Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-11
HOUSE.
The Eraedman,s Bank.

fered resolution calling for a report Of the
present condition of the Freedman's Bank,
setting forth what progress has been made
towards closing up its affairs. Agreed TO.
Mr.. WhitthOrne introduced bill direct
ing the Freedman'S Bank Commissioners
to declare an immediate dividend and to
institute suit against the trustees, officers
and agents of the company, with view Of
holding them personally liable. Referred.
Mr.. Fort introduced a resolution to print
q, 1000 copies of each Of the Agricultural
Charts for 1872 and 1873. Referred.
Mr.. Swami, from the Committee on APP
preparations, reported the Diplomatic and
Consulate appropriation bill, apprOpriating
81, 344, 7S5, which was made the special Or
der for the 23d inst.
Mr.. Negley, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported bill amendatOry of
the act for the construction of the st.
Louis bridge across the Missouri river.
Made the special order for Monday next.
The Privilege OF Selling CadetshiPs-
Mr.. Stowell, rising TO question of per-
sOnal privilege, referred 10 the charges made
against him by his political opponent, Mr..
Porter, of having sold a naval csdetship for
$1,000 to one Scholcraft, and of having sold
his vote. He had in a letter to the Peters
burg Iader denounced the charges of Mr..
Porter as infamous lies and vile ISLANDERS.
He now asked for an investigation by a
committee of the House. The matter was
referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs
with power to send for persons and papers
and report at any time.
Mr.. Willard, of VT, from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill repeal
ing the third section of the last diplomatic
appropriation bill, which, after explanation,
was passed. The repeating section fOrbids
consular officers to grant certificates for
goods or merchandise shipped from cOun-
tries adjacent to the United States, which
have passed a consulate after purchase for
shipment.
A Help In Getting at Retrenehment.
Mr.. Ho man offered a resolution to
amend the rules so as to make it in order
to move to amend any appropriation bill
by abolishing any office Of public en-
plOyment, OF by reducing the salary or
compensation of such Office. Referred.
3.65's-A Move 10 Repeal the Legal
Tender Clause.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole, Mr.. Tyne in the chair, and re-
sumed consideration of the bill authorizing
an issue of 3.65 convertible bonds.
Mr.. Willard, of Vermont, offered an
amendment providing that greenbacks shall
not be legal tender In payment of debts
contracted after the first of July, 1875.
Dawes DOgmauzes.
Mr.. Dawes spoke at length in opposition
to the bill. He declared that with the gen.
tleman from Ohio, (Garfield) he rejoiced
that the hands of Congress were being
stayed up in the effort, if il had the courage
to make it, TO bring the country back to the
laws of trade, and argued that the direct
and inevitable consequence of the substi-
tuition of the pending bill for the existing
state of affairs, instead of bringing relief
by appreciation of greenbacks to gold,
would sink it ten and fifteen per cent, and
thereby take from the labOrer fifteen per
cent. of the purchasing power of his days
wages, and cut down his now scanty loaf
of bread.
The greenback would be worth as much
as gold to-day, if the Government would
pay it when presented, and it never would
be worth as much as gold until the Gov
eminent did that. Let it DO that, and all
the rest would follow. In conclusion he
said: Those who are responsible for pub
lie affairs have no time to lose. We can
put off our duty in promises no longer.
The Republican Party Has Just Three
Months
to save or to destroy its existence. No
other power than itself can accomplish its
ruin. 1t will pass out of mind and memo
" in the politics of this country, if at all,
by its own hands. 1t has the power as
well as the privilege of accomplishing either
of these results. Whatever in the near ftl-
ture awaits that party let it not be for want
of courage.
Mr.. Phelps argued against the pending
measure and said: This is what | ask the
government to do: | ask the government
to pay the promises that it made twelve
years ago, to pay these greenbacks on de-
mand, dollar for dollar, and | ask the gov
erRent to do so by borrowing on its bonds
payable fifty years after date, the money
with which to pay its present Indebtedness.
In my opinion, there is but one way to
make the currency equal to money, and
that is to follow that straight, narrow path,
which is the path of honesty. The gov
eminent must pay its debts when they are
due. Then alone can we expect to be
again prosperous and happy and hOnored
nation.
Smith.
Mr.. Smith, of New York, spoke in favor
Of a return to specie payments as soon as
practicable without disaster. There were
some features in the pending measure
which Impressed him favorably, but there
were very grave objections to it. There
was illimitable expansion in it, because
these bonds of small denomination would
circulate as currency. In order to guard
against that, he would move to amend the
bill by making the lowest denomination
of the bonds 81 900.
At the close of Mr.. Smiths remarks the
committee rose without action on the bill.
On motion of Mr.. Tyner, the Senate
amendment to the bill appropriating S30,-
co.. for scales required in carrying out the
law for the prepayment Of newspapers was
concurred in and the bin passed.
Mr.. Ga field made an effort 10 have an
adjournment until Monday next, but sever
al votes showed the majority Of the House
against it, Mr.. Butler remarSing that Mr..
Garfield's object was to prevent the action