The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-17
XLVICONGRESS-1ST SESSION
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. MAY 1G

Mr.. MaXey introduced bill authorizing the
Secretary of War to purchase sites for forts
and posts in Texas
The president pro tenn laid before the Senate
message from the President in reply to the
resolution requesting Information relative to
the alleged unlawful occupation of portion of
Indian Territory. He transmits copy of his
proclamation, and copies of his correspondence
and papers on file in the war department,
touching the subject.
Mr.. Pendleton reported from the committee
on Indian affairs bill authorizing the Secre-
tary of the Interior to deposit certain Indian
funds in the treasury in lieu of an investment.
On motion of Mr.. ingalls, it was resolved
that the Secretary of the Treasury be directed
to report to the Senate what amount of legal
tender notes had been redeemed in coin since
the LIST of January, and what amount of coin
he considers himself authorized to retain in the
treasury to maintain specie resumption.
The consideration Of the legislative bill was
resumed.
Mr.. Eaton defended his former assertion
that this is a confederacy of States. The war
did not change the government nor abolish
slavery. The emancipation proclamation did
not free slaves. 1t required the independent
action of a certain number of sovereign States
to warn these changes in the government.
This is a confederacy of States The late
struggle was war of sections, and the present
reckless denunciation of Southern men was I'M
wise and wrong. Let the past bury its own
utdu, dIu leu us SO OIL DIS DfOuI6IS
Mr.. Eaton continued for short time and
then yielded to Conkling.
Mr.. Conkling now declared orally what he
previously expressed by shake of the head,
that the late war was not wrought by one
section against another, but was a war waged
by one section against the Union; waged by
fragment OF party to destroy the National
life. The war having ended fourteen years
ago the jury laws could not affect those who
were boys during the war; they were only
nlinah 10 70 1rxrixrf nf Tho IIn
utterly opposed to the repeal of any law and to
any legislation under which white leaguers,
night raiders, incendiaries, murderers or vio-
Eaters of law of any description could be tried
by jury OF their own complexion and selection.
He suggested that the argument of the Senator
from Connecticut that we were not a nation,
was an illustration of what the Senator had
studied at school, and under the title Of ''the
indefinite expansibility of matter"
Mr. Eaton, resuming, said that when he gave
way for the Senator to ask a question, he
ought not to make a speech in tina middle of
his own. He knew and repeated that in the
Southern States to-day juries are purged and
honest men kept out of the jury box by judges
and marshals and attorneys, who are not
honest men.
Mr.. Butler of Soulh Carolina noticing the
remark of Mr.. Conkling's said he was present
at the Circuit Court in South Carolina in 1876,
and saw the iron clad oath administered to
every Democrat and not single Republican
in the confederate army.
Mr.. Conkling said the court must have read
the sacred record. "By their fruits We shall
know them.,
Mr.. Eaton, resuming said it would come to
the knowledge of the Senator from New York
that all judges were not honest men, by any
means. There have been radicals on the
bench He would place no unnecessary power
in the courts because judges were honest
Jeffries purged juries and thus convicted some
n hast mar in md re had
merely undertaken to protect voters at the
polls from military interference, secure honest
jurors and take the election machinery out of
the hands of federal authority.
After further discussion by Messrs. Conkling,
voorhees, and Herman, mainly in relation to
New York politics and JOHNNY Davenport, dis
cuSsion ceased
A resolution was adopted authorizing select
committee to investigate the affairs of the
Freedman's Saving and Trust Company to en-
ploy stenographer, to sit during recess and
send for papers and persons.
Adjourned
HOUSE.
A resolution was reported from the commit
tee on rules for the appointment of standing
committee of nine, to which should be refer
red all bills, resolutions, petitions, &C., affect
ing the traffic in alcoholic liquors. A debate
ensued, the resolution being opposed by Fer
nando Wood and Mr.. Blount and favored by
Mr.. Garfield and others.
Ihe motion to table the resolution was re-
jected.
The resolution was then agreed to.
A motion to dispense with the morning hour
was rejected
Mr.. Cannon, from the committee on appro-
priations, reported the bill making additional
appropriations for the Postoffice Department
and providing for the pay of letter carriers.
Mr.. Young of Tennessee asked to have the
contagious diseases bill made special order
for Tuesday next. Objected to.
Mr.. Jones of Texas, from the committee on
postotfices, reported adversely on the bill re-
storing the ranking privilege. The report was
not admitted, point of order being made that
it was public bill.
Bill to prevent contagious diseases among
cattle was reported and made special order
for Tuesday next.
Thursday next was set apart for the consiG-
Grafton OF the bill to prevent the introduction
of contagious or infectious diseases into the
United States.
The House resumed the consideration of
Warmers silver bill, the pending section being
the third which provides that any owner Of
silver bullion may deposit the same to be
formed into bars or standard dollars for his
benefit.
The pending amendment was one offered by
Mr.. Mills in regard to the purchase of silver
by the Secretary of the Treasury. This
amendment was rejected after discussion.
MIR. Springer offered an amendment provid-
ing for the issue of certificates to depositors of
silver bullion to the full amount of bullion de-
posted, the depositor being only paid for the
market value, the difference in value to be
placed to the credit of the Treasury.
Other amendments were offered and ordered
nrinted