The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-17
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Session
4. - .WAsmSoros, january 16, 1871.

| y, 49, 80 2
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Session
- :. WASHINGTON, january 16, 1871. !.
/ - s 4 SENATE. .5tis 'Ez
The bill reported from the. Judiciary
I Committee last session to amend the Pacific
railroad acts, which was: made the special
order for to- day, was. postponed until next
Tuesday at / O'Clock on account OF the alb
sence OF Mr.. Hitchcock. =: !, -. TX; +.
Mr.. Patterson, Of South Carolina, pre-
sented lengthy petition OF D.. H. Cham
berIain, r. Fl. GreaVes, F. Il. CardoZo, r.
B. Elliott, John r.. Talbot, and others, OF
South Carolina, and said he would not. ask
to have it read, but moved, that it be print
cd in the Record. .t..af..st e'1.
Mr.. Alcorn, Of Mississippi, objected to
anything being printed in the Record with
out being read in the Senate. i :.
The reading OF the petition was then COM
menced. The petitioners refer to the petit
! ton of Wade Hampton and others, and say
many of the statements in it are untrue in
| fact; others are calculated to mislead the
Senate and various important facts are
omitted.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, interrupting the
reading, said he. would suggest that the
paper be printed in the Record without
taking up time to have it read.
Mr.. Acorn again objected, and said he
had no idea there was anything improper in
the memorial, but it should be first read in
the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman said when a senator pro-
duced petition he became the guarantor
that it was proper, and for that reason it
need not be read.
Mr.. Alcorn having declined to withdraw
his objection, the reading was resumed.
The petitioners ask Congress to accept
from them iulf3 fair statement OF affairs in
South Carolina, and declare that they stand
ready to make good their statement when
required TO do so. They charge violence
and the intimidation OF Republican voters
at the State election, review at length the
action of the Returning Board and Supreme
Court, and claim that they were lawfully
elected to their respective offices.
The reading of the petition was continued
until 1915 P. NJ, when Mr.. Alcorn with
drew his objections. z, - .#
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, said unless
THE senator presenting the petition would
state he had read it, and that it was pro-
per document, lie would renew the obiec-
ton. a;-~ '
Mr.. Patterson of South Carolina, said, to
be frank, he had not read it, az he only re-
ceiyed it this morning; but he knew Gov
ernor Chamberlain to be an honorable man,
and he would not, put anything in the petit
ton which was not true. He had no doubt
it was proper and respectful document.
No further objection to having it printed
without being read was made, and it was or
dered that the petition be printed in the
Record. srs.T- I-.w Il. 49, ~
MIR. Patterson, Of South Carolina, sub
mitted a resolution declaring that the State
government now existing in South Carolina,
and represented by D. 81. Chamberlain, is
the lawful government OF said State; that
it is republican in form, and every assistance
should be given to it by the United States,
TO the end that the laws may be:'faithfully
executed. Referred to the Committee on
Privileges and Elections. ni.u..
Mr.. Withers, Of Virginia, in accordance
with previous notice, called up the message
of the President in regard to the occupa-
ton OF Petersburg by the military on NO
yember 7, the day OF the general election,
and submitted the following resolution for
immediate consideration.
Resolved, That the Committee on the
Judiciary be instructed to examine whether
the construction OF the laws touching the
elective franchise promulgated by the At
|torney-General in: General Orders No. SO,
OF date September Z, 1876, be correct, and
that tbey report by bill or otherwise. -.
After strong speeches by Senators Withers
and Johnston, in which they denounced the
occupation of Petersburg, Va, by troops
during the late election, the resolution was
passed. .-s s>;.
Adjourned. -
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. s-,:a
The Judiciary Committee reported a reso:
tuition for the arrest of the members OF the
Louisiana Returning Board and bringing
them before the bar Of the House to answer
for contempt in refusing to produce the
original returns before the New Orleans In
vestigating Committee.
A somewhat excited debate took place,
in which the crowds in the galleries par
ticipated in the way Of frequent applause
and cheering of the Democratic speakers.
This breach OF decorum was made the: sub
iect of grave complaint on the Republican
side, and was condemned by the Speaker.
| No vote was reached before adjournment.
| The bill for commissioners. ON the silver
question was defeated, -t's,,.! ~
y: The report of the judiciary Committee
relative to the refusal Of Wells. Anderson,
Cazenoye, and Kermer, OF the Louisiana
Returning Board, to produce before the
Committee on Elections in Louisiana Ger.
tain papers demanded by that committee
declares that the Judiciary Committee does
not recognize the right OF any person -oi
state or! Federal officer to defeat an inyesti
CATION OF either house. of Congress which
might involve the existence Of the Govern
ment by refusing to appear and testify be
fore its committees; and closes with reso.
luton declaring the sergeant-at-aTms tt
take into custody the a5oye-aamed persons
and bring them before the bar OF the Housi
for contempt Of its privileges. .
Mr.. Frye, OF Maine, regarded the doc
trines enunciated in the report as mon.