The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-13
CONGR GRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

should upon maturity OF tue D0ndS nave IN
the treasury coins of Spain or Mexico of
the standard of value fixed by our laws in
1870, bonds could be paid in such coin
without the use of recoining it and placing
its own stamp on it. Should the govern
ment abolish all coinage and resort to
greenbacks alone, the national debt could
still be paid in coin which might be pur-
chased for that purpose and the south |
could do it with about four of her cotton
crops. On the l4th of July, 1870, it was
no concern of the creditor what stamp these
dollars should bear. He could not see
what right the creditors of the govern
ment had to say what money the COVER
ment should use in its daily business. He |
argued that the payment of bonds in silver |
would not be violation thereof. He con-
sidered this matter as the people of Ala |
bama treated it, and they saw no repudia |
ton no violation of national honor TO pay i
the bonds in silver. An act of justice to |
both debtor and creditor was in no sense |
an act of reputation. The south could
probably have single standard of gold |
alone better than any other section, as she |
could get more gold for her products than |
other sections of the country, but it would
be an act of injustice to these to have a
single standard, and the south would never
force a standard.
Pending discussion Mr.. Allison moved
that the senate proceed to the considera-
ton of executive business The motion
was agreed to-yeas Al, nays 20. The
senate then went into executive session
and at $50 adjourned
The senate was in executive session to-
day nearly six hours. adjourning only at
o clock. The entire session was devoted
to the New York custom house nomina-
tions, two of which, namely. those Of
| Theodore Roosevelt, to be collector in
place of Arthur, t5 be removed, and S.
| Bradford Prince, as naval officer, vice
| Cornell, to be removed, were
| reported from the committee on commerce
uufavorably. The third, namely, of Z A
| Merritt, to be surveyor of customs in place
OF Sharpe, whose commission has expired,
was reported with favorable recommenda-
tions. No opposition was manifested to
| the latter, but the contest in regard to the
two proposed removals was extremely ami
mated and took a very wide range, cover
ing a discussion of the rights, powers and
duties of the President regarding remov-
ais from Office and the subject of the civil
service policy in general Mr. Conkhug,
chairman of the committee On commerce.
opened the debate with brief statement
of the reasons why, in the opinion of the
majority Of that committee, the two first
named nominations should not be confirm
ed These were in brief that charges Of
neither corruption or inefhciency had been
M de against the present iDcumbents, but
on the contrary they were conceded to be
faithful honest, experienced and able
officers.
Mr.. Bayard followed in an extended ar
gument, maintaining the rights of the ex-
ecutive to make changes which in his opin-
lion would be for the benefit of the public
service, he being responsible for the exc
cution of the laws aud entitled to select
his agents, subject to the confirmation OF
the senate, bus without being Obliged to
furnish the senate a statement Of his
reasons.
Mr.. Herman then delivered speech oI
: considerable length on the same side of the
question. defending the action of the pres
ideut.
Gen. Gordon was the next speaker. He
warmly commended the civil service policy
of President Hayes in regard to the pend
ing nominations asserted emphaticaly thai
the removals which they contemplated
were demanded by proper regard for the
purity of the service. He charged that
Cornell and Arthur had disgracefully
made use of the power and patronage o
their Offices for merely partizan and sei6sl
purposes and he intimated that it was tim'
. for the one-man power 10 New York statt
9 to De broken.
II The debate then became quite general
A vote by yeas and nays was then takeI
upon the nomination Of Roosevelt and i
: was rejected by majority of Z, the yea
o being 25, nays 80 The nomination Q
e Prince was rejected upon another roll cal
0 by the same vote in each case Senator
Eaton, Dennis, Whyte and Maxey, demo
Gratis, united with the great body of reput
licans against confirmation and Senator
e Burnside, Christiancy, Conover, Dawes
J. Hoar and Matthews, republicans, side
It with the mass of democrats in favor of cor
6rmation. The nomination of Merritt wa
e confirmed without division.
J. WASHINGTON, Dec. l3-Senate com
: mittee on railroads this morning referre,
4 Texas Pacific r. r. bills. introduced b.
2 Johnston and Dorsey to Matthews, Saun
ders, Dorsey, Lamar AID Barnum
e Mitchelrs bill relating to Northern Pacifi
1t r, r. Co.. and his Oregon Central Il. +
1t bill were referred to Mitchell, Teller
t, Dawes, Ransom and Barnum. The Senat
g postal committee agreed on amendment
ii to the House post route bill, adding
he number OF routes, and also voted to -epol
S favorably again upon the nomination
" McKersham, postmaster at Mobile.
}: Cameron. of Wis, presented the pet
" ton OF David T. Corbin. of South Carolin;
asking that his claim to a seat from tina
}: state may be inquired into and decide
he upon its merits. He moved that th
is petition lie upon the table for the presen
and gave notice that he would call it u
IT hereafter and moYe its reference to th
K committee on privileges and elections.
n ordered.
t. VOORHEES, submitted the following rest
of luton and gave notice he would call il u
ne Tuesday, January Is, 1878, for the pu
IS pose of submitting some remarks Thereon
RcsoEUed, That it is of the highest in
portance that the financial credit of Il
government be maintained, and 10 order
al do so. the government itself. 10 all
ck departments, should iH good faith keep a
er its contracts and obligations entered In
o. with its own citizens.
At the expiration of the morning hoU
nj consideration was resumed of the resoll
. ton of Matthews to pay bonds 10 silve
q and Bayard opposed it.
10 HOUSE,.
u WASHINGTON, Dec. IA conferen
b. committee was ordered on the de6cient
bill and Messrs Singleton, Atkins al
Hale were appointed.
Mr.. Money introduced bill to authori
We the Southern Pacific railroad company
.ct extend its railroad and telegraph line ea
", from its present terminus in Arizona to
| Il. 4. d