The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-12
Conaress Yesterday-FraGrapt Memeries-
Tho Ono Term Principle.


Congress observation-disclosures Memories-
Tho Ono Term Principle.
The House RECALLED itself yesterday with
fragrant memories OF guano islands, Roger
Williams and the Puritans. The guano subject
came up in the shape of bill, amendatory of
former acts Of Congress, giving to discoveries
of guano islands the right to work them, under
the protection Of the United States govern
ment. Tho special interest intended 10 be
subserved by the bill was that Of Mrs.
Parker, whose husband discovered, many
years ago, several guano islands In the Pacific
Ocean, the two principal of which are known
as Johnson's Island and Ayers Island. The
widows claim, however, appears to be antag-
onized by gusno company, to which her
husband in his lifetime assigned all his rights.
The bill was eventually passed, with modifca-
tions intended to guard the interests Of the
company.
AS soon o. this aromatic subject was dis
posed Of, and as if to serve as foil to it, and
at the same time to give point to the old cpl
gram, that only ''the memory of the just smells
sweet and blossoms In the DUST" the virtues
and merits of old Roger Williams, the founder
of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence
Plantations, came up in the form of joint
resolution, heretofore passed by the Senate,
accepting marble statue of that ancient
worthy to be set up in the Capitol at Wash
ington. The Grafton delivered on the occa-
sion by one OF the Rhode Island Representa-
tives, Mr.. Eanes, elicited a reply from the
representative of Plymouth Rock, Mr.. Banks,
who undertook to defend the memory Of the
Pilgrim Fathers from the imputation Of having
prosecuted and banished old Roger Williams
on account Of religious opinions. He denied
that the question of religious libsrty-or ''soul
liberty" as he phrased it-had anything to
do with that famous historical incident, which
was owing rather to Williams calling in ques-
ton the title Of the Massachusetts colonists to
their lands and aspersing the Christian char
acter of their Church. Mr.. Banks made sew
eral good points in his speech, and engaged
the attention of the House to remarkable
degree. The excitement was kept up by Mr..
Sunset Cox, who never can resist the oppor-
tunity Of getting off witticisms at the expense
of New England, and of course his interior
ence called out General Butler, who suggested
the idea of the change which might have
taken place In the destiny of New York if the
Pilgrims had landed on Manhattan Island in
stead Of on Plymouth Rock. The discussion
created more interest and amusement in the
House than anything else which has occurred
during the session, and it rounded off by a
serious vote on striking the word ''nation"
out Of the joint resolution and substituting for
it the words ''people Of the United States"
The motion was made by Mr.. Niblack, of In
diana, and opposed by Mr.. Hoar, of, Massa-
chusetts, and on the vote the two parties were
strictly divided, the republican majority of
course negativing the amendment.
The Senate was entertained by a dlsser-
tation from Mr.. Conkling in opposition
10 Mr.. Summers joint resolution limiting
the Presidency to one term, and by short
speech from Mr.. Sumner in reply. The Mas
sachusetts Senator attempted to belittle Conk-
ling's public position by inquiring whether any
position, on this question, to Jackson, Clay
and Ben Wade. We can imagine how the
magnificent Roscoe resented inwardly the COM
parison of himself with any of Mr.. Summers
model statesmen.
The House bill making supplementary
appropriation for the expenses of the Ku Klux
Committee was passed In the Senate, and gave
Mr.. Davis, Of Kentucky, an opportunity of
denouncing the whole work of reconstruction,
and of charging the Ku Klux ouirages and all
the other disturbances In the Southern States
to the interference of the federal government
In their affairs.