The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-06
CON q R ELS 8. 8
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May 8.

MIR. Pratt, from the Committee on Pen.
sions, reported back the bill amendatory
10 the act granting pensions 10 certain
soldiers and sailors Of 1879, and to restore
to the pension rolls those persons whose
names were stricken thereirom In conse-
quence OF their disloyalty to tho govern
ment. Placed on the calendar,
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, from the Com.
mittee on Appropriations, reported back
the bill for the relief OF persons suffering
from tho overflow Of the Mississippi river,
which appropriated 100000, with an ad.
ditional section directing the Secretary Of
War 10 issue temporary supplies and
army clothing TO those suffering and ap-
propriating 100000 additional for that
purpose. .a al. ".Hl
Mr., Edmunds moved an amendment
providing that the provisions of the bills
should expire on The 1st Of September
next. ~ "-t -a.'"
Mr. Pease spoke OF The suffering exis-
ting In his State on account Of the over.
flow and the inability ot the State author.
tiles 10 relieve the destitution.
MIR. Alcorn said care should be taken
to distribute this food and clothing judic.
iously. Ho referred 10 the telegram pub.
lished this morning, that the negroes
around Memphis were now declining to
work, alleging that the Government. oi
the United States was going to feed and
cloth them. The difficulty was that under
this bill the country would become de-
moralized. The people OF Louisiana and
Mississippi had been taxed largly for
the construction Of levees. Louisiana
alone had spent twelve millions
Of dollars aince the war for, the same
purpose. Five millions Of dollars hon.
estly and properly expended would have
been sufficient 10 protect the State Of
Mississippi from overflow. The trouble
was the money had been fquandered by
irresponsible parties, The people oil Mis-.
sissippi had no faith in their local gov
ernment When he left Mississippi,
short time ago, the water wss not up to
the flood line BY 2s inches, but the levees
were SO badly constructed that they
would not stand. The economical way
ior the Government TO relieve the people
was to take charge Of these levees and
give the poor people employment
on reconstructing them when the
water goes down and not let tho negroes
suppose the federal government was going
to feed and Clothe them. He would rather
have the country bordering on the Missis.
sippt river given away than have the
people struggling all the time against
these wrongs. The Secretary of War
should have exclusive control Of the relief
fund. The State oi Arkansas should also
be included in the bill. There was suffer.
ing in that State as well as In Mississippi
and Louisiana. He thought Mississippi
was able TO take care OF its poor, but the
Legislature could not be convened for fif-
teen or twenty days, and by that time
those In want would be beyond any aid.
Mr. Conklipg said before hearing the
Senator from Mississippi he thought he
would have voted lor the bill, but as that
Senator had said that that State was
able to take care oil It's own poor any aid
that Congress should give should be in
the nature Of on advance TO be returned
to the Government hereafter. AS no one
In Mississippi was disIranchised he didn't
see how 1t was the people had no voice
In their management oil their own affairs.
He inquired OF the Senator tho name Of
the person who was president Of the up
per levGe board. 49,
Mr.. Alcorn said 1t was ". F. Alcorn,
his con. as.
MIR. Conkling said he would not remain
silent and listen to insinuGtions that the
National administration was responsible
for the sins OF omission and commission
in the Southern States. The misrule in
Mississippi was not brought about by
carpet'baggers or non-residents, and the
Senator (Alcorn) might as well charge
this maladministratiOn he complains Of
upon the Sultan OF Turkey.
Mr.. Alcorn inquired It the Senator from
New York (Conkllng) did not know that
In 1857 and 1858 Congress passed q law
iorbiddiug anyone from holding office in
any Southern State unless that person
should take the "iron.clad" oath; and did
he not know that that oath excluded all
respectable men Of that section from Office.
The oath was extended even 10 voters 80
that respectable men could not vote
MIR. Oonkling said he did deny that any
man had been denied tho right 10 vote
after the State government was organ
lied.
Mr.. Alcorn said 1t was true that his son
was President OF the Upper Levee Board,
but 1t was also true that the district over
which he presided was oyelaowed to-day.
he took the office against his (Alcorn's)
advice, but probably did 30 to prevent
fraud, as contracts were about to be
given out; and he no doubt did save o
large sum Of money in that district.
Should this appropriation be made now,
the disbursement OF 1t should be lett sole.
" TO the Secretary Of War, to be put
into the hands Of those who were itching
TO get hold Of 1t, and from whom the
negroes would get but little of 1t. The
officers In his Stale were not the choice of
the tax payers, and he wanted rather to
appeal 10 the Secretary than 10 those
satraps placed over the people. He
charged that Gov. Ames lad removed
citizens from the boards ot the districts
now oveI6owed, and put in their places
persons who had defrauded the people.
Mr.. Upton said when the discussion
on this bill commenced no was told that
the people oI Mississippi were suffering.
It had been kept up so long, he now
had serious apprehenSions that they had
expired, and he therefore thought an ap-
preparation had better be made Tor
funeral expenses. Laughter.
Mr.. Sargent moved 10 recommlt the
bill to the Committee on Appropriations.
MIR. Pcase said he deplored this recon-
structton debate which had been dragged
in by his colleague. He desired to lepcl
the insinuAtion that the money would be
m,sapplied by State officials. Gen. Ames
was an honest man, and the people Of
Mississippi, without regard to political
faith, gave him the credit Of being one.
Mr.. sargcnts motion to recommit was
Tie Senate then Presumed the con-