The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, February Il

| on nance, reported the houSe oi
repeal the duty on salt, with amend
ments, covering all the changes IN the
tariff recommended by the committee
and moved to make it the SPECIAL oruer
for Monday, March 10Th, which was
agreed to.
Mr.. Cole called up the bill in regard
to the transmission OF overland mails
during snow blockades.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, said the
telegraph had announced this morning
that three trains had got through, which
might make it unnecessary to contract
for the carriage of mails by other
means.
Mr.. Hitchcock sent up a dispatch
received by him from the General Su-
perintendent of the Union Pacific Kali
road Company, stating that on the
night of the 10Th, the blockade was
| raised, and it also was the unanimous
opinion of old stage men that it would
not be practicable to s'nd the mails
around the blockade by stage; to at
tempt to send them around the blockade
by stage would be a useless and costly
expense.
Mr.. Conkling thought it better to let
the bill wait till we could tell whether
the blockade was at an end.
Mr.. Cole said that the snow would
STAY late where the blockade was, and
he thought it likely that there would
be a great deal Of trouble.
Messrs. Sherman and Carpenter
doubted the power Of Congress to pass
the bill in its present form.
Mr. Casserly said that he was IN.
formed that the railroad company, If
it had been pressed, could have trans
mitted the mails with little, II any,
delay.
Mr. Nye said that every ten years
there came a winter OF extraordinary
severity, and this was one Of them;
lie had no doubt that the railroad
company had done its best, FOR 1t was
its interest 10 do 50. The blockade
was an unavoidable thing, for which
no one was to blame. II the mails
could not be sent by land, let them be
sent by sea. ,.u
A motion was made to refer the bill
to the committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads.
The yeas and nays being demanded,
Mr.. Morton called for the regular order
aud the bill went over.
Mr.. Conkling presented a protest OF
the Western Union Telegraph Company
against the postal telegraph scheme,
and moved that it be printed, and he
would hereafter attempt to show that
the postal telegraph scheme was un
wise and inopportune.
The Senate then resumed the con-
sideration Of the resolution to investi-
gate the alleged sale of arms to French
agents during the Franco-Prusslan
war.
Mr.. Morton having the floor, con.
tinued his speech begun yesterday.
He said he had read Mr.. Blairs state
ments in his speeches at the South,
that Schurz was remaining in the Re
publican party for the purpose OF de-
feeating it and that he had cut loose
from his party associates.
Mr.. Morton made a lengthy argu-
ment in denial OF all the allegations OF
fraud or improperly by the War De-
partment officials in the sale OF arms to
France, and denounced the course OF
Mr.. Schurz in playing into the hands
of the Democratic party. lie said MIR.
Schurz had not voted for one measure OF
the Republican party since December,
1870.
On this point an extended discussion
ensued between Messrs. Schurz and
Morton, the former denying Mortons S
statement that he was endeavOring TO
organize German party.
Mr.. Morton concluded by saying that
the whole thing was inspired by political
purposes that had miserably failed ofits
object, and that there was nothing in it.
An excited debate Of personal ma
ture took place between Conkling and
Schurz. Mr.. Conkling said that
Schurz was airy, and suggested doubts
OF his personal courage.
Mr.. Schurz retorted with contempt
and said if he had strutted any he beg
ged pardon OF the Senate, for he had no
desire to interfere with Conkling's
special prerogative.
Mr.. Conkling accused Schurz Of
uttering slander out and in season
against the President in connection
with the general order system.
Mr.. Schurz said he would repeat all
he had said on that subject and that
the facts bear him out. He also init
mated that Conkling was subservient
partisan of the Administration, and had
not independence enough to give an
honest opinion when the question was
about to be taken on Conklings amend.
ment
Mr.. Sumner alluded to the term
Spy" used in the amendment, and read
from several lexicons to show the mean
ing Of the word to be agent employed
only in time OF war, and who was liable
by means OF the nature OF his business
to capital punishment" He said the
use OF the word was IAN insult to
| France.
Mr.. Conkling said it was the form he
was after, not the substance, and he
would modify his amendment so as to
read agent instead OF Spy" He
gave notice that he meant business, and
he intended to pursue the object of bis
amendment, no matter who was
affected.
Mr.. Conklings amendment was then
adopted, the Speaker only voting in the
negative.
Mr.. Sumner then asked leave to
withdraw the preamble to his resolu-
ton, but leave was refused.
Mr.. Trumbull then moved to recon
| L. N. Ga.l.l:.,. l..