Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
YESTERDAYS WORK IN THE SENATE.
Communication from the Secretary Of the
Treasury-0ebate on the legisla-
tive Appropriation Bill-The Vote
to be Taken To-Day,
WASHINGTON, May 10.
SENATE.

. y COMMUNICATION WIS lONClNth mum
/ the Secretary OF the Treasury in re-
| spOnSc to the resolution OF the 10th, by
I which he was directed to report what
amount Of United States legal tender
/ notes have been redeemed i'm coin since
the first day of January last, and also
what amount Of cola he considers him
self authorized to retain in the treasury
/ for the purpose of maintaing the re-
sumption OF specie payments under the
provisions Of the act of January 1, 1870.
/ Secretary Sherman writes: There has
/ been redeemed in coin since January
7 |, 1879, OF legal tender notes an amount
| of S4.l335l3. As To the amount OF
coin authorized TO be retained in the
| Treasury for the purpose OF maintaining
| the resumption of specie payments |
have 10 state that under the provision of
theresumptiOna act authorizing the Secre-
tarv of the Treasury, in order to prepare
and provide fOrthe redemption United
States notes, 10 use any surplus revenue
i'm the Treasury not otherwise appointed
and 10 issnse certain bOuds OF the
United States, that the coin reserve Of
the Treasury has increased TO Sl3S,OOO,-
600, that being about 40 per cent. OF the
notes outstanding 20 be redeemed, and
believed 10 be the smallest reserve upon
which resumption could be prudently
commenced, as fully set forth in my last
annual report. This reserve arose from
the sale of $50, 100000 of bonds and from
surplus revenues, rs authorized bv law,
and il must now be maintained unim-
paired for the purpose for which it was
created.
Mr.. Blaine, speaking on the legisla-
lutiye bill, said: Attempts are being
made To- show that Webster TeCanted
and changed his views on the nature OF
our government i'm his closing years.
The chance words used by the different
men to describe our government sys-
tenn need not be taken too literally. The
important fact Is that as between ma
tiOnality and State rights, Webster
threw hiSiuilucnCe in favor Otthe former,
He quoted WebSter'S own comments on
the CdpOn Spring speech, showing that
ne had been misrcprcscnted by the con-
StructiOn placed on that speech in the
South. Mr.. Blaine read from Web
ster's comments on the cOnstitu-
ton to the effect that the very
first resolution adopted by the COnsti-
utional Convention OF 1857 declared
that the government should be National
and not mere compact between the
States. Mr.. Webster used the word
compact when he said the govern
ment was the result of a compact be-
tween all the people, and not between
the States. Mr.. Eaton had evidently
got his inspiration for Fridays speech
from 4. II. stephens histOry-a mis-
chievOuS book, and the more so rs 1t Is
written by sincere man, Il fact making
its MISREPRESENTATION dOubly dangerous.
Another of stephens miSStatements was
that Mr. Webster declined 10 vote
against Mr.. CalhOun's States Rights
resolutions of 1888. Mr.. Webster had
elaboratrly denounced these resolutions,
vet Mr.. stephens said Mr.. Webster
omiuously relrained from putting him
self on record against them. Mr.. Blaine
quoted further from Mr., Webster.s
views alluding 10 Mr.. Hills assertion
that he asScnted TO the secession as he
would to the death OF his father, with
that i'm the Georgia convention that
voted for secession, 80 voted against 1t
and POS for it. 1t seemed, said
Mr. Blaine. that as POS voted
for it, Mr. Hill thought he would con-
sent 10 the death of the old man rather
than be in a minority. The Senator
from Georgia said that the Union was
saved. not bv the Republicans, hut by
the Democrats. In Connecticut it was
not Buckingham and lIawley, it was
senator Eaton who did it. In New York
il was not Seward, but Governor Sev-
mour. I'm Ohio it was not Chase, but
VaIlandigham. But President Lincoln
did not think the Democrats were help
mg him along as rapidly as the senator
from Georgia thought. Mr.. Blaine
then referred to the Democratic COM
mittpc who came to Washington to
effect the release OF Nallandigham, but
who would not sign a paper pledging
their LOYALTY. which was sug-
gcStcd by President Lincoln as
a preliminary 10 the revocation of
the military order that held Nallandig-
ham under arrest. Mr.. Blaine spoke Of
the recent discussion about the use Of
troops in MARYLAND and Delaware dur
inc the war, and said that the oath re-
fused To be taken by voterc there was
only what every Senator has TO take.
Mr.. Bavard rose and warmly defended
the loyalty of the people of Delaware.
He said Mr.. Blaine could not mention
one unpatriotic act OF that State. He
had ALWAYS personally resented the i'm
putation of dislovalty. The oath re-
Quired was an insult to q people who
needed no incentive to loyalty.
Mr.. Blaine thought Mr. Bayard un-
duly sensitive. lie had only quoted
the resolutions of the Delaware Lcgis.a-
ture. The Schenck orders were issued
on the proof that SeditiOn existed.
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment in
effect that persons hOnOrablv discharged
from the military or naval service OF the
United States because Of disabilities re-
Sulting from wounds or disease incurred
therein, shall be preferred for appoint
mcnt to civil offices and positions in
government departments, il qualified to
discharged the duties of such positions.
This amendment was ruled 10 be not IN
order. rs /. hanged an existing law.
Mr.. Teller offered an amendment in
tended t. insure the prompt payment
oi claims for arrears Of pensions when
allowed, out of the money directed by
the hill o. he used for that purpose. He
stated that his object was TO render de-
law in the payment impossible after
claim was adjudicated. The amend
ment was ruled out as new legislation.
The bill was then reported back to the
Senate and tine amendments made in
Committceoi the Whole were agreed TO,
except that authorizing the employ
ment of three additional clerks in the
postothce department, which was diSa-
greed tO-veaS -, nays 26.
Ii was agreed vote on the So-C0lled
political part of the bill should be taken
tomorrow II 4P, NJ.
After executive session, the Senate
adjourned.
Fire at Galesburg, Ill.
E,,p-pr-p- In Nav 10 - fire this