The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-20
BY TELEGRAPH.
Latest News from Washington.


Debate on the Centennial Bill, dc.
| Especial telegram to the Dlspatch.l
WASHINGTON, January 19.-Favorable
comment seems everywhere to follow the
speech Of John Randolph Tucker on Il 9
Centennial bill made In the House to-day,
the able speaker taking high constitutional
ground for his opposition to the bill. The
speech in length was exactly one hour and a
quarter, and was listened to throughout with
the most profound attention. Republicans
as We'll as Democrats applaud the patriotic
utterances Of the speaker, and at its close he
was congratulated by many members on
both sides.
Mr.. Tucker has taken high rank among
the ablest Democratic statesmen Ia Congress,
and no more patriotic speech has been heard
since the war.
Morton's speech in the Senate to-day on
his reso luton to investigate the Mississippi
election, though not yet completed, was
tame in comparison with the usual tenor of
his oratorical efforts. The bloody shirt was
not flourshed SO extensively. The great
Radical read his speech, and it was
tamely done. It has not been com.
pleted, however, and before lis close he
may probably out, Blaine Blaine, though in
the hight Of recent oratory that is hardly con-
sidered possible. There will be fifteen or
twenty speeches on the Centennial BILL A
vote may be reached tomorrow afternoon.
The opponents Of the bill believe that it car-
not pass.
A surprising feature of the debate to-day
was 4 PENNSYLVANIA member making speech
in opposition to the measure. TIMos.
EBy Associated Press.I
XLVTH CONGRESS-First Session.
WAsHNGroN, January 70, 1876.
SENATE.
Mr.. Sherman presented petitions Of citi-
zens of Ohio asking for the construction of
the Southern Pacific railroad.
MIR. Wallace presented petitions Of citizens
of Pennsylvania for congressional aid in the
construction of the Southern Pacific road.
The bill amending the charter Of the
Freedman's Bank was passed.
Bills were introduced:
By Mr.. Withers, of Virginia: For the re.
lief Of B. D. Morton, of Gainesville, Va.
By Mr.. Johnston, OF Virginia: The petit
ton of Samuel Cooper, of Virginia, asking
the removal OF his political disabilities.
Br Mr.. Wthers, Of Virginia: The memo
rial of the Common Council OF Fredercks-
burg. Va, in response to the action of the
Common Council of Boston, Mass, relating
to the erection Of monument at Yorktown,
Va, in commemoration of the dosing battle
of the Revolutionary war.
Nsr investigation
discussed, but was laid aside for Mr.. Morton,
who commenced bis Mississippi investiga-
ton resolution speech. Before its conclu-
| sion the Senate went into executive session,
after which it adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE s.
| The preliminary business in the House to-
| day was uDimportant.
The Centennial bill was taken up and
several speeches made, only two being in
| oppositior- Cochrane, Of Pennsylvania,
and MI Tucker, of Vlrgiua- both on con.
| stitutional grounds. Dir. fuckers speech is
said to have been the finest eGort Of the ses-
sion.
In the course Of his remarks, speaking OF
George Washington, Mr.. Tucker remarked
that George Washington was the first great
rebel in the country, aud he yeDtured to say
to the gentleman from Ohio (Galtield) who
spoke the other day about perjury, that
| George Washington was in the view OF the
law perjured rebel, for he was an officer in
bis MajeSty's army, and he (Tucker) took it
for granted that he swore to support the
Crown, and then went into rebellion.
Mr.. Garfield: Did he hold commission
in the British army at the time of the ReYo.
lution?"
Mr.. Tucker "No, SIR"
| Mr.. Garfield I" Then think he did not
commit PERJURY"
Mr.. Tucker: "Then you claim that his
oath only lasted so long as he held bis com.
mission ~
Mr.. Garfield: "It ceased when bis CON-
mission expired"
Mr.. Tucker: But be resigned"
Mr.. Garfield: "He did not resign"
| Mr.. Tucker "He did resign"
Mr.. Garfield: "He was not an officer at
| the time"
Mr.. Tucker: "Why, the gentleman does
rot know the history Of his own country
[Laughter.l
Mr. Garfield: "Did he resign TO take ser.
vice against the Crown"
Mr.. Tucker: ooh, no; that is another
thing"
Mr.. Garfield: "He was trying to get SER
vice in Great Britain before the war and
failed.'
Dir. Tucker: "He resigned and then be
took service in the rebellion. When the
gentleman was speaking Of men of the South
the other day be spoke Of those who resigned
and afterwards took service on the Conleue-
rate side"
Mr.. Garfield: 81 did not speak of those
who having resigned took service, but OF
those who being still under their oath con-
temptuously violated it and struck against
the United States"
MIR. Tucker: "If you had so qualified
your phraseology l should not have inter.
rupted you the other day, for know of no
such person. The reason why interrupted
the gentleman the other day was that rep
resent on this floor district and little
town where sleep the remains of one of the
noblest Americans that ever trod this soil
rneanipg General R. Z. Lee !, He sleeps in
death, and no dishonor can ever by implica.
ton or expression be thrown on that honored
grave that the representative from that dis.
trict will not rise here and repel. Sensation,
and some applause
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, spoke in favor Of
the bill.
Without reaching vote the House adj
ijourned.
Weather Probabilities.
WASHINGTON, January 19.--For New Eng
land and the Middle States, light rain fol-
lowed by partly cloudy and colder weather,
southwest to northwest winds, and rising
barometer during Thursday.
For the South Atlantic and Gulf States,
Tennessee, and the Ohio Valley, clear or fail
,uoatbor duripp Thursday with norther RI