The Portland daily press., 1872-02-29
xLIID CONGREss..sECOND SESSION.


the Election Committee, reported adversely a
to to the claim of S. C. Abbott to a seat in tn
Senate from North Carolina,
Messrs. Carpenter and Rice, from the sam
committee, reported in favor of Abbott
Mr.. Logan stated that he would call up til
report at an early day.
MIR. Cole stated that the Appropriation Com
mittee were ready to report special importan
pills requiring early action, and asked the Sen
ate to sit to-day until the pending resolution
was disposed Of S4 -
a resolution was adopted that the Secretar,
OF war inform the Senate how many acres O
land there are in the Preside Reservation il
oan francisco; how much is needed for mill
tary purposes and how much the remainder il
worth
"A resolution was adopted that the Printing
committee enquire what means can be takeT
10 reduce the bulk of the Congressional Globe
MI Schurz presented numerous memorials
from different parts of the United States, with
Io,4UI signatures transmitted from the city OF
| boston, protesting against any amendment to
tne constitution, Incorporating therein a recog-
nltlon or God OF Jesus Christ, as an attempt to
overthrow the great principle of religious liber-
founded
= AT the expiration of the morning hour the
senate resumed the consideration of the reso-
tut E 10 investigate the alleged sales of arms
to French agents. >..
MI. Sumner then addressed the Senate. He
saiu that besides the unaccustomed interest this
uepate mad excited, cannot fail to notice it
mas wandered far from any original purpose of
nine ana into fields which l have no de-
sire 10 enter. Shall try to bring it back to the
real issue, which hope to present without pas
SION or prejudice, and here, sir, L declare what
Is Is the only rule of my life, that in what L say
mere to-day there shall not be a single word
%nch is not prompted by love of truth and
uesire ior Justice, but venture to ask you to
remember that there is something on this plan
et besides the Senate or any Senator; something
besides any high officials something higher
tnan any political party. L mean the good
name ia me OF the Americal people and the purity
OF the government, which must be saved from
scandal.
-. Mr; summer proceeded to discuss the ques-
tlon, but developed nothing new.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Summers speech
the question was put on Mr.. TrumbulPs ques-
non TO reconsider the vote by which Mr.. Conk-
ing amendment, directing the Committee to
inquire whether any American Senator OF citi-
zen had held unauthorized communication with
any foreign government or its agent,was adopt
ed ana the motion was lost-yeas 10, nays 2S
The Republicans who voted to reconsider
We're Ferry, Logan, Sprague, TrumbnlI and
West 1t, n
Messrs. Sumner and Schurz did not vote.
MT. Harlan referred to the statement made
by MI Schurz, from the report of the Chief of
Ordnance, that there were only 10000 breach
loading arms IN the arsenal for ISSUE He said
that 1t referred only to the arms of the pattern
of 1866, and added that he had received this
morning from the Secretary of War state
ment showing that there were in store an ag-
gregate of 100000 arms exclusive of those in
the hands of troops. N4 3t
He then replied briefly to Mr. Sumner He
called attention to the fact that the so called
evidence introduced to justify the pending reso-
luton was of French origin, and said it con-
tirmed the opinion he expressed at the com
mencement of the debate that this whole pro-
ceeding had been instigated by French agent
in the hope that it might in some way serve
French interests: 1t was now quite evident
that some French agent had a grievance, and
had found his friendship with certain Senators
very convenient for his purpose
He (Harlan) knew SO far as man could
know, from the statements of others, that this
Marquis of Chambrun who had been eulogized
here, had first applied to Senator known to
be friendly to the administration, and tried to
get him to offer a resolution and having failed
had gone to Senator who had publicly arrayed
himself against the administration. He deep
ly regretted to see that Senator attempt to make
a convenience of the Senate of the United
States in the interest of the agent of a foreign
power. ...--D -
He then discussed at length the history of the
general order business in the New York Gus
tom House.
Mr. Schurz remarked that the statement OBJ
tanned by Mr.. Harlan from the Secretary of
War to-day contradicted the report OF the Chief
of Ordnance, and said: Now it may be all so
but when we produce here deliberate official
report stating one thing, and then ON the spur
of the moment find another report brought in
here stating another thing, it is evident, think
that the ways of the Department are mysteri-
GUS and past finding out, and, therefore, L offer
an amendment directing the committee to in
quire also whether breech-loading muskets or
other muskets capable of being transformed
into breech-loading muskets, have been sold by
the War Department in such large numbers as
to seriously to affect the defensive capacity of
the country in case of war;
Mr. Carpenter obtained the floor, and at 4.30
the Senate adjourned.
