Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-01-29
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-.
The Business OF General Interest Trans
acted.

The Business OF General Interest Trans
acted.
SENATE.
Mr.. Sargent (Rep.), of California presented
the petition of 26,0 l6 women Of Utah asking
the repeal of the anti-polygamy law of 1862
| and the Poland bill, anu that Utah be admitted
as State in the Union, etc
Mr. Thurman (Rep.) OF Ohio, presented
several petitions of citizens Of Ohio, asking
the repeal of the Resumption act passed at
| the last session.
Mr. Dorsey (Rep.), of Arkansas introduced
a bill TO organize the Territory Of Oklahoma,
and for the protection Of the Indian tribes
therein, and for other purposes. Referred.
A resolution relative to the revolution in
Cuba, and one relating to State rights, were
also presented.
Mr.. Oglesby (Rep.) Of Illinois, presented a
petition of citizens Of that State asking the
| repeal of the Resumption act Of January, 1876
as well as the National Bank act, and the sub
stitution Of legal tenders for national bank
notes. Referred.
MIR. Mitchell (Rep.), Of Oregon, introduced
bill to authorize persons of foreign birth who
nave declared their intention Of becoming
citizens of the United States to lie registered
as owner or part owner OF American vessels
Mr.. Paddock (Rep }, OF Nebraska introduced
bill to enable the people of New Mexico to
form constitution and State government and
Tor the ADMISSION VI hdlu OIdI6 lulO Lu0 UDlOu
on An equal footing with the original States.
The Chair laid before the Senate a resolu-
ton of the Produce Exchange of New York in
favor of the passage OF the bill to appropriate
81, 800 900 for the completion of the prepare
lions for the opening of the Centennial cele-
braton. Referred.
Mr.. Cooper (Dem }, of Tennessee, announced
the death OF his late colleague, Andrew john
son, and delivered eulogy on his life and
character.
Bills were introduced to equaize bountles or
soldiers to abolish capital punishment and
to placo colored troops on an equality with
white.
The first political battle of the session Of the
House WAS when Mr.. Randall Oem.), of
Pennsylvania moved to suspend the rules in
order to proceed to the consideration Of the
( Amnesty bill. Mr.. Blaine CRep }. of Maine,
, at once came to the front, Mr.. Randall de-
sired discussion on the bill, but would not adj
nit of amendments to it. Mr.. Blaine desired
l the bill left open for amendments. The ques-
} ton being taken the bill was rejected by q
vote Of 172 yeas and 81 nays, not the requisite
two-thirds in the majority. Mr.. Blaine then
: moved to reconsider the vote taken, and adj
i DIRE ssed the House on the subject. Mr..
I Blaine in his speech desired exemption of
Jefferson Davis from its provisions, and was
willing the bill should pass, granting amnesty
o to all others In his remarks he detailed at
q length the story OF Andersonville and laid the
blame of the sufferings there TO Davis. He
said do not arragn The Southern people for
Q the Andersonville crime God forbid that
b should charge any people with sympathizng
= with such an order. There we're many evil
dences of great uneasiness among the South
ern people about it, and one Of the greatest
J. crimes of Mr.. Davis was that he concealed il
4 from the Southern people.
Mr. Hill dem }, of Georgia, replied to Mr..
d Blaine on the Amnesty bill He claimed that
a Jefferson Davis was not the monster he has
8 been pictured, and the Federals were Tespon.
4 sible for the horrors of Andersonville. IL
concluding his remarks he said: "Let us
u unite to repair the wrongs that distract apC
d Cypress the country. Let us turn our backs
n on the past, aud let it be said in the future
that he shall be the greatest patriot, the trues
y patriot, the ablest patriot, who shall do the
a most to repair the wrongs of the past, and tt
promote the glories Of the future"
Mr. Morrison (Dem.) of Illinois, introduced
is a bill preparatory to the redemption of United
10 States notes and the resumption of specie pay
ments. 1t proposes to retain gold in TIN
10 treasury to the amount Ct thirty PER cent. o
10 the outstanding legal tenders; require
n national banks to retain gold paid for thei
:, interest on bonds deposited to secure currenc
IL till they have thirty per cent. of their outstand
N ing notes, and repeats that portion Of the Re
n sumption act compelling specie resumption il
n 1879.
Mr., Garfield (Rep.) of Ohio, continued tn
VI discussion. He did not desire to hold JeffeI
1t son Davis responsible for the rebellion H
did not believe in the doctrine of vicariou
b atonement iu human affairs. Jefferson Davl
~ was no more guilty than any other man VIII
ly went into the rebellion with equal light an
t. intelligence. He referred to Andersonville
!, and to persons North and South during til
u. Il IL. L arA Il.
@i humanity shown Northern prisoners SCutE
Of none was practiced in the Northern prison
,d where Confederate troops were confined. Ii
: claimed that the object of the outrageou
D. treatment of prisoners at Andersonville hac
10 therefore, been to make the Union soldiers 3
~ that when exchanged they would be valueless
~ On the fourth day that the bill was befor
- the House, Mr.. Blaine took the floor. H
- claimed that the bill was specially intended
40 honor Jefferson Davis, and considered &
al length the motive of the treatment of prisoner
:. in Northern and Southern prisons He con
az menced a cross-examination OF members o
ly the other side, but finding that this would us
ed MP his hour, dropped it. He ended by saying
-, If the American Congress by two-thirds vol
- shall pronounce Jefferson Davis W rthy to
Ut restored to the full rights of American citizei
lily ship, can only vote against it, and hang N
head in shame.
Mr.. Banks Ind), of Massachusetts pr
Ou pOHoQ an T6luOfluB pOllJlCal III
n. abilities from all persons who will so before
ou United States court and take an oath to SUI
u, port and defend the Constitution against a
I'D enemies, forei IN aud domestic
ng Mr.. Randall the originator of the bill, clost
,at the argument with some remarks, and the
' moved to commit the bill to the judiciary cor
lte mittee with instructions to report it bat
ie- forthwith, with Mr. Banks amendment. II
Ia bill with Mr.. Banks amendment-Mr. Blaine
~ amendment not having been admitted-w
io- referred to the judiciary committee.
&C. Bills were introduced to make 1t misd
"; meanor for United States officials to demal
contributions to election funds; to repeal Il
Bankrupt law; requiring national banks
we prepare for specie payments; to aboll
ld. stamps on bank checks; for the organizati
he of the Territory of Oklahoma for the adm
sion Of New Mexico as State, and to limit t
es' sale of public lands to homestead and pi
in emphon settlers.
he Mr.. Clark (Dem.), of Missouri, from
post-office committee, reported bill liking
- rate OF postage on third class mail matter 1
10 exceeding four pounds to each package, at o
ria | cent for two ounces.