Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-19
IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
Detailed Report of the Proceedings In
Both Bodies.


laid before the Senate TO-DAY a massaoa
from President Arthur transmitting for
the consideration of Congress commupi.
cations from the Secretaries of War and
OF the Navy on the subject of a relief ev.
peditiOn for Lieutenant Greelv and his
party, and recommending i'm
mediate actien, as the situa-
ton of the party must now be perilous.
Ihere was also submitted the correspou-
oence relating to the execution of the
Chinese exclusion act as asked for by the
senate In the resolution of the 7th inst.
At 1895 O'Clock the Senate went into
executive session.
Mhen the doors were reOpened at 4.35
O'Clock the Senate adjourned. While in
executive session the Senate rejected the
mexican treaty, the vote being SO yeas to
~ nays, not being the necessary two
thirds voting in the affirmative. Senator
morgan changed his vote, making the re-
sun SUI, % yeas 10 Il nays. Senator Morgan
then maze motion to reconsider. Dend-
ing which the executive session closed,
During the debate preceding the vote
on the Mexican treaty, a motion was
made and carried, amending the treaty by
extending the time six months. within
Whlch II snail be ratified.
IN THE HOUSE,
In the House TODAY Mr.. Slocum. OF New
1OrK, asked unanimous consent that to-
morrOW's session be set apart for debate
only on the Fitz John Porter bill. Mr.
Reed, of Maine, objected. Mr.. Brumm.
OF PennsylTania, offered a resolution.
winch was referred to the Committee on
Forelgn AHalrs, lnstructing that CON-
mlttaA inv
foreign minister, accredited to the United
states, has endeavOred TO nullify the eff
iects Oh any unanimous resolution of this
Rouse by representations rejecting ON
the honor and integrity of its members.
Mr.. Slocum, of New York, moved TO dis
pense with the morning hour. and. thouoh
there was general opposition on the Re-
puOllcan side, the motion secured the
requisite twO-thirds vote, 15S to rs. The
house lhen at 12:45 O'Clock went into
committee OF the whole on the private
calendar, with Mr.. Springer. of Illinois in
the chair, the first bill being that for tbe
relief of Fitz Jonh Porter.
Inc report OF the majority and the views
OF tue minority were read. During the
reading of the latter Mr.. Steele. of In
diana, complained that the order of the
house requiring both reports to be printed
togetner had OF been carried out, and
tanned at the document room. Mr.. SlOcum
called attention to the fact that the ma
lorlty report had been printed long before
the views OF the minority were presented.
NO BODY was to blame because they were
not printed together. The Chair declared
that the debate was out of order. and the
reading was continued. At it's conclusion
Mr. olocum proceeded to speak in support
vi tne elll. lie would not go into tech
nlcai discussion OF the evidence presented
10 Ine court martial, for Congress was not
d court Oh appeal. The proper court of
appeal was the board appointed bv the
President to review the case, and it's de-
clslon should be final. If anv gentleman
desired clear, concise conceDtion of the
case, he could find it in a few pointed and
sentences uttered bv Gen.
Grant. He drew picture of the excite
ment~Thich existed at the time of Gen.
POrters trial, and without casting anv
aspeIslon on the court, declared that the
result was ioregone conclusion. Up to
the hour OF his arrest there had not been n
stain on Gen. POrter's escutcheOn. but in
the time of intense excitement. when
mems passions usurp their reason. his
brilliant reputation was no shield. For
twenty long years that man had suffered
as even the worst of criminals seldom
were compelled to suffer, but today
FltZ John Porter, no matter what the ac-
ton OF Congress would be, stood before
the world fully vindicated. No. not vim
dlcated, but awarded the highest meed of
praise by the most eminent military
authority of the country. The same men
VINO had ruined Gen. Porter had struck a
deadly blow at Gen. Sherman. and he had
seen, at the review of the Union army
Gen. sherman refuse his hand to a Seere-
tary OF war because he had ATTEMPTED to
throw disgrace upon him. 1t was his
( (Slocum's) firm belief that, had not the
war closed as it had, Gen. Sherman's
name would have been placed side nv
side with that of Gen. Porter.
Mr., Slocum's speech was listened to at
tentlvely throughout, and at its conclu-
sion he was warmly applauded
MI. steele, OF Indiana, followed with a
speech IN opposition to the bill He said
that Gen. Slocum had not addressed him
sell at all to the merits of the case. but
had appealed to the sympathies of the
house. In the course of his remarks he
said that Gen. Porter had declined TO obey
orders because he said that if he moved
ms men as ordered he would have to fight,
10 which Gen. Mcdowell replied: THAT
is what we cane here fOr.v
MI. Maglnnis, of Montana, inquired
why, if Gen. Mcdowell wanted to fight.
he did not do so?
Mr.. Calkins, of Indiana, replied that
that was just what he did. Both these
gentlemen spoke in an excited manner.
and several other members iumDino 10
their feet caused great confusion i'm the
committee for some moments. and
drowned the voices of the debaters.
continuing, Mr.. Steele said that he did
not wish to reflect upon the gentlemen
who composed the Board of Review. but |
he claimed that they did not con- |
stitute legal Constitutional Court.
and that under the laws of New York |
they were liable to trial for assuming |
judicial functions. Referring to the |
organization of the board, he said that |
Senator Randolph had obtained a LIST of |
the names of the persons selected. senfit |
to Wizards Hotel and submitted it to the |
gentlemen there to know whether it was |
satisfactory or not. Gen. SchOfield would |
have liked to get the nomination for the |
Presidency, and Mr.. Randolph carried /
Pennsylvania and New Jersey in his |
breeches pocket.
Gen. Rosecrans inquired what the
gentleman had said.
Mr.. Steele--''I say that his friends |
ana the country understood, |
and the gentleman himself understood. |
that Gen. SchofielG would like to be tickled /
with the nomination."
''Mr. Rosecrans-.1 understood no such |
Lhing.v AZ Jun
After a speech from Mr.. Lyman. of
Massachusetts, in support of the bill. the
committee rose, and the House agreed to /
lold a session tomorrow for debate only /
IN the Fitz John Porter bill. A note from 1
The Speaker announced his appointment
u Mr.. Cox, of New York, to act as
speaker pro TEN: tomorrow, and then the
House adjourned.