The Portland daily press., 1882-05-04
XLVIIth Congress 1st Session
SENATE.

Mr.. Mcpherson presented a petition in favol
Of the Lowell bankruptcy bill.
A report was made By Mr.. Anthony, from
the printing committee, against printing Q
voluminous mass of papers recently called fol
from the Secretary of War. After some dis
cusson it was adopted.
Mr.. Voorhees, offered resolution creating a
committee Of Investigation to ascertain wheth-
er improper influence had been brought to
bear upon any Senator in regard to q bill pend
ing before the Senate financial committee to
amend the law regarding distilled spirits In
special bonded warehouses. Some discussion
ensued and upon objection by Mr. Morrill, the
matter went over for one day.
The political disabilities bill was then taken
up and Mr.. Ingalls, moved to amend so as to
continue the statute but to confne its prohibit
tion to officers who left the army or navy to
enter the confederate service. lie moved to
commit the bill and amendment.
Discussion was then resumed and took the
form of sharp political debate in which
Messrs. ingalls,, Butler, Hampton, voorhees,,
Hawley and others participated
Mr.. ingalls, asserted the north was not mag
unanimous because it has any doubts as to
which was right in the four years war but be-
cause it wanted universal freedom. He would
say to the Senators from the southern States
that the arguments for oblteration of war
statutes Of exclusion based upon the idea that
there was no difference between the two sides
to that conflict would find no response in
northern hearts but be followed by v1ndlca-
ton of those statutes at the ballot box.
Mr.. Voorhees, said he could see no reason for
continuing a prohibition against army ap-
pointess which did not apply as well to civil
officers as army. An officer who would betray
the government could do this as effectually in
the position Of a foreign minister or cabinet
officer as in the army. If they could be trust
ed in any of these capacities they could be
trusted in all.
Mr. Hawley, replying to Mr.. Voorhees, de-
nial that the war was waged for universal lib
erty, said that while Congress and the Presi-
dent representing the loyal sentiment OF the
country were anxious to see peace restored
even though slavery remained, the issue that
shook the continent and world was one be-
tween human liberty and human bondage He
defended the wisdom OF the reconstruction
legislation and said he would put the question
to the brayest of the confederate soldiers in
the Senate whether he would ask him (Haw-
levi by his vote 10 admit that those who
framed that legislation were wrong.
Mr.. Butler denied that any such admissions
had bean asked for or suggested.
Mr.. Hawley contended 1t had been virtually
asked for BY appeals made in debate.
Mr. Butler said ne regarded the argument as
unreasonable and that the Senator from Con-
nectcut had lashed himself into fury with
out the slightest provocation.
Mr. Hawiey replied on the contrary he had
never spoken with more care and deliberatlon,
and proceeded to quote his expressions In de-
bate to verify his assertion that the particular
statute referred to had been denounced as
wrong, unjost and ungenerous. Upon the close
of Mr.. Hawley's remarks the bill went over
/ until the morning hour tomorrow.
The bill to create court of appeals then
came up as unfinished business and its consid-
Grafton occupied the remainder of the day with
out action. Mr.. Butler moved an amendment
requiring judges to be transferred from one
circuit to another under the rules of the
supreme court In explaining it he took occa-
sion to assert that the judge in the circuit in
which he (Butler) lived, referring to Judge
Bond, was utterly unfit TO discharge his duties
and his acts were disgrace to American citi-
Zenship.
Mr., ingalls, said he did not know of what
tho Senator co complained unless of recent rul-
ings in the South Carolina cases, which ia his
Qngall's) Judgment were fully warranted il
the evidence was true
Mr.. Butler sarcastieally remarked he ac-
knowledged Mr. Ingalls, superior knowledge
of affairs in South Carolina but he was pre-
pared to prove his assertions The amend
ment was rejected.
Adjourned.
Mr.. Henderson of Illinoise, chairman OF the
military committee attempted to-day TO force
the consideration of the bill authorizing the
use of the army as posse comitatus to aid the
civil authorities OF the territories in suppress.
ing outbreaks.
Mr.. Randall of Pennsylvania gave notice
that he should oppose the bill, and Mr.. Hew'
lit of New York followed in the same line
This indicated that the Democrats would
filibuster and Mr.. Henderson therefore defer
red consideration of his bill until some future
time. :.
Mr.. Reed of Maine, chairman of the judi
ciary committee submitted a statement OF facts
regarding the Little Rock and Fort Smith rail
road. Laid on the table.
The House at noon went into committee oi
the whole and resumed consideration. of the
| tariff commission bill.
Mr.. Springer delivered an exhaustive speech
| against the measure, and at the elose offered
an amendment directing how the President
should select the members OF the commission II
one should be determined upon.
Mr.. Blackburn in reply to Mr.. Burrows crit
icisms of vacillation of the democratic party
upon the subject of the tariff declared there
was one degradation to which that party never
submitted of it had never gone into league with
fag end of politics without regard to its anti
cedents gathering up rebel and union elements
making conglomeration like Heeate's hell
broth stongue of dog and toa of frog IN order
to obtain ascendancy in the federal con-
gress 1t never held power in either house
by such foul and unnatural amalgamation
Passing to discussion of the tariff he declar-
ed a tariff for protection was pillage and rob-
berry, and the pending bill was lily considered,
lasty dangerous and unconstitutional.
Mr. MeKenna favored the bill as the
only measure which could be passed in the
direction of revision.
Messrs Cox and Flower objected to relegat-
ing the duties of Congress to q commission.
The committee then rose.
The speaker announced the enrolment of the
Chinese bill and affixed his signature thereto.
Adjourned.