The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-10
CONGRESS-.
Extracts front the Presidents Message.

CONGRESS.
! Extracts front the Presidents Nessaqe.
Last Monday Congress met at twelve O'Clock
In the Senate Blaine, OF Maine, Chaffee and
Teller for the new State of Colorado, and Priot
| tbe new Senator from West Virginia, were
| sworn in. After the usual formalities Mr. Ed
munds offered q resolution, which was laid or
the table and ordered printed, setting forth
that whereas the constitution provides for the
method of eleoting Represen tatives to Con
gress. and recites who are entitled to vote fol
such Representatives and whereas it is alleged
that in the States of South Carolina, Georgia
Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, the rights
OF many such persons were denied and
abridged during the late election.
Therefore, resoleed, That the Committee on
Privileges and Elections be authorized to in.
quire whether Ruch rights were denied and
abridged, and, if 80, to what extent, and who
have been affected by such denial and ebridge-
ment as has been carried on also, that said
Presidential electors in the late election were
disqualified, end whether any of them have
been interfered with in their rights and quail
ications, and whether there is any constitu-
tional remedy therefor that said committee
employ clerks and stenographers, and be en-
powered to take testimony aud administer
oaths. This passed on Tuesday by a strict
party vote of 80 to %.
In the House the first business was the cleo
tion of Speaker, which resulted in the choice
of s. j. Randall of Pennsylvania. Under a
suspension ofthe rules bill passed providing
for the appointment of committee of six to
go to Florida, nine to South Carolina, and
fifteen to Louisiana, to investigate the election
in those States and the action OF the returning
boards in relation thereto, ard to report all
facts essential To An honest return of electors
for President and Vlce-Pres dent, and whetbar
the electoral votes of those States should be
counted. The Speaker annonpced rhe comm e.
tees as follows: On Louisiana-&orrison, of
Illinois, jerks, of PennsylV lVauia. Mcmahon, of
Ohio, Lynde, of Wisconsin. Blackburn, of
Kentucky, Meade, Of New York, House, of
Tennessee, Phelps, of Connecticut, New, of
Indiana, Ross, of New Jersey, T0wnsend, OF
Pennsylvania, Dautord, of Ohio, Hurlbnt, of
Illinois, Crapo, of Mass ,chusetrs, and Joyce, of
Vermont.
On Fiorda-Thompson of Massachu usetts,
Debolt, of Missouri, Walling of Ohio, Hopkins.
of Pennsylvania, Garfield of Ohio, Dunuell, of
Minnesota.
On South Carolina-Sayler, of Ooio, Abbot,
of Massachusetts. Cochrane, of Pennsylvania
Eden, of Illinois, Jones, of Kentucky, Philips,
of Missouri, Banks, of Nassachnsetts Lawrence
of ONO, ana Lapham of New York.
Ga Tuesday The time of both Houses was
principally occupied in listening to the Presi-
dents message. Gen. Grant commences with
what might be considered an apology for the
many hlunders of bis administrator which he
attributes in part to his want of previous pol
itical training and but which nevertheless are
to be attributed to errors of Judgment not of
intent. 1t should also be remeJn bered, he
tbioks, that all sd administrations in GLIDING that
of Washington, also committed bunders. He
then passes on to the financial results achieved
during the eight years of his term, saying:
Taxes have been reduced within the last
seven years nearly three hundred millions of
dollars, and the national debt has been reduced
In the same time over $435 600 900. By refond-
ing the per cent bonded debt foF bonds bear
ing and Al per cent interest respectively the
animal interest has been reduced from over
S13O 600 600 in 1869 to but little 100 600 600
in 1876. The balance of trade has been changed
from over $130 600 COO against the United States
IN 1869 to more than $120 900 900 in our favor
IN lo76. IL is confidently believed that the
balance of trade in favor Of the United States
will increase not diminish, and that the pledge |
If Congress to resume specie payments in 1879 |
will be easily accomplished even in the absence |
Of much desired further legislation on the sub |
ect. Y
Referring to the Indian Question, he says:
" policy has been adopted towards the In
dian tribes inhabitrng large portion of the
United States, " hich has been humane and has |
,u ubstantially ended Indian bostilities in the
whole land except in q portion of Nebraska and |
Dakota, Wyoming and Montana Territories,
The Black Hill regions and approaches thereto.
Hostities there have grown ont of the avarice
Of the white man who has violated our treaty
;tipulations ia his search for gold. The ques-
lion might be asked Why the Government has
1ot enforced obedience to the terms of the
5reaty prohibiting the occupation of the Black
Hills region by wuites. The answer is simple.
The first immigrants 10 the Black Hills we're
,emoved by troops, but rumors of rich discove-
,ies of gold, took into that region increased
lum bers. Gold was found in payln & quantities,
md an effort to remove the rniners would only
'esult in the desertion of the bulk of the troops
that might be sent there to remove them. All
1ificulty in this matter hes, however, been re!
moved, subject to the approval of Congress, by
treaty ceding the Black Hills and approaches
TO settlement by citizens"
After this follows extended reference to the
relations Of ouB government with foreign
powers and other subjects equally uninterest-
ing to the general reader.
The most important portion OF the. AeF5age