N t' even HOUSE.
Mr.. Hale of Me-, presented the resolutions of
the Maine Legislature, declaring that the effect
of the Treaty of Washington promises to be
disastrous to the fishing interests of Maine and
instructing the Senators and Representatives
of that State to use their influence to provide
relief and idemnity for those interests, by a
bounty and fish tonnage OF in such other form
as may be best for those interests. Referred to
the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Lynch of Me-, asked leave to offer reso-
luton, instructing the Committee on Expendi-
ture in the War Department to investigate all
sales of ordinance stores made by government
for the year ending June, 1871 and whether any
member of the Senate or other citizen of the
United States had been in communication or
collision with the government of France
with any agent thereof, with power to send for
persons and papers and conduct the investga-
ton in public a8Ai2 aUioEF k-oIo,T,.fs
Mr. Dawes of Mass, said he should like be-
fore member proposed an investigation into
the conduct of Senator to stand in his place
and be responsible for some definite charge
Mr. Lynch said he had no objection to strik-
ing that part out
Mr. Dawes-I do not think heexample good;
only if the gentleman has any ground for sus7
so
Mr. Hooper of Mass, objected to the recep-
ton of the resolution.
The bill from the Committee on Banking, to
facilitate bank clearing house exchanges, came
up as the first business in the morning hour.
Mr. Garfield of Ohio. opposed the bill as in
directly producing an initiation of currency.
Mr.. Scofeld of Penn, also opposed the bill
as carrying the legal tender principle one step
farther than Congress ever did before.-Why
should banks have the privilege of obtaining
certificates of deposits and making them legal
tender, or if banks should have it, why should
not and citizen have it? -f,1e- s,-.--..f...r =.
Mr.. Seofield thought that the national banks
were not too popular at present and any addi-
tional privileges which they get in which the
people are not entitled to share, only added to
their unpopularity. l. -' eoD
Mr.. Porter of N. Y, did not understad that
the bill made certificates of legal tender, but
agreed with Mr.. Garfield that the tendency of
the bill was indirectly to initiate the currency.
Mr.. Buchard of Illinois supper ed the bill. ~
Mr.. Lynch argued thot the bill neither infat
ed the currency nor made the certificates le-
gal tender. .-'
Mr.. Hooper suggested some amendments
which he thought would remove some objec-
tions. 9ae1r- 1Hiasd 5Ire 1al ~ l1fs Eat
After discussion the House referred the sec
ond previous question and the bill and amend
ments We're recommitted to the Committee ON
Banking. i1t.g 6ias ol ie,f y, ss.,e.r "a. -el 5.i
The Committee on Labor reported bill to
equalize the pay of male and female employees
in the government service. RecOmmitted
MI. Townsend of Pennsylvania asked leave
to offer preamble and resolution on the sub
jeet of consequential damages submitting the
question for final arbitrament to John Bright
of England. Messrs. Dawes and N. III. Rob-
erts objected. nH .o..q NJ s.Ti fa. 1a.saa
Mr. Ely of N. Y, offered resolution of en-
quiry as to the detention of mails on the Paci-
fic railroad. =. t.f-,r "a ~ s.t
The House then proceeded to the business on
the Speakers table aud passed a large number
of minor bills, including the Senate bill for the
sale of the Hancock barracks at Houlton Me;
the Senate bill to extend the time to State of
Wisconsin to complete a road from Lake st.
Croix to Lake Superior, was opposed by Mr..
Holman as making virtually new grant of land
of 1900, 900 acres, the old grant having expired
three or four years ago.
Mr. Hazelton of Wis, stated the facts in the
case and advocated the bill, stating if the grant
was renewed the land would not revert to the
government but be gobbled up by the Northern
Pacific railroad. e al r,. fe,s-sfs, I'm
Messrs. Banks, Rusl, Eldridge and Beck also
advocated the bill; the latter stating that in
common with all the Democrats of the House
but six, he hadvoted on similar bill some
sessions ago to extend the time of the Northern
Pacific railroad The previous question as Sc