The Portland daily press., 1876-01-21
Forty Fourth COngress-First Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.
A resolution was adopted asking information
of the Attorney General as to suits for claims
of five per cent. of the net earnings of Pacific
railroads.
A resolution was also adopted asking the
Secretary of the Treasury what steps had been
taken to collect money due from Pacific rail-
roads.
A resolution was adopted that the Judiciary
Committee inquire into the provisions of the
act establishing uniform system of bank
ruptcy and its application to corporations.
AT 2'30 p. m. Mr.. Morton said he was suffer-
ing from sore throat and would not be able
to conclude his remarks to-day. He therefore
asked that his resolution be allowed to go over,
and it was so ordered.
The Senate then took up the resolution to
continue in force the joint rules for the govern
ment of the two Houses of Congress- the
pending question being on motion of Mr..
Morton to except the 22d joint Iule in regard to
counting the vote for President and Vice
President.
Mr.. Bayard of Delaware submitted as a
substitute for this resolutions that were pre-.
sented by him yesterday, instructing the Com.
mittee on Rules of the Senate and House of
Representatives to examine and after confer.
ence report what amendments, if any, should
be m ade to the present joint rules, and also
whether any, and what legislation is expedient
in regard to the matters considered in the 22d
joint rule.
Mr.. Bayard said the people of this county
for the last two Presidential elections had hang
ing over them power by which either House
of Congress could have defeated the popular
choice. He thought the present 22d joint rule
should never have been adopted.
Mr.. Edmunds said he would favor the sub
stitute of the gentleman from Delaware as an
independent resolution. He hoped the amend
ment of the Senator from Indiana, excepting
the 22d joint rule, would be adopted now. and
hot al fha 9th ioip ru1o no
The substitute of Mr.. Bayard was rejected.
The amendment of Mr.. Morton was agreed
to, and the resolution continuing in force, the
JOINT rules as amended by Mr.. Morton was
adopted.
Mr.. Bayard then submitted resolution in
strIcting the Committee on Rules of the Senate
and House of Representatives to examine and
after conference report whether any, and what,
legislation is expedient in regard to the matters
considered with the Odd joint rule. Laid over
Mr.. Sargent introduced bill in regard to
postal routes, providing that every railroad in
the United States and Territories shall be con-
sidered in law postal route, and that every
person or association desiring to do business
with any railroad company or along the line of
railroad shall enjoy the same rights, privileges
and facilities, and for the like compensation as
may now or hereafter be enjoyed by, or allowed
or conceded to- any other corporation, associa-
tion, firm or person. Referred to Committee
on Post-offices.
MI. Sargent also introduced bill comforting
certain privileges on telegraph companies,
which provides for the establishment of new
postal telegraph system.
Mr.. Christiancy introduced a bill in regard
to Jurors in Utah, which provides that in any
trial for bigamy and pologamy it shall be a suf
fcient cause for challenge and for the rejection
OF any juror, first, that he has more than one
wife living in said territory whether married by
the ordinary rites, by the so-caled "seallng''
ceremony; or second, that he believes it moral
ly right for a man to live with more than one
woman. If the panel is thus exhausted ia les
men may then be summoned until the requis-
lite number of jurors shall be obtained. Re-
ferred1to the Committee on Territories.
The Senate at $50 adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Waddel of North Carolina, from the
Postoffice Committee, reported back adversely
on the bill introduced by Mr.. Ames to reduce
postage on first class mail matter to one cent
for each ounce. Laid on the table,
The House at II. 80 went into Committee of
the Whole, Mr.. Wood of New York in the
chair, on the centennial appropriation bill, and
was addressed by Mr.. Townsend of New York
in support of the bill. He said that he had
been for the declaration, and now he was for
the celebration. If there ever had been a ma
tion that had reason to be proud of its achieve
ments it was the American nation. 1t had
it certain that the nation should exist and
should have a centennial. The money had
been expended and 100000 lives sacrificed that
the nation might have centennial. He there
fore put it to his side of the house whether
pitiful million and half was begrudged to the
work Of showing to the nations of the earth the
quality of this people. and its progress in art,
in agriculture and in manufactures. The gen.
