Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-23
Forty-second Congressional Session,
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. %.
SENATE

Several civil rights petitions were presented.
Mr.. Logan, from the committee on public
land, reported, without amendment, the bill to
enable hOnOrably discharged soldiers and sailors
and their widows and orphans TO acquire home
steads on public lands.
MIR. Lewis presented a petition from Mrs Lee,
widow of Gen. Robert L. Lee setting forth that
the Arlington estate was bequeathed TO her by
her father in 1851, and was occupied by herself
and family until the commencement of the late
civil war; that il was sold for the non-payment
Of direct tax of 1920 and, by order of Pres-
dent Lincoln, bid in by the United States for
S26,SOO, no portion Of which sum was ever paid
to the owners of said property.
The petitioner urges that the above-named
proceedings were insufficient to pass a legal or
valid title to the United States, because the act
of congress under which said sale was made is
unconstitutional, the constitution authorizing
congress to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over
such places only as are purchased by the consent
of the state in which they are situated, for the
purpose alone of erecting forts and other need
full buildings; it is further argued that the gen
eral government has never attempted TO exer-
else any exclusive legislation, 10 call in queS-
ton the jurisdiction of Virginia over that por-
ton of the county of Alexandria; and also
that the sale of the whole eleven hundred acres
to pay tax of S92,07, while the tract was clearly
devisable, and the sale Of a portion amply Suffi-
Cient to pay the tax upon it, was unconstitu-
tunal; it is also asserted that the amount of
this tax was duly rendered to the tax commits
SiOner before said sale In view of these cir
CumStanceS, the petitioner asks congress to ap-
propriate 100000 to purchase the estate from
her, whereupou she will give the government
clear title.
Mr. Davis, OF Kentucky, moved to lay it aside,
informally for the consideration of his resolu-
ton of enquiry whether the president conferred
public offices in return for presents, and was
guilty of other misconduct. He wanted to
beard the lion in his den. The office of chief
| magistrate is said to be the fountain of honor;
but ii is the fountain of diShOnOr and abuse and
corruption in our country. Within few days
we had seen the president published as de-
iaulter to the amount of four or five thousand
dollars for twenty years, and driven by the de-
nunCationS Of the papers or some other cause,
he was forced to make good the amount of the
defalcation.
Mr. Davis finally consented to withdraw his
resolution.
Without action the senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Numerous bills were introduced, including
one amendutory to the constitution to make
| congressman ineligible to the presidency or
vice presidency
| After the call of states this morning, in the
| house, the consideration of Mr.. Hae's bin in
| relation to admitting material for ship building
| free of duty, was taken up. Mr.. Hale, in a
brief speech, urged the passage of his bill.
| Mr.. Cox, of New York. asked leave to offer
| an amendment TO provide that all wooden
ships engaged in the foreign trade shall be ad-
| mitted free Of duty, and to allow registers to
| said vessels, any laws to the contrary notwith-
| standing.
| Mr. Hale allowed the amendment to be read
| but declined to accept it.
| Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts, said there had
| been conference and perfect understanding
| between the ways and means committee and
| the commerce committee on this question, and
| the bill should not pass without consideration.
| 1t was one of the most important questions
cpulI come bpforn and II
TO have full consideration by committees.
General discussion followed. The bill was re-
ferred TO the ways and means committee-132
70 60.
Mr.. Dawes, from the ways and means COM
| mittee, submitted report in relation to Mr..
| BoutwelPS syndicate negotiation. 1t closes with
a resolution that in the opinion of this house the
| secretary of the treasury, in negotiating the
! loan under the act of July IA, 1870, has neither
| increased the bonded debt nor has he incurred
| unnecessary expense contrary to law.
| The report was ordered to be printed.
| Mr.. Kerr of Indiana, from the minority of the
| committee, gave notice of minority report
| A bill was introduced by Mr. Hooper for the
construction of ten soops of war. 1t proposes
| that the secretary OF the navy shall be author
| lied TO construct ten steam sOops of war carry
| ing from ten to fourteen guns of large calibre
| the hulls to be built of iron or wood as the sec
rotary may decide; and that S8,O00,0OO be APP
| prOprated for that purpose.
|
secretary of war to make Il survey of Salem
harbor. 1t was referred to the committee on
| commerce.
Mr.. Fansworth presented the memorial of
| one thousand citizens of the District of Column
bia, protesting against the illegal action and
| extravaganza of the board of public works,
and asking an investigation of affairs Of this
| district,
A resolutionwas adopted directing the District
| of Columbia committee to investigate.
Mr.. Morgan moved to suspend the rules and
| pass the joint resolution proposing to amend the
| constitution by making naturalized citizens eli
| gibe TO the presidency and vice presidency.
Negatived-yeas 81, nays rs, less than the requi-
| site twothirds in the affirmative.
Mr.. Garfield from the committee on appropri-
ations reported a bill approp rating $4,000 to
defray the expenses of the embassy from Japan.
After discussion, the bill passed.
A long and excited discussion sprang up con-
corning the New Orleans investigating commit
tee.
The clerk of the house was instructed to fur
nish funds for the special committee to proceed
| to New Orleans.