The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-12
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Jan. II.

Lorlng and many citizens of Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island and New York,
in regard to transportation of cattle in railroad
trains.
Mr. Anthony, from the Committee en- Naval
Affairs, reported favorably on the bill to pro-
vide for the completion aud location of naval
monument in Washington.
Mr. Morrill, of Vermont said he had exam
ined the design of this monument, which had
been gotten up by officers of the navy, and it
would be very handsome one. The bill pass
ed.
Mr.. Meriimon from the Committee on Rules
reported adversely on the resolution of Mr..
Morton authorizing that reports be made with
out previous notice.
Alter debate it was recommtted.
The credentials of Johu W. Johnston of
Va, was presented, read and laid on the table.
Mr. Paddock of Nebraska, introduced bill
to enable the people of New Mexico to form
constitution and state government, and for the
admission OF said state into the Union.
Mr.. Mitchell introduced bill to authorize
persons OF foreign birth, who have declared
United States, to be registered as owners or
part owners of American vessels of commerce.
Mr.. Mitchell said this bill did not propose to
change he GENERALIZATION laws of the country,
but II dld provide that person who had lived
in the country ten years and filed declaration
of his intentions of becoming citizen might
be registered as owner or part owner of any
vessel.
After the expiration of the morning hour,
MI; Cooper of Tennessee announced the death
pronounced an eulogy.
Mr.. Morton of Ind. spoke Of the life and
character OF Mr.. johnson and declared that he
was brave and honest man. He referred to
the vote for his Impeachment which he gave,
and SAID for that he had no apology to make.
He believed MIR. johnson had violated law but
he was willing to let the memory of what he
regarded as his faults be buried with him and
remember only his service to his country.
Appropriate remarks were made by Messrs.
McCreerg, Merrimon, Paddock, Bogy, Jones cf
Florida, Bayard and Key. after which Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House bills were introduced and ra-
ferred.
By Morrison Of ILL.,, preparatory to the re-
demption of U. 5. notes and the resumption of
specie payment. 1t proposes to retain gold in
the treasury to the amount of 30 per cent. of
outstanding legal tenders; it requires national
banks to retain the gold paid for their interest
on bonds deposited to secure currency till they
have 10 per cent. of their outstanding notes,
and repeats that portion of the resumption act
compelling specie resumption in 1879.
Mr.. Hamilton from the appropriation COM
mlttee, reports that the military academy APP
propriations will be made the special order for
! Thursday next It appropriates 1921, PAL
Mr.. Williams from the committee on &C.
| counts, reported resolution fixing the number
and pay of the committee clerks. In the
course OF the discussion on the resolution, Will
| liams said his committee proposed to provide
| for 20 committee clerks in addition to the five
| provided for by law making 25 in all, whereas
| at the last Congress there were 35 The reso.
| luton was adopted.
A resolution against printing an index aud
summary of cases adiudicated adversely to
CLAIMS commissioners was adopted.
| Mr.. Atkins of Tenn, from the appropriation
com mlttoP. renOrtp0 the mansion of IN
| bill. 1t was made the special order for Friday
| next. 1t appropriates $25, 500, 600.
The House then proceeded to the coEsidera.
ton Of the amnesty bill and was addressed by
| MIR. Hill of Georgia.
He disclaimed any intention to reopen the
| quarrel between the North and South, and it
| was not his business to defend the career of
Jefferson Davis in general. His record was
| already made up and history would record a
| Just verdict But he claimed that the gentle.
| man from Maine had not proved his charge
that Davis was privy to the murders at Ander-
| sonville His only proof was the report of an
| ex-parte committee and Mr.. Davis had not
been allowed to be heard. President Grant
whisky ring and credit mobllier as Mr. Davis
for cruelties at Andersonville, if any were
| practced. He quoted a law passed by the
confederate congress providing equal rations to
| prisoners as to soldiers, which he said had
| been approved by Mr.Davis. He claimed that
4
federate troops, and whatever prvaiions they
SUITE red were also suffered by the troops.
| During his speech Blaine interrupted him
and asked him (HilD whether he had not been
| member of the confederate senate.
| Hill replied that he had been.
| Blaine then proceeded to quote a resolution
offered 10 the confederate congress by Senator
Hill OF Georgia to the following effect:
| That every person pretending to be soldier
| or officer of the United States who shall be
l canturp6 the sOil nf ha cfofa
after the LIST of Jan. 1863 shall be presumed to
have entered the territory of confederate states
| with intent to incite instruction and to abet
| murder, and that unless satisfactory proof be
| adducsd to the contrary before military court
before which the trial shall be had, he shall
| suffer death.
| He asked him whether he was the author of
| that resolution.
Mr. Hill will say to the gentleman from
| Maine very frankly that have not the slight
est recollection of hearing it before.
Mr. Baine-You do not deny it.
| Mr. Hill do not know My own opinion
is that never was the author of the res olution,
but have no recollection of it. If the gentle
| man can give me the circumstances under
| which it was Introduced, L may recollect.
Mr. Baine-On the 1st of Oct 1862, the Ju.
dietary Committee of the Confederate Congress
made report and offered series of resolu-
tons, and thereupon Senator Hill of Ga. is
recorded as having offered the resolution which
1 have just read.
Mr. Hill was chairman Of the Judiciary
Committee in the Senate, and very likely, like
| the chairman on rules at the last session, may
have consented to that report. daughter at
expense of Baine.)
| Blaine-Does the gentleman admit that he
| made that report.
Hill do not know, but it is very likely.
(Derisive laughter on the Republican side.)
Blaine-The copy which have quoted from
| is entitled "Republicansm in America" ]
| wish tn know whnthpr the unntlnman wa ha
| author of that resolution.
Hill reply that / do not recollect IRE.
newej laughter on the Republican side)
Blaine-(persstently The gentleman does
| not say that he was not the author of it.
| Hill do not, but L think was not the au-
| thor it.
| Blaine-I thought that as the gentleman
effort was to show the humane character of the
Confederate congress this might aid him in re-
| memberiDg the facts.
Hill-With all due reference to the gentle
man. he did not think any such thing. laugh
ter,) He thought he would divert me from the
| purpose of my. argument
Alphabetically Oh. no. The
gentleman can have all the time he wants.
| Hill-What measures the Confederate gov
eminent may have thought proper to take at
that time to protect women and children do moi
recollect, but shall not be diverted by the
| gentleman from Maine from the course of my
argument to go into the history of slavery or
the insurrection or John Browns aid
As Mr.. Hill finished his speech Mr.. Garfield
| of Ohio, took the floor, when the debate was
| interrupted by message from the Senate an.
nouncing the action of that body in connection
| with the death of President johnson.
Mr.. Mcfarland of lem, rose to offer the
usual resolutions of respect, but in view of the
intense interest manifested in the amnesty de-
bate he offered to defer the eulogies until to-
| morrow.
In that however, Mr.. Kelley of Pa, object
| ed as irregular and unprecedented.
The offer was withdrawn and the proceedings
of the day were closed with speeches in eulogy
OF Mr. Johnson made by Messrs. Mcfarland
Thornberg and Young of Tennessee, Waddell
of North Carolina, Conger of Michigan, Cox of
New York, and Morton of Texas.