The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-02-26
XLyIrn C0NGRESs-sECoND SEES
SION.

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SRNArE.-Mr. White presented q Joint
resolution Of the Virginia Legislature asking
grant Of land for educational purposes
lilo asked unanimous consent 70 have the
bill removing the political disabilities of
Jones NJ. lleskoll, u former Confederate
soldier OF Baltimore, taken up.
Mr., Edmunds asked why not try 10 pass
In place Of this one bill introduced BY Mr.
Mcdonald repeating altogether the law which
imposed disabilities for service under the
Confcdercy section 1918 OF the Revised
Statutes
MIR. Bayard thought that independently Of
the question of the entire repeal OF the statute
this case was one of individual exgency for
the reason that Helskel was mere boy,
under age, when Ia the service Of tho Con-
lederaoy, lie thought all youths Of tho
country, who had taken unwise or unpatrlotic
stops, should DO encouraged 10 come back
and help make this what all wished II to be, n
government resting In tho hearts Of the
people.
Mr. Edmunds spoke ut length in oppos-
ton TO the bill, saying In substance that the
time seemed TO DO approaching when not
only all laws " support the war for the
Union and TO protect the rights Of the people
preserved by the Union, but every bulwark Of
liberty under the law and secured by law Is
to be swept away, leaving to fate the so.
called State sovereignty, lives, fortunes and
safety of the citizens of the United States;
leaving TO the State cou Is the power 10 de-
clare that the supremacy Of tho State,
not under, but against constitution, shall
go 80 far as 10 give her courts and
her laws jurisdiction in matters of national
concern, and in cases arising under the Ma
tonal constitution. Tho day for tho accom-
plshmcnt of this end he said, had apparent
~ been Fastening. Whether il Is the day
that will hasten peace, good order and ira
ternity is an open question. | don't think
| II Is.
Mr.. White in explanation of the bill, said
lleiskol, was boy in Virginia; wns n great
grandson of President Monroe, aud that his
father rendered distinguished services to the
United States In the capacity of Surgeon
General of the army. Heiskell has, since
the war, been resident of Maryland,
and Ind been faithful TO every obligation re-
CURED by the constitution or the law. He
| (Whitel thought the bill should pass.
r Garland thought it high time section
l2lS was repealed, and proposed to amend
the bill by striking out all after the enacting
cause, and Inserting that section 1918 Of the
revised statues DO and the same Is hereby
repealed.
The amendment was agreed 10 and the
question then being on the third reading Of
the bill, 1t was determined in tho affirmative,
yeas "a, noes IA strict pat vote. the
Democrats voting yea, and the republicans
nay
a long discussion. in which Senators Ed.
munds, Logan and Thurmnn participated,
then ensued ON the merits of the bill Il,
amended.
Mr.. Edmunds said that the effect of the
repeal of the statue would be TO restore Ia
the army the very men who deserted to make
war against the flag they had sworn to sup
port.
Mr.. Thurman urged that in case Of a for
eign war the government had right to the
services of the men who were
lately in the Confederacy. / did not suppose,
said he, that long enough time had elapsed
to quiet the fears ofanybody who is harrassed
with nervousness. God forbid that it
should ever harrass me about the loyalty
of the people Of the South. AS to the people
of the North, he said, they want peace; they
want fraternity once more, and they do not
want to reject the service Of any competent
and now loyal man by inquiring whether he
did or did not AT some time bear musket In
the Confederate service.
Pending further discussion the morning
hour expired and the bill went over without
action.
The Senate then resumed discussion Of the
five per cent. bill. Messrs, Pryor, Salisbury
and Edmunds spoke against tho bi ii, and
Logan and Plumb supported it.
The Vice-President laid before the Senate
amessage from the President, transmitting
a preliminary report and draft of bill
submitted by the Public Land commission.
Preferred.
The question then required on the
motion of Mr.. Edmunds to indefinitely post.
pone the five per cent bill. This was agreed
to-yeas 70, nays Il.
Mr.. Edmunds moved 10 reconsider the
rate and another long and desultory discussion
ensued, interrupted at intervals by motions
10 adjourn.
Att 40, without further action, the Sem
ate adjourned.
HousE.-Mr. Blount, of Georgia, from the
Committee on Appropriations, reported back
the star service deficiency bill, and IT was
referred to the Committee of the Whole
The House then at II: 80, went into q COM
mittee on that bill.
Mr.. Blount proceeded to explain the bill.
The amount appropriated for that service for
the present fiscal year was S4,90O,O00. Cost
of service at present rates, without any in
crease, would be 81, 500 900. 1t was apparent
that the Second Assistant Postmaster-Ge len
eral had made contracts in excess for
appropriations and brought about larger
deficits, and that official had announced that
if he saw at he could spend the whole appro-
priation in any one month.
Mr.. Blackburn raised the point of order
that Mr.. Blount was quoting from testimony
taken by the appropriation committee before
the report had been made on the question in
point was sustained.
Mr.. Blount continued and pronounced the
action of the Postoffice Department auda..
cious and unprecedented, aud in violation OF
law made contracts amounting to seven
teen million dollars, and then pretended to
submit it to Congress. The question whether
service should be continued or not, when to
refuse to continue It would be TO destroy the
star service of the country. He
trusted that without reference to party,
but regarding just administration
of hws, the House would resort to such means
as would drive such miserable sophists out
of place. Hereafter the money, however,
must be given it; therefore It became Con.
gress 10 enter in the present bill its restric-
lions, binding the hands If the Department.
He hoped the bill would pass in its present