The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1877-12-13
VOL. L.
THE NEWS.
FORTY-SLXTH CONGRESS.

The proceedings of Congress since
the opening of the regular session on the Sd
have not been of sufficient moment to war;
rant an eXtented record, A resolution was
ntroducedint the House for an adjournment
from Dee. 10th TO Jan. 10th and referred to a
committee.
In the Senate, on the 9th, Mr.. Chaffee
called up Il resolution submitted by him on
the 3Oth of November calling uponthe Pres
idcnt to inform the Senate what legal i'm
pediments, il any. exist which prevent him
from executing the laws in regard to the
Union Pacific Railroad company and its
branches, and modified the same so as to
allege that the branches of the Union Pa
ciilc are the Kansas Pacific, Denver Pacific,
Central Pacific Of California, the Burlington
and Missouri River, and the Sioux City
Branch, instead of declaring positively that
these are the branches. After brief discus
sion the question was taken on the substi-
tutc for the above resolution, submitted
Nov 3Oth by Mr. Haddock, the preamble OF
which omitted the names of the railroads
said to be the branches of the Union Pacific
and it was rejected without roll call. Dur
ing the debate Mr.. HaddOck stated that the
whole question of what constituted the
branch roads was now before the courts
and the Senate should not interfere. He
argued that the whole scope of his rcsolu-
tion was similar to that of the Sena-
tor from Colorado. except that it omit
ted the legal question of what were branch
roads. Mr.. Thurman said unless the gov
ernment forced the Union Pacific to pro
rate with the Kansas Pacific it would never
get dollar of money due by the Kansas
Pacific, for that company would not find
money to pay its taxes to the government
unless the Union Pacific should pro rate
with 1t and do it justice. The preamble and
resolution of Mr.. Chaffee was then agreed
to without discussion. The Senate then at
2:35 went into executive session, and when
the doors opened, adjourned.
Washington Notes.
SENATOR PATTERSON NOT TO be ARRESTED.
Judge Humphreys has delivered his
opinion on the habeas corpus case of Sena-
tor Patterson. He denies the power OF
South Carolina to vacatc Senator Pattcr-
sons commission, which must continue un-
til constitutionally revoked in pursuance of
organic authority. 1t could not be said
that Senator Patterson was n fugitive from
usticc, as he was here in the discharge of
his official duties, like all other members
of Congress; and besides he has acted in
the capacity Of Senator years before the
present impeachment was brought against
him In the South Carolina courts The
Judge concluded his opinion as follows: II
think am bound to take judicial cOgni-
zance that party organization is one thing,
and a faction to destroy another. A most
cruel tyranny would be the application of
civil forms Of law to the Domenance, and
triumph of the passions of a faction. can
not reconcile 1t to my sense of duty to give
aid in placing manacles and handouts
around about an individual citizen for the
purpose of surrendering him bound into
the hands OF those who may not be dispas-
sonate enough to vindicate the true rights
of the individual, or to those who might be
led by lmpassioned appeals to condition
OF mind that could not resist. The zeal Tor
the correction OF wrong has led to the con-
viction OF innocence. Let the man be re-
maded to the body OF which heis amember'
That body is legally, constitutionally, NOR
ally and intellectually capacitated to dis
pose of the question involved. and to con
demn or acquit.
COMMITTEE CHANGES.
Blaine has relinquished the chair
manshp of the civil service and retrench-
ment committee in favor of Teller, and taken
the chairmanship of the committee on rules.
The Democratic caucus of Senators has
assigned voorh ees to the finance commit