The Portland daily press., 1877-12-14
For New England
XLVth C0ngress-.Regular Session.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.
MI; Cameron OF Wisconsin, presented petition Of
David L. Corbn of South Carolina, asking his claim
to seat in the Senate be enquired into He moved
the petition lie upon the table for the present and
gave notice that he would call it up hereafter and
move It's re 1eronce to the committee on elections Sc
ordered, ~
A large number of petitions were again presented
praying Congress not to take action concerning the
revision OF the tariff till after official inquiry as to
the business industries of the country, and that
action may be such as in the opinion of practical
business men will promote the restoration Of general
prosperity. All were referred to the committee on
finance.
Mr.; Conklipg presented.a petition of Lilly Dever-
eux Blake OF New York, asking that her political
disabilities be removed and that she be clothed with
United States.
Mr.. Allison presented similar petition from Miss
Amelia Bloamer of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Both were referred to the committee on privileges
and elections.
Mr.. Ferry from the committee on most of6ces and
post roads, reported the annual post route bill with
amendments. Placed on the calendar.
MT: harris, from the committee On District of Co.
IumDia, reported substitute for the Senate bill to
punish embezzlement in the District of Columbia
and to protect the records of said District and for
other purposes.
Mr.. Dawes introduced bill to authorize an expe-
dltion to the Arctic Seas. Referred to the commit
tee on naval affairs.
Mr.. voorhees, submitted the following resolution
and gave notice he would call up it Tuesday, Jan,
Ioen, Is.o Ior the purpose of submitting some re-
marks thereon.
Resolved, That it is of the highest Importance
that the financial credit of the government be main.
tanned and in order to do so the govern ment itself
must in all its departments keep In good faith all the
zens. ~
The Senate resumed the consideration of the reso-
luton declaring the right of government to pay
Mr.. Bayard spoke in opposition thereto.
MT. baYard said that it seemed to him that no
more severe or bitter comment upon the manage
fort hat ua
years could be made than contained in the pre-
ample and resolution upon which the Senate was
now asked to vote. 1t declared, "That to restore to
It's coinage such silver coins legal tender in the
payment OF said bonds principal and interest is not
IN violation OF the public faith in derogation of
the rights OF public CREDITOR The Constitution of
the United States which the supreme law of the
land, bestowed upon Congress the sole power to coin
money and to regulate the value thereof 1t was not
10 COIN money Alone but to coin it and regulate it's
value. He argued that a change in the standard of
the value of silver had taken place, and that silver
To-Day was worth in the markets of the world 17a
parts to one of gold. Did the power to coin and reg
nlate mean the power to coin and falsify? Had
Congress the right to make this false declaration and
stamp upon metal that the lie might be better pre-
served? Could this government use its law making
power to produce an advantage in its favor? No
without dishonor
Mr. Allison submitted the following amendment
to the silver bill recently reported from the commit
tee on finance and now upon the calendar:
SEC. 2.-That Immediately after the passage of
This act the President shall invite the governments
OF countries composing the Latin Union, so called,
and OF such other European nations as he may deem
advisable to join the United STATES in conference
to adopt common ratio of legal tender as between
gold and silver for the purpose of establishing inter-
the use of b-metalc money and securing
hxty of relative value between those metals, such
conference to be held at such place in Europe the
wnlted States, at such time within six months as
may be mutually agreed upon by the executives of
t the governments joining in the same. Whenever
lne governments o so invited, or any three of them
shall pave sgnied their willingness to unite in the
same tne resident reg shall, by and with the advice
ana consent OF the Senate, appoint three commits
of the United States. and shall report the doings
thereof to the President, who shall transmit the
same to Congress- Said commissioners shall each re-
the of S25O0 and their reasonable expenses
to be approved by the Secretary OF State and the
amount necessary to pay such compensation and ex-
penses is hereby appropriated out of any money in
the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Ordered printed.
Mr. Hill of Ca, spoke in opposition to the resolu-
tlon OF Matthews. The question presented by the
resolution was one Of law. The refunding act of