New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-13
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20
CONGRESS-.

Tho petitions Of SylvaDus Humpbrieg, Will
liam j. Porter, William JacksoD, II. W. Tur-
ner, Nancy Bowsen, Miles Holly, Sarah C..
g. orge Holloway and others,
compensation for property DC.
Btroyed BY United States troops in 1862 and
1863. and recommended that the committee
oe discharged from further consideration.
30 ordered.
In making the report, Mr.. Wright said
there WAS NO reason why these petitions
were Dos fled before the S0ntbern claims
instead of before the Senate.
Mr. Davis presented his Treasury inves-
tigation resolution, which was ordered
printed.
Resolutions regarding President pro tenn
pore were resumed.
A long constitutional argument followed.
when tho remaining tw0-the others hsv-
ing previously passed-were adopted. They
declare that the President pro tempore holds
at pleasure of the Senate, and designate Mr..
Ferry ~ President until further ordered.
The vote waA "a to Is.
The Senate then adjourned.
The following bills were introduced and
referred: 4
For mints of several cities. s.-
BY Mr.. Parsons-For recovery of internal
taxes and penalties illegally paid.
By. Mr. Clarke-For the Improvement Of
the Big Sandy river; also the Cumberland
river.
By Mr.. Durham To permit tobacco
growers to sell to consumers on their own
land without license; also for the improve
ment Of the Cumberland river.
BY Mr.. McFxrlsnd-T0 authorize the
Southern Claims Commission to grant re-
hearings. :.
By Hr. Thornberg-To improve the navi.
CATION Of streams tributary to the Teunes-
Bv Mr.. Gibson, of Louisiana-Relativ to
tho grade of officers Of tho army; also, au-
thorizing tho designation Of judge of q
district court in case Of vacancy; also, Q
resolution authorizing the appointment Of
q commission to ascertain on what terms
mutually beneficial treaty. OF commerce
with Mexico Can bo arranged.
By Mr.. Levy, of Louisiana-For removal
of obstruotioDs in Red river; also, to i'm
closing the mouth of Tones bayou.
By Mr.. AOrey, of L0uisiana-F0r the bet
ter Organisation of the United States DIS
trict Court in Louisiana; also to strengthen
the credit of reconstructed States, and to
afford them financial relief: extending the
time for fling suits in the Court Of Claims
to establish titles to tho Hot Springs reser.
walton, Arkansas; also for an additional
term OF the Circuit and District courts.
By Mr.. Walls, of Florida-For light.
house ar Mosquito Inlet.
By Mr.. Schieicher, of Texas-For the pay.
ment Of the nOn-interest paying debt Of
By Mr.. Mills, of Texas-To pay for all
COTTON seized by the Treasury after Nay,
1865; also, refunding cotton tax; also, for q
postofiioe building st Houston; also, to
transfer the control of Indian affairs to the
War Department; also, for the improve.
men OF tho ship channel in Galveston Bay;
also. to change the Eastern and Western
judicial districts of Texas.
BY Mr.. Hereford-For the improvement
Of the Big Sandy in Kentucky and West
Virgins. t-a&
The amnesty bill was resumed, ON which
Mr.. 0srfield had the floor.
Mr.. Wood inquired regarding the length
of debate, saying 1000 bills had been intfo-
duced, and it 10 undeIst0od twenty-three
gentlemen desired to speak On amnesty.
Mr. Randall replied, he proposed 10 move
the previous question, limiting debate to On
hour, after Nj. Garfield closed.
Mr.. Blaine claimed under the rules he,
not Mr.. Randall, had control.
The Speaker said he would decide that
point when the occasion came, and Mr.. Gar
field proceeded. He deprecated the speeehe'
of the opposition - an arraienment OF the
of Mr.. Hill arraigped not tho Republicsu
party alone, but q, ,000, 600 Of people; he sr.
raienod the history Of the republic; ar'
raigned every ything that was glorious In
its record and high and WoFthy in itl
achisvements. He should Try and be
responsivs to the Reinte made y
tho gentleman from 0eorxis. He did
not desire to hold Jefferson Davis reeponsi-
BILE for tho rebellion. He did not believe in
tie doctrine Of vieafious stonement in hu'
man affairs; JefEersOn DAvis Was NO more
guilty than any other man who went into the
rebellion with equal light and intelligence.
The question wae, whether he who Waa
the head of the rebellion, pfaoticed in the
dread court of war the rules Of war; wheth.
er in appealing to war he obeyed the laws
of war, or whether he 20 violated tho laws
of that high tribunal ~ that he did not de-
serve permission to como hack into his
place in Congress; that Vas the whole ques.
ton.
Mr.. Garfield then proceeded with his
story of Anders0uville, the appointment OF
General Winder - commisssry general Of
all pris0ns, and pris0ners throughout the
Confederscy WAS denounced. He challenged
any Democratic member from the neigh
bofhood of Elmra, Camp Douglas or Fort
Delaware to rise and say that any inhu-
manity had been perpetrated there lno
Democrat doing col He denounced the ~
sertion a. fearfully and awfully untrue.
Mr.. Hill disciaimed any purpose OF
charging inhumsnity on anybody. He
only read Q lettAr from the New York
World a. evidence Of the cruelties insepara-
BILE from prison life, and he had wound mp
the statement BY saying thst the official
records showed tho relative mortality TO be
greater among the Southern prisoners st
the North. than among the Northern
prisoners ct the South.
4 member asked-Do you charge that the
mortality among the Confederste prisoners
as tho North was owing to cfueltys
Mr.. HILL do not undertake to say to
what the mortality ON either side of the
line was attributable. say that it was
attributable to those horrors inseparsble
from prison life any where, and intended
in my point against striving to work up
those horrors 0fthe past, to keep alive strife
which ought to be buried. (AppIa se
Abiding to the mutual decoration Of graves
in the South, Mr.. Hill said: And it was be-
cause of that glorious feeling that be pro-
tested against the revival Of the history of
such horrors.
Mr.. Garfiield-So do /, who brought it
herea iChorus from Democratic meMbers:
Blsinel Blaine! Blaine!]
Mr.. Garfield hoped tho same fraternal
feeling could follow the forty MANNED
Union soldiers, who had recently left their
places around tho House.
A discussion ensued on this point which
developed the following figures: Of l53
positions in the last House
eighteen were filed BY Union soldiers. Of
eighty five positions 10 the present House
twenty-six were filed by Union soldiers;
THE from the Democratic side.
The Republican side claimed that in the
House po0totiioe nine Onion soldiers were
and their places Allied by nine
Confederate soldiers. p.
Mr.. Garfield proCeeded 10 discuss tho OK.
change Of prleOnors and gave . detailed