Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-26
The Temperance Wave Surges
into the Senate.
Schurz ON State Rights and Sump-
tuary Laws.
Desultory Debate ON Finances.
Sherman Weary and Morton
Tired.
Ben Butler on the Franlxing
-.- Privilege.
The Newspaper as an Educator,
And Satan Rebuking Sin.
Desultory Debate on Finance
The Newspaper as an Educator,
And Satan Rebuking Sin.
SENATE


SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25.-Mr. Ferry pre-
sented petition of workingnien of Mich
igan, asking the substitution of national
bank currency for legal tenders. and that
such currency be made legal tender for all
debts public and private. Referred.
Mr.. Logan presented a memorial of the
Chicago Board of Trade, for notifications
of the customs laws. Refereed
Five Per Cent.
Mr.. Wright introduced bill authorizing
the Secretary of the Interior to ascertain
and certify as to the quantity of land
located under military warrants in certain
States. Referred.
Mr.. Wright's bill directs the Secretary of
the Interior to ascertain the public lands
by the location of military scrip and land
warrants, in the State of Iowa and other
States whose enabling acts of admission
into the Union contain a stipulation for
the payment of per cent. on the sales of
public lands therein. The bin then makes
it the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury
to pay to all such States 5 per cent. on the
amount Of said locations, estimating them
at S1.25 per acre, providing that said sums
shall he paid in five annual installments
and that allowances shall be made
for all lands on which said
8 per cent. has been made.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, from the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds,
presented an original resolution that the
bronze statue of
Thomas Jefferson
which was presented in 1884 by Lieut. L.
p. Levy, of the Ravy, be formally accepted
with grateful appreciation and that the of
ficer in charge of the public buildings and
grounds be directed to properly prepare and
place it in the national statuary hall of the
capitol.
Military Necessity.
Mr.. Scott, from the Committee on Claims,
reported without amendment the bill to
compensate the Louisville and Bardstown
Turnpike Co. for two bridges destroyed as
military necessity in 1862.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the bill to provide for the alp
pointment of a commissioner on the sub
ject Of the
Alcoholic Liquor Traffic.
Mr.. Schurz thought the passage of this
bill would establish precedent Congress
interfering in matters belonging exclusive
ly to the States. There were many evils af-
fecting society which need to be inquired
into. For instance, gambling was worse
than intemperance. Another subject, the
extravaganza Of the female sex in matters
of dress was grea. evil and had ruined
many families. How many clerks mad been
induced TO rob their employers or bank of
ficers to become defaulters in order to salts
fy this love for dress? Indigestion made a
man sour and unsociable, and Congress
might inquire into the cause of this, or go
on with the inquiries until it should be
found ont what effects the consumption of
Hot Soda
had upon society, and establish bureau of
health and public morals. lie did not de-
sire TO be understood as trifiing with the
temperance principle. To certain extent
he was temperance man, aud nothing was
more disgusting to him than a drunken
man, unless it be drunken WON IN. Moth
ing could be more loaths0me than human
being degrading himself to the level of the
beast. He thought the movement ofwhich
this bill formed a part was misdireCted,
and the gentlemen favoring it were taking
hold of the wrong end of the subject.
Human nature was so constituted that it
needed relaxation and could not bs put
down. The suress remedy was not the
forcible suppression Of our indulgence no.
morally wrong when used moderately, but
the substitution of better pleasures for bad
ones. He believed if social enioyments be
introduced among the people, a wholesome
social reform would be achieved and last
ing benefit be conferred upon society. He
doubted the propriety of the legislation
pressed by this bill and would be sure to
vote against it.
Mr.. Buckingham favored the passage of
the bill.
The morning having expired, the chair
announced the bill would be laid over.
Mr.. Wright asked if a vote cOldn1 be
taken at once if no one desired to speak.
He hoped vote would be taken.
Messrs. Bayard and MerrimOn said they
desired to submit their views on the subject.
Mr.. Cameron gave notice that tomorrow
he would call up House bill in relation to
the
Centennial Exhibition.
Mr.. Sergeant said the Centennial bill
might involve a large appropriation before
the Senate should get through with il, and
be therefore would oppose its consideration
before the regular appropriation bill.
Mr.. Sumner suggested to the Senator
from Pennsylvania that he let his Centen-
nial bill take its chance among the other
bills after the financial question be dis
posed of.
Mr.. Cameron said he would not like il
to take its chance, not knowing when the
| financial question would be ended. laugh
| ter.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the bill to equaliZe the
Distribution of Currency.
the pending motion being that of Mr.
Buckingham to TecOmmit the bill to the
Finance Committee with the instructions
| agreed upon directing the committee to re-
port in favor Of increasing the volume ot
National bank currency to $500, 100000.
Mr.. MerTimon argued that there was not
a sufficient volume Of currency in the
| country to meet the wants of the com
munity.
Sherman Weary.
Mr.. Sherman said he was weary of this
discussion and hoped it would soon be
ended. This measure proposed TO increase
the currency, but provision was made
for its distribution. In the face of all the
pIolllScS Dlduc Dy COiiSTtSS anu Dy IHt
| President here was a deliberate PROPOSE
tion to add to the paper money of the
country. He would ask his friends from
the South if they We're going to get this in,
creased circulation, they must buy it-anC
what had they 10 buy it with.
Mr.. MeTrimon said they had a cottor
crop worth two hundred and seventy-fiv,
million dollars and other productions wortl
over sixty millions.
Mr.. Sherman, yes, but yOur cotton crOI
| has been sold for gold.
Mr.. McrrimOn-I beg the gentleman:
pardon. In NV State not one-half of the
| crop has been moved.
Mr.. Sherman said for every pound OF cot
ton the South had, it could get either papel
money or gold. There is more paper
money in the country than ever before
Both political parties are pledged to do nj
act to carry the country away from the
specie payment, and did not every man sec
that the issue Of more paper money would
carry us away from specie resumption? II
had been held out that to initiate the cur
rency would help the poor. Make money
easy and give the laboring man plenty o.
| work. There was