The Portland daily press., 1878-02-20
XLVth C0ngress.Regular Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
Mr. Ferry called up the bill regulating compensa-
ton Of postmasters, which was discussed az some
length.
During the discussion Mr. Davis of West Virginia,
expressed the opinion that the bill sh uld be amend
ed as to allow the transmission of official commu
Dications of members OF Congress to pass through
the mails free.
| Messrs. Edmunds, Hamln and others also express
ed themselves in favor OF the restoration OF the frank
Further consideration of the bill was postponed
until tomorrow.
Mr.. Witbers called up the bill amending the laws
granting pensions to soldiers OF the of 1872 and
| widows.
| Mr.. Matthews by request introduced bill making
presumption of grant heirs of Jean Baptiste Ben
helm deceased, for part OF Fort Dearborn Teserya-
parts in their titles and to convey to the city of Chi
cago streets and alleys Of said reservation. Refer
red
Mr.. Hamlin presented petition Of the business
men of Bangor, Me-, in favor of the repeal of the
bankrupt act. Referred to the Committee on Judi
ciary.
Mr.. Spencer from the Committee on Military At
fairs reported back the resolution of the Senate in
structng the Committee to inquire and report whe-
er any person has been appointed in the army con-
trary to the provisions OF the act OF July 1885, &C..
together with the desired information. Ordered to
be printed and lie on the table,
Mr.. Withers called up the Senate bill amending
the laws granting pensions TO soldiers and sailors Of
the of 1912, and their widows.
Committee reported an amendment to the section
to authorize restoration to the pension rolls of all
persons now surviving heretofore pensioned on ac-
count OF service in the OF 1872, any Indian
wars, whose names have been stricken therefrom
account of dsloyalty, as to provide that all such
persons be restored whose disabilities have been
moved, or who may have made application for such
removal.
After short debate the bill was read third time
and passed, yeas ~, nays 8
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Harris, chairman of the Election Committee
called up the election case of Acklin VS. Darrell from
the 4th Louisiana district The majority report is
In favor OF Ackn and the minority in favor of
Darrell, sitting member.
Mr. Hale of Maine desired to obtain the floor to
reply to speech made a few days ago by Mr.. Glib
of Louisiana but Withdrew his request with the
understanding that he should be allowed an hour
during debate on the election case.
MIR. Stephens said-To-morr0w or as soon as this
case is disposed of shall move to proceed to the
business on the Speakers table, with view Of TAX
ing up the House bill which has come back from the
Senate with amendments. state further that my
object shall be to move to concur in those amend
ments. (Applause on the Republican side)
MIR. Butler-Every supporter of the bill will vote
against them.
Mr.. Bland explained that he intended to make the
same motion as the gentleman from Georgia and in
umated he would make it.
Mr.. Buckner said he Intended this morning to
move to refer the bill to the Committee Banking,
but he was not particular how the bill was brought
up.
Mr.. Harris, in opening his speech on the election
case. said be was not sorry the silver bill would
come up today, as its friends seem to have con-
cert OF action and the success of the would be pro-
NOTED by postponement.
At the end Of Mr.. Harris's speech Mr.. Hale of
Maine obtained the floor and referred to the remarks
made Thursday by Mr.. Gibson of Louisiana that he
(Hale had taken occasion in season and out of sea.
son to denounce the people of louisiana He denied
that he bad ever denounced those people. On the
contrary he had taken occasion heretofore the
foor OF the House to speak plainly upon the grev-
ances which existed in that state and which he had
earnestly regretted.
MIR. Hale reviewed the course of events in Louis
lana from the close of Grants administration bring
ing forward prominently the fact that the title OF
the Packard government and the Packard Legisla-
tuIe had been settled by the Electoral Commission,
it being based upon the count of the Returning
Board whose action in the case of the President has
been confirmed by the Electoral Commission whose
decision has been accepted by both houses of Con-
gress. Its title has also since been affirmed by the
by the Packard Legislature He spoke OF the call Of
the legislature upon the federal government tor pro-
lection against domestic violence. He did not know
and nobody could tell the reflections that passed
through the mind of the President on that subject.
but he could see that that the President looking
the subject with desire for peace, with DISPOSE
ton for coDciliation with tendency towards ten
derness determined to start out and commit his adj
ministration TO course not of repression or of
strong iron hand upon that people, but of conces-
SON. OF magnanimity and to disregard the call of the
Legislature of Louisiana.
He went on to speak OF the sending of the Com
mission to Louisiana by the President the result OF
which visit was the disintegraton of the Packard
government. The legislature and Gov. Nichols had
promised pardon for all past political offences. He
asked the House to turn back in it's mind and he |
asked President Hayes to turn back in his mind six
months, TO the LIST of May, 1871 Would anybody |
have been found then predict that in less than SO
days the men who foremost Of all made themselves
offensive to the Louisiana Democracy because they
carried out the law of that state and thereby bee anne
political offenders against that party in Louisiana and
the country, would have been prose |
cuted?
Mr.. Hale went on TO argue that there legal |
ground for the prosecution of Anderson of the Re-
turning Board who had been for twenty years elect
ed to the legislature from bis own parish. who al
ways stood high in public and private estimation and
who never before was considered outcast and |
maefactor.
MIR. Hale went on to say that the adherents of the
DemOcraic party in the South who are now o eager
JOE upuoiug the law and for the punishment OF any
iniractlon OF IL, lurked in the swamps and on the
hlisles and IN the ravines of the South to ambush
anu sn0ot down the officers of the revenue 1t
party SO sensitive today that it robbed its consttu
encles OF their Representatives this floor and Cast
the decisive votes in the House at the hands of men
who had no right to their seats than Dick Tur-
PIN had to the booty be plundered on the highway.
Mr. Hale said there was profound IMPRESSION that |
the proceeding In Louisiana had its roots and main
spring Its source elsewhere; that there were MANY
who beheved That the whole performance was dc |
tated and driven forward by restless men who did |
not mean ever to admit the Presidential title had !
been settled. There had been no encouragement |
which could be held out to that section showing The
good faith VIII oh the President had nor
resorted to.
In conclusion he intimated that it might he the
constitutional duty of the President to see that no
injustice done to a citizen OF the United States
Mr.. Gibson of La, replied to Mr.. Hae at some |
length. stating that the Returning Board was being
prosecuted for forgery.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Gibson's remarks de- !
bate ensued in which Messrs. Garfield, Cornish, Glib
son, Thompson of Pa, Clymer, Patterson Of N. H.,
and chalmers of Miss, took part, on the question !
and merits of the Republican and Democratic par |
Ties, atter Which the House at O'Clock adjourned.