Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-02-27
CONGRESSIONAL.

1 OONGREOOlVNAHs
A Proposed Government Railroad
From the Seaboard 10 the Mississippi
Senate Debate ON Mormon Question
Closing Of the Credit MObiliel
Carnival.
Voorhees, Defence Of Brooks.
Buffers Defence of Cakes Ames
Complete Justification of the Rights
of the People.
Savage Onslaughts on the Press
The Vote on Expulsion Postponed
till To-Day.
SENATE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-On motion Of
Mr.. Edmunds, House amendment to the
Geneva award bill was non-concurred in
and committee of conference ordered.
Big Railroad Scheme.
On motion of Mr.. Wright q resolution
was adopted instructing the Committee on
transportation Routes to inquire into the
propriety of constructing q first-class double
track railroad from the Atlantic seaboard
to some point on the Mississippi or Mis-
souri, river, with the consent of the States
through which it passes, the road to be op-
Grated and controlled by the United States
and so managed as to cheaper transporta-
ton as much as possible.
& Resolution appropriating $4,000 to de-
fray the expenses Of the Pomeroy investiga-
ton was adopted.
Southern Claims.
Mr.. Howe from the Committee on Claims
reported House bill making an appropria-
ton to pay certain Southern claimants.
The committee, he said, had been able TO
give it only slight consideration, and had
therefore directed him to report it without
recommendation. They had, however. ex-
smined it enough to fad that many awards
had gone far beyond the principle laid down
by Congress. Therefore they could not APP
prove it, but will recommend it to be
placed on the calendar. 1t was placed Oh
the calendar.
The Fisheries.
Mr.. Hamlin called up House bill to car
ry into effect the fishery clauses of the
Treaty of Washington, and it passed.
The Mormon Riddle.
Mr.. Edmunds called up the bill to aid in
the execution of the laws in Utah.
Mr.. FreliDghuysen explained the bill.
Mr.. Thurman moved to recommit it to
Judiciary Committee, with instructions to
provide for the election by the Legislature,
or by the qualified electors of Utah, of three
Jury Commissioners, who shall act 10 con-
junction with the Judge, Marshal and Clerk,
with equal power in selecting persons from
whom juries are constructed, and to pro-
vide for writs of error to the Supreme
Court of the United States in criminal
cases where the punishment is capital, or
Imprisonment for six months or the fine of
$1,000.
MIR. Morton said that while every one of
course disapproved of polygamy, it might
be well to inquire how far the United
States government was itself responsible
for the institution in Utah. The acts of
Territorial Legislature in eject sanctioniug
polygsmy had never been annulled by Con-
gress. There was question therefore
whether the effect of this had not been to
legalize polygamy.
MIR. Thurman withdrew his motion to re-
commit and offered bis proposed instruc-
tons as an amendment.
Powell Clayton WHitewashed.
Mr.. Wright from the Select Committee
to investigate the charges against Clayton,
made report accompanied by resolution
declaring that the charges are not sustained.
He also announced that Norwood would
soon submit minority report.
On motion of Mr.. Frelinghuysen Mr..
Thurman's amendment was amended SO
as to provide fer two commissioners in
stead of three, and it was agreed to.
Mr.. Trumbull moved TO substitute the
Surveyor General of the Territory for the
judge as the officer to aid in selecting per
sons to serve as Jurors. Agreed to.
MIR. Sherman moved to strike out the
section which provides that aliens living in
bigamy or polygamy shall not be admitted
to citizenship.
Mr.. Sherman argued against this section,
and also against the section limiting the
amount Of property that can be held by
the Mormon Church, and forbidding it to
solomonize polys amous marriages.
Mr.. Sherman's motion to strike out, was
lost.
At P. NJ. took recess until Z.
To Stop Land.GrabbinS.
Mr. Edmunds offered resolution in
structing the Committee on Judiciary to
inquire whether the Union Pacific Railroad
Company or any company authorized to
build branch road to connect with that
road, or any assignee of said company, will
be entitled to land or bonds for any road
which the company may hereafter con
struct, and providing that until said COM
mittee shall report, the executive officers of
the Government are requested to issue no
bonds, patents or certificates that may be
claimed for roads constructed after this
date. Agreed to.
The Utah Bill Passed.
Senate resumed consideration of the
Utah bill.
Mr.. Cragin offered an amendment pro-
viding that at all elections in Utah the bal
lots snail be counted and the result an
nounced Immediately after the close of the
polls, and making failure 10 do this felo'
ny. Agreed to.
Mr.. Thurman moved to strike out the
section which provides legal process by
which ''plural" Mormon wives can get re-
leased from their husbands aud receive the
custody of their minor children and share
their husbands property. He urged that
this provision would tempt disreputable
lawyers to stir up litigation and disturb so
ciety.
Inc motion to strike out was lost, yeas,
Is; nays, %.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Thurman
was amended so as to provide for writs of
error to the United States Supreme Court
from Territorial courts in capital cases.
Mr.. Bayard moved to strike out the pro-
vision authorizing the U. S. Marshal or his
deputies TO call on U. s. troops in case be
is threatened with resistance. He (Bay-
ard) did not think it ought to be left to the
discretion Of a deputy marshal TO call on
troops, on what he might choose to call a
threat of resistance. Lost.
The bill then passed. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The pressure to the House galleries does
not seem as great this morning as 1t was
yesterday. There are as yet no ladies in
side the hall.