Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-03
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
FRIDAY. March z.

| General OF new mexico on certain private
land claims in that territory. Ordered to be
| printed.
Also, the credentials OF James Beck, elect
ed as Senator from Kentucky, for the term
| commencing March 1, 1877, which were read
| and placed on file.
Mr. Dorsey presented memorial in favor of
| the Texas Pacific railroad.
| Mr.. Sargent presented a memorial of mer-
| chants OF San Francisco against the repeal
| OF the bankrupt law. Referred TO Commit.
| tee on Judiciary.
| Mr.. Morton presented a memorial of the
| convention of colored men OF Texas, com
| planning that the state government has prac-
| ideally destroy ed the free school system and
| that the new constitution makes no proper
| provision for free schools, and as king redress
at the hands of Congress. He asked to refer
| the petition TO the Committee on the Judi
claTy, and called the attention OF the COM
| mitIee to IL.
Mr.. Anthony presented memorial OF agri-
| culturists asking Congress to take action in
| regard 10 noXiouS insects.
| REPORTS FROM THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
| Mr.. Spencer, from Committee on District
| ef Columbia, reported adversely on memo
| rial OF certain citizens of Washington, ask
| ing removal OF parking in square ga, and il
| was Indefinitely postponed. Also, FROM the
| same committee, the bill making the 22d day
| of February legal holiday i'm the District OF
| Columbia, with Az amendment making the
| iZth cay oil aprii, ne birthday OF Abraham
Lincoln, also national holiday. aud asked
| It's present consideration, but Mr.. WIhers
| objected, and IL went over.
| POSTAL.
| Mr.. Robertson introduced bill to restore
! the ranking privilege. Referred TO Com
| mittee on Post Offices.
| MI. Hsmlin Introduced bill fixing the rate
| OF postage on third-class matt matter, aud
| for other purposes. Post Offices.
! Mr.. Dorsey Introduced a bill directing the
| Southern Claims Commission TO eSamine
the claim OF Alexander Davis. COMMITTEES
| on Claims.
Mr.. Morton submitted resolution appro
pTiatiDg $1,000 from the contingent fund of
The Senate 10 defray the expenses of the in
WESTON into the election OF Senator Spencer.
| Adopted.
| Mr.. Conkling presented a petition OF citi-
| zens OF New York, asking tie repeal of tie
bankrupt law. judiciary Committee.
THE PINCHBACK CASE
| ives then taken mp.
Mr.. Edmunds said he supposed every SEN
ator was weary OF this discussion, and anX-
| ious to come 10 a vote on il. Ia this partIcI-
lar case we were acting under the cOnStiIu-
lion, which says that each House Is 10 be the
luGge OF The qualifications of It's own mem
| bsrs. We can act not as par,isans not as
p liticians, not as patriots, but as judges.
He could rot conceive thatany consideration
but The calm majority Of the law should
| guide the action of Senators Ia this manner.
He had with cbagrin seer some evidence OF
a disposition 10 act on this question from
considerations which were fatal II then we
are to exclude from the consideration of this
question every idea 10 what this mans
vote would effect ifhe is admitted, or what
the absence Of IL will effect If not admitted.
| Then the plain simple law OF the case only
| is 10 be looked at. The resolution il
| full and complete declaration OF
| the admission % tins man for the fuIl term
| for which he was elected, and If adopted
would forecloSe any Investigation as to his
right afterwards. But what Is this prima
iacie case? II bears the great seal OF the
| state OF Louisiana. We know that IL Is the
| great seal, for the same reason thai we know
| there is governor or a legislature in Lou
iSiana, or that there was no legal cOuStitu-
| tional Legislature in North Carolina in 1863.
Bat We are not 10 be shut out from any fnr-
| Their knowledge than that 1t bears The great
seal OF the state. We have the same right to
know that there was a legal legislature,
competent to eject; to know whether there
| is one or two leg SiatuTes. III Mr.. Kellogg
as he should call him for convenience mad
seen tit to certify 10 the election OF the per
son elected 10y the NcEnery legislature, there
Il not one Senator here vino would not have
said that we had perfect right 10 go behind
the great seal and inquire whether that body
of men were competent TO elect. 1t could
not be known that it was a prima facie case
unless the compt tency OF the legislature was
proven.
THE BELKKAp IMPEACHMENT.
At "A few minutes before one O'Clock, Mr..
Green Adams, clerkOr the House of Repre-
sentatives, appeared and announced that the
House had directed the Committee on the
Expenditures of the War department to
notify the Senate that the House had directed
articles OF Impeachment 10 be prepared
against W. w. Belknap, aud that the COM
fnittee would soOD appear to perform the
! duty assigned to them. At precisely one
O'Clock the doors Of the main entrance were
thrown open and the committee headed by
SeTge9n alarms Thompson, entered the
chamber. Sergeant at Arms French, OF the
Senate, then said "Mr. Presidents COM
nittee from the House of Representative"
The committee headed by the chairman
Mr.. Hester lymer, then advanced 10 the
bar or the House when Mr.. Clymer real from
a sheet of note paper, dead silence prevail
ing in the chamber and gallaries, the follow
ing:
fMr. President; In obedience 10 the order
of the House of Representatives we appear
before you, and in the name of the House o.
Representatives and Of the people of the
United States of America we do irnpeach
William w. Belknap, late Secretary OF War
OF The United States, of high crimes aud mis-
denear ors while in office; and we further
inform the Senate that the House OF Repre-
stntstiYes will In due time exhibit articles
OF impeachment against him and make 60 81
the same; and in their name we demaut that
the Senate shall take order for the appear
ance of said William W. Belknsp 20 answer
AS soon as he had finished the reading,
Mr.. Ferry, the President pro te7aDOre OF the
Senate said: "Mr Chairman and gentlemen
of the committee OF the House OF Repressn-
tatiyes, the Senate Will take order in the
premises"
The Hons committee then bowed and re-
tired, and Mr.. Edmunds resumed his speech
On the Pinehback question.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Swami, (Md.,) from the Committee on For
eign Affairs, offered a resolution authoriZ-
ing said committee to print from time 10
time such testimony in the Emma mine in
Adopted.
Mr.. Phillips (Kan.) presented resolutions
OF the legislature OF Kansas in relation To
lands granted TO the Kansas Pacific railroad
company. Referred TO Committee or Public
Lands
Mr.. Springer CIll) asked, but failed 20
obtain, leave to offer a resolution directing
the Committee of Ways and Means to INQUIRE
whether the recent investigation by u. s.
grand juries and the prosecution in the courts |
OF those charged with defrauding the revenue |
nave been sufficiently thorough to ascertain |
that The laws are sufficient To meet these
cases, or whether additional legislation is |
The Speaker laid before the House a COM
munication from the acting Secretary of /
War In relation TO the removal of the Quar-
master Generals Office in Washington.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar Mass the House /
concurred in the Senate amendments To the /
joint resolution to print copies of the eulozies
of the late Vice President Wilson, and the |
late Senator johnson.
Mr.. Hunton, VA from Committee on x ~ /
dictionary Pensions, reported bill TO grant /
pensions to soldiers of 1912 and their widows.
Ordered printed and recommitted.
The Speaker proceeded, as the regular Or
IN mi fnr