The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL.


In tine Senate on Friday, there was a
spirited and interesting debate on the stu
alton of affairs between the United States
and Great Britain, elected by Mr. Edrnunds'
resolutian calling upon the President for
any information he may have relative to
the intentions OF the latter nation to repu-
diate the Treaty of Washington. All the
speakers except Mr.. Edmunds opposed any
immediate action i'll the matter, preferring
to wait until official information is received
of the actual position which the English
Government has assumed, but at the same
time repelling the idea of a withdrawal
from the claims which the United States
has made. Without disposing of the reso-
luton the Senate passed on to the consid-
Grafton of the Amnesty bill and Mr.. Sum-
ner's Supplementary Civil Rights bill,
which was pending as an amendment. Mr..
Coles amendment, which was designed to
prevent Chinese from becoming natur-
allied citizens, was rejected. The vote
then REQUIRED on Mr.. Sumner amendment
and resulted in a tie, whereupon Vice Pres
ident ColfaX gave the casting vote in favor
and it was adopted. Mr.. Sawyer moved
to make amnesty universal by striking all
the exceptions from the bill, on which 4
sharp discussion arose. The amendment
was withdrawn and another adopted ex-
Guiding members of the ku-kluX from
amnesty. The bill was then put on it's
passage and the vote stood 80 ayes and 10
nays, number of Republicans voting
against it. AS it did not receive the two
thirds vote requisite for amnesty it was
lost, and amnesty is defeated for the pre-
sent. The Senate then adjourned until
Monday. In the House of Representatives
Mr.. Edwards, the sitting member from the
Third District of Arkansas, was declared
not entitled to his seat, and it was given to
the contestant, Mr.. Boles. The bill to
reimburse William aud Mary College, Nir-
ginia for its losses during the war was
discussed and unanimous disposition
shown in favor of it, but no action was
reached. The Judiciary Committee re-
ported adversely on the memorial for the
impeachment of Justice Fields, of the Su-
preme Court, and Judge Hoffman, of the
United States District Court of California,
and it was ordered to lie on the table,
which virtually is defeat of the project.
The House meet on Saturday for debate
only.
In the Senate on Monday, Mr.. Chandler
presented petitions in favor OF reform in
the collection of the revenue, and spoke in
favor of continuing the system of moieties
to informers. Mr.. Sumner offered a reso-
luton reciting that during the war between
France and Germany, Remington & Sons,
agents of the French Government, procur-
ed arms and ammunition from the arsenals
of the United States, and intimating that
prominent officials of this Government con-
nived at the breach of neutrality; therefore
o.,,f,,
Of a committee of seven to investigate the
matter. The resolution was laid over for
future action. Mr.. Wilson introduced il
resolution, which was adopted, instructing
the Committee on Foreign Relations to
consider the expediency of passing a joint
resolution authorizing the President to
communicate to the Government of Spain
the protest of the United States against the
action of the authorities of Cuba toward
the Chinese laborers of that Island. The
motion to reconsider the vote by which the
bill for the relief of the Chicago sufferers
was passed and adopted and the Senate
adjourned. In the House of Representa-
tives among the bills introduced was one
to aid iron shipbuildng in the United
States, and another to add thirty million
dollars to the national currency circulation.
A bill to permit criminals to testify in their
own behalf was passed. The female snf-
fragists presented 4 petition to be heard at
the bar of the House in their own behalf,
which was rejected by only nine majority.
A resolution that the House should not
adjourn until it has passed Civil Service
Reform bill was referred to the Committee
of the whole. The Committee on the Ju-
dietary was directed to report an Amnesty
bill for the benefit of all persons who apply
for relief from political disabilities, and
the Committee on Ways and Means to re-
port a bill to place tea and coffee on the
free list. The House refused to take ac-
ton on resolution requesting information
from the President in relation to intention
of the British Government with regard to
the Geneva Arbitration.
In the Senate on Tuesday, a bill was
passed to permit the transfer of goods
transported in bond from one car to an
other. After discussing the bill to permit
disabled United States Judges to retire on
full salaries sharp colloquy in regard to
amnesty and civil rights took place between
Mr. Sumner and others. The subject was
postponed and the Senate took up the Leg
islative, Executive and Judicial Appro-
priation bill, and made some progress with
the amendments reported from the commit
tee. In the House of Representatives 4
bill to appropriate $3.50, 600 for the erection
of Government buildings at Albany pro-
voked opposition to the expenditure Of
large amounts for this purpose, but the
bill was passed. Mr.. Dawes was ready
according to instructions with the bill to
repeal the duty on sugar and coffee. and
desired to accompany it with an explana-
ton, which he was not allowed to make,
and so did not present the bill. The House
went into Committee Of the Whole on the
Naval Appropriation bill, and there ensued
IA debate on the Administration, and espe-
cially the Navy Department. Mr.. Hale
explained and defended the bill, and some
of the Democrats stated their purpose not
to vote for it until they receive from the
Department a statement of the amounts
receive from the sale of vessels and mater
ials
The Senate spent Wednesday in debate
on Mr.. Summers resolution of inquiry into
the sale of arms and ammunition by the
United States to the Remingtons as the
agents of the French Government during
the war with Germany. Mr.. Sumner
pressed the investigation on the grounds
of the suspicious circumstances surround
ing the purchase of arms by the Reming-
tons, the alleged discrepancy between the
sums received and those paid into the
Treasury, which amounted, as he stated,
to 1,700,0 900, and the possible breach of
neutrality towards, Germany, and intimat
ed that the Secretary of War is inculpated
by the evidence existing. Mr.. Wilson de-
molished this thread Of theories by stating
the information which he, as Chairman of
the Committee on Military Affairs, is in
possession of. The arms had been sold to
France by private citizens; as soon rs the
Government discovered that the Reming-
tons were acting as French agents their
bids were refused; the apparent discrep-
ancy in the financial account was caused
by the fact that the Treasurer had not re-
ceived all the money due for the arms sold
at the time his last report was made; the
United States did not lose farthing, and
no faint attached to any officer of the Gov
eminent. 1t was also shown that when
the War Department first sold arms to the
Remingtons it had no reason to suspect
that:they were intended for France A
political turn was given to the discussion
by Mr.. Scott's assumption that the inves-
tigation is intended as an attack on the