The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-24
FORTY-EEGHTH CONGRESS.
DENATE.

| WASHINGTON Jan. 70.
In the Senate today, petitions we're pre- sent
ed by Mr.. Blair from the State Teachers AS
| Eocation of New Hampshire, in which they
! express their regret that so many years have
| elapsed since Alaska became part of the ter
ritory of the United States without the rights
| of American citizens being granted to its in
habitants. The petition represents that the
| people are worse off with regard to education
| than when under the power OF Russia, for the
| United States have not continued the former
schools nor have they established any new
| schools. 1t prays Congress to establish schools
| in that territory.
Similar petitions were presented by Messrs.
Allison and Beck.
Mr.. Sewall, from the committee on military
affairs, reported favorably bill for the relief
| of Fitz John Porter.
| Mr.. Harrison, in Mr.. Logan's absence, said
there would be minority report.
| The House bill for the relief of Lieut.. Greely
was read twice and referred to the naval COM
4 mittee.
| The House bill repeating the test oath was
| referred to the committee on Judiciary.
| Mr. Vance introduced joint resolution to
| provide for the commemoration of the landing
| of Sir Walter Raleigh's colony on Roanoaks
| Island, North Carolina, and on Mr.. yauces
swn suggestion, the resolution was laid on the
| table to be hereafter called up.
/ Mr.. Sherman offered the following preamble
| and resolutions
| Whereas, Among the expressed objects for which
the constitution of the United States was establish
ed those to establish justice and insure domes-
tic tranquility. s.1
| Whereas, The cons titution provides for the
security Of all citizens Of equal civil rights and to
TO the condition Of citizenship and that the right Of
citizens Of the United States to vote shall not be de-
MED by the United States or any State on account
of race, color or previous condition of servitude,
and further provides that no State shall deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal protec-
ton of the laws and
| Whereos, Among the privileges and immunities
| inherent to citizenship are the right peaeeaby to
assemble for consideration of questions of STAGE
and National concern and in safety to discuss the
and right to exercise the elective franchise In
every State freely and without molestation or in
| Whereas, A general election was to occur and
did in the State of Virginia on the 9th day Of
November; and
| Whereas, 1t is alleged and currently reported in
l the public press that about the third of
| November 1888, at Danville in said State, large
number Of peacsable citizens of the United States
| and Of said State were violently assai ed by an
1 organzaed body of men and fired upon and several
| of them killed by said armed men copspiring to
affect and with the purpose Of affecting the result
of said election SO about to occur by creating by
l means Of such unlawful violence and homicide a
state OF alarm on the part OF peacesbie citizens
| throughout said State which should induce to
refrain them from VOTE or to vote differently
from their previous intentions said election and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that all the victims of said
attack were of race and of one political party
| and all their assailants OF another; and
| Whereas, 1t is alleged that the authorities OF
II
/ persons connected with said alleged conspiracy,
| violence and homici1es before courts of Justice
formation trial whereby equal rights of citizen
ship and the equal protection of laws have not been
| secured TO all the people of said State; and
| Whereas, general election was to occur and
did occur the state of MISSISSIPPI on the 9th OF
| November 1883; and
| Whereas 1t is alleged that prior to said election
in the county OF Copiah, Mississippi, there was an
1 organized movement by the members OF one party
| to prevent the members of another party from
| voting at that election and to prevent free ard
open discussion of expression of political opinion;
| that this purpose was carried into execution by
organized plans of terror and violence; that the
means used for that purpose were by lawless and
sorgan1zed mobs moving by night and by day as
saulting, and in some cases killing lawful voters
with the view by terror and fear of violence to
deter others from voting; that this violence was
commltted Dy ons party upon members OF another
| paitY with view to deprive the lat er of their
constitutional rights and extended without said
county of Copiah and into portions other coun-
ties OF that state; that as part OF this general
plan and conspiracy one j. P. Matthews, peace
able and law abiding citizen OF Copiah county was
warned not to vote, and upon his voting the day
Of election murdered at the place OF election by
person selected for that purpose and with the ap
proya express or implied of the officers of election
and no effort was made TO punish the murderer;
that his killing subsequently, approved by q
public meeting in said county composed entirely OF
members of one party and by such pnbc meeting 1t
WAS justified and approved, and the following re
| solutions were adopted:
Report iGcomplete.1
Mr.. Sherman's resolution instructs the COM
AuieGCo ou pAlNAlSESS dnN oiSCbOAh AN4uiIO III
to the matters set forth touching the conditions
of the rights and securities of the people OF
Virginia and Mississippi and empowers them
| to send for persons aud papers.
