New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-19
BY TELEGRAPH,
CONGRESS.
Senate.

L
| WASHINGTON. January IS-The follow
ing bill was introduced by Mr.. Alcorn:
| The right of way through the public do
main for the Birmingham and St. Louis
railroad.
| Mr.. Goldthwaite, of Alabama, said he
found on his desk this morning pamphlets
! in the Spencer case He felt some deiicacv
in presenting them to the Senate,las they
were made up of newspaper testimony at
the best. He asked, however, that they be
referred to the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, which committee had charge
| of the Spencer case
Mr.. Cameron presented petitions of cit-
zens of Pennsylvania. tavoring subsidy
for the Southern Pacific railroad.
Bill passed Dallowing courtmartals to
compel civil witnesses to testify, on penalty
| of two months Imprisonment.
Mr. DAVIS resolution to investigate the
treasury was discussed without action.
MIR. Thurman. of Ohio, presented the cre-
| dentials of James B. Eustis, claiming seat
as Senator from Louisiana, which he sent
| to the clerks desk and had read. The
document consisted of lengthy extracts of
the proceedings OF the Louisiana Legisla-
| ture Before the reading was finished Mr..
| COnkling inquired who certified to these
papers.
Mr.. Thurman replied the papers were
| vOlnminous, and 1t was not necessary to
read them. They were certified by the
Speaker and Clerk Of the Louisiana House
of Representatives, and Senators who pre-
sided at the joint meeting.
MIR. Conkling said the act of Congress
stated that the credentials of one claiming
seat in this body must be certified by the
Governor Of the State. He argued that the
papers just presented in the Senate did
not present prima facie case, and not be-
ing credentials authorized by the statute,
he submitted that they ought not to be
read as such in the Senate.
Mr.. Norton said he was not in the Senate
when the papers purporting to be the cre-
dentials of Mr.. Eustis were read. He
asked that the matter be laid over until TO-
morrow morning
the title of Mr.. Eustis to the seat. He did
not ask to have him sworn in on them; he
only asked to have his case referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
Mr.. Conkling argued that the papers pre-
sented we're IRREGULAR, and were papers
upon which the Senate could not act as
constituting prima facie face.
Mr.. Thurman denied that the papers were
irregular, unless it was the absence of the
Governors certificate, and. that, he sub
mitted, was not an irregularity. The act
Of Congress had been strictly complied
with in the election of Mr.. Eustis. The
papers showed that majority of the ag-
gregare number of members of the two
houses were present, and also that ma
jority Of these members voted. The whole
question before the Senate would turn upon
the fact as to whether or not vacancy ex-
listed in the Louisiana Senatorship. If the
Senate should decide that Pinchback was
entitled to the seat. there would be an end
Of these papers; but, on the other hand, if
the Senate should decide that Pinchback
was not entitled to the seat the claim Of
| Mr. Enstia mnsf ha consid Grad
Mr.. Sherman suggested that the papers
be printed in the Record az if they had been
read in the Senate, and the matter be laid
over until tomorrow, so that the Senate
could 60 on with the morning business
now. This suggestion was agreed to, and it
was ordered they be printed in the Record
and laid over till tomorrow.
The Senate Committee on Railroads
agreed to give Colonel Thomas A. Scott q
hearing in behalf of his Texas Pacific rail-
road bill. Also, to listen to an argument
from Mr.. Owen, who asks for an appropria-
tion of $25, 900 to survey railroad line from
Austin. Texas, to Tapalo Ramo, Mexico.
The Senate adjourned.
The Judiciary Committee reported bill
authorizing the Court OF Claims 20 take
jurisdiction on the claims of all persons who
were infants. married women, idiots, lu-
natics. insane persons, or beyond the seas
| at the time of the seizure of any abandoned
or captured property; provided, that such
| claims are already on file, or shall be on tile
within two years. Referred to the commit
| tee of the whole.
The same committee reported bill au-
| thorizing the Court of Claims to take iuris-
diction on the claim of Robert Irwin, Of Sa-
vannah. Georgia, for properly taken from
him. Referred 70 the committee of the
whole.
| The same committee reported adversely
on the bill to repeal capital punishment.
months for proving claims before the Ala
bama Claims Commission, passed.
! The following bills were introduced:
| BY Mr.. Riddle-TO pay half customs in
| lawful money.
By Mr.. McFarland-To allow planters to
| sell leaf tobacco without license
By Mr.. Cannon-Enacting penalty for
mailing obscene matter, and excluding lot
| terry circulars from the mails.
By Mr. Hatcher-For the improvement of
| the Mississippi river between st. Louis and
Cairo.
By Mr. Wilshire-To establish judicial
district for Oklahoma.
By Mr.. Slemmons-For the improvement
of the Ouachita river.
By Mr.. Luttrell-To prevent the natural
ization of Chinese and Mongolians.
By Mr.. Oliver, OF Iowa-To reduce the
interest bearing public debt; to provide q
| uniform currency, limit the amount thereof,
and make it equal in value to specie; also,
to invite joint convention of all civilized
nations for the purpose of establishing q
uniform system OF weights, measures and
coinage throughout the civilized world.
The House went INTO committee OF the
whole on the centennial appropriation.
Mr.. Waddell, OF North Carolina, said that
he had been an unwavering supporter of
appropriations for this centennial exhibi-
tion ever since it had been first projected.
If 1t we're supposed that the irritating dis
cussion of last week would have driven the
Southern meu away from the support of
this measure. he sincerely trusted that the
result of the vote would only add another
illustration of the many already given of
how utterly impossible it is for some people
to understand and appreciate the spirit that
animates other people. He and his associates
acquitted their Northern brethren If all the
responsibility of that discussion. They had
understood fully-for it was Transparent
the motive which underlay the introduction
OF that subject, and attaching to that motive
its exact value. they simply looked down
and passed by the whole subject. They
would treat that lamentable chapter in
American history as Noah's sons had done
in the hour of their fathers humiliation:
they would avert their looks and with back
ward step cast the mantle Of oblivion over
it. They wished the disturDers of the pub
lie peace TO understand that notwishstand.
ing the spirit exhibited they were too good
patriots and too sincere men to allow lhat
spirit either to control them or to serve as
an example tor them. They wished to
maintain the honor and character OF the
American Union. and they would do it if
they were allowed. One element in the
House had not been heard from in that dis.