Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-04-27
The Murkrille Guqnirer.
YORKVILLE. S. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 81, 1876.

YORKVILLE. S. c.:
THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 81, 1876.
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
In the Senate on the 18th, the committee
on privileges and elections introduced reso-
luton paying Pinchback the regular salary
from the commencement of the time at which
he claimed to have been elected, to the time
of his rejection. After the transaction of leg
islative business, the Senate then organized
into hig Oh court of impeachment for the trial
of Belknap.' In the House spicy and spiri-
ted debate occurred between Blaine, Of Maine,
and Tucker, of Virginia, on the subject of
ha5eas corpus and the rights and duties of the
House in regard to compelling recusant wit
nesses to testify in certain cases. Before the
court Carpenter, Black and
Blair attended Belknap as counsel. After the
preliminary proceedings, Mr.. Carpenter inter-
posed the plea that the court Of impeachment
ought not to have or take further cognizance
of the articles of impeachment, on the ground
that when they we're first presented, Belknap
was, as he now is, a private citizen of the Uni
ted States. The managers were granted until
Wednesday to consider what replication they
should make to the plea.
In the Senate on the 18th, the committee on
finance reported the House bill, without amend
ment, for the redemption of unused stamps.
The bill allowing the public printer to sell
members certain public documents at cost and
ten per cent. was passed. The committee on
commerce reported favorably on the House
bill to define the tax on fermented and malt
liquors. The committee on finance reported
favorably on bill relating tolegal tender notes
and the coming and issuing of silver dollar
pieces. The deficiency and appropriation bill
was passed with many amendments, and goes
to the House for concurrence. In the House,
a bill was introduced by Mr.. Scales, Of North
Carolina, to refund certain direct taxes on
lands collected from citizens of the late insur-
rectionary States. The night session was oc-
cupied in the discussion of the proposed trans
fer of the Indian bureau to the war depart
ment.
In the Senate on the 10Th, message Veto
ing the bill to reduce the Presidents salary,
was referred to the committee on civil service.
The message is as follows:
To the Senate of the United ttates:-I herewith
return Senate bill No. l72 entitled An act fixing
the salary of the President ofthe United States,"
without my approval. am constrained to this
course from sense Of duty to my successors in
Office to myself and to what is due to the dignity
of the position of Chief Magistrate of a nation of
more than forty millions of people. When the
salary of the President of the United States was
fixed by the Constitution at $25 600 per aanu, we
were nation of but three millions of people, poor
from q long and exhaustive war, without COM
merce or manufactures, with but few wants and
those chiefly supplied. The salary must then
have been deemed small for the responsibility and
dignity of the position but justifably so from the
condition the Treasury and the
it was desired to cultivate in the re-
public. The salary of congressman under the
was fixed at $6 per day for the time
actually in session, an average OF about one num-
dred and twenty days to each session, or $72O per
year, or less than one-twentieth of the salary of
the President. Congressman have legislated upon
their own salaries from time to time since until
finally it reached $1,000 per annum, or one-fifth
that of the President before the salary of the lat
ter was increased. No one having knowledge
of the cost of living at the National Capital will
contend that the present salary of Congressman is
too high unless it is the intention to make the Of
flee one entirely of honor when the salary should
be abolished, proposition repugnant to our re-
publican ideas and institutions. I do not believe
the citizens Of this Republic desire their public
servants to serve them without a fair compensa-
ton for their services. Twenty-Five thousand
dollars does not defray the expenses of the Exc
cutive for one year. or has not in my experience.
It is now one-tfth in value what it was when
fixed by the Constitution in supplying demands
and wants. Having no personal interest in this
matter, have felt myself free to return this bill
to the House in which it originated, with my OBJ
wishes and judgment of the great majority Of
those who indirectly pay all the salaries and 9TH
or expenses of the Government.
U. s. GRANT.
The impeachment court resumed its ses-
sion. The replication of the managers was
read by the clerk. 1t sets forth that at the
time the acts were done, and while the COM
mittee of the House were considering articles
Belknap, Of which he was aware,
he was Secretary of War, and that he re-
signed to avoid such impeachment On these
grounds the managers demand that the plea
be not allowed, and that the Senate compel
Belknap to answer. The counsel for Belknap
desired copy Of the replication and asked
uDtil Monday next to consider and answer the
same. The following order was adopted g:
Ordered, That the respondent file his rejoin-
der on or before the 24th of April, and that
the Secretary shall deliver a copy thereof to
the clerk of the House of Representatives,
and that the House of Representatives file
their sub-rejoinder, if any, on or before the
25th of April, a copy Of which shall be served
on the counsel for the respondent by the Sec
retary. On motion of Mr.. Edmunds, the
Senate as court of Impeachment then ad-
ourned till the 9th instant, at 1890 p. NJ.
The legislative session was resumed, and the
bill defining the tax on malt liquors was
amended and passed, and goes to the House
for concurrence. The bill providing for a
change in the manner of counting the Presi-
Dental vote was discussed, and by vote Of
81 to % placed upon the calendar. In the
House the impeachment managers reported
their replication, which was adopted. Nine
teen book publishing firms Of New York pre-
sented protest against the postage on books
as provided in the pending postage bill. The
Senate bill to repeal the act making restric-
tions in the disposition Of public lands in the
States of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas
md Elor;da nnnfninn the said lands TO the