tleman from Virginia (Tucker) had put forth a
proposition in substance that this was not
nation, but confederacy of states, but bis ex-
perienced neighbor from Indiana (Holman)
From june. 1880 up to 1870 that
question had been debated in every assembly
and in every meeting of Congress. In 1860
constitutional majority of the people elected
Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency and Con-
gress which held with Mr.. Lincoln that this
was nation. An appeal had then been TAX
en- from the forum of discussion to the field of
iron war, and from 1861 to 1866 brave men on
both sides met in terrible arbitrament of
steel to settle the question whether this was a
nation or not. The question had been brought
up on appeal and had bccn argued in many
field from Gettysburg to the Gulf, and finally
judgment was rendered in that gentleman's
(Tucker's) own district, at Appomatox. He
wished that that gentleman had gone and read
up the record before he came to the house with
a view to reopen that discussion and throw the
country into turmoil.
Mr.. Townsend's speech, which was delivered
in humorous conversational style, was thor
oughly enjoyed by his audience. the members
gathering around him and laughing heartily at
bis jokes.
Mr.. Stenger of Pa, spoke in opposition to
the bill on constitutional grounds. He claim
ed TO be as good patriot as any man on the
floor, but while he loved his country, her
lakes, her rivers her mountains and her prair-
les, he loved her constitution and her institu-
tiOns more.
Mr.. FELTON, of Georgia also opposed the bill,
but said his opposition was influenced by no
vote In the House on the question of amnesty.
Ii the House had seen proper to perpetuate a
wrong that was no reason why he should vote
against bis convictions. He favored the exhi-
bitiop, but thought it should be carried out
without cooperation of the government.
Mr.. Jones OF Kentucky spoke in support of
the bill as measure in the interest of peace
and amity.
Mr.. Cook of Georgia spoke against the bill
and argued that as the government should be
just before they are generous the $60,000,000
of taxation wrested from the South during the
war should be restored before the passage of
this bill.
Mr.. Banks next addressed the committee in
favor of the bill. He said it was impossible
for Congress to fail to pass it, Could Congress
and the President invite 38 sovereign states to
come here to celebrate that anniversary and
Congress not have right to grant one dollar
or one dime to defray the expenses of their en-
tertainment? He would not support any
measure that he believed unconstitutional, but
he was not by any means strict construction
ist. This bill is for the purpose of strengthen
ing the relations we have established with
other nations in pursuance with the constitu-
tion. The invitation and its acceptance is in
that sense treaty and binds Congress to its
recognition 1t is impossible that those steps
having been taken and these 38 nations having
accepted our invitation, we can refuse for the
want of constitutional power any such appro-
priation for their accommodation as may be
necessary. We have precluded ourselves on
that question.
Referring to and deprecating the debate last
week on the amnesty bill he said: 'We are
gladiators here and it seems to me that each
and everyone of us would be perfectly willing
to destroy the country if we can give our oppo-
nents black eye. No higher sentiment, no
grander thought than that to fasten on the
opposition some idea or some act which by
truth or perversi0n can stamp a character Of
disloyalty or crime upon it. Aud so it will 60
on till the end of time. But, sir, thank
Almighty God that there is another tribunal
which is not inspired by those passions. The
gentleman from Virginia (Tucker) appealed
yesterday to the Democrats and to the Repub-
licans of this House. Sir, have no appeal to
make to the Democrats or Republicans I do
not know what they may do. I do not plant
my faith in them. My hope is not there
have an ever abiding faith and hope which [
think will be realized elsewhere. I salute the
august majesty of the people. (Applause.)
The people know very:well that peace does
not lie in the direction of continuance of war
and that their proSperity is to ba assnrod bu