The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-02-07


II forfcltS all lands granted to Mis-
E'sippi under act approved August 1
lS16, except the grant i'll aid of tn
!. railroad from Jackson to State Lin
of Alabama: also lands granted Ala
hama under acts of June 3. 1886 an
March 3, 1851, to aid in the construC
y ton of road from Elyton to the Ten
, neSSee river the Memphis u Charles
ton road and the Savannah Il Alban
: road; also lands granted to LOuiSiani
l in aid of the construction of rOat
from New Orleans to State Line: ais
:. lands granted Arkansas and the con
l StructiOn of road from the poin
1 where the Iron Mountain road inter
SectS the southern boundary to pOiu'
near Helena.
Mr.. Cobb made brief explanation
of the provisions of the bill, stating
that the lands which it proposed tc
forfeit had not been earned by the va
rIous companies, and declaring him,
: self in favor of forfeiting every acre
granted to railroad companies which
had not been earned in strict accord
ance with 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 the settlers who had entered
upon the lands.
Mr.. Van Eaton, member of the
committee on public lands, offered an
amendment excepting from the pro-
visions of the bill the land granted
Mississippi to aid in the construction
of a railroad from Brandon to the
Gulf of Mexico, commonly called the
Gulf and Ship Island railroad. After
some debate the amendment was ac-
cepted and the bill passed.
The next bill on the calendar was
that declaring the forfeiture of lands
granted to the Texas Pacific railroad
company, under an act of Congress
approved March 3, 1881, and acts sup
Elemental thereto. The report accom-
panying the bill, bel g very long, it
was ordered printed in the Record
without debate The bill passed
yeas, 259; nays, l, Barr (Pa).
On motion the speaker laid before
the House a message from the
president transmitting the report
of the secretary of state and the
accompanying papers relative to the re-
strictiOn of Importation of American
hog products into Germany and
France Immediate class of jurisdic-
USE dS W WHICH,
was entitled to the report of the sec
rotary of state.
Mr.. Townsend favoring the commit
tee on commerce.; Mr.. Hatch, of Mis-
souri,, the committee on agriculture
and Mr.. Curtin the committee on
foreign affairs. Finally matters were
compromised to the mutual satiSfac-
ton of all parties by ordering the mes
sage to be printed and laying it on the
table. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., February, IL
Mr.. Dockery introduced a bill pro-
the House, except for cause, during
vacation of Congress. Referred.
Also a resolution amending the |
rules so as to make similar provisions. |
Referred.
The conference asked by the Senate |
on the Greeley relief bill was agreed |
to. Messrs. Randall and Calkins were |
appointed conferees.
The speaker appointed MeSsrs. Ellis,
Holman and Ryan conferees on the |
part of the house on the bill appropri-
ating $4,000 to support the destitute
Indians of Montana.
The morning hour was dispensed
with and the House went into COM
mittee of the whole, Mr.. Springer in
the chair. on the Fitz-J ohm Porter bill.
Mr.. Wolford spoke in support of the
bill. Criticising Mr.. Horr's speech, he
said: 1.-THE gentleman from Michigan
assumed that the -Confederates
were interested in this case and had
argued that Self-reSpect should pre-
vent them from taking part in the de-
bate. The gentleman would have had
respect for the x-Confederates if, like
he had been in front. He re-
GREETED that in this Congress the gen.
tleman expressed such sentiments.
He had thought eX-Conferates were
here as members of the American Con-
gress with the right and duty to vote on
every question, and he hoped no man
who had served in the Confederate
army had got so mad over the fight
that after twenty years he could not
act with Justice to man whom he hal
fought against. He hoped no man
would get up and say, 4 can't vote on
this bill; | am interested; l am still
mad" He understood his Confederate
friends were here loving the flag and
loving the country. They were saying
to-day and forever that they
had left behind them the bitter feelings
by the war and everything
that divided the country. Were men
forever to stand and quarrel over old
issues. Let Congress go forward and
say it is ready to do justice to the
and injured man."
Mr.. Miliken inquired whether he
if that gentleman asked
herr, 70 vote for fha roliaf of DOr- | .
Ter as an act of Cancellation to his
friends. If asked on that
ground, he would vote for relief.
Mr.. Wolford replid that he asked it
On the highest grounds ever presented.
He demanded it as an act of justice and
to demonstrate it as an act
IF justice to the long injured man.
Applause on the Democrat side.
Mr.. Wolford passed on to the re-
view Of the case and was frequently
applauded by members who collected
around him in The centre isle, but his
at times were so low as to be
naudible.
Mr.. Calkins began argument in OPP
position to the bill by stating that he
knew there was no doubt of its passage;
book was to be opened where the page
was turned down twenty years ago,
but those who opposed that action
would not adopt the means which
they believed Gen. Porter used on the
9th and goth of August, and refused
to fire shot at the enemy, but on the !
contrary would adopt the more gal l
liant conduct of the brave soldiers and
marines on board the Cumberland, !
when she was swept fore and aft and
was sinking they fired their guns at
the enemy, manned in yard arms, and
gave three cheers for their country.
Applause on Republican side. Those S
who opposed the bill would GO down,
but as they went would go down gal
lantly; they would fight until the last
discharge the last shot in
their locker. This measure might {
be called vindication, but he
denied it. More than 100000 voters ]
of the country would deny it. Speak
ing of the Grant letter, he said he
knew Grant well; he had received his
early military experience under that
leader; he knew how Grants soldiers
obeyed, and how their
prompt obedience served to give him s
the honors he now enjoyed. He hon. s
ored and loved Grant as brave sol
der; but when that soldier came out
in favor of this bill he could only say {
that none of his officers ever dared to
disobey like order of his. Applause s
on the Republican side.l The 4:30
4 al- klo Il