The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-03-19
u. S. SENATE.
Proceedings Of the Special Ses-
sion of the Senate.

CONCENTRATIONS from the Secretary Of State.
thesecretary of the Interior. and the Attorney
General. conveying notification of their accept
ance OF Cabinet positions and requesting the
President of the Senate to so notify the Legis-
latures OF their respective States. were read 10
the Senate on the 9Th inst. The President sent
To the /. nate the following nominations: q, S.
fnHchild, Of New York, TO be Assistant Secre-
tary OF the Treasury; John C. Black, OF Illinois,
70 be Commissioner or Pensions Mr.. Van
Wyck's resolution making inquiry OF the Secre-
