Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-01-31
The Debate In the Senate on the Louis.
lana mbgOgliO-Carpenter's Speech
He FaTOrs an Election.
Morton, OF Indiana, TO Answer Him
on Monday Next-He is Decided.
ly Opposed - an Election.
The Case OF Freedman's Bureau Howard
in the HOuse-He has the Right 10
Challenge-HOuOr to the Brave,
ETC., Etc., Etc.
HOUSE.

IaiSoDS presented 1eSOluItOuS Oh Tue
city council of Cleveland relative to
the construction of a harbOr of refuge
there, and made a statement in support
OF the proposition. Referred.
Under the call of committees for re-
ports of private character various re-
ports were made and referred.
Mr.. Coburn, from the committee on
military affairs, reported a joint resOlu-
ton requesting the President to convene
a court of inquiry of not less than five
officers of the army to investigate fully
all the charges against Brigadier-G
eral o. o. Howard, contained in the
communication of the secretary Of war
of the fifth of December, 1873, and to
report their opinion as well on the
moral as legal responsibility for such Of
fenses, if any be dismissed.
Mr.. Frye begged leave to offer an
amendment, giving accused the right Of
challenge now allowed by law in trials
by court
Mr.. Coburn declined to let the amend
ment be offered, remarking there was
no place for challenge to come in, as
the court would be appointed by the
President; he moved the previous gues-
ton. The house refu, ed to second the
previous question by a vote of "A to 100.
and the amendment was received and
the discussion proceeded.
Mr.. Wood suggested simple resolu-
ton requesting the Presidentto convene
court of inquiry to try the charges.
Mr.. Coburn said that in a general
sense the President had had the man
agement of the freedmen's bureau as
much as General Howard, or as the Re-
publican party. Why, then all this de-
clamatiOn about what General Howard
had done? Who proposed to do any,
thing unkind, unjust or unreasonable?
The resolution was reported from the
committee, all of whose members were
friendly to General Howard, and he
would tell the house that no longer ago
than yesterday he had conversed with
General Howard, who had told him
that the resolution suited him, and that
il might be passed without objection.
He felt that the proposed limitation of
the Presidents power by giving the ac-
cused the right of challenge was an i'm
putation on the President, and while he
did not believe it to be offered in that
spirit, its direct effect on the minds of
the country would be that it was an ex-
preston of lack OF confidence in the
President.
Mr.. Speer suggested adding a proviso
to the amendment that a sufficiency Of
challenges shall be determined by the
President, on reasons publicly assigned
by the accused.
Mr.. Butler Mass. said he did not re-
gard the amendment as an imputatIOn
against the President, any more than
the challenge of grand juror was an
imputatiOn against the marshal who
summoned the jury. He referred to the
case of General Hooker, who had pub
licly expressed disparaging opinions as
to General Howard, being appointed on
the court of inquiry, and asked whether,
in such case, the accused should not
have the right of challenge.
Mr.. ThOrnburg, member of the mill
tary committee, favored an investiga-
tion Of the charges by that committee,
and proposed to have the matter referred
back for that purpose.
Mr.. Hawley Conn. I, another member
of the military committee, was opposed
TO that committee conducting the ex-
animation, because if it completely ex-
Onerated General Howard his case
would be rs unsettled as nova large
portion of the people would believe it
was a case Of political whitewashing.
Mr.. Wood asserted that the committee
which Investigated General Howard's
case in 1871 was unfair, and said that
important witnesses against General
Howard had been excluded from the
committee room, and not examined.
Mr.. G.. +. Hoar, who had been a MEM
ber of that committee, repelled Mr..
WOods's allegations, and said that after
he Woods had consumed sixty days of
the committees time, three days We're
Ill =.
Mr.. Wood desired to reopen the case,
which would have required witness TO
be brought from South Carolina. Gen.
eral Howard, he said, had never pleaded
the statute Of Limitation for anything in
his life.
Mr.. Wood retorted upon Mr.. Hoar by
stating that that gentleman had been
the friend, counsel, adviser, defender,
ana the small legal tTickster who had
engineered the case of General Howard.
As soon as the word "trickster" was
pronounced the speakers hammer fell.
Mr.. Garfield called Mr.. Wood to or
der.
The speaker decided that the express
sion was unparliamentary, and Mr..
Wood withdrew the word ''trickster."
Mr.. Randall moved that Mr.. Wood be
allowed TO proceed in order. The motion
was agreed to.
Mr.. Wheeler-Hss not the hour to
which the gentleman from Indiana
LCOburnl is entitled expired?
Speaker-Just this moment.
Mr.. Wheeler then called for the regu-
lar order OF business.
Mr.. WoOd-I hope my colleague will
not interfere.
Mr.. Wheeler-I insist on the regular
business.
The speaker then put the question on
Mr.. Fry's amendment, and it was
adopted by vote l72 yeas, to Ga nays.
The joint resolution as amended was
then passed.
The house then proceeded to the con-
sideration Of private bills.
a private bill, involving a new and
important principle, gave rise to cOnsid-
cradle discussion. 1t was the case Of
trading vessel, the Norman, which was
pressed into service during the last war,
and which was captured by the enemy,
the master and crew being thrown into
a military prison, where the master died.
The bill gives to his widow the pension
attaching to the rank of a master in the
navy. twas supported by Mr.. Buffin-
ton and Mr.. Butler Mass. I, and opposed
by Mr.. Holman, as a commencement of
the civil-pension list The bill was
passed
A Joint resolution, providing for fur
nishing copies of congressional records to
members and senators was taken from
the speakers table, and the substitute
adopted by the senate was non-con-
cured in, al the committee of confer
ence ordered the joint resolution as
originally passed. 1t provided twenty
four copies for each senator and MEM
ber; the senate substitute provides
twenty-three copies for members, and
forIy-one for senators.
MIR. Cox offered a joint resolution
giving the thanks of congress TO the
officers and crew of the steamship At
laHtic for saving the crew of the brigan-
tine in mid-ocean. Passed.
The house then adjourned. To-mor-
rows session is to be for debate only.
SENATE
At one O'Clock, Senator Carpenter re.
s1med the floor, and spoke on Louisiana