American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-03-18
FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.


the resolution and me sage from the House O
Representatives in regard to the Impeachment
OF w. W. Belknap, late Secretary of War, re
ported a preamble and resolutions de laring tina
the Senate will take order in the premises accord
ing TO Its standing rule, and directing the Sec
rotary to notify the House of Representatives
Agreed to. Mr.. Hamlin submitted a resolution
requesting the Postmaster General to furnish the
| Senate with any information which he may have
| touching the submission Of ''straw bids" oil
probably worthless or fraudulent bids for car,
rying the mails of the United States in the several
States in which advertisements for mail pro-
posas appeared on October 1875, and that said
nished before awards shall be made on said bids
Agreed to; Mr.. Sherman spoke on
the repeal Of the Resumption act. Mr. Bogy
then called up the bill introduced by him early
IN the session. authorizing the payment of duties
on imports in legal tenders and national bank
notes. and spoke at length in advocacy thereof.
and in favor Of the repe I of the Resumption act;
to declare the immuui y of witnesses for the
! United States. L provides tina. witness
s shan n s;,sr be liable to arrest at any M,
or after testifying, and that he shall never be
molested on account of any matter disclosed by
offense to intimidate any witness by threatening
him with prosecution; and Mr.. Morrison also
cutioh witnesses testifyDg before either House Of
Congress or any committee of the same.
Mr.. Knott, Chairman of the Judiciary Commit
select committee to inquire whether any officer or
employee of the Government has in any way
advised or counseled with, or directly or
indirectly, verbally or in writing. com
municated to any of the defendants, or
friends, agents or attorneys of defendants in
the recent whisky conspiracy trials in st. Louis,
which the Government relied, or was ex-
tempt was made by any officer or official
OF the Government, other than the District
Attorney and his assistants TO interfere with or
duct of the said prosecutions, or in any of them;
with power to send for persons and papers.
Agreed to WITHOUT objection.
In the Senate, on the It'll, the bill for
the protection Of agriculture against injurious
insects, etc. was taken up, and Senator Logan
spoke in opposition to the bill, after which he Of
fered an amendment, providing that the investi-
cations be made by the Agricultural Department
instead OF special commission. The amend
ment was carried and the bill so passed-yeas,
%; nays. ss. The question of Pichback's admis.
" spoke against his admission, arguing that he
had not prima facie case. No vote was
reached before adjournment. In the House.
MIR. Walling, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill to amend the Homestead
act by authorizing proof of residence occupa-
Judge Of any Court Of Record in the county and md
State in which lands are situated. Passed. Mr.
es Sm
ing, Issued by the Supreme Court of the District
IF Columbia, sitting as a Criminal Court, to ap-
papers. checks, documents, etc. and to testify
N regard to the charges pending in that Court
eagues. Messrs. Robbins and blackburn. had
been similarity subpenaed. He (Clymer) had
appeared before that Court, and had stated that
,bey its order, but that, as a member of a com
nittee of the House, he felt it would be prejudi-
nis colleagues and himself should be compelled
10 state what had ranspired in their committee
room. He believed that such course would not
Eases it would drive them from the land He had
elt it his duty to bring the matter to the atten-
ion Of the Bouse in order that the House might
AXE such action in the matter as might be right.
ust and necessary. A long debate ensued, in
Marsh hah been allowed to escape the country
through some motive which the Democrats had,
md 1t was charged on the Democratic side that
irving him out Of the country through intimida-
ion. Mr.. Lamar finally offered a RESOLUTION re-
late 81 The Court to he beeac "a ne man
he House, and directing members of the com
nittee to disregard such mandate; which was
dr. Whittem0re, from the Committee on Naval
fairs, the Speaker was directed to order the
vho had refused to answer the questions of said
In the Senate, on the 9Th, the question of
'inchback's admission was finally settled by the
Idoption of an amendment to the resolution offer
d for his admission. substituting the word
mot I" before admitted" The vote stood-ayes.
?; nays. 90 Among those who voted for his re-
ection were Messrs. Christiancy. Morrill, (Me.)
dorrill (vt.), and Paddock. Republicans, and
mon, t those paired of and not voting. who
lessrs. Wadleigh and Dawes, also Re
,ublicans. and Mr.. Booth. Independent .
nent Of the following committeeAon matters CON
ected with the SO called whisky frauds and the
nan; Messrs. Phelps, Glover, Mcmahon, Nc
;rary, Cochfane and Plaisted. Mr.. Randall.
a tive ANN
riation bill. and made statement as to the re.
uctlon proposed in it, which he said |
IS, 000.0 on the bill of last year. The bill |
ecommends the transfer of the Indian Bureau |
0 the War Department. A. B. Wolf. the re-
erday, was brought before the bar of the House |
nd his release ordered, he having answered the |
nes''o Naval asked A sa% by NE com%tsse
of the judiciary Committee, made a
Of War o. anS asRe a a Of me de
committed to said committee with power to |
axe inrt 3 proofs Mr. Knott also asked that
)rc introduced, be put upon its passage. After |
ome discussion the House voted in the afiirma- |
I'VE on both propositions.
In the Senate, on the 9th, a resolution in |
reduced by Mr.. Gordon. proposing an amend
lent to the revenue laws, brought on a sharp |
Official debate, which was participated in by |
fessrs. Gordon, Morton, withers, Edmunds,
nd others, and occupied the entire session.
2 the House. Mr.. lark lMo.l, from the Post
ompensation Of Fost%ase n 70 1es Provides ies
nat the maximum salary and com
ensation Of any Postmaster shall not
hall be 900. Mr.. Stowell, from the Post |
flee Committee. reported a bill authorizing the |
ender OF any third class mail matter to write on
anne and number of articles inclosed. Passed. |
lr. Lewis offered resolution, reciting that |
congress, had been bribed in the appointment Of |
cadet to West Point, etc. f., and providing for
n investigation of the matter. Referred. The |
ote reached.
In the Senate, on the 10th, the bill for the |
omission of New Mexico as a State was passed |
yeas, IS; nays, Is. The bill provides that the |
constitution to be framed shall be submitted to
ne people of the Territory for their ratification or
election at the next election, to be held in No.
ne acting Governor shall certify the same to the |
resident of the United States, who |
nan tnereuPon issue MS proclamation declaring
Ihatever on the part of Congress. In the |
louise several speeches were made upon the cur
9. n member of the Committee on Expenditures
( the War Department, proceeded to make a
eiiom explanation in reference to the
ublcan member of the committee, and himself,
2 the Beiknap investigation. Mr.. Bass assert |
dr mat ms colleague and himself had not been
nd that he had not. as asserted in the commit |
&c report acquieseed in the discharge of the |
Tas defended by Messrs. Llymer and Blackburn. |
The Senate was not in session on the 18th. |
In the House the bill appropriating $780,
'riation was passed, after which the Judicial |
md legislative Appropriation bill was taken up |
n Committee of the Whole.