Daily Kennebec journal., 1882-02-16
FORTY-SByByTH COycRESS.
SENATE.

| lief of book agents. and the Methodist Epis-
copal church, South. 1t appropriates l50,-
600 in compensation for property connected
with the publishing house Of said book agents
IN Nashville. which was taken and destroyed
| by the L. s. in 1864, or at any other time
A resolution offered by MIR. Call was re-
ferred to the committee Of foreign relations
directing the secretary of state to open ne
gotiations with Spain. for remitting the tax
on cattle imported into Cuba. From the COM
miitee on contingent expenses 10 provide
messenger for each Of the committees on T.
nance, post-offices, pensions, claims, judiciary
and engrossed bills, was discussed, and the
district committee was included in the reso-
iufion.
Mr.. Morgan offered and advocated an
amendment providing a messenger for each
Senator who is not chairman of a commit
tee.
Mr.. Van Wyck thought that some of the
committees did not need the clerks already
provided
Alter some further discussion participated
in by Allison, Butler Brown, Platt and Call,
the amendment of Morgan's was rejected.
and the resolution, as modified, on mo-
ton of Mr.. Platt, was passed. 1t directs the
| appointments 10 be made BY the sergeant-at-
| arms upon selections made by the committees
" ith certain provisions regarding pay.
The Senate then took up and temporarily
passed over in regular order, the anti-pOly
gamy bill, and Mr.. Call, on leave addressed
the Senate in support of his proposed amend
ment to the pension arrears resolution, de-
claring in favor of pensions to the survivors
| of the Indian wars prior to 1915.
At 2.25 the anti-polygamy bill was taken
up, and the amendments proposed by the Ju-
dietary committee were read and agreed upon.
Tt,A xuh i.h NTH fhsa
ident TO grant amnesty to the classes of Of
Tenders guilty before the passage Of the act,
on such conditions as he shall think proper.
The question was raised by Mr.. Hoar as to
whether the President could constitutionally
pardon the whole classes of offenders against
| a particular law upon such conditions as he
NAV prescribe, and was debated by Messrs.
Edmunds, Bayard and Garland. The sec
ton, as amended, and the remaining COM
mittee amendments to the eighth section, were
then passed.
| The eighth section provides for the conduct
of elections, registration and canvassing of
voters, etc, in the territory, until pro-
vision for the same is made by the legislative
assembly provided for in the bill ; by the ap-
pointees of board Of five persons to be ap-
pointed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate, all Of whom shall not be men,
!
ment provoked an objection on the part of
Messrs. Brown and Call.
| Mr. Bayard argued the general question of
re-establishing the subverted forms Of re-
publican government in the territory in which
a theocracy had arisen. He maintained that
if Congress could provide for the casting and
counting of votes in the organization Of the
territory, it could as legitimally do so a
means of restoring the original form of gov
ernment. 1t could either do this or repeal
the law for the creation of the territory.
Mr.. Vest said that the seventh section Of
the bill. declaring polygamists ineligible to
Office or suffrage, proposed to take away the
rights of the citizens of the United States
for past offences without a trial or conviction
for an offence. He was opposed to pOlygamy,
but in his adherence of it he would be care
full not to strike down the safeguards of per-
sonal liberty.
MIR. Garland said it was complained that
the provisions of the bill were severe and
rough, but he would say they were intend
ed to b" severe and rough, and they were,
nevertheless, sanctioned by precedents and
organic law. In Utah there was that which
set at naught the mandates Of Congress, and
reliable reports have been made to the House
representatives that unless a new form of
government was substituted Tor the one now
existing there, physc force would be nec-
essary to execute the laws. Let it go to
the world. he added, that Congress recog-
nzes that the organization of the territory is
founded upon theory; that one man is in
spired by God for certain purpose, and we
may burn our statute books and give full IL
cense to the inspirations Of Guiteaus every
where
Mr.. Bayard followed in reply to Mr.. Vest,
and the discussion was continued by Messrs.
Edmunds and Jones, and it was arranged that
the measure be proceeded with tomorrow and
the debate closed at $50.
Adjourned.