Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-23
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
In the Senate on the 18th, Mr.. Patterson
presented memorial from the Chamber Of
Commerce and the Mayor of Charleston for
an appropriation for the improvement of the
harbor at that city. Louisiana affairs we're
briefly discussed, after which the Senate went
into executive session. In the House. among
the vast number of bills offered are the fol-
lowing: By Mr.. Blaine, proposing an amend
ment to the Constitution providing that no
State make any law respecting the establish.
ment of religion, or prohibiting the free exer-
else thereof, and that no money raised by tax
alton in any State for the support of the pub
lie schools, or derived from any lands devoted
thereto, shall ever be under the control ofany
religious sect, and that no money or lands so
devoted shall be divided among religious sects
or denominations, and making the Presidents
term six years, the incumbent to be Ineligible.
By Mr. Darroll, of Louisiana, to amend the
act of the Sd of March, 1871, Incorporating
the Texas Pacific Railroad Company, bill
similar to Vests introduced in the Senate
By Mr.. Morey, of Louisiana, to remove polit-
ical disabilities from all the citizens of the
United States, and to prescribe an oath Of Of
fee. By Mr. Davis, of North Carolina, to
repeal the law forbdding the payment of ac-
counts, claims and demands Of Southern citi.
zens for quartermasters' stores, &C., and ap-
proprating s500,O00 to pay for the same. Mr.
Fort, of Illinois, offered the following resolu-
| ton and demanded tho -prauioua eiuaat;an an.
its adoption: "Resolved, by the House of
Representatives, that in all subordinate ap-
pointments under any of the officers of this
House it is the judgment of the House that
wounded Union soldiers who are not disabled
from the performance of duty should be pre-
ferred." A standing vote on seconding the
previous question showed 81 republicans vo.
ting in its favor and 1O4 Democrats against
it. The vote was taken by letters with like
general result, the report of the tellers being
ayes SO, noes 1926. So the previous question
was not seconded. Mr.. Cox, of New York,
then offered the following as an amendment
to the resolution, and moved the reference of
both resolutions to the Committee on accounts,
and demanded the previous question: ere
solved, That inasmuch as the Union of the
States has been restored, all the citizens there
of are entitled to consideration in the appoint
ment to offices under the Government" At
ter some sparring by members Of both sides,
the two resolutions were referred to the com.
mittee on accounts.
In the Senate on the 18th, Mr.. Morton, of
Indiana, introduced a joint resolution that the
United States constitute nation, and that the
rights of the States cannot be enlarged or d.
minished except by constitutional amendment,
and that secession is impossible. The same
member also submitted resolution to the eff.
feet that the last election in the State of Mis-
sissippi was carried by the Democrats by
fraud, intimidation and violence, and he
moved that a committee of FIVE Senators be
appointed to visit Mississippi and investigate
the facts. At the request of Mr.. Bayard, of
Delaware, the resolution was laid over until
the next day. Mr.. Stevenson, Of Kentucky
introduced resolution that the Secretary Of
the Treasury be and he is hereby requested to
transmit to the Senate copies of all letters,
telegrams, orders and instructions relating to
the organization and prosecution of alleged
infraction of internal revenue laws at St.
Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee, if not deemed
incompatible with the public interest. After
long argument and much objection from the
Republican side, Stevenson Withdrew it. A
large number of private bills were introduced.
After executive session the Senate adjourned.
In the House, several postal and financial
bills were introduced and referred. Mr..
Randall introduced bill for the removal OF
all disabilities imposed by the third section of
the 18th article of the amendment to the Con.
stitution. The bill was set for the 2lst. Rain.
ey, of South Carolina, introduced bill to
abolish the committee on freedmens affairs,
of the House, which was agreed to. Mr..
Holman, of Indiana, offered resolution pro.
hibiting government subsidies for private en-
terprise, which was adopted by vote of yeas,
223; nays, 80. Mr.. Robbins, Of North Car
olina, offered resolution declaring it the
purpose of the House not to interfere with
the present tax on tobacco before the lst OF
July, 1875. Referred to the committee on
ways and means. Mr.. Springer, of Illinois,
offered a resolution declaring that in the opin-
ion of the House the precedent established by
Washington and other Presidents of the
United States in retiring from the Presiden-
tial office after their second term has become,
by universal concurrence, part of our Re-
publican system of government, and that any
departure from that timehonored custom
would be unwise, unpatriotic and fraught
with evil to our free institutions. Adopted
yeas 232 nays 1S. Among the nays were
Haralson, of Alabama, (colored y Hoge, OF
South Carolina; Hyman, of North Carolina
(colored y Nash, of louisiana ;smalls, of South
Carolina, (colored y Walls, of Florida; Wells,
of Mississippi, and White, of Kentucky. The