The Portland daily press., 1872-05-07


tee have unanimously agreed to report in favor
of Giddings dem. against Clarke, the sitting
member from the Sd district of Texas in favor
OF A. w. Wallace. The sitting member from
the 4th district of South Carolina, retainin his
seat which is contested by McKissoth
Minority Report ON the Arms sales.
Mr.. Archer of Pa, from the minority of Com
mttee on Expenditures in the War Department
submitted report to-day in reference to the
sales of arms to France. The report states that
tne greater number OF witnesses examined were
officers OF the War and Ordnance Denartments
or were connected Herewith and insists in the
hrst place that the War Department gave a
latitudinarian construction tho act Of Cor,
gress of July 10th, 1865, authorizing the sale of
damaged arms, ordnance stores, Re. which is
dangerous to a republican form of government
where a strict construction of all acts of Con-
gress ought to be the rule.
Second, That the War and Ordnance De-
partments must have or could have known if
they made inquiry, that the bulk of the arms
were going to France, as they were delivered al
pier in New York which was the pier of the
French steamers, and at which French war YES
sells were in the habit of loading; that some of
these arms were delivered directly ON board
French steamers from lighters in the presence
of persons in the employ of the Ordnance De-
partment at New York, and that some were de-
hvered in boxes 'R. F." which was generally
understood TO mean French Repsblic Also
that some guns were delivered alter Oct. Is,
known that the Remingtons were agents of the
French government. Leaving the question Of
violation of neutrality laws to be argued this
proceeding might have been taken as pretext
by government more captious than Prussia
and the country might have become involved i'm
all the horrors of war. As to the financial
transactions, it appears the whole amount for
which the guns were stated to have been sold
was paid into the Treasury Department except
S2l9, 1888, which is said to have been expend-
ad fi.fa nd
but the items of this expenditure are not given,
There is no evidence that any person except
one received any pay or commission from this
sale, and he was not connected with any de-
partment of the government He received &c.
600 from firm of arms dealers in Baltimore
ON account of sale to it from the Navy De-
partment. He states that ne received the mon
ey as commissions, and that no other person
got any portion of the money.
The Mormon State.
A MEMORIAL was presented in the House to-
day from about 5000 citizens of Utah protesting
against the admission of the territory into the
Union. 1t was accompanied by affidavits of
thirty apostate Mormons against Brigham
Young and the Mormon Church.
United States Officers Resisted.
telegram received at the Department of
Justice from the District Attorney at Charles
ton, ). T., says that deputy marshal, who has
Harris, whom he arrested OH bench warrant
issued by the Circuit Court, were forcibly taken
from him by crowd of thirty or forty men
The men arrested are duly indicted for violating
the enforcement act. The Circuit Court at
Charleston has adjourned. Il special term was
ordered for August.
Democratic National Convention.
While the Democrats in Congress are agreed
that the 4th OF July shall be the time for the
assembling of the National Convention, thew
are not in harmony as to the place. ST. Louis.
Louisville and indianapolis are respectively
named
Remedy for Presidential Fever.
Representative Poland to-day introduced an
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, providing that no Senator or Represen-
tative shall, during the time for which he was
elected, be chosen President or Vice President
nor shall any Judge of any United States Court
| be chosen President or Vice President within
two years of the termination of his judicial
Office
Appropriations.
The House Committee on Appropriations this
morning had under consideration the Senate
amendments to the deficiency appropriation
bill and voted to recommend concurrence in the
one which relates to the pay of Government
workmen, and non-concurrence in the so-callet
Morrill, amendment" restricting jurisdiction
| or the Court of Claims to cases commenced
within two years after the suppression of tn,
rebellion by constantly loyal claimants.
Patents.
The House Committee on Patents has unde
consideration the propriety of extendin,
Towle's rock drill patent, which expired las
month after the existence of two years Their
Is strong opposition to a further extension a
and mining companies