The Portland daily press., 1879-06-13
xLvICoNGREss-1sT SESSION
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, June 12.
Mr.. Beck offered substitute intended to
improve the form of the legislative bill. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Wallace reported to the House the Judi
dicial expenses bill and said that he would en-
deavor to call it up today.
An amendment was adopted to Gen. Shields
pension bill to pay Mrs Fletcher Webster 800
month, and the bill passed.
The army bill was received from the House
and laid over until tomorrow.
Mr. Blaine called up the Mcdonald bill and
replied to MIR. Hills speech of YESTERDAY, He
read the resolution which Mr. Hill endeavored
to have substituted for the secession ordinance
in the Georgia secession convention, and said
the effect OF the proposed amendment would
have been to extend slavery over every part of
territory of the United States to have made
the slave code in every Southern state the
law in every Northern state and to
prohibit the colored man from holding any
office. The other sections pledged Georgia to
cooperate with and protect any of the seeded
Southern States that should be attacked by the
general government before the action of the
Atlanta convention and declares Georgia will
continue to hold certain forts and other federal
property then in her possession until such
action. This showed Georgia was already in
rebellion. Section 8 says if all efforts fail to
she was reluctantly compelled to resume her
separate independence, She will unite with
other states similarly situated to form a South
ern confederacy on the basis oil the Constitu-
ton OF the United States. Mr.. Blaine Rsaid if
he had been Southern man he would infin-
itely rather have voted for the secession ordi-
nance which contained no word of disrespect
OF the Union than for this substitute. He then
said the measure OF retaliation formed by Hill
was worded so as to assume that eyery federal
soldier coming on Southern soil did SO for the
purpose of melting insurrection and punished
him therefor. 1t was to continue in force until
the emancipation proclamation was rescinded.
The measure was foolishly offered and wisely
withdrawn.
Mr.. Hill said that Mr.. Blaine had said moth
ing to which sensible man need reply. He
was incapable of understanding the feelings
actuating those who participated in the move
ments referred to. A true statement of facts
had not satisfied him and Mr. Hill would make
no further answer.
The Senate went into executive session and
adjourned.
HOUSE.
A bill was reported from the committee on
civil service reform, prohibiting officers or
claimants against or contractors under the
government contributing for political purposes.
1t went over without action at the end of the
morning hour.
Mr.. Stephens gave notice that he would re-
port coinage bill in relation to the trade dol
lar and would ask action upon it.
Mr.. Murch reported a resolution for an in
vestigation to be made of the construction of
all public buildings. Referred to the commit
tee of the whole.
The Senate bill in relation to jurors of u S.
Courts was taken up.
Mr. Herbert moved an amendment provid-
ing for the selection of jurors regardless of po-
htical affiliations and prohibiting government
or state employees from serving.
Mr.. Robinson of Massachusetts,, representing
the minority of the judiciary committee, said
the same provision had been embodied in the
judiciary bill passed by the House. and no
amendment would be offered on the part of
the minority
Mr.. Conger desired to have the bill referred
to the judiciary committee, but the previous
question was called for.
Republicans refused to vote, breaking the
quorum and call of the House was ordered.
After considerable time spent on calls of the
House, the House adjourned.