The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-12


amending the enrolling aud licensing Get OF
1TD3. Indefinitely postponed.
The morning hour having expired, The
Senate resumed the consideration OF the
bill for the relief Of Fitz John Porter, Mr..
Jones, OF Florida, having the floor.
Mr.. Allison announced that Immediately
after Mr.. .Jones's remarks he would ask Jr
The consideration Of the Notifications Ap-
preparation bill to the exclusion Of all Other
business.
MIR. Jones then proceeded to Steak I'm
support Of the bill. He held that the power
OF Congress over ccurfs-martizi WIS uulim-
ed under the Constitution. The President
derives his power 81 approval oil sentences
from the Articles Of War, which are created
by Congress. He did not thiak the Presi-
dents pardoning power was intended to be
exercised over persons In the army or navy.
Congress could take TO itself the approval
OF sentences, aad 10 that case the President
could not interfere TO pardon. He thought
Congress had unlimited power over the
whole subject, and II could reverse and an
nul any proceedings OF courts-nartial. The
approval Of the President is a part OF the
judicial act OF a court-martial. How can
he exercise the pardoning power in mat
w
he undo. as President, that which he does
as the agent OF CongressY
MI. Carpenter said the approval was In
his capacity as Commander-ia-Chiel; the
pardon was In his capacity rs Chief Magis-
traie under the Constitution.
Mr.. Jones responded that the army was
under the despolic power Of Congress. The
Constitution did not contemplate the pres-
dental pardon Of offenders IN the military
service. He differed from the Senator from
Wisconsin (Carpenter), who thought the
President had power 10 appoint all officers
in the army. The Constitution vested all
military matters absolutely in Congress.
Any other arrangement would plainly be
dangerous. In the time or danger the
hdbedS corpus could be suspended, and the
power be centred in the hands OF the mill
tary commander. Was his judgment to be
conclusive, subject TO possible pardon, and
precluding congressional relief? Mr.. Jones
thought that part OF Porter's sentence i'm
posing political disabilities was null and
void. The sentence Of soldier could not
abrogate the rights OF a citizen. He re-
garded the doctrine held by the opponents
OF the bill as full Of danger TO our instltu-
tons.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Jones's remarks
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, moved that the
pending bill he postponed and that the SEN
ate proceed 10 the consideration Of the for
tifications appropriation bill. the effect OF
which action would be to carry the Porter
bill TO the foot Of the calendar.
Mr.. Logan moved to indefinitely postpone
the Porter BILL
Mr.. Davis, OF West Virginia, moved to
lay the bill on the table.
The President pro tenn. (Alr EdmundS)
ruled that the latter motion superseded that
Of the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Logan.
The motion was agreed to by UiUd Uoce
vote, and the bill was laid on the table, sub
iect to being called up by q aiority vote.
The notifications appropriation bill was
taken up, and alta 2. NJ. the Senate went
INTO executive session, and when the doors
were re6pened adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
In the House to-day Mr.. Kelley, Of Penn
sylvana rose TO question Of privilege an |
sent to the Clerks desk and bad read an
article from the EUening Bulletin Of the 10Th
in,tan, detailing an alleged conversation
between Nat. Mckay and himself on the
subject Of the sugar bill. lie wanted TO
state to tie House that for the first time in
nineteen years he had been cOrrupty APP
pIodcutu lOI tue iluipONt vi NObtIOiltHI us
vote in he Committee on WAYS and Means
in the House. A member OF the audaciou|
lobby had told him that lie was acting in
disregard to the sentiments Of his people, to
which he had replied that, though sixty
years bad passed over his head, he was still
able 10 take care Of himself.
The Speaker then proceeded to call the
committees for reports.
Bills were reported from the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds, and re-
ferred to the Committee Of the Whole, for
the erection Of public buildings in Lynch
burg, Va. Charleston, w. Va; Greensbo-
ro', n. c.; Clarksburg, w. Va: and Hous-
ton, Texas.
The House then resumed The c0nSi era
ton of the " EMBELLISHMENTS bill"
Mr.. Epson, OF Texas, offered an amend
ment, and Mr.. Hostetter. of Indiana, de-
maDded the previous question.
| The Republicans filibustered to prevent
action on The denand for the previous ques-
ton, desiring to prolong the debate. After
the waste Of much time. Mr.. Aiken, OF
South Carolina, moved TO lay the bill and
amendment on the table. This the House re-
fused to do by vote Of l2l to i12-a strict
party vote, except that Messrs. Aiken, Eel
ton, NOISE. and Wills voted with the Re-
publcans in the affirmative.
The House then adjourned.