The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-14

school yesterday afternoon Mrs. HAYES has
gone to New York. ..5Ii
Mr.. John e. Macfnnrdo, Of the Danyflle]
road, and General Daniel E. Ruggles. were
in the city te-dny. .ss.a5t h. ]. d
One hundred and Twenty colored persons
were baptized in the Potomac near the
Long bridge yesterday morning.
The Senate adjourned to-day pending the
discussion of an amendment offered by the
Post Office Committee providing for sub
sidy to mail line Of steamships to Brazil. 4
Associated Press reports By telegraph to the Dis
~ ...r SUPREME COURT DECISION.
The Supreme Court to-day decided the
matter OF jackson on petition for habeas
corpus and certiordri. This was the case
in which lottery-dealer, convicted Of send
ing circulars through the mails, sought to
be relieved on habeas corpus on the ground
that the act OF Congress under which he
was charged was unconstitutional in at
tempting to exclude the matter sent by him
through the mails. The decision Is that the
act Of Congress Is entirely free from con-
stitutionaI objection; that all that is said by
it is that the mails shall not be used to trans
port certain publications and matter deemed
by Congress corruption OF public morals,
and that any one attempting to Use them
for that purpose shall be punished; but it
is said that there is no authority in the offi-
GERS Of the postal service to open any sealed
package which may be suspected; the ne
cessary evidence must be obtained in some
other manner. Sealed packages placed in
the mails can only be opened upon warrant
issued upon similar oath, describing the
thing to be seized, as required when papers
are subjected to search in ones household.
AS there is no question made ip this case as
TO the competency OF the evidence upon
which the conviction is had it is affirmed.
SUPPLEMENTARY NAVAL REPORT.
The Committee on Naval Expenditures
will make 4 supplementary report recon-
mending the withholding OF all appropria-
tions to pay the debts OF the Bureau OF pro-
visions and clothing, they having been IN
Cured improperly, it is alleged, without
competition. The amount is 100000, but
it can be paid out OF what are called " al
lotments."
HUNTING ABsENTEES.
After the adjournment of the House TO-
day several prominent Democrats procured
from the clerk list Of absentees Of their
own party, who tonight have been sought
for in proper directions. it being considered
important that they should be present to-
morrow to take part in the proceedings con-
corning the alleged election frauds, and
thus secure a majority Of the House for
working purposes.
XLVTH CONGRESS--SecondS Session.
WASHINGTON, May 13. 1878.
. ... SENATE.
The Senate to-day was principally en-
gagged in discussing the post-otfice appro-
priations bill.
Mr.. Butler, of South Carolina, presented
4 nctitioA signed by large number OF citi-
zens OF Columbia, s. c.. favoring repeal OF
that norton OF the national-bank act impo-
sing tax OF ten per cent. OH Statc-bank
circulation. Referred to the Committee on
Finance.
Mr.. Withers, OF Virginia, presented rcso-
lutions Of the Richmond Chamber OF Com
mcrcc 1avoring the repeal OF the bankrupt
law Laid on the table.
Mr.. Johnston, OF Virginia. submitted a
resolution directing the Secretary OF War to
furnish the Senate with the late report OF
the advisory board elating TO the harbor OF
Norfolk, Va, together with the estimates OF
the cost OF the work recommended. Agreed
to.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The long Threatened resolution looking to
the investigation OF the alleged electoral
upon the House to-day. Mr. Potter OF New
York, had been selected by caucus commit
tee TO offer the resolution and steer it
through all the rocks and quicksands OF
opposition safely into harbor. He per-
formed his part of the duty with great tact
and discretion, although he did not sue
coed, in consequence OF the adverse tactics
OF the Republicans, in getting his venture
safely into port.
The resolution recites the memorial OF the
Maryland Legislature complaining that full
force and effect had not been given to the
electoral vote through election frauds per-
petrated in the States Of Louisiana and
Florida, and it provides for select commit
tee OF eleven members to investigate the
allegations made by McLin, chairman OF the
Florida Returning Board, and also the allie
eatioss OF fraud perpetrated in the parishes
Of East and West Feiciana, and other par
ishes in Louisiana, with power to act by
subcommittee, to set during tue recess, and
to report at any time.
Questions OF order were raised that the
resolution was not 4 question OF privilege !;
that chairmen OF subcommittee could not
be authorized to administer oatbs; that
permission to sit during the recess could
only be given under suspension OF the
rules, and that the power to report at any
time also required like suspension OF the
rules.
All these points the Speaker ruled against
the Republicans except the last one, which
the Speaker sustained, and thereupon the
resolution was modified by striking out the
Dower to report at any time (Which power
the committee has, however, on the ground
OF its being question OF high privilege).
The previous question was then moved
by Mr.. Potter, who declined to allow an
amendment to be offered on the Republican
side to extend the scope OF the investigation
to the States of South Carolina and Missis-
sippi. This refusal was put upon the ground
effective were those committed in regard to
the electoral votes Of Florida and Louisiana
and that IL the Republicans desired investi-
CATION outside of these States they should
offer q distinct resolution for that purpose,
which resolution the Democrats promised
to vote for
This proposition did not suit the views
of the Republicans, who threw themselves
| back upon parliamentary tactics and mott
fed the Democrats that il the latter wanted
to mass their resolution without allowing
amendments to be offered, they must do SO
without the aid OF the Republicans. In
pursuance of that intention the Republic
cans refrained from voting on the motion
for the previous question, thus leaving the
House without quorum.
The Democrats, realizing their powerlessc:
,o.s ,,ndar tba circumstances. voted to ad.