The Portland daily press., 1872-02-10
XLIId CONGRESS- SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON Feb. 9.-Mr. Ferry of Connec-
ticut, presented petitions from the leading cti-
zens of Hartford, New Haven, Norwich and
New Britain, Conn, for reform in appointments
to and removals from office, also in the salaries
of officials, seizures, sc. Messrs. Edmunds
and Sawyer presented similar petitions.
The Vice President laid before the Senate a
letter from District Attorney Fisher of the Dis
trict of Columbia, stating that the indictments
found by the grand jury against Ramsdell and
White, the Tribune's correspondents who refus-
ed to tell how they obtained copy OF the
Treaty of Washington, which was prematurely
published, had been quashed by the Judge OF
the Criminal Court of the District for want OF
jurisdiction, and that if the Senate wished the
prosecution to proceed in the Police Court, 1t
would be necessary for two persons cognizant of
the offence to appear and make oath to the
same. Referred to the Judiciary Committee
| The legislative appropriation bill was report
ed by Mr.. Cole, who announced that he would
call it up Tuesday and insist upon its consider
alton until disposed of.
Mr. Edmunds of Vermont, called up the reso-
luton asking the President for information re-
speeding the alleged intention of Great Britain
to revoke the Treaty of Washington.
Mr. Sherman thought the resolutions had
better be referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations, and whenever any such information
as that called for should reach the President it
should be promptly sent to the Senate, and in
the meantime it be best to maintain dignified
attitude.
Mr.. Patterson was assured that our govern
ment knew what claims it had right to pre-
sent, and thought the reported language OF MI.
! Gladstone insulting to the United States. He
hoped, however, that nothing offensive or vio-
lent would be said in the Senate but that our
| government and press would preserve to the
end this temperate tone in which they had
| spoken thus far, and that the government, in a
digritied manner and proper way, would main
tain our position in reference to the Treaty.
Mr.. Morton suggested that Mr.. Edmunds
should modify the resolution so as to ask for in
formation respecting the complaint made by
the British government against the case sub
mitted by the government of the United States
| The resolution as it stood assumed that there
was an intention to revoke the Treaty, whereas
neither the Queen nor her Premier's speech in
timated any such intention, but merely spoke
OF demonstrating against the case presented by
| the United States.
MI. Edmunds accepted the suggestion and
modified the resolution, but objected to its ref
| erence. 1t was an ordinary resolution of inqui-
ry, such as it had never been the custom to re-
fer to the committee and he should feel i'm
measurable humiliation if the Senate should
resort to reference for fear of doing some
thing to injure the feelings of Great Britain.
| The way to preserve peace between nations was
to have candor and frankness. The way to
make war was to have concealment and in
trigue and he hoped the Senate would adopt
this resolution.
Mr. Sherman thought the proper course was
for us to pursue the even tenor of our way, pre-
sent our case in simple, direct and moderate
terms, and there stand. If political excite
ment ON the subject should arise in Great Brit
ain, we need not notice it but leave them to set
| subside in due time. He did not believe the
| government or people of Great Britain would
dare, in presence of the civilized world to re-
woke the Treaty. The public sentiment of the
world would not permit them.
MIR. Patterson was sorry to hear such intem-
perate language from the Senator from Ohio.
Laughter).
Mr.. Hamlin said there were occasions when
silence was the highest wisdom, and he thought
that the brief debate WEIGH had occurred show
ed this was such an occasion. Upon this ques-
ton, silence was craftsmanship. Believing the
United States stood in an impregnable position
on this question, and not having heard that any
official communication had been received in
reference to 1t, he thought it unwise to agitate
in any way for the present
Mr. Edmunds-Does the Senator believe it
would be offensive to the British government
for the Senate to ask the President if he has
any information on the subject
Mr. Hamlih-No, sir; l do not think that
would be offensive, but think it would show
distrust Of the high position we occupy.
Mr. Edmunds-Oh, no,
Mr.. Hamlin-Well, move to Law the resolu-
ton on the table. A
Mr.. Edmunds asked Mr.. Hamlin to Withdraw
his motion for moment, but Mr.. Robertson
called for the regular order and the resolution
went over
THE AMNESTY BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
amnesty bill. The question on substitute
ing "ctizen" for person in the 9th section
Mr.. Cole advocated it because it would ex-
clude Cinnamon.
