Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-16
CONGRESSIONAL
The Civil Rights Bill Before the
Senate.
Morton makes Another Effort
for Binchback.
Death Of Congressman Hooper
Announced in the Senate
and House.
SENATE

WASHINGTON feD. l0.-l0e secretary
laid before the Senate a letter from Vice
President Wilson, announcing that he
would be absent from the city for two or
three days. Mr.. Anthony, Of Rhode Island,
was chosen President pro TEN. Of the Sen
ate.
Mr.. Edmunds, from the judiciary Com
mittee, reported, without amendments, the
Civil Rights bill which lately passed the
House Of Representatives, and gave notice
that he would cali it up at the earliest pos
sible moment, which would be in day or
two, Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Chandler, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported back the steamboat
| bill, with amendments, and said it was
/ ncW only the skeleton of the bill hereto
fore considered. He asked the Senators 70
examine the bill carefully, and see if there
was anything in it worth passing. Is 50,
he would cali it up tomorrow. Placed on
the calendar.
Mr. Scott, from the Committee OF Con-
ference on the disagreeing votes Of the two
houses on the bill to amend the natiOhal
bank act and fixing the compensation OF
national bank examiners, made a report,
which was agreed to. In presenting it,
Mr.. Scott said the committee had agreed to
fix a specific compensation for the exam
inatiOn Of national banks, instead Of allow
ing mileage, as heretofore.
Mr.. Robertson introduced bill to Sc
cure depOsitOrs in the Freedmen's Savings
and Trust Company from ultimate loss.
Mr.. Thurman. Of Ohio, presented q me
mortal from the tobacco manufacturers Of
Dayton, O., against an increase Of taxation
on tobacco.
The morning hour having expired, the
chair announced that the unfinished busi-
ness before the Senate was the DILL to pro-
vide a government for the District Of
Columbia.
Mr.. Morton moved 10 postpone the pend
ing and all prior orders, and proceed to the
consideration of the resolution reported by
the Committee on Privileges and Elections
for the admission of Pinchback as Senator
from Louisiana.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, said Id view OF
the assurances be gave on Saturday, he did
not eel himself at liberty t. urge the fur
ther consideration of the bill 70 provide
government for the District to-day, but be-
fore the end of the session he would en-
desyOr to have it considered again.
Mr.. Thurman inquired if the motion of
the Senator from Indiana (MortOn) could
be divided. He thought the Senate could
first vote upon postpOning the pending or
der and then upon what should be taken
up.
The chair (Mr. Anthony replied that the
motion was divisible.
Mr.. Thurman resuming, said the Senator
from Maine Mr. Morrill) should not per-
NIT his bill to be post poned unless he in
tended to abandon it. Those who offered
amendments on Saturday did not do so out
Of hostility to the bill, but to perfect it. 1t
would not be killed unless the gentlemen
who had charge of it killed it. He
hoped Mr.. Morrill, would not abandon his
offspring in this way.
Air. Morrill,, of Maine. said he had not
the slightest disposition to abandon the
bill, bot it had already consumed a great
deal of time aud should have been passed.
Every proposition in committee Of the
whole had been overTuled, but when the
bill was considered in the Senate, two or
three hours were consumed in offering
amendments. He was willing to have the
session Of Saturday continued until nine
OF ten o'clock al night TO complete the bill,
but when a motion TO adjourn was made
shortly after six o'clock, his friend Thur
man and others went over and voted for ad-
iOUrnment. He (MOrTiil) l)wOuld not press
the bill to-day, but gave notice that he
would seek the first opportunity to have 1t
considered, when IL could be done without
displacinC any bill Of more importance.
Mr.. Morton said as the Senator from
Ohio (AIr. ThuTmaT) desired TO divide the
mOtiOn Just made, lie would now move to
lay the bill to provide government for the
District OF Columbia On the table, and he
dId so for the purpose OF then moving to
proceed 10 the consideration Of the reSOlU-
ton for the admission Of Pinchback.
The motion to lay the District govern
ment bill on the table was agreed 10, yeas
"a, nays 3; MessTs. FentOn, SpTague and
Upton voting with the Democrats against
the motion.
Mr.. Morton then moved to take up the
resolution for the admission Of Pinchback.
Mr.. BOgy moved to lay that motion on
the table and take up the steamboat bill.
Mr.. Edmunds raised the point that the
motion of Mr.. Bogy was not in order.
The Chair said he was advised it was.
Mr.. COnkling said motion to proceed
to the consideration Of bill like motion
10 adjourn, was not open to motion TO lay
on the table.
After some discussion, the chair submit
ted the question to the Senate whether Mr..
BOgy's motion was in order, and it was de-
cided ia the negative, yeas %, nays 20.
The motion Of Mr.. Morton to take up
the resolution for the admission Of Pinch
back was then agreed to.
Mr.. Nor on said Pinchback had present.
ed his credentials duly signed by the Gov
4 Fv- tho arr-
of State. showing that in January, 1873, he
was elected United States Senator for the
period of six wears from March 4, 1873
Upon those credentials he had a prima
facie case aud must be seated. Any in
quiry as to the character Of the body which
elected him, or improper means used to Sc
cure his election, must be inquired into af-
forwards. 1t was no part Of his purpose to
90 over the Louisiana story again, but
would intent himself with giving a few
brief authorities TOR the admission Of
Pinchback. The first was that growing
out Of the admission of Mr.. GOldtnwait,
a Senator from Alabama. The Senator
from Ohio Mr.. ThuTman) then in the course
of his remarks, said the credentials Of a
Senator, properly signed, made a prima
facie case, and Mr.. GOldthwait was seated
on his prima facie case. Mr.. Morton next
referred to the case of Mr.. Robbins, Of
Rhode Island, in 1886, and said aftera long
debate he was seated on his credentials.
In the case Of Gen. Shields, who was ad
mitted as member of the Senate in lS49,
his credentials were referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary. and it was claimed
that he could not be admitted, not being
citizen of the United States. The debate
on the question when it came up, was par
ticipated in by Messrs. Douglass, Walker,
Badger, Webster, and others, and after a
full discussion, il was decided that Gen.
Shields had prima facie case on the Gov
ernor's certificate, and he was therefore
sworn in. Afterwards the case was exam
ined and he was found not to be
a citizen Of the United States, and was
expelled. If the Senate recognized
kellogg as Governor Of Louisiana, then
Pinchback had a prima facia case, and
must be seated, any objection TO the char
acter of the body by which he was elected, or
mode. or manner Of his election, to be in
quired into after he was seated. As was
said by Mr.. Webster, the Senate gets no
jurisdiction over the subject unless the
DerSOD elected becomes a member of the