The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-17

THE BILL TO REFUND THE COTTON TAX,
which was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means, has been referred to n
sub committee, of which II. II. Harris, OF
Georgia, is chairman. There are S12,000,-
900 of this tax due the State Of Georgia.
This question will be thoroughly exam
ined by the committee.
VARIOUS ITEMS
The President has approved the Paris
Exposition bill.
Commissioner. General Mccormick will
sail in March, and spend his time mean
while, partly here and in New York, in the
transaction of duties connected with the
Paris Exposition.
XLvTH CONGRESS--Seconds Session.
WASHINGTON, December 10, 1877.
SENATE. ......
Mr.. Paddock, OF Nebraska, inquired il it
would be any violation of the agreement
made Yesterday for the Senate to proceed to
the consideration Of executive business.
The Chair (dr. Ferry ruled that it would
be violation.
Mr.. Sargent think so, too.
The motion for an executive session,
therefore, was not made.
Mr.. Thurman, OF Ohio, said there was
matter which be was authorized to state
would be brought to the attention OF the
Senate. He therefore moved that the doors
be closed under the Gath rule, and the mo-
ton was unanimously agreed to. [Rule Ga
provides that on motion made and second
ed to close the doors OF the Senate on the
discussion OF any business which may, in
the opinion OF a senator, require secrecy.
the presiding officer shall direct the gslle-
ries to be cleared, and during the discussion
OF such motion the doors shall remain closed.]
This motion was submitted for the purpose
of considering the difficulty between Messrs.
Conkling and Gordon in the executive ses-
sion of yesterday, and after the doors were
re0pened the following paper was made
public:
During the secret session Mr.. Hamlin
offered the following; which was unani-
mously agreed to:
Whereas misunderstanding having oc-
CURED between the Hon. Roscoe Conkling
and the Hon. John 3. Gordon in the course
OF the executive proceedings yesterday, and
mutual understanding thereon having been
arrived at us set out in the following paper,
it is ordered that said paper be entered at
large on the legislative journal OF the Sem
ate "During an eXecutiye.session Of the
Senate held yesterday words were uttered
both by Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and
by Senator Conkling. of New York, which
were mutually felt to be unkind and often
sivc. Reports Of the incident appearing in
the papers of this morning which are mac
curate and unjust to both speakers, upon a
careful inquiry as to what was said by
each speaker, and what was under
stood to be said by the other, it
is certain that the first offensive words
were inspired by an honest misunderstand-
Ing OF what had been innocently said by the
other speaker. One harsh remark provoked
another, as too often happens; but all that
was offensive was the outgrowth OF misap-
prehenSion. Since such was the facts, we,
who are the mutual friends OF both parties,
are of the opinion that it is due alike to the
Senate and the speakers that whatever is
felt unkind or offensive in the remarks OF
either should be treated as never uttered,
and we are now authorized to state are
TSgnedl II. uamlin, NJ. w. Ransom, Tim
othy o. Howe, j. e. Mcdonald.
December 10, 1877. .-...
After some unimportant preliminary bu-
siness Mr.. Butler, Of South Carolina. sub
mitted the following: ,.
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Priyi-
leges and Elections be, and hereby Is, in
structed to inquire forthwith, and report
rs soon as may be-, any threats. promises, or
arrangements, respecting existing or con-
templated accusations, OF criminal prosecu-
tons, against any senator, or any other cor
rupt or otherwise unlawful means or.influ-
ences that have been in any manner used or
put in operation, directly or Indirectly, by
NJ. c. Butler, one Of the senators from the
State OF South Carolina, or by any other
senator or person, for the purpose OF infiu-
encing the votes Of senators on the question
of diScharging said committee from the
consideration OF said NJ. &. Buffers Gre
dentials, or the other questions, at the late
session Of the Senate; and the said COM
mittee have power to send for persons and
papers and to sit during the sittings OF the
Senate.
Mr.. Butler said he submitted the resolu-
ton in pursuance OF notice which had
been previously given when his credentials
were under consideration in the Senate.
The resolution was substantially that Of
fered by the Senator from Vermont (Mr.
Edmunds) at that time. So far as he Out
ler) was concerned, he desired-he might
saw he demanded-that the fullest inyestiga-
ton be made touching his conduct in con-
nection with his admission to the Senate.
When the Senator from vermont Mt. Eu-
munds) submitted his resolution to inquire
into these charges he read an extract from
the New York Tribune. He therefore
hoped the extract would go before the COM
mittee, and they would examine the charges
contained therein. He asked for the pres
ent consideration OF the resolution.
Mr.. Cameron of Wisconsin objected, and
the resolution went over.
The post-routc resolution went over.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The effort Of the Democrats to secure &C.
ton on the resolution for wholesale inyes.
tigation in the Departments was stubbornly
resisted by the Republicans until 81 O'Clock,
when, on motion OF Mr.. Mills, OF Texas,
the subject was postponed until the 10th OF
january next.
Leave was given to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs land refused to the Com
| mittee on Military Afairs) to continue the
question of the Mexican border troubles
during recess.
Adjourned to the 10th OF January.
Mexican Affairs.
| MOVEMENT OF TROOPS.
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