Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-17
Debate in the Senate on the Pinchback
Senator from LOuisiaRa-SenatOr
McCreery TO Speak To-Day.
Debate In the House OF Representatives
on the Bill 10 Repeal the Bank
rupt LaW-Amended
and Passed.
Debate on the BIZ TO Repeal the "Back
Salary Grab"-The Amount Fixed
at Five Thousand Five Hun
dred-Etc., Etc,


/ IN his prayer, alluded to the death OF ColoneI
Dent, and invoked the consolation Of divine
| Providence upon the President and fam iiy.
Alluding TO the death OF Agasslz, he invoked
| the same blessing upon the sageS and scholars
among whom the prince had just fallen.
/ Senator Wright presented a petition, asking
the repeal OF the bankrupt act. Referred.
The Dill placing line OF telegraph between
/ the capitol and the several departments, un-
/ der charge Of the commissioner of public
| buildings and grounds, was passed.
| Senator Morrill,, from the committee on an
preparations, reported back the house bill
making a special appropriation OF four mil
| lion dollars for the navy without amendment,
and asked that IL be considered Immediately.
Senator Morton hoped IL would be post
o. 49, ---O''''' - us , '7''
Senator Morrill, then gave notice that he
would call mp the bill tomorrow.
Senator Morton asked that the resolution
offered by him yesterday in regard to the ad-
mission Of Pinchback 10 the senate be taken
Senator Ferry fConn.l had hoped that this
subject would be postponed till arter the hoIi-
days; he would object to a vote being
pressed this week, as he desired to say some
Senator Sherman from the finance
committee, reported unfav0rably on
the bin authorizing the payment OF
ports in legal-tenders and the committee was
discharged from further consideration of the
bill.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Senator Chandler-Amendatoryo of enroll
meut and license laws. It provides Tor extend
ing TO al vessels navigating the waters OF the
United states, provisions OF act February 2S,
lS55, relating TO the enrolment and license Of
vessels navigating western rivers and waters
on northern, northwestern and northeastern
frontiers Referred.
By senator BOgy-To establish an fron-ship
building-yard on the waters of the Atlantic
and one in the Mississippi valley to afford
facilities 10 the navy. Referred.
By senator Wright-To facilitate the assort-
ing and redeeming Of the national bank note
currency, and 10 authorize the issuance Of cir
culating notes to the amount OF ninety-two
per cent. in lieu OF the ninety per cent. now
authorized by law. This bill authorizes the
President TO designate some one national
bank in New York city, with capital Of at
least one million dollars, 10 act as a depository
or redeeming agent for all mutilated or sOiled
and wOrn-out national bank notes issued by
banks, keeping an account Herewith, and
such banks as keep with this depository an
average balance OF two per cent. on their cir
culatiOn shall be entitled 20 receive from the
comptroller of currency notes to the amount
Of nInety-two per cent. on their United States
bonds deposited in the treasury as security for
their circulation. The bill was referred.
senator Noryille lNt.l from the committee
on finance, reported adversely on the bill TO
repeal section six of the act of March 80, 1855,
imposing tax Of ten per cent on the circula-
tation OF bank notes and the committee was
discharged. He also reported from that com
mittee an act GmendaiOry OF an act TO re-
duee duties oa imports, ana to reduce inter
nal taxes, which provides that foreign merch-
andise which arrived at port OF the United
States on or before The thirty-first day of July,
and upon which duties were not paid prior 10
August ], that year, though the same were not
altered or Transferred 10 a public store or
bonded warehouse, they shall be entitled 10
the benefits of the eighth section OF the act OF
Jnne g. 1872, the same as such merchandise
would have been entitled had 1t actually been
in public store or bonded warehouse on or
prior TO the thirty-first OF July OF that year.
Passed.
The morning hour having expired, the
chair announced that the resolution reported
by the finance committee Wednesday last
Senator Morton moved to lay aside the regu-
lar order and to proceed with the cOnsidera-
ton of the resolution to admit Mr.. Pinch
back, offered by himself. Agreed 10.
Senator Morton then addressed the senate
in favor Of the resolution. lie argued the in
yestigation Of last winter into louisiana mat
ters had nothing to do with the present case,
aud protested against having this case over
laid by that sort of argument aud talk; he
didn't mean that this case should |
he rushed Through with consideration, but
there was right involved and the resolu-
ton was in every sense a privileged question.
but of law, and thought this case similar TO
that of GCldthwaite, arguing that PInchback
should be admitted, and the legality OF his
election decided 2fterWatd. II 10 was the
purpose of the opposition to call the question
Of the chances Of the legislature electlng
Pinchback, IL could not be done until after
his admission.
AS 10 the Question Of kellogg being governor
OF Louisiana, Senator Morton held that he is,
and thai his title 10 the offlce1S lndtsputable.
Senator Morton declared his belief that
Louisiana was better governed now than she
had been for the past seven or eight years, or
since the close Of the war. There was more
peace and good order there now, and no con-
siderable number Of people desired the i'm
peachment of Governor Kellogg The su-
preIne court of Louisiana was composed OF
men Of the highest ability, and there could
be no question as 10 the legality OF that
tribunal The decision Of state tribu-
nal upon any question OF the laws OF
the State was final, and from such decision
there is no appeal. Ike United States is
bound by such decision. He did not believe
in the doctrine of state sovereignty, but he
did believe in the doctrine Of State rights.
He believed a State had rights which were
sacred and inviolate, and congress had no
right to encrOach on them II states have
not the right 70 pass on their own laws, then
there is an end 10 State government.
Senator Stockton inquired as TO what power
was exercised TO overthrow the state govern
ments OF the south under the reconstruction
acts.
Senator Morton replied that that was done
by congress, and not by the senate alone. Ii
was the exercise OF a great power out con-
gress had the authority to do IL.
Continuing his argument, Senator STOCKTON
said that the supreme court Of Louisiana had
a right 70 pass upon the Legality OF the return
ing board OF the state. and iroA that decision
there was no appeal.
Senator stockton declared that all great
lawyers had maintained that the senate had
power to inquire into the legality or the legis-
lature electing a senator, and he dldn' I think
that doctrine could be successfully disputed.
Senator Morton replied that the President
had determined who was governor and which
was the legislature of Louisiana. The house
OF representatives had agreed with the Presi-
dent that the State OF Louisiana was wronged
every day that Pinchback was kept out
of his seat. To deny fra state the right
TO decide ss 10 81 leg lity of the
board o. lrsau4ztuon OF Its own
legislature was TO strike at the very founda-
ton of the state government. lie had been
advised that this case was 10 be made basis
Of attack upon the administration for its ac-
ton in regard to louisiana. He hoped not.
The admission of PinchbacR was question
OF law and not OF politics, and should be de-
cided without any regard TO politics. he
self when called upon 10 decide
such a case. 10 keen out the Democrat and ad-
init the Republican, If the evidence should be
in favor OF the former. II there were sena-
torS in this body who would go into the poll
ties OF Louisiana, he begged leave to say that
be would follow them, as he was somewhat
familiar with the affairs Of that state, and
had in his possession original documents
which would throw much light on the sub
lect.
Senator McCreery gave notice that he de-
sired 10 speak to morrow.
At fOrty-hve minutes past two O'CLOCK the
senate went into executive session.
At five o'clock the doors were reOpened, and
the house resolution TO adjourn over during
the holidays from Friday next and the house
bill TO repeal the bankrupt act, were read the
FIRST time and laid over til tomorrow. Ad-
ourned.