The Portland daily press., 1882-04-26
XLVIIth Congress LIST Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Aprils25.
Mr.. Hoar offered resolution, which was
adopted, calling upon the President for infor,
nation as to the title by which the United
States holds the navy yard at Boston, and
whether, in the event of its sale, the land
would revert to its original owners.
The calendar was taken up, and after pass
ing several minor bills the Senate resumed the
consideration of the Mississippi river improve
ment bill 1t appropriates $6,00000O. All the
pending amendments to increase the approprl-
alton and apply part of the money for the BEN
eft of the levee system, were Withdrawn, and
the bill passed by viva voce vote, without oD-
lection.
The House Chinese bill was then taken up,
and the amendments reported by the foreign
relations committee up to the last sections-l4
and 15--were agreed to.
Mr. Call criticised some of the phraseology
of the bill, and thought its language obscure,
and some provisions Objectionable, to which
Mr.. Hawley said some criticism would apply TO
the whole bill.
The committee amendment striking out the
18th section, which prohibits naturalization OF
Chinese, was reJected-yeas 70, nays 5z,-and
the section retained.
The committee amendment striking out sec
tion Is, which defines the words "Chinese la
borers," to mean both skilled and unskilled
laborefs, and Chinese employed in mining was
carried-yeas 20, nays %.
The amendments having been gone through
with in committee of the whole, the bill was
reported to the Senate with calls for separate
votes on some of the amendments
Mr.. Hoar, while believing the measure was
destined to pass, said 1T was his conviction that
public opinion and intelligence would sooner
or later demand reversal of the policy con-
templated.
Mr.. Morgan construed the Presidents decla-
ration in the recent veto that there are points
in this country where Chinese can be profita-
bly, employed, as meaning they are to be en-
ployed in competition with negroes. He char
acterized the Presidents professions OF consid-
Grafton and friendship for the colored race, in
view of this declaration, as arrant hypocrisy.
The discussion was then suspended until to-
morrow.
Several resolutions were introduced and re-
ferred.
The contested election case of Lynch VS..
Chalmers was called up but the House by
vote of 81 yeas to 121 nays refused to proceed
to its consideration at present.
Mr.. Robinson then called up his resolution
introduced yesterday discharging the foreign
affairs committee from further consideration OF
the subject of imprisonment Of American citl-
zens abroad
Against this Mr.. Kasson raised question of
consideration.
The House voted to consider Mr.. Robinsons
Iesolu ton.
Mr.. Robinson of n Y. delivered one of his
characteristic speeches and reviewed the facts
relative to imprisonment abroad OF American
citizens. If the present resolution was adopt
ed he had others he would offer These were
in effect that the President be authorized and
instructed to take such proceedings in the en-
forcsment of the demands upon the British
government as are designated in the law OF
July 27 1868, and further that Minister Low
ell be recalled 81 say fight" said Robinson,
"if England refuses to comply with our de-
mands."
Mr.. Cox said it was not the policy of Con-
gress to have Mr.. Lowell ask Granville in
honeyed phrases to release our citizens but to
demand it as q right
Mr. Orth of Indiana, member of the foreign
affairs committee, said this was a most deli
cate matter and begged the House to inform
itself of the true status OF the case before dis
charging the committee from its consideration
He defended his course in the matter and de-
clared not one hour had been lost in attempt
ing to assert the right of American citizens in
Ireland. He stated that one man included in
the resolution was not an American citizen
and another at the time of his arrest was hold
ing an office under Great Britain. No man
had higher regard for American citizenship
than he but it must be used as shield not as
a sword.
Mr.. Duester, also member Of the commit
tee followed in similar vein. Negotiations
are still going on by cable and if the House
would forbear even until next week, when the
committee hoped to be able to report back the
bill with the intelligence that all American
prisoners had been released, Sympathy with
Ireland belonged to no party. The radical diff
fculty with Ireland was, in his opinion. that
for three centuries an attempt has been made
if not by brute force as least by physical
might to epslaye a people whom God never
made for slaves. (Applause) But we must
remember England is our neighbor in the
family of nations and however much we may
differ from her as to her management of do
mestic concerns it is not for us to interfere
forcibly If we could.
Mr.. Cox offered as substitute for Mr.. Rob
inson's re oution one calling upon the Pres
ident for any additional correspondence with
the British government on file in the State
department and requesting the President to
continue his efforts for prompt trial or re-
lease of American citizens unjustly confined
in Ireland
After further discussion Mr.. Robinson with
drew his resolution and that offered by Mr..
Cox was adopted.
Adjourned.