New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-13
BY TELE G r APH
CONGRESS.
Senate.

WASHINGTON, July 12.-The Chair laid
before the Senate the House bill to amend
the Pacific railroad acts. It provides for
sinking fund. There was a spirited coz
test over its reference, Mr.. West insisting
it should go to the Committee on Railroads.
Mr.. Edmunds argued that the bills already
reported by the Committee on Railroads
were prepared by the railroad companies
or suggested by them, and we're not 20 be-
come operative until accepted by vote of
the board of directors.
The question of retererre ant over.
Impeachment resuInet-In9 prosecution
closed its evidence except that OF Mr..
Evans. The defense commenced examin-
ing witnesses as to General Belknaps good
character. General Hancock was called,
but it was announced he was too sick to at
tend to-day.
The court and tie Senate adjourned.
House.
The Committee On Privileges and Elec-
tions reported that Mr.. Darrall, from Lou
isiana, was entitled to a seat. Adopted.
A bill to prevent the overlooking of YES
sells carrying freight and passengers was
referred.
Mr.. Atkins, of Tennessee offered reso-
luton reciting that there was q military
commission appointed by special order
issued from the post at Bethel Department
of Tennessee, in 1862, to investigate the
amount Of damage done by the rebel raid
on Henderson Station, and that large
amount of money was collected from the
citizens to reimburse the government, and
directing the Committee on Expenditures
in the War Department to ascertain the
amounts collected and from whom, and TO
what use it had been applied. Adopted.
bill appr0priating 100000 for the con-
structiOn of military posts on the Musset
Shall and YeI1OwatOnn rivera. DaeHo0.
Mr.. Hewitt. Of New York, from the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, reported back.
the resolution declaring the action of Robert
C. Schenck, while United States minister at
the court of St. James, in becoming di-
rector of the Emma Silver Mining Com
pany, and his operations in connection with
the shares of said company, and the VEN
and incompatible with the duties Of his po-
sition. Adopted without discussion or di
vision.
A bill for the protection of the Rio Grande
frontier, without action, was discussed to
adjournment.
Mr.. Townsend, of New York, in the
course Of his speech commented severely on
the Democratic policy of cutting down the
strength Of the army below what he called
it's present pitiful figure Of $4,000 men, and
ascribed it as much to the desire to get rid
of the colored regiments as to the professed
purpose of economy. He ridiculed that
profession, and warned the Democrats of
the House that if they went on in their
work to cripple the government and dis
grace it before foreign nations, they
would awaken a spirit such as had
had never been and would not be
put down. He criticised Mr.. Randalls
conversion to the faith of economy. in the
face of the fact that he had pocketed the
back pay two years ago, and said that he
wanted the country to understand that this
convert to the doctrine of retrenchment
and intrenchment kept that $4,000 in his
pocket.
Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, reminded Mr..
Townsend that Mr.. Randall was not pres
ent.
Mr.. Townsend replied that il he could
have the opportunity of saying these things
in Mr.. Randalls presence he would do SO;
but the potential previous question had
met him all through the session, and he had
not been permitted even to protest against
the high handed partisan legislation and
harangues of which the House had been
the scene.
Mr.. Stevenson, of Illinois, argued against
the section of the bill which authorizes
American troops to cross the Rio Grande
into Mexico in pursuit Of marauders.
Mr.. Culbertson, of Texas, advocated the
bill. He thought that mere defensive
policy on the frontier would be q failure.
He did not believe that the fact of United
States soldiers pursuing the marauders
into Mexican soil would bring on war;
but if it did, then war ought to come.
Mr.. Harrison, of Illinois, opposed that
part OF the bill which allows the United
States troops to pursue the marauders into
Mexico, because he believed it would bring
dishonor on the American name. If the
United States government could not make
the Mexicans protect the border Congress
should authorize the appointment of a COM
mission, and if that should fail it should
declare war, and not take territory on the
pretense of protecting its own citizens. If
q strong nation should deal with another
strong nation ae it was proposed that the
United States should deal with Mexico, it
was war, and if with weak one it was
dishonor, and he did not desire to see the
American name dishonored. The commit
tee rose without action in the matter.