Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-21
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
The Senate.
UNIFORM NATIONAL CURRENCY.

UNIFORM NATIONAL CURRENCY.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator Cockrell in
troduced bill to provide uniform nationa
currency, to retire the notes of national banks
and prohibit their incorporation and their issue
of notes, to utilize silver and silver coin and
provide for the reissue of coin and bullion Ger.
tihcates, to provide for the redemption pay
ment of bonds and tn, issue of bonds bearing 9
lower rate of interest, and to provide for the
expansion and contraction of paper currency
TO meet the business interests and wants of the
country. Laid on the table at the request of
Senator Cockrell, who desired to submit re-
marks in favor of the measure.
THE AMENDMENTS.
Senator Morgan submitted substitute
agreed upon in the Democratic caucus for Ed
mund's resolution concerning suffrage and
the later constitutional amendments. Laid
the table.
The following are the resolutions:
First. Resolved, As the Judgment of the
Senate that the thirteenth, fourteenth and ff-
teenth amendments to the constitution of the
United States are as valid and binding as any
other part of the constitution; that the poop lie
of the United States have a common interest in
the enforcement of the whole constitution in
every State ana the Territories of the United
States, and that it is alike the right and duty of
the United States, so far as the power has been
delegated to them, to enforce said amendments
ana TO protect every citizen IN all his rights
thereby secured
Second Reso1yed. That the government of
the United States and the governments of the
several States are distinct and each has citizens
of its who it allegiance, and whose
rights within it's Jurisdiction it must protect:
that the government of the United States is
one OF delegated powers alone, It's authority is
defined and limited by the constitution and all
powers not granted it by that instrument and
not prohibited to it by the States, are reserved
to the States respectively or to the people, and
that no right can be acquired under the consti-
tuition Or secured through law to the United
States, except such the government of the
United States has authority to grant or secure
Third. ReSOlUca, That the constitution of the
United States has not conferred the right of
suffrage upon any one, and the United States
have no voters of their own creation in the
States, but the fifteenth amendment to the con-
Stltutlon has invested citizens of the United
States with q new constituent right, which is
exemption from discrimination in the exercise
of the executive franchise on account of race
color or previous condition of servitude, and
it is within the jurisdiction of the United
States, which Congress may exert by appro-
pirate legislation, to prevent denial or abridge-
ment by State of the light of a citizen to
vote when such denial or abrldg cement is on &C
count of race, color or previous condition of
servitude of the voter,
Fourth. ReSoz,ed, That whom such right to
ScoS ID sACh1CN VI ny uuc COuuuCU VI d
person who is not so acting by authority and
obedience to the laws of State, the jurisdic-
ton to punish such conduct is in the State gov
ernnlent and is not in the government of the
United States.
COMMUNICATIONS.
The e-President laid before the Senate a
communication from the secretary of war
transmitting the report Of Major Godfrey
Weitzell, engineer corps, in regard to superin-
tendent, management and repair of the Louis
vile and Portland canal during the year end
ing June &c. 1878. Referred also a commune
cation from the secretary Of war enclosing let
ters from Gems. Sheridan, Sherman and Terry,
recommending an appropriation of 1925, 900
tor the erection of military headquarters at
Fort Snelling. The secretary concurred in the
recommendations referred.
PoLYGAMY.
Senator Edmunds reported for Senator
Christiancy, who is sick, from the judiciary
committee, as a substitute for the pending bill,
q new measure, amending the revised statutes
so to provide that every person who has hus-
band wife living, in territory, other
place over which the United States has exclu-
sive Jurisdiction, marries another, whether
married or SINGLE and any who hereafter
simultaneously, or on the same day, marries
more than one woman, in a territory, Cor other
place which the United States has exclu-
sive Jurisdiction shall be deemed guilty of
bigamy and be punished by a fine of not more
than $500, and be imprisoned not more than five
years, but this section shall not extend to any
person by reason of any form=r marriage,
whose husband wife by such marriage is alb
sent for five successive years and is not known
to such person to be living, to any person
by reason of any former marriage, which has
been dissolved by decree of a competent court,
nor to any person by reason of any former
marriage which has been pronounced void by
decree of competent court on the ground of
nullity Of marriage contract. The foregoing
provisions are not to affect the prosecution or
punishment Of any offense already committed
against the present law. The President is au
thorized to grant amnesty to such classes of
offenders against the anti-polygamy law and on
such conditions and under such limitations as
hs sh1 sh shank bgs effect Ss no un nSsn
the conditions thereof shall have been complied
with. The issue of plural marriages, known
as Mormon marriages in cases in which such
marriages have been solemnized according to
the rites of the Mormon section, in any terri
tory of the United States, and if such issue
shall have been born before the 1st of No.
vember, 1870, are legitimate, and shall be enti-
tied to all the rights of heirs and next of kin
of their parents. Polygamists are disqualified
from performing jury duty. Placed on the
calendar.
Senator WitherS, from the committee pen
sions reported favorably the House bill
granting q pension to the widow of Gen. Rob-
ert Anderson.
DIR. MARY E. WALKER.
Senator Bruce, from the committee on pen
sions, reported bill granting DR.. Mary E.
Walker an increase of pension to 800 month.
Placed on the calendar.
THE PATENT LAW.
Consideration of the bill to amend the patent
law was resumed, the pending question being
on the amendment of Senator Dawes, Illinois,
that it shall not be lawful to grant any reissue
of any patent for any invention except an in
vention which was embraced in the origina!
patent.
After brief discussion it was agreed to-
yeas 49, nays none. Various amendments were
discussed and rejected. The bill having been
considered in committee of the whole, re-
ported to the Senate, the question being or
concurring in the amendments made in COM
mittee.
Senator Window moved to lay aside the bill
temporarily, and take up the naval appropria-
tiou bill. Iu explanation of his motion, Mr.
Windora said his object was to procure time tt
nrenare an amendment which would make tn,
hin more accertable to his constituents.
LAND GRANT INQUIRY.
Pending discussion, the Senate went into ex
ecutive session, and when the doors wer
onened the Vice President laid before the Sen
ate a. communication from the attorney genera
in answer to the Senate resolution as to certain
lands granted to the State Of Indiana by Con
gress to enable that State to open cana