Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-12-13
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

In the House on the 4th, bills we're intro
duced and passed, repeating the law disquali-
flying jurors on account of participation in the
rebellion, and eliminating from the statute all
provisions of the test oath. Bills were intro.
duced and referred as follows: By Money, Of
Mississippi, amending the act relating to the
payment of the net proceeds of cotton seized
after June, 1865. By Ellsworth. of Michi'
gan, for general amnesty. By Boxer, of In.
diana, for constitutional amendment prohib.
iting payment for the loss or damage growing
out Of the seizure or destruction of property
during the war. A resolution for recess from
the 18th of December to the 10th of January
was offered and referred.
On the 9th, the House consumed the day
discussing whether bills for the improvement
upon rivers and harbors should 60 to the CON-
mittee on commerce, or the committee on rail-
ways and canals. The question was referred
to the committee on rules
In the Senate on the 9Th, the House silver
bill was made the special order for the llth
instant, by vote of Al to 1S, which is under
stood to threaten defeat of the veto, should
the President adhere to the doctrines eaun.
ciated on this subject in his message. Mr.
Matthews introduced preamble and resolu-
ton setting forth that by the act to strengthen
the public credit, passed in 1870, all debts Of
the United States were made payable, and
bonds were made redeemable in coin of the
then standard value, and whereas that coin
included silver dollars of 412a grains, there
fore be it resolved, that all debts Of the Uni
ted States are payable at the option of the
United States in silver dollars of 4123 grains
each. Laid on the table and ordered to be
printed. Several changes were announced in
the standing committees of the Senate. Mr..
Butler, of South Carolina, is on the military
committee, and on the select committee on
transportation routes to the seaboard. A
number of petitions were presented, among
them several from the National banks Of Bos~
ton, Mass, and Providence, R. l., against the
passage of silver bill. In the House, efforts
we're made by Mr.. Joyce and Mr.. Blair to in
truduce very strong Cuban resolutions, but
objection was made to them. Three reports
we're submitted from the committee on elec-
tons in the Colorado case. the majority report
recommending that Patterson, Dem.) be
seated. Mr.. Waddell reported the annual
post.route bill, which was passed, and at 2 z.
NJ, the House adjourned.
In the Senate on the 9TH, Mr.. Sargent, from
the committee on naval affairs, reported, with
amendment, the House bill for the relief of
the sufferers by wreck of the Huron. The
amendment provides for the payment to the
heirs of those lost on the Huron a sum equal
to twelve months sea pay; to the heirs of
Capt. Guthrie, of the lifesaving service, sum
equal to his compensation for one year, and to
those belonging to the wrecking steamer, B.
and j. Baker-the last in attempting to save
those on board the Huron-one hundred dol.
lars each. The amendment was agreed to
and the bill passed. Mr. Mitchell, of Oregon,
called up the resolution to extend the time
for the completion of the Northern Pacific
Railroad, the discussion of which occupied the
greater portion of the day. Mr.. Morgan, of
Alabama, asked the aid of Congress in the
improvement of the navigation of Mobile bay.
Referred to the committee on commerce. Mr..
Edmunds, of Vermont, called up the resou-
ton submitted by him directing the Attorney
General to communicate to the Senate. as soon
as may be, list of all criminal prosecutions
commenced in the Courts of the United States
in the district of South Carolina since the 1st
day of January, 1876. for offences against
lives, property, civil rights or right of suffrage
of any person, with names of the alleged often.
der and statement of the disposition of such
prosecutions and the dates thereof Agreed
to- The Senate concurred in the House joint
resolution to adjourn from the 18th of De-
cember to the 10th of January. Adjourned
to Monday. In the House, it was agreed to
adjourn on the 18th for the holidays, and con.
vene on the 10th of January. Mr.. Stephens
introduceda bill amendatory to the act incor.
porating the Texas Pacific Railroad. Mr..
Shelly, of Alabama, introduced bill relative
to Chinese immigration. 1t imposes 6ne of
$3.50 per head on each Chinaman coming into
the United States after January 1st, 1879.
This amount is virtually proscriptive. Gen.
Shelly does this to protect the colored laborels
of the South from the perils that threaten the
white laborers of California, who are reported
to be approaching starvation from the demor-
alizing competition the Chinese offer. Bills
were passed removing the political disabilities
of VIM. A. Cornwall, of Georgia. and w. A..
Evans, of Louisiana, for the relief of the city
of Macon, Ga, and for the relief of the Eagle
and Phoenix Manufacturing Company of Geor'
gia. Adjourned till Monday.
In the Senate on the 10th, Eustis, of Lou
isiana, was seated by a vote of 49 to 8. Sar-
gent introduced bill to restrict Chinese i'm.
migration. Maxcy presented petition of
the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians against
the passage of bill to enable the Indians to
become citizens. The Texas Pacific Railroad
bill was introduced by johnson, of Virginia.
Matthews called up his resolution declaring
that the Government could pay its bonded
debt in silver. He spoke at great length.
Morrill, spoke in opposition, and moved re-
ference to the committee on the judiciary.
Pending the discussion, the Senate adjourned.
In the House the relations between Mexico
and the United States Government we're dis.
cussed, the general sentiment prevailing
among members that this Government should