Mr.. Sherman asked immediate consideration
OF the resolution, bat under the objecti on of
| Mr.. Cockerell it went over until tomorrow and
| will be printed. Mr.. Cocke-el thought the
| gentleman Offering may by tomorrow desire to
| add few more whereases to it.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered q resolution which
faY mar mau tn call linz fne
full information from the Attorney General
as to the fees paid attorneys in the star route
cases.
The Senate proceeded with the calendar. A
joint resolution permitting Anson L. K. Rey-
noids OF the navy to accept certain decorations
from the Emperor of Austria i'll recognition of
heroic conduct in saving the crew of an Aus
taian bark, met with bitter opposition from
Mr.. Plumb who thought that a man who car
ried commission of the United States in his
pocket ought to be satisfied with it.
Mr.. Plumb denounced the toadyism of for
eign governments by diplomatic agents and
| the spending upon foreign aristocrsts by GER
tain Americans of money earned in America.
decoration enough and the opening of foreign
manners aud notions of rank should be
stopped.
Mr.. Morgan eulogized the officers conduct
| and thought that were getting to the very
| drivel of democracy il we could object to such
Mr.. Bayard, Mr.. Hoar and others favored
| the measure and it was passed.
MIR. Butler called up the resolution provid-
| Tag for a clerk at salary of $1,000 per annum
| for each Senator who is not q chairman of a
| standing CT select committee. He said it
would add only 35 clerks to the clerical force
| of the Senate and would add greatly to the ef-
| ficiency of the work of the Senate. 1t was
agreed to by vote of 80 yeas to Is nays.
Mr.. Logan presented the minority report on
the FitZ John Porter bill.
The consideration Of the bill providing CIV
| IL government for Alaska was resumed but
| without action. The Senate then went into
| executive session and soon adjourned.
HOUSE.
| Mr.. Long OF Massachusetts, introduced q
| joint resolution. giving the thanks of Con-
gress to Capt. K. Gabrelson, commanding
| the United States revenue steamer Dexter,
| and the officers and men under him, and to
| the men who manned the Gay Head life
| boats, for their brave conduct in rescuing
| the survivors of the wreck of the steamer
| Columbus and especially to lieut. Rhoades,
| who twice swan to the steamer and rescued
! two men who were cliDging to the rigging.
| The House adopted resolution empowering
the committee on accounts in conducting an
| investigation into the removal of employees.
at the close Of the last session to send for per-
| sons and papers.
| A resolution was adopted directing the com-
| mittee on expenditure OF the interior depart
| ment, to investigat3 the condition of improve
ments upon Hot Springs Creek and ascertain
whether any funds appropriated for that work
have been improperly expended.
Mr. Hewett of New York, offered resolu-
| tion, calling on the Secretary of the Treasury
| for information in regard to trade between the
| United States and Mexico and to traffic over
| the railroads connecting the two countries,
Mr.. Aiken, of South Carolina, from the COM
mittee on agriculture, reported bill establish
| ing department. of agriculture. Referred to
committee of he whole.
| MIR. Bingham, OF Pennsylvania, from the
committee ON post offices and post roads, report
| cd bill fixing the rate of postage on second
class mail matter sent by persons other than
| the publisher. Placed on the calendar.
| The House then went into committee Of the
| whole on the Stata of the Union. The shipping
bill, and that forfeiting certain lands granted
| to Mississippi Alabama, Louisiana and Arkan-
| sas-to aid IN the construction of railroads,
| were passed over for the present.. The com
| mittee took up the bill authorizing the Post
| master-General to issue special 10 cent STAMP
| which, when attached to letter in addition to
the regular postsge] will insure immediate de-
livery at free delivery Office up to the hour Of
midnight. A long discussiod sprang up on
the measure, its opponents placing themselves
on the ground that its passage would have the
effect of cutting down the revenue of the post
| office department, aud its advocates replying
| with the assertion that the system would be
l tn ha lf-orp oiuin