The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-03-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.

adversely by the Committee on Accounts,
for the payment of laborers employed in
the cloak rooms, which was finally re-
ferred TO the Committee on Civil Service
| Reform.
Mr.. Atkins offered resolutions call
! ing on the Secretaries ofthe Interior and
ar for all information in regard to the
geographical and geological surveys con-
Quoted by their respective departments
in the past ten years. Adopted.
The House then went into Commit
lee of the Whole with MIR. Price in the
chair, upon the private calendar, the
unfinished business being Dill for the
psyment.of certain snti-bellum Southern
| mail contractors.
The bill makes available at once an ap-
preparation of $4,000 already sppro-
priated Tor the payment OF such con-
tractors for services rendered prior to
May 81, 1861.
Mr.. Frye said if the United State,
government owed a just debt to man,
who afterward went into the rebellion,
he was in favor OF the government dis
charging its Just debt, but this bill pro-
vided that payments be made up to May
81, 1861, while in reality most Of the
States went into the rebellion previous
to January. He therefore offered an
amendment providing that payment
should be made to mail contractors for
services rendered after their respecsive
States had adopted the ordinance of Sc
csssion.
Mr.. Mills argued that inasmuch as the
United States did net recognize the in
surrectionsry condition of the Southern
States until the 3lst of May, 1861, the
government shodld pay for the services
rendered in those States up to that time.
Mr.. Reagan pursued the same line OF
argument and stated that the Confeder-
ate government had required all post
masters TO account to the United States
government for all moneys, stamps, &c,
in their possession up TO the 3lst OF May,
1861.
Mr.. Conger read from an order issued
May 20, 1861, by the Postmaster General
of the Confederate States. insIructing
the postmasters of the United States gov
ernment in the Southern States to retain
in their possession, subject to further Or
ders of the Department, for the benefit OF
the Southern States, all mail bags and
other property belonging to the postal
service.
Mr.. WIiletts denied the statement
made by Mr.. Resgon, some time ago,
that the Confederate Government had
never paid or assumed to pay contract
ors, and read from an act passed by the
Confederate Cong ess in which it as.
sumed 10 pay every dollar, the only
Limitation being that such contractors
should bs loyal to the Coniederacy. he
had found, on examination Of the Con-
federste records, that eighteen OF these
Claims had been audited and paid, and
the Con federste Government had gone
so far as to provide that il the United
States Government should thereafter pay
them the contractors should reimburse
the Confederate Government for the
amounts paid them. He also quoted !
from tae report made by Reagon as
the Confederate Postmaster General, IN |
which he credited himself with S502,O |
psid on account of services rendered |
prior to May, 1861.
Mr.. Aiken asked if because eighteen |
claims have been paid, the Government
should repudiste It's honest debts.
MIR. Reagan said he had not seen any |
of his reports He thought he could !
prove what he had previously stated, but !
If the gentleman from Michigan Will |
Its was right he would concede to sn |
amendment, so as to exclude from |
aa
p.ld by the Confederate Government.
Mr.. Blount ielt i, his duty to say for
his section, that he would not cast his
vote to pay any one for carrying the |
mails in the South, who had hitherto |
been paid by the Confederate Govern
ment.
Mr.. Cox. of Ohio, said that whatever
might be the result Of the facts which |
took place during the exciting time OF
the rebellion, no one on his side OF the
House would hesitate to accord TO the
gentleman from Texas Reagan entire
csndor in his position, Tor he mad won
their respect by his conduct on the floor.
+ Applause on the Democratic side
Mr. Tucker said the statement which
hsd been made by the gentlemen from
Michigan Wille.s was from the
archieves OF the Confederate government,
which had been taken by the conqueror
thirteen years ago snd had been con-
cealed ever since. He attributed no un-
worthy purpose in the concealment from
the eyes of the Contederstcs.
Mr.. Willets-They were not changed
Mr.. Tucker Ne one SAID they had
been changed, and the gentleman who
suggests it must not impute TO me
motive which suggested itself in his
mind. Continuing, he said the gentle
man from Michigan Willettsl had not
read fully, for he had no. time, tie docu-
ments which he proposed to print IN his
remarks. He Tucker was not willing
4 vote should be taken on this bill until
it had been recommitted for examination
into the facts, ard he believed such ex
animation would clearly vindicate the
honor of the Confederate government
and of every Southern man VINO stood on
that side of the House. Hs wanted that
vindicstion. He made clear statement
OF the facts. He thought he knew
the explanation OF the mstter, snd that
he had the KEY 10 the whole matter, but
hc preferred that the bill should be re
committed, and that the facts should
come out, and be was sure that the gen.
,lemen on the other side who thought
they had found mares rest OF dishonor
to the Con federscy, would be glad to see
the honor OF their fellow citizens vindI-
csted. He therefore moved that the
committee rise and recommit the bill.
The commrttee rose, but the point OF
order being raised thst the bill wss still
in the committee, and motion TO re-
commit TO the Committee on Pos!othces