The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-26
TIE r0RTY.SIXTH CONGRESS.
Interesting Proceedings in Both
Branches Yesterday.
A Political Debate in the Senate on
the Removal of Disabilities
Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral Severely Criti-
ciHed in the
House.

WARRINGTON. Feb. 25, = Senate.-Mr Whyte |
presented a joint resolution of the Virginia |
Leaitlature, asking q grant Of land for eduea- |
tional purpos's.
Mr. Whyte asked unanimous consent to have
the bill removing the disabilities If james M.
Heisk ell, former Confederate soldier OF Bal
timore taken up.
Hr. Edmunds asked, why not try to pass. In
place of this bill the one introduced by Mr..
Mcdonald. repeaing altogether the law which
imposed disabilities for st rvlce under the Con-
feteracy1 taection 1918. Revised sa'utes.)
Mr.. Bayard thought that. Independently OF
the question Of entire rapey o. tho statute. the
preaeut cas" was one Of individual exigency.
for the reason TINT Heiskail WIS u mere boy.
under sRs during bis w,oIe service under the
CpnfederAey. He thought all youths OF the
country who had taken unwtse or uDpatriottc
steps should be- encouraged 10 come back and
help to make this what all wish y to b'. q gov
eminent resting In the hearts OF the people.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke at length IN opposition
to the bill. saying. in substances. that the time
seems to be approaching when not only ali
prptec the. rights Of the people preserved by
ihe union. but every bulwark Of liberty under
u. ay avas a e Wna e b.
ty tna lives. fortunes aud safety Of citi2 ,bs Of
the United States: leaving t, the State courts
the power Tn declare t1N tue supremacy 0t the
State not under but against the constitution.
shall 90 so far rs to rive her courts and her
laws jurisdiction In matters OF national con,
constitution The day for the accomp plishment
of this end. he eaid. has apparently baen has
tenin9. Whether 1t is the day that viii hasten
question. He didn't think 1t was.
Mr.. Whyte. In explanation OF the BILL said
who y N wHs Kre his
father rendered distinguished services to the
United States 10 the eapaeIty Of SURGEON Cen
been d resident Of Maryland. and had been
| faithful to every obligation required by the
constitution orlaw He CWhyeI thought the bill
Mr. Garland thought 1t high time that section
1918 was repealed and proposed to amend the
bill by striking OF out all after ne erasine elanse
utes be and tho same is hereby repealed"
The amendment was agreed to; and the aqes- as
1t was determined In the affirmative SO,
nays %. n strict y ,rty .vote-the Democrats
voting yea aud the Republicans nay.
munda. u d. Logan and Thurman. participated.
then enssned on the merits OF the bill as
Mr. Edmunds said tho effect Of the repeal Of
| the statu would be- to restore to tho army the
very men who deserted It to make war against
Mr. fhnrman ursed eass Of foreign
that the government had right to the services
oi the men who were lately Ia the Gonfederacy.
time had elapsed to quiet the fears of anybody
who Is pot % haraasei with nervousness. which is,
God forbid r, should " about the
AS to the people of the North" he said. they
want peace: they want fraternity once more.
any com petent and now loyal man by inauirlng
whether he did or did not. at some time. bear q
mnaket Ia the Confederate service
expired. and the bin went over without action.
; per esnt blll Messrs: r[yoE[;, saulsbq1y and
Logan and Plumb supported It,
The Vice President laid before he Senate a
message from the President IT ttrnnsmttlng ms, pre-
the Public Land Commission: Referred.
The question then iecurred on the motion OF
| Mr.. EdmundS to indefinitely post pone tDe per
cent BILL This was agreed to-yeas Is, nays 2t.
Mr.. Edmunds moved to'reeonsider the vote
and another long and desnory discussion en-
sued. Interrupted Mt intervals 10y motions to
At 7A 40. without further action. the sonate ad-
Honse WI Mr.. Blonnt. Of Georgia. from the
Committee on Appropriations reported back
tha star service deficiency bii and 1t was re-
| forrod to the committee of the whole. Tho
House then. at 1890. won't into committee on
that bill. ,.u r,.a
| amount appropriated for that service lcE lhs
present fiscal year was t5.9o0Og0. The coat u
| the service at present rates. without any In
crease would be 1880 ooo. 1t was apparent
| that the Second Assistant Postmaster General
| had made contracts In excess OF the nppropria-
| tons and brought about Il large deficit. That
official had announced that II he saw fit he
could spend the whole appropriation In any
one month.
Mr.. Blackburn raised the point Of order that
Mr.. Blount was quoting from testimony taken
by the Appropriations Committee before the
| report had been made on the question.
| Tho point was sustained.
Mr.. Blount continued and pronounced the
o of nd the hs9 had ear
ately, and In violation OF law. made contracts
amounting to $4,000 600 and then pretended to
submit to Congress the question whether the
service should be continued or not, when to re-
fuse to continue 1t would bs to de troy the star
service OF the country. Hetrusted that without
references TO party. but regarding the Just adj
m,ni5tration Of the laws. the Hvuee would re-
sort to such means as would drive such missr-
able sophists out q place, hereafter. ter. re ne
became Congressto TO retain II the present bill ita
| restrictions
priations Committee advocated the bill. while
said should 1 be appropr!afed p m Nobody wanted
to deprive tho country Of mail service on these
ten thousand star routes. He also favored Inn
ittng the discretion of the department.. and sc
preventing abuses. but he did not think the bill
| a. framed would accomplish that.
Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois. advocated the bill
aud Mr. Haskell. of Kansas. opposed IT.
Mr. Hawley Of Gonneeiicut severely criticised
aud Shameless infractlon of statutes. which
warranted impeachment of the ofllcers.
Messrs Blackburn and Baker had the clerk
rend the amendments which they proposed tG
offer TO the bill. he committee then rose ant
the House adjourned.
The following memorials were presented
during the day by Mr.. McLane. OF Maryland
and appropriately refarrei:
memorial of 4. Whitman. praying for the
removal of the tax on paper and to repeal tht
duty on printing type.
| memorial OF wholesale Rrocers. praying FOL
a law to prevent the adulteration Of food.
Mr.. Beale. of Virginia. from the COMMITTEES
on Manufactures. reported blu 70 prevent the
adulteratton of articles of food and drink
Printed and recommi ted.
MIR. Becknel, Of Indiana chairman Of th'
Committee on Presidential Election. reported
back q Int resolution amending the constitu
ton as to the election Of President and Vic.
President. Ordered printed and recommitted
A Fatal ARRAY In kkif on the Ohio.