendment to the
AMENDING ut. which was adopted, providing that
proof OF loyalty to the United States, or Of not
giving aid and comfort to the rebellion, shall
not be required of any party to suit cognlzable
by the cOuT. Of claims, founded on contract with
the United states, entered into since the sup
preston OF the rebellion.
Mr.. AIcorn moved an amendment, "and pro.
yided further that on any judgment heretofore
rendered in favor of ciaimaets, in which the
question OF loyalty was not passed upon, the
court. on the application of the claimant, may
certify 20 the question OF loyalty as shown by
the evidence on record" Agreed to.
The question then being taken on the amend
ment OF BIZ. Morrill, as amended; it was adopted
The bill having been considered in Committee
of the Whole. was reported to the Senate, when
an amendment was adopted increasing the SAL
Pending further action the Senate, at $50 p.
IL, adjourned.
HOUSE--After our report closed
Discussion was continued at great length on
THE HOUARD CASE.
Mr.. Willard held that tn be entitled to aid from
this government, DIR. Houard must be able to
show that he was in some way identified with it
and had discharged some OF the duties of q citi-
zen under il. He considered that DIR. III had no
more claim upon this government than any
other citizen OF Cuba
hot "a ar y,a
resolution was wholly un-American. 1t had
been the old doctrine that man always owed
allegiance to the country OF his birth. This had
been partially abandoned by the governments
of Europe but our country was the first to
abandon il. Ii was in support of our views on
this point that We went to war In 1872, and I'M
der which We protect our Irish and German
citizens.
MT. L. Myers maintained tina DR.. Houard had
ALWAYS prOfessed his American citizenship; had
been born i'm the United States, educa ted in the
United States, and carried with him to Cuba
the inspiration OF American principles of hber-
u, and he was there known as "the American
homeopathic physician" and under the treaty
with Spain he was entitled to the protection OF
our government.
The concurrent resolutions of regret at the
death of Professor Morse came back from the
Senate with a verbal amendment, and, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Cox, N. Y y the House took up the
resolutions and concurred in the amendment.
Mr.. Bingham (OhiO) offered an amendment
to the HOuard resolution by adding, in effect
unless it shall appear to the President that the
treaty of 11S5 has been fully complied with, and
that he had been convicted under the provisions
of that treaty. He said he respected equally
the rights Of native born and naturaliZed citi-
zens, but he also respected the obligations of
the government
MI. VOORHEES, said he had been informed, he
did not know how -ue it was, that the Secretary
OF State had family connections which would
prevent his making the demand he should upon
Spain; that some of his family were officially
connected with the Spanish government.
Mr.. Banks said that that statement had been
made here once before, and it had been re-
futed.
MIR. VOorhces said he would pursue that ques-
ton no further. but he did know that Spanish
men-of-war had cut out vessels in New York
larbOr and no prosecutions had proven effective;
and if this could be done he did not see any pro-
pIiety in the members debating here whether
we should demand the release of this man, who
was conceded to be an American citizen.
Mr.. Butler denied that HOuard showed that
he was an American citizen, and said all the
evidence was that he was a subject of Spain
This resolution would be reelection upon the
administration, and a vote of censure upon it
He then went on TO argue that the fact of citi
Zensbip must be established; and he argued
further that if a man had come to America a.
Houards father had gone 10 Spain, we would
hold him an American citizen, and the Span
ish government had right to hold Houald al
such.
Mr.. W. r. Roberts N. " asked whether il
was not true that when the Fenians were ar
rested in England the then American Minister
(Charles Francis Adams) had not demanded tC
see each naturalization paper before he would
interfere "
Mr. Butler replied that was so. and added that
Mr.. Roberts and his friends now wanted to elect
that American Minister President OF the United
States. [Laugbter.1
After further debate, pending a vote, Mr.
Blair, (MiCh.,) from the committee appointed
to investigate the charges against Secretary
Robson, presented report; which was ordered
to be printed.
The yeas and NAYS were then demanded on the
motion to adjourn, and the House, at $40 d. In.
agreed to adjOurn-S5 yeas to 81 NAYS.