Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
Resumption of Specie Payments
Election of President and Vice
President.
The House Again Refuses to In.
yestigate the Safe Bur.
glary Farce,
And Again Gives. HOlman's Sub
sidy Resolution the CODY.
Irwin to he Arrested for Con.
tempt.
SENATE

| WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-Numerous pc
titions were presented from temperance or
CARNATIONS, ministers and Others in Penn
sylvania and other States, asking Congress
to prohibit the manufacture and sale OF
alcoholic liquors in the District of Column
bia or the territories. Referred.
Tie chair then laid before the Senate the
resolution of the Arkansas Legislature for
repeal of the tax on leaf tobacco. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported bill 10 provide for the
resumption Ofspecie payment. Read twice
and placed on tile calendar. He gave notice
he would call the bill up tomorrow after
the expiration Of the morning hour if pos
sible.
Mr.. Flanagan read an extract from a
newspaper charging him with pOcketing the
nomination of certain postmasters in Texas,
and said the nomination was brought him
by the Chairman on Postoffices and Post
roads There was no objection to the San
Antonio Postmaster, and he so informed
the Chairman, but the other two were held
over for investigation. he thought it an
unhappy lick for the Republican party to
remove these two postmaSters.
MIR. Morton gave notice that on the first
day Of the session after the recess, and the
expiration of the morning hour, he would
ask the Senate TO proceed with the consid-
Grafton of the proposed amendment to the
Constitution of the Unite States in regard
10 the election Of President and Vice Presi-
dent reported by the Committee on Privileges
and Elections last session.
The Senate resumed the consideration
of the bill to provide better government
for the District of Columbia, the pending
question being on the motion OF Mr.. Nor
ton to provide for the election of the
Board Of Commissioners by the qualified
voters instead Of having them appointed
by the President
Mr.. Sargent did not know why it was
that the people of the District of Columbia
were to be deprived of the right Of suffrage.
Was it 10 be understood that the bill was
an admission that the Republican party in
the District, the capital of the nation,
abandoned negro suffrage? He was not
prepared to say 10 the cOlOred men in the
South or to the Republicans of that section.
that Congress was now, in their hour of
trial and after the dark days of persecution
TO which they had been subjected since the
adjournment of Congress last Summer.
going TO surrender such principle as that
of suffrage. He believed the ballot was
Necessary for the protection of the colored
man. and he could not lead the struggling
people Of Arkansas, Louisiana and Missis-
sippi to believe they were deserted, by
voting TO deprive the cOlOred man in this
District of suffrage.
Mr.. salisbury opposed the amendment
Of Mr.. Morton, and deprecated tie attempt
TO make party measure Of the bill. IL
was not question of negro suffrage, but a
question Of providing better government
for the District, and he believed the people
of the District would be better off with
three commissioners appointed by the Pres
ident TO preside over them. than to have all
the voting and corruption which existed
heretofore.
Mr.. Logan favored the amendment and
agreed with the Senator from California
{ Mr.. Sargent.)
Mr.. salisbury said a committee of
Congress had investigated the subject, and
reported that, by government established
on this unlimited principle, the people of
the District had been borne down with a
load of debt which had aroused the whole
Mr.. Pratt introduced a bill amending the
act granting pensions to certain soldiers
and sailors Of the war of 1872, and the
widows of deceased soldiers, approved
Feb. IA, 1871. Referred.
Mr. Merrimon obtained the floor 10 ad- |
dress the Senate on the district bill, but |
yielded for an executive session, after VII. CHI |
The Senate adjourned.