Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-02-07

Savannah ana Albany road; also the
lands granted Louisiana in aid Of the
construction of a road from New Or
leans to the state line; also the lands
granted Arkansas to aid in the construc-
ton of a road from q point where the
Iron Mountain road intersects the south
ern boundary to point near Helena.
Mr.. Cobb made brief explanation of
the provisions IF the bill, stating that
the lands which it was proposed To for
felt had not been earned by the various
companies, and declaring himself in ia
favor OF forfeiting every acre granted
railroad companies which had not been
earned in strict accorda nee with the
law. None of the lands affected by the
bill were patented either to the states or
the companies, and in its second section
the bill fully protected settlers who had
entered upon the lands.
Mr. Van Eaton, member of the COM
mittee on public lands, offered an
amendment excepting from the provis-
ions of the bill the land granted Missis-
sippi to aid in the construction OF rail
road from the Gulf of Mexico, common
ly called the Gulf and Ship Island rail
road. After a debate the amendment
was passed.
The next bill on the calendar was that
declaring the forfeiture Of the lands
granted the Texas Pacific Railroad com
pany under an act of congress approved
March 3, 1871. and the acts supplement
tai thereto. The report accompanying
the bill being very long it was ordered
printed in The Record, and, without any
debate, the bill was passed.
FRIDAN FER
SeHdte-No work was done in the sen
ate. The Fitz John Porter bill which
was to come to a vote in the house and
upon which a heated debate was ex
pected took the attention of everybody
and nearly every senator went to the
house to listen to it,
House-Tne Fitz John Porer bill oc-
cupied the attention of the house all
day. A great deal of feeling was man
ifest.d on both sides. At one time it
flict between Henley (dem.), of Califor
MIA, and Cutcheon rep), of Michigan.
Mr. Cutcheon made a speech on this
question a week ago in which he severe
ly attacked General Grant for changing
his opinion of Porter He said Grant
had always been against Porter till he
found a democratic house was elected.
Then, because a bill was before congress
to make Lin Grant a general for life,
he had changed his mind ana now an
nounced himself in favor of
Porter Cutcheon said all he did
it for was to carry favor
with the democrats and get them to vote
for him as general But, it seems that
when Cutcheon's speech was printed in
the Congressional Record, his charge
against Grant was left ut. To-day Mr..
Henley criticised the action of Cutcheon
of Mich, in casting imputations upon
Gen. Grant and then striking them out
of the record.
In reply Cutcheon expressed high
appreciation of the military abilities of
Gen. Grant; but being pressed by Hen
ley with the question, "why did you
strike out your remarks?' was compelled
to admit that he left them out because
he wanted to, an admission which caused
much merriment and which made Mr.
Cutcheon very mad, and friends had to
interfere between him and Henley,
A number of other short speeches were
made, but the speeches of the day were
made by Horn (rep) Walfurd, (dem.)
Calkins, (rep) and Andrew g. Curtin,
(dem) the famous old war Governor of
Pennsylvania.
Horr made a splendid speech and was
cheered to the echo. He said we had too
many traitors now. Even here in the
house, we were surrounded by eX-trai-
tors and ex-confederates who had the
brazen egrontery to came here to con-
gress and vote and make speeches on
this question. They wanted Porter re-
stored of course. Porter was a traitor
and they naturally sympathized him.
They were so eager to restore Porter
that they had not self-respect enough to
not show what they wanted. If they
had any self-respect at all, they would
not vote on this question.
General Walford replied to Horn. He
that in this congress the gen
tlemen expressed such sentiments. He
had thought that the eX-confederates
were here as members of the American
with right and duty to vote
on every question. He hoped that no
man, who had served in the confederate
army, had got so mad over the fight that
after 20 years could not do an act Of
in tice to the man who fought against
him. He hoped that no man would get
up and say: i can't vote on this bill;
I am Interested; am still mad. Heun-
derstood that his confederate friends
were here loving the flags and loving
their country They Were here saying
to-day and forever, that they had left
behind them the bitter feelings engend-
cred by the war and every thing that di-
yidad the country. Were men to stand
forever and quarrel over old issues. Let
20 forward and say it is ready
to do justice to an injured man,
Mr.. Calkins said: The book was to be
opened where the page was turned down
20 years ago; but those who opposed tat
acton would not adopt the means which
they believed Gen. Porter used on the
eth and goth of August, 1862, and re-
fuse to fire a shot at the enemy, but on
the contrary would adopt the more gal
liant conduct of the brave soldiers and
sailors, marines on board the 'Cumber-
land" Whea she wasswept fore and aft
and was sinking, they fired their guns
at the enemy, manned the yard arms
and gave three cheers for their country.
Those who opposed the bill would go
down; but as they went they would 20
down CALAMITY. Members were asked
by this bill to say that Abraham Lincoln,