The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1876-03-17

ical limits and area in each of the severa
states, the soil and climate of which is adap
ted to the cultivation and growth of saic
cotton, and in which said cotton natures tC
perfect growth of fiber and stalk. Agreed
to. Mr.. Boutwell, called up his motion tC
reconsider the vote by which the house bill
to provide for the purchase of material, ano
for the continuation of work on the building
for custom-hOuse and postOffce at St Louli
was passed, and it was agreed to. He ther
submitted two amendments, authorizing the
architect to use in his discretion such portion
of the appropriation as is needed for the per
| formance of the contracts authorized by the
! bill as may be absolutely necessary for the
| proper preservation and progress of saiC
| building, and providing that contracts au
thorized to be made by the bill shall moi
| exceed in the aggregate $4,000, which were
agreed to, and the bill as amended passed
After the expiration of the morning hour
| Mr.. Sherman called up the resolution of Tho
| New York chamber of commerce, presented
| last week and spoke in regard thereto. Mr.
| Sherman, in his speech, took strong ground
| against any repeal of the resumption act Ol
| 1879. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the house, on the 2Sth, Mr.. Holman
presented memorial signed by nineteen
| hundred and sixteen soldiers of Indiana in
the late war, asking for equalization of bOun
ties. The following bills were introduced
i and REFEREED Directing compensation fOI
| the use of property during the late war; to
| aid the completion of the Washington monu.
ment; for the protection of agriculture from
| the injuries of insects; declaring the Black
| Hills open to exploration and settlement;
| 10 reimburse the states for expenses incurred
in the late rebellion. The speaker then
called the states for bills. The following
were introduced: Authorizing the payment
| to the executor of Henry Wilson, late vice
| president of the United States, sum equal
| to the salary Of the viee-president for the un-
expired term for which he was elected; to
| define the powers and duties of officers of in
I ternaI revenue, and TO further provide for the
collection of taxes on distilled spirits to sim
| plify existing laws imposing duties on i'm
ports and to reduce the rates thereon; au-
| thorizing payment for all cotton received
after May, 1860. Adjourned.
In the house, on the 29th, Mr.. Saler,
from the committee on public lands, re-
ported bill to amend the act to encourage
the growth of timber on the western prairies
| also bill explanatory of the timber-culture
act. RecOmmitted. The house took up the
bill, which was up few days ago, limiting
the cost of the custom-hOuse at Memphis,
Tenn, to 100000 and it was passed-174 to
81. The house then went into committee of
>
on the bill amending the law granting pen
sions to soldiers of the war of 1872, the
question being on a motion to strike out the
section restoring to the pension rolls the
names OF persons stricken therefrom on ac
count of sympathy with the rebellion. Mr.
Neal advocated the motion to strike out, and
Mr.. Blaine opposed it, Mr.. jerks moved to
amend the section by providing that no
arrears of pensions shall be paid for any por
ton of time during the existence of the
rebellion to any one who either participated
in the rebellion or held any office under the
southern confederacy. Mr.. Cook insisted
that by the decision of the supreme court the
whole question of the right of these pension
ers to be restored to the pension rolls had
been settled, and that after the presidents
proclamation at the close of the rebellion all
legal rights were restored. Mr.. Dunnell
thought that the house ought to come to a
compromise OH the measure, and that lair,
lust and generous compromise would be to
restore to the pension rolls those who had
been stricken of, and let arrearages drop.
Mr.. Hurlburt said he was willing TO signalize
this time by restoring to the pension rolls
those who had been dropped during the
rebellion, not because they deserved it, but
because he wished the magnanimity OF the
nation to stand unquestioned before the
world, but when he was asked to vote for
paying arrears of pension, he refused to do
1t, and he believed that the public sentiment
of the country would never bear with any
such paltering with plain principles of jus.
tice. Mr.. Hooker advocated the passage of
the bill and said that he had hoped that i'll
the centennial period the American people
would manifest desire to throw the mantle
of oblivion over the late contest. Mr.. Nance
regarded opposition to the bill as essen
tally to soldiers to the plain men of the
south, who had taken up arms against the
government. Mr.. Hill expressed his regret
that the gentlemen from the republican side
Il. l.sxI H.
record of last session, when Il bill similar to
the pending one was passed by the house.
He had canvassed the state of Georgia
against secession and he had always found
these old guard soldiers standing by his side
and opposed to secession. The bill was
finally ordered 70 be recOmmitted, and the
house adjourned.
In the house, March 1st, Mr.. Hopkins,
from the committee on the centennial cele-
bration, reported Il bill authorizing the pres
ident to appoint two centennial commission
ers for Texas, on the nomination of the
governor, in place of those now acting.
Passed. Mr.. Foster, from the committee on
appropriations, reported bill transferring
the custody of certain Indian trust funds
from the secretary of the interior to the
treasury of the United States. Passed. Mr..
KassOn, from the committee on the Pacific
railroad, reported bill amendatory to the
act relative to the filing of reports of railroad
companies. The house then adjourned.
In the house, on the I'd, Mr.. Sayler,
from the committee on public lands, reported
bill declaring valid all suspended entries
of public lands in which the commissioner of
the general land office has decided that pat
ents shall issue, and which have been COM
flrmed by the secretary of the interior and
of revised statutes. Passed. Mr.. Sayler also
reported bill to amend the act of the 18th
of March, 1874, to encourage the growth of
timber on the western prairies. 1t pro-
vides that the proper planting of seeds or
cuttings shall be in compliance with the tim
ber culture act Passed. Mr.. Goodin, from
the committee on public lands, reported the
bill declaring forfeited to the United States
and subject only to homestead entry, all
lands granted by the act of March 6, 1868, to
aid in the construction of railroad from
LeavenwOrth, Kansas, to NcshO river, such
grants having been forfeited by limitation
of law. Passed. Mr.. McDill, from the same
committee, reported the bill to extend time
of pre-emption on public lands. The bill
I extends the time two years. Passed. Mr..
Clymer presented resolutions of impeach-
ment against VIM. w. Belknap, late secre-
tary of war, for high crimes and misdemean-
ors in office. Mr.. Clymer then proceeded to
read the testimony of Caleb p. Marsh, taken
yesterday before the committee, showing
that he had paid Secretary Belknap about
$4,000 in consideration of his appointment
as post trader at Fort Sill, Indian territory.
The resolutions were adopted unanimously.
The judiciary committee WILL to morrow,
draw up articles of impeachment and report
them to the house, and when adopted by the
house that body will, headed by its speaker
and high officers, proceed to the senate cham
Der and demand the impeachment OF Mr..
Belknap. Then the senate Will, in parlia-
mentary phrase, take order for the impeach
ment. Adjourned.
In the house, on the Sd, the judiciary
committee began preparation of articles of
Impeachment in the case of Gen. Belknap
Mr.. Hunter, from the committee on pensions,
reported back the bill to amend the law
granting pensions to soldiers of the war of
1872. Ordered printed and recOmmitted. a
large number of senate bills were taken up
and referred TO appropriate committees. Mr..
Banning, from the committee on military
affairs, reported a bill in regard to leave of
absence of army officers. 1t authorizes leave
of absence to officers on duty for sixty days
once IN two years, for three months once in
three years. and for four months once in four
without IeIuntipn of oil,