Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-19
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL,
Fo,ty-Eighth Congress--.First Session.

HASHINGToE, JaHuRHy 10.
 SENATE-The chair laid before the Senate a message from the President transmitting for the consideration of Congress communlca- tions from the Secretaries of War aud the Navy on the subject of relief expedition for Lieutenant Greedy and his party, and recon mendiug immediate action as the situation of the party must now be periIous; also the correspondence relating to the execution ot the Chinese exclusion act as asked for by the Senate in resolution of the 7th.
 At 12:35 the Senate wett into executive ses- tion, the Mexican treaty being uf1def considers. tion. About &:s0 p. th a vote was taken on the question of ratifyipg tEe treaty, the result of which showed that of the fifty-etshs Sen ators voting thirty-eight favored ratification Before the vote was announced Senator MOT, gan whe had voted for ratification, changed his vote and afterwards moved to reconsider the vote-37 to s1-by which the Senate had decided to reject the treasy. With this motion pending the Senate few moments !ster Sd journed until Monday. The friends or the treaty feel hopeful and say that 1t Is not yet defeated and say that by Monday correspond enee already begun between the United States and Mexico will result in an extension of the time beyond the goth of Jahuary-the limit fixed for ratifcation-and that further dis cussion will follow. Should but one Senator who opposed the ratification to day then favor it or even not vote the necessary two- thirds vote in it's favor can be secured. The discussion all along has hinged chiefly on the tariff features of the treaty: Leading pro tectionists have antagonized and free traders have favored it. Senators Sherman, Morrill, Brown, Kenua and Voorhees,, among others, havs opposed, and Senators Edmunds, Miller, of California Hill and Morgan were of those whose voted for ratification.
 HoUsE-Mr Brunn, of Pennsylvania, of fered resolution directing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to make enquiry as to whether any foreign minister accredited to the United States has endeayored to nullify the effects of unanimous resolution of this House by representations refecting on the honor and integrity of it's members; referred to Com mittee on Foreign Affairs. (This IS aimed at the alleged action of Minister West in the matter of the O'Donnen resolution.)
 On motion of MT. Slocum, the morning hour was dispensed with, aud the House went into Committee of the Whole, ths ob- feet being to reach at once the private cal endar and take up the Fitz John Porter bill. The vote resulted 159 to 7S.. This is regard ed as practically test vote on the bill:
 Both reports having been read MT. Slocum opened the general debate with a speech in support of the bill He referred to report circulated after the truce between Generals Sherman and Johnston, that North Carolina was to be invaded and the truce disregarded, and said he heard General Sherman say that if such an effort was made he would defend the town if it cost the lives of one-half of his army. At the grand review of the armies he stood on the stand beside Gen. Sherman and saw him refuse his hand to the Secretary of War, who had sought to rob him of his hard earned honors, and he honored him for the refusal.
 He alluded to the then existing feeling against Sherman and said that but for tue termination of the war the name of Sherman would have been placed alongside that of Porter. MT. Slocum contrasted the latitude given in the Guiteau case to the defendant and the military severity with which Porter and his counsel were treated. He said that when the army came to Washington it was whispered around that Porter had not behaved well toward Pope and that Porter went to President Lincoln and asked for court of inquiry. It Is supposed that the President had ignored this applica- tion until fifteen years later, when an order signed by Abraham Lincoln and dated Sep tember 5, 1862, was found pigeonholed in the War department. In conclusion Mir. Slocum said he had stood by Porter in every engagement had fought side by side with him, and he believed Porter was as loyal as he had been himself, and if Porter ds
 served this punishment the same punishment was due to himself. (App!ause.)
 MT Steele, of Indiana, followed in opposi ton to the bill. His speech was mainly devoted to an examination of the history of events which led to the court martial of Porter, witt a view to show that that officer was more loyal to Mcclellan than to the country. Al the conclusion of his speech the committe' rose.
 Mr. Slocum said in the House that he hai list of twenty five members who desired tG speak on the bill. As the bill could only bt considered on Friday he renewed his reques that to morrow be devoted to debate on th' bill no other business to be done. Unani nous consent was given to that arrangement The House then went into Committee oi the Whole and MT. Lyman, of Massa chusetts, spoke in favor of the bill. In th' absence of map of the battlefield he pro 1 cecded to picture one on the floor of the House, the chair representing Centreville | his own position at GroVetown, the main l aisle the Warrenton pike and the seats of different members the various points of in terest and importance in the consideration l of the movements of troops from the 27th to the 3Oth of August, 1862. Having thus es l tablished his diagram, he reviewed the oft reviewed events of those days. At the con clusion of MT. Lyman's speech the committee rose.
 A letter was read from the Speaker an nouncing that he would be absent tomorrow and designating MT. Cox, of New York, tC occupy the chair. At 4:40 p. m. the House adjourned.