MI. Nye took the same ground and argued
that the recent treaty with China forbade the
naturalization of Cinnamon.
Mr.. Sumner said that it merely provided
that no one could claim to be naturalized under
or by the treaty.
Mr.. Nye insisted upon his own view.
Mr.. Carpenter said the meaning of the treaty
provision was very plain. He knew that it was
wrong to intimate that any Senator was actu-
ated by personal motives, but every one faml-
lar with the recent poetry knew that there was
a bitter luminosity between the Nye family and
the Cinnamon. (Laughter.)
The amendment was lost, yeas Is, nays 81.
Mr.. Cole offered another amendment provid-
ing that this act was not to be construed to al
ter the naturalization laws. Lostyeas Is, NAYS
81
Mr.. Corbett moved to insert proviso that
the bill was not to be construed to authorize
the naturalization of Chinese.
Mr.. Stevenson was aStonished at Mr. Sher-
mans voting to place the peaceful Cinnamon
on the Pacific coast at the mercy of their enc
mics in the jury box when he had declared by
his previous votes that negroes at the South
who are Ignorant superstitious and utterly I'M
conscious that there is a God were fit to act as
jurors.
Mr.. Upton protested against Mr. Summers
supplementary civil rights bill as uncalled for
and clearly subversive of the rights of State gov
ernments. He read extracts from the protests
of Gov. Geary of Pennsylvania, and Gov. Pal
mer OF Illinois against federal military inter-
ference in the affairs of the States and applied
with just as much force to the usurpation pro-
posed in this bill. Under the excitement of the
war period these usurpations had been tolerat-
ed, but he warned the Senate that when the
States should all have been restored to their
places in the Union the people would demand
that all this usurpng legislation should be
swept away, and if necessary enforce it at the
point of the bayonet He also quoted the
Christian Union in condemnation of military
interfering in the Louisiana middle and the
Atlantic Monthly against military man as
statesmen.
MI Corbetts amendment was then rejected
II to -.
Mr.. Vickers moved to strike out the first Sec
ton of Mr.. Summers bill. Lost
Mr.. Robertson appleaed to the Senate to pass
the amnesty bill without amendment.
The question was then taken on Mr. Summers
amendment to the supplementary civil rights
bill, and it was adopted by the following vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Ames, Anthony, Brownlow
Cameron, Chandler, Cragin, Clayton, Conk
sen, Gilbert, Hamlin, Morrill, Of Vermont, Nor
ton, Osborne, Patterson, Pomeroy, Ramsey,
Rice, Sherman, Spencer, Sumner, West, Viii
son, Window, Wright, Harlan-2S.
N;tyS-uueSSrS DALI, foreman, Carpenter,
Cole, Corbett Davis of West Virginia, Ferry
of Connecticut, Goldthwaite, Hamilton of Tex
as, Hill, Hitchcock, Johnston, Kelley, Logan
Morrill, of Maine, Norwood, Pool, Robertson
Salisbury, Sawyer, Schurz, Scott, Stevenson,
Stockton, Thurman, Upton, Trumbull, Vickers
-28.
Messrs Caldwell, Edmunds, Nye and Flana-
gan, who would have voted in the affirmative
paired off with Messrs. Casserly, Hamilton of
Maryland, Bayard and Davisof Kentucky, who
would have voted in the negative.
The Vice President announced that there was
tie, and said that while he did not approve of
all the provisions of the amendment, he would
vote in the affirmative, so the amendment was
agreed. loud applause by people in the gal
leries, mostly white. The Vice President di-
rected the door-keepers to remove all persons
manifesting approval or disapproval, but none
were removed
Mr.. Sawyer moved to strike out the exceptions
from the amnesty bill.
Mr. Chandler asked whether it would be in
order to move to strike out the rest of the bill
except Mr.. Summers civil rights bill. laugh
ter.)
Mr.. Edmunds said that this would make it
not an amenesty bill but bill providing that
certain persons guilty of perjury in addition to
treason, shall be entitled to hold offices and ex-
ercise the power of government in those States.
Fer instance it would admit three men who, tits
shown by evidence now in possession of the gov
| eminent, to be or to have been, until lately, an
advisory board of the Ku-Klux Khan in South
| Carolina, Gems Hampton, Butler and Ken
| shaw.
Mr.. Sawyer said Mr., Edmunds' statement
about those three gentlemen might be true or it
l l. q