Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-03
BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Forty.Second Congress Session
w AsHINGToN, =
SENATE.

Dy Johnson letteT was one Oh precise mean
ing of words. He believed johnson and
Stanberry had abandoned their cases and
came away before the trials at Columbia
were ended, just as much as he believed the
trials took place at all, and frankDess COM
PEELED him to say he believe it. Mr.. John
son had said that they remained till their
mission was accomplished, and had then
come away, and thought that WIS not aban-
doning the case. Perhaps not, but it remind
ed him (Edmunds) of a brave American OFF,
Ger of force which abandoned the Capital to
the British in 1912, who when charged with
the abandonment, said that the Americans
did not fee, but they didn't seem to take any
interest in the matter and went away. AS to
the gentleman of South Carolina referred to
what he had stated, was that he was credibly
informed that the judicial officers of the
United States in that district, had in their
possession evidence which would go to con-
vict these gentlemen of being the advisory
board of the Ku-Klux, whoever that might
be, and he would now repeat that he had
good reason to believe whenever the govern
ment should furnish the legal machinery
necessary to go through with these trials,
such evidence should be produced.
Mr.. Blair said that Mr.. Edmund's story
would not apply to johnson and Stanberry
because they did take sufficient interest in
these cases to come to Washington and argue
them in the supreme court, and there was no
warrant whatever for the assertion now re-
peated by the Senator from Vermont as to
the charge against Generals Hampton, Ker-
shaw, and Butler. He had hoped to hear no
more about it, but as the Senator had chosen
to reiterate it,it became the duty of those who
knew the character of these gentlemen to say
that it was without foundation or excuse.
That if tho nlnpcp snokpn of nv Spnotor
Edmunds existed it was false evidence; that
the gentlemen concerned were anxious for
the appointment to refute it, and defied the
government to prosecute them, and that prob
ably nobody could be found who believed the
charges except the Senator from Vernon. If
he did
Mr.. Edmunds said he never had pronounced
an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of
these gentlemen and he did not know. All
he said was that he was credibly informed
that such evidence as he had mentioned ex-
listed.
Mr.. Pomeroy from committee on public
lands reported with amendments the bill to
encourage the growth of timber on Western
prairies; authorizing the issuance of patent
for quarter section Of land to any person
who has planted and protected for five years
forty acres of timber therein.
The following bills were introduced: By
Mr.. West reviving the grant of lands to the
New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western
Railroad. By Mr.. Wilson authorizing the
opening and working of the iron mines To-
Gated on the West Point reservation.
Mr.. Pratt called up the bill giving con-
struction to the act of Congress of March Sd
1857, requiring the commissioner of the land
Office to account to.the. States Of Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois for what is commonly known as
the 2 per cent. fund claimed by these States.
He spoke at length in its favor, which was re-
ferred to the committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Cameron said that owing to slight
illness he was unable to address the Senate
on the French spoliation claims bill, but
hoped to call it up early next week.
Mr.. Nye presented a constitution adopted
by the Utah State convention to accompany
their application for admission as State.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the Indian appropriation bill. The question
was on the amen dment extingnishing the
title of the Sissiton and Wahpeton bands of
Sioux Indians to the land described in the sec
ond article of the treasury of February 10,
1867, except the permanent reservation,
which on motion of Mr.. Edmunds was tabled.
A message was received announcing that
the House had tabled the Senate substitute
for the House bill repeating the duties on tea
and coffee.
Mr. Morrill, of Vt, said that the resolution
of the House was extraordinary, and he
would not now move to refer it to the finance
committee, because the Senate might wish to
discuss it before referring it. He therefore
moved that it lie over and be printed.
Other amendments to the Indian appropri-
alton bill were offered and discussed.
At four o'clock the Senate went into exec
utive session and adjourned.
House.
Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on ways
and means, offered the following resolution
Resolved, That the substitution by the
Senate under the form of an amendment to
the bill of the House for repeating the duties
on tea and coffee of bill to reduce the ex-
listing taxes, containing general revision,
reduction and repeal of the laws imposing
import duties and internal taxation, is in
conflict with the true intent and purpose of
that clause of the constitution which requires
all bills for raising revenue shall originate in
the House of Representatives, and that there
fore said substitute for the House be- laid On
the table.
Resolved, That the Clerk notify the Senate
of the passage of the foregoing resolution.
Mr.. Dawes spoke in favor of the resolu-
ton and gave the history of the bill and its
former precedents, IN which the same ques-
ton was raised and decided in favor of the
position taken by the House. He did not
offer the resolution on his own responsibility
alone, but by the advice and direction Of the
committee of ways and means.
The difference between the two Houses
was on matter of the gravest Importance,
involving disregard of a provision of the
constitution. Although the government
vested in theory solely on the voice of the
people, yet the few in a small State had equal
power in the Senate to the many in the larg-
est State, and as the inequality was increas-
ing from year to year there was an uneasi-
ness among the people, arising from the fact
that there was growing tendency on the
part OF the Senate to gather to itself without
recognizing the distinction in the foundation
of the two branches, all the functions of the
government. The issue had been first dis
tinctly raised by Mr.. Clay in offering tariff
bill in the Senate, and yet all the powers of
that great statesman had been insufficient to
maintain his position.
The assertion was now made by the Senate
that under the form of an amendment to a
House bill on the subject jurisdiction to any
extend in originating new objects of revenue,
modifying the modes of regulating the reve-
nue., reducing rates and repeating duties. The
-. - Al hao r,u A.