Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-15
United States Senate.

United States Senate.
WAsHNGToN,sD c., Dec. Ex-senator Ed
munds introduced bill to relieve the court O
commissioners of the Alabama claims
Senator Morrill, offered resolution instruct
ing the committee on postofices and post road
to inquire whether existing telegraph line
do not interfere largely with the business o.
the postofice department and if the telegraph
ic servioe should not be exclusively in tn,
hands of the general government. Agreed to
The Vice-President submitted the report o.
the chief of engineers, recommending a plar
for the proposed ice harbor at St.. Louis, &C
companied by the differing views of vesse
owners on the Mississippi river.
Also a communication from the secretary OF
war, recommending appropriations eggregat
ing Sl65,00O to cover increased expenses in the
quartermaster generals department, caused
by the presentation of claims under the &C,
of July 4, 1864, the time during which such
claims may be presented expiring January 1st
BY Senator Williams to prevent the intro
duction and dissemination of epizootic and
communicable diseases of animals in tbs
United States.
Senator Bsyatd, from the committee on
finance, reported adversely on the House bill
of manufacture, and 1t was indefinitely post
poned.
Senator Randolph, from the committee on
military affairs, reported with an amendment
the bill granting right of way in Farren
county. Mississippi, to the Memphis & Vicks.
burg Railway company, through the United
States cemetery near Vicksburg. Placed on
the calendar.
Senator Logan offered resolution instruct
ing the secretary of war to furnish at once the
correspondence between Gen. J. Ill. SchofeId
and Major A. B. Gardner in regard to the court
of officers inquiring into the case cf Fi.z John
Porter. Agreed to.
Senator Cameron, OF Wisconsin, announced
that Thursday he Will endeavor to call up tie
bill for relief of Ben Halliday.
Senator Salisbury announced that on Thurs
day he will ask the Senate to take up the reso-
lution declaring Kellogg not entitled to his
seat IN the Senate.
Senator Hoar remarked that the Kellogg res
olutions had bsen made imperative by the
death of Spofford. The credentials of the new
claimant had been referred to the committee
on privileges and election with instructions to
consider them. 1t was the duty of the com.
mittee to report on the credentials.
Senator Salisbury aaid that Manping's Gre
dentials should be considered in proper course.
There were two resolutions now on the calen-
dar, one for the unseatilg of Kellogg, the
other for unseating Spofford. The latter was,
CT course, imperative, but the former remain
ed for action.
Senator Hear thought il improper TO con-
slider the resolution of unseating Kellogg sep
arately as it was merely an incidental resolu-
tion TO one declaring Spofford to be Senator.
Did Senator Salisbury intend to force this inn
portant matter on the Senate Just before the
Christmas holidays, when everybody was
there?
Senator Salisbury did not intend to force the
matter but to get it before the Senate as soon as
possible. Perhaps there would be 10 Christmas
vacation.
Senator Blaine suggested that it be now de.
cided whether there should be or not. The
Senator from Kentucky (Beck) was reported
20 have said there would not be.
Senator Beck said, speaking for himself he
was opposed to an extended vacation in view
of the important public business before Con-
grezs such as refunding, the census, appropri-
ations, questions as to navigation laws, etc.
He wished every WORKING day utilized So there
would be no need of an extra session. He be-
leved it was not desired by the business men
of the country. He did not know whether his
view was favored by others.
Senator Edmunds suggested that the Kel-
logg resolution be madea special order for the
second day after the meeting of
the Senate after the recess, as there was need
of careful debate on them.
Senator Saulsbury said he had recently au-
nounced desire to have his resolution taken
up Thursday. The Senate could vote on the
motion, and further discussion new was need
less. The subject was then dropped.
The morning hour having expired the Senate
resumed consideration of the bill for the relief
of Fitz John Porter.
Senator Dawes offered the following substi-
tute for the substitute proposed by Senator
Randolph: That the President is hereby au-
thorized, within eighteen months from the
passage of this act, in his discretion, by and
with the a1vice and consent of the Senate, to
appoint to the army Fitz John Porter, who was
dismissed by sentence of court martial Jsnu-
ary l9, 1868; provided, however, that such ap-
polntment shall give no higher rank than
colonel on the retired list, and provided,
further, that said Porter shall receive no pay
and compensation or allowance for the time
intervening between dismissal and appoint
meut.
Senator Carpenter asked why the President
could not appoint Porter without the bill being
passed.
Senator Randolph replied it was because
there was law against appointing persons
who had been dismissed from the army.
Senator Carpenter-Then the object Of the
bill il to usurp the right to pardon.
Senator Logan also charged that the OBJ
ject of all these bills had been to avoid asking
the President for pardon. He denounced the
agitation for Porter's relief as sickly senti.
mentalism. Had Porter been in the army of
his life. If generosity must be shown to any
one, let it be to the deserving man. jeff.
Davis was as much entitled to favor as was
Porter.
The amendment offered by Dawes was then
agreed to-yeas, SO Democrats; nays, 2l Re-
publicans, except Davis of Illinois.
The bill was then reported back to the Sen
ate, and the question being on agreeing to
the amendments made in committee of the
whole, Senator Burnside read long speech
against the bill. He reviewed the case from a
military standpoint and claimed to find errors
in the facts in the report of the board of it,
quiry who exonerated Porter. Burnside's g
position in 1863 enabled him to know positive.
ly that the court-martial was MOI organized un-
fairly to General Porter, as had been alleged in
the debate. He disbelieved in General Porter 8
fidelity and did not think him entitled to
clemency.
The vote on agreeing to the amendment
made in committee of the whole resulted
yeas, 81 Democrats; nays, 20 Republicans and
Davis of Illinois.
The bill was then read the third time and
passed, yeas 38 Democrats, nays q Republicans.
except Davis, of Illinois; Dawes, Hoar, Bruce
and Platt, Republicans, did not vote
The question then REQUIRED OF the pream bic.
which recites the dismissal of Gen. Porter
the report of the board OF inquiry favoring
Gen.Porter's reinstatement, and the reference
of said report to Congress by the President
NJ d. xxns,. 3d. - r.