Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-01-07
FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, January =.

Mr.. Sargent called up bill removing the
gold notes. PASSED..
Mr.. Mitchell called up bill for erection of
custom house and bonded warehouse al Port
land, Oregon.
Mr.. Sherman said he would oppoSe any
further appropriations for public buildings
IN the present condition of the finances. Until
The House of Representatives indicated what
they intended To do in regard To the revenue
OF The government, no new public eNpendi-
lures should be embarked i'm. Ii would be
bad policy TO do this until the means are pro-
yided TO meet expenditures already incurred
1t is said Congress must increase the taxes:
but this is for the House To determine: and
until they do act, no appropriations should
be made, unless absolutely demanded by thc
needs OF The public service, or for the safety
of the country.
Mr.. Coukling opposed the bin. and did moi
think there would be any particular reason
Tor ITS passage, even II the Treasury was
OVerrunning.
Pending discussion the morning hour ex-
pired, and the bill went over.
LOUISIANA AGAIN.
The unfinished business, being the raSolu-
flon of inquiry concerning the military
movements in Louisiana, was taken up
Mr.. Gordon said yesterday in reply To some
harsh remarks addressed to him by the Sen
ator from Vermont (Edmunds) he had been
betrayed into making some remarks about
lTreSpOnSlblllty as applied To that Senator.
BY that word he had done an Injustice to the
Senator from Vermont. The responsibility
OF that Senator as a statesman. as a jurist
and as a member of society was in his Opin-
lcll ol itlt ana most honorable
character. Having done an injustice to the
Senator he wished now i'm the presence OF
The senate to express 10 him his sincere re
grets. Forbidden as Senators were TO erase
anything of a personal nature he now made
the only reparation left TO him.
Mr.. Edmunds desired to express his obliga-
non 10 The Senator from Georgia for the very
handsome manner in which he had Just
spoken. He felt satisfied that on reflection
the Senator would see that he had been nm
just. He Mr.. E.) did not intend to address
harsh l2nUnHDp N ,aasI.,
on him personality, and If the Senator 50 uu-
derstOod him he was very sorry.
Mr. Hamilton (Md) said, from the unpre-
cedcntcd character of the seizure of the
State-hOuse in New Orleans. the people OF the
country might well take alarm. Ii was a
most unusual thing i'm this land of liberty
however usual it might be i'm monarchical
countries. The information asked of the
President as 10 the reasons influencing his
action. was desired by all, and he did not sup
Jose that there would be any objection 10
baSsing il. The Senator from Wisconsin
(HOusel had suggested what are you going 10
ito If the President don't answer the resolu-
tlon? lie did not believe that the President
would decline 10 answer. But what will we
do II he don't give the reasons for his action.
The army does not belong 10 the President
nor 10 the Governor OF any state, but il be-
longs to the people. and as Representatives of
the people, ii the President uses the army for
Improper purposes, If he uses il against the
liberties OF the people, we can stop his sup
plies, We can strip him of every soldier. we
can leave him without vessel. That is a
remedy which we have against a deSpotic
Executive, and our duty To the people might
be such as 10 compel us 10 use il.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Nr. White (Ala.l asked leave to offer reso-
luton declaring that the President of the
United was entitled 10 the thanks OF Con-
greSs and 10 its confidence and support for
the prompt measures he has adopted for the
maintenance OF law and order in Louisiana.
Objection was made to the resolution, but
n number Of gentlemen desired q yea and nav
vote, but il was refused.
Mr.. Vance On. c. Offered bill to author
iZe the appointment of Captain VIM. Magrrl-
der 10 his original rank i'll the army. Re
ferred.
Mr. Beck (Ky.) introduced a bill to provide
for a uniform currency; 10 retire national
bank notes, and TO resume specie pay aymants.
Referred.
The Speaker laid before the House
a PETITION FRoI RICHARD Z. IRWIN.
which was read by the clerk. The petitioner
represents that his confinement in the COM
mon Jail of the District OF Columbia will
operate with peculiar severity upon his
health, which is already suffering He un-
derSiands from the debate that took place yes
tcriay, that his confinement was not intend
ed as a punishment, but as a safeguard 10
prevent his escape from the custody of the
House. Whether intended or not as
punishment. such confinement in
the Jail will operate as a most onerouS
punishment. He does not suppose that the
House would attempt 10 apply the thumb
screw, or the rack. or the red-hot shoes to a
witness to compel the answer TO a question
but Incarceration in cold and cheerleSS
dungeon was somewhat akin to the thumb
screw in this case. 1t was said in the debate
yesterday that a door was open for escape,
and that if the witness was prepared TO am
swer the questions propOunded he could at
once be released. That was equally true of
the sufferers from the thumb-screw. the rack
and the red-hOt shoes. They could all be re
leased by doing certain thing. The pc
tltiOner further represents that in no other
similar case has the order of confinement
in the common Jail been made. He called
attention TO the fact that in the case of Jos.
b. Stewart the proposition TO send him 10
Jail was voted down; and yet he was Il wit
ness in the flower of health. while the peti-
tioner is in very feeble health. He also called
attention TO the fact that his case must be
necessarily referred to the District Attorney
and he asks that the uniform usage may be
carried out in his case, and that unnecessary
and unusual punishment shall not be in
hcted upon him in advance of his conviction
OF any crime with which he may be charged.
WHAT MR.. DAWES SAID.
Mr.. Dawes (Mass.) said that the Ways and
Means committee had no disposition TO re-
new the discussion of yesterday. The wit
ness has appealed from that committee TO the
House, and he comes here to criticise the
action of the House. II the House desires its
action TO be criticised and to reverse il the
Committee of Ways and Means will have no
reason to complain. But if sthe House re-
verses its action of yesterday the committee
will take ii as notice that they should aban-
don the further investiyigation Of the Pacific
Mail subsidy.
OTHER OPINIONS
Mr.. Maynard (Tenn.) said that on yesterday
he had urged that the punishment be less
rigorous, but as the House had decided other
wise he hoped the punishment would not be
modified.
Mr.. Eldredge (Wis) said il did not seem to
him that this petition was what Mr. Dawes
represented, viz, a criticism upon the action
OF the House. The witness was simply exer-
cising the American right of petition The
paper was couched in proper words, and SIM
ply shows that his health would be endan-
gered by confinement. He did not wish the
House to show undue sensitiveness on this
subject. The petitioner should not be turned
away on the charge that he has criticised the
House.
Mr.. Dawes said that i'm using the word crit
icism he did not intend to convey the idea
that the language was disrespectful. 1t was
nevertheless criticism on the action of the
House.
Mr.. +. III. Roberts N. " said he saw no
reason why the House should retrace its steps
i'm the matter.
Mr.. Butler (Mass.) said he was unfortu-
nately absent when the question came up
yesterday. He thought the petition an appeal
TO the humanity and good sense of the House.
The witness denies the Jurisdiction of the
House In his case, and he thinks he should
should not be treated worse than murderer
who has not been convicted. There was nor
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