Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
Lively Debate on DIR. Towards Case.
The House AdjOurns in Confusion.
SENATE,

SENATE.
| WASHINGTON, ID. c., April 25.-Mr
| Buckingham presented a set of resolutions
from q council of Congregational churches
Of the United States at Oberlin, Ohio, ap-
proving the treaty Of Washington, and ask
ing Congress to take measures for the es-
Enlistment of general system of interna-
tional arbitration.
Ku-RIuxI
Mr.. Scott, from the Ku-Klux Committee,
reported testimony relating to Florida,
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Mr.. Morton from the Committee on Pri-
vileges and Elections, reported with amend
ments bill supplementary to the enforce
nlent act Of May, 1870, providing for and in
relation to the appointment of Supervisors
Of elections.
Messrs. Cole and Casserly referred to re-
marks Of Mr.. Sargent in the House, which
animadverted on the course of the Cali
fornia Senators on the Government Island
question.
Objection was made to Mr.. Sargent's re-
marks being read, and Mr.. Edmunds sug-
gested that if the Objectionable remarks jus
titled it, the best course would be for the
1NlAdLC 10 SGlAu 10 IllG HOUSE.
The matter was then dropped.
The Court Of Claims.
The deficiency bill came up as unfinished
business.
Mr.. Alcorn offered amendments provid-
ing that its provisions should not apply to
judgments heretofore rendered by court
Of claims. Agreedto
Mr.. Sherman moved to strike out Mr..
Morrih's amendment provision, that judg-
ments of court claims in a suit arising out
of the rebellion, shall not be paid unless
out of special appropriations made for the
purpose; agreed to.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved to amend Mr..
Alcorn's amendment, already adopted, so
as to make il apply only to cases in which
it has been found as proven the fact, that
the claimants have given aid or comfort to
the rebellion; agreed to-22 to IS.
Mr.. Bsyard offered an amendment pro-
viding that proof of loyalty to the United
States, or Of not having given aid or COM
fort to the rebellion, shall be required of
any party to a suit cognizable by the Court
Of Claims founded on a contract with the
United States entered into since the sup
preston of the rebellion. Agreed to
Mr.. Alcorn offered the following amend
ment "And provided further, that if any
Judgment heretofore rendered in favor of
claimants, in which the question of loyalty
was not passed on, the court, ON application
of the claimant, may certify as to the ques-
ton Of loyalty as shown by the evidence on |
record" Agreed 10.
Mr.. Morrills amendment as amended
was then agreed to-ayes, p; nays, II.
Having been considered in Committee of |
the Whole, the bill was reported to the
Senate where an amendment was adopted |
increasing the salary Of the Second Comp
troller of the Treasury 50 $1,000.
Pending final action on the deficiency bill, |
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Banks offered a resolution calling on |
the President for copy of the British |
counter case. Adopted.
DIR. Howard.
The House resumed consideration of the |
case of DR.. Howard.
Mr.. Wood, a member Of the Committee |
OH Foreign Affairs, addressed the House in |
support of the resolution. He said there |
was no doubt but Howard was an Ameri- |
can citizen. All the evidence ia the case
showed this. He stated that at the time of |
Towards arrest the fact of his being re-
gistered as an American citizen and of hav-
ing, with other Americans, applied to have |
an American man-of-war sent there was /
known to the Spanish authorities. He |
protested that he was not actuated by any |
partizan motives in the position which he |
took, knowing that it might involve the |
country in war. Still he was for his cOun- |
try, right or wrong, and he would not by |
any act or word of his justify the position |
of any foreign government as against the |
United States, unless the case was so over |
against the United States that |
there could be no possible room for divi- |
sion of sentiment among the American |
people.
MIR. W. R. Roberts supported the resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Willard, member of the committee
on foreign affairs, opposed the resolution,
ana reminded the House of the grave i'm
portance of the subject. He had noticed
that the Democratic side of the House was
always ready and eager to stretch the pow
ers of government for naturalzed citizens
who had gone abroad and rendered them
selves amenable to justice in other cOun-
tries, while, at the same time, when it came
to question of American citizens at home,
from masked, midnight marauders, the
DemOcratic-side If the House always held
it to be unconstitutional TO interfere for
their protection. When members were
found occupying these opposite positions,
it was fair case to suppose their zeal
was rather zeal to make a point against
a Republican administration of affairs than
TO protect honestly the rights of American
citizens. He regarded it nothing short of i'm
pertinence for the House to declare what
the foreign policy Of the government should
be-. This resolution was virtually decla-
ration of war, for if demand of the gov
ernmont for the unconditional release of
Howard should be met with peTemptory
refusal on the part of the Spanish Govern
ment, it would have to be followed up by
he strong arm Of the United States Gov
eminent.
Mr.. Poland stated that in his judgment
The pending resolution was utterly I'M
American and utterly hostile and contrary
to the whole doctrine that had been peeu-