The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
WARRINGTON, May 5.
SENATE.

| The Senate was opepeu Will P'syS
by Rev. John Tullock.
Mr.. Pratt, from the Committee on
Pensions, reported back the bill amend
atory to the act granting pensions TO
certain soldiers and sailors OF the war
OF 1872, and to restore to the pension
rolls these persons whose names were
stricken therefrom in consequence OF
their disloyalty to the government
Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine, from the Com
mittee on Appropriations, reported back
the bill for the relief OF persons suffer"
ling from the overflow OF the Mlsssslp-
pi river, which appropriated $4,000,
With an additional section directing the
Secretary OF War to issue temporary
supplies Of food ard army clothing to
those suffering, and approprlatlng $6O,-
600 additional for that purpose.
Mr.. Edmunds moved an amendment
providing tha. the provisions OF the
bills should expire On the lst OF Sep
tember next.
Mr.. Pease spoke of the suffering
existing in his State on account OF the
OVERT ow, and OF the inability OF the
State authorizes to relieve the destltu-
ton. -,
Mr.. Alcoru said that care should be
taken to distribute this food and cloth
ing iudiciously. He referred to a tele-
cram publishe ed this morning, that the
negroes around Memphis were now
declining to work, alleging that the
Government OF the United States wss
going to feed and cloth them. The
difficulty was that under this bill the
country would become demoralizsd.
The people OF Louisiana aud Mississippi
had been taxed largely for the construc-
, ton of levees and they
should have been properly made
to resist freshets. II the money
| bad been properly expended the object
would have been accomplished LouSi-
ana alone had spent twelve millions OF
dollars upon the Mississippi levees, and
the State Of Mississippi had spent ten
millions of dollars since the war Tor the
same purpose. Five millions OF dollars
honestly and properly expended would
have been sufficient to protect the State
OF Mississippi from overflow, The
trouble was the mouey had been squan
dered by irresponsible parties. The
people OF Mississippi had no faith in
their local government. When he LETT
Mississippi short time ago the water
was not up to the hood line by twenty
e;rht inches; but the levees were 90
badly constructed that they would not
staud. An economical way to relieve
the people was for the Government to
take charge OF these levees and give
the Door people employment in recon-
structing them when the water goes
down, and not let the negroes suppose
that the Federal Government was 60.
ING 10 feed and clothe them. He would
,afher have the counrry Aarderibg 20
the Mississippi river given away than
have the people struggling all the time
aqsinet these wrongs. The Secretary o
Var should have exclusive coutrol o.
the relief fund. The State OF Arkansa;
should also be included in the bill, q,
there was suffering in that State as vel
a. in Mississippi and Louisiana. De
thought Mississ ppi WAS able to take
care Of it's poor, but the Legislature
could no. be convened for fifteen OF
tweaty days and by that time those In
want vorld be beyond any aid.
Mr.. Conklng said that before hear
ing tine Senator from Mississippi h'
thought he would have voted tor the
bill, but as that Senator had stated
that the State was able TO take care o
its own poor, any aid that Congress
should give should be in the nature o.
an advance to be returned to the Gov
erumeut hereafter. As nc
one in Mississippi was dis'ran'
cbi,sd. he did not see how
il WAS the people had no voice in The
management OF their own affars\ HI
incurred O. the Senator the name o.
the person who was president o! the
Upper Levee Bard.
Mr.. Alcorn said it was A. F. Alcorn,
his son.
Mr.. Conkling said he would not re
main silent and listen to insiauationI
that the national administration va!
responsible Tor the sius Of omission snC
com mission iu the Southern States
The misrule ip Mississippi was no
brought about by carpet baggers Oh
no..resiieuts! and the Senator Mr.
, Alcorn might as we'll charge this nal
administration he complains OF upon
the Sultan OF Turkey.
Mr.. Alcorn inquired if the Senate
from New York Mr. Conkiing did no
know that in 1867 and 1868 Congress
passed a law forbiddlng any one from
: holding Office in asy Southern State uI
. lees that person should take the "iros
clad" oath, aad did he DO
know that tue oath EXCLUDED
all respectable men Of that section from
! office The oath was extended even to
voter., 90 that respectable men could
not vote.
Mr.. Conklng said he did deny tha
auy man had been denied the right t
vote after the State government wa
organized. :.
. Mr.. Alcorn said it was true that hi
: son was president Of the upper lsve
. board, but it vas also true that th'
, district over which be presided va
Z. overflored to-day. He took the offic
e against his (Alcorn's) advice, but prob
j ably did 90 to prevent fraud, as the cor
}, tracts were about to be given out an
n he no doub. did save q large cum
money in that district. Should thl
It appropriation be made now, the del
# bursement of it should te LEFT solel
: 10 the Secretary oi War, aud not b
Is put into the hands OF those who vel
d itching to get hold OF il, and troI
IS whom the negroes would get out littI
e OF it. The officers in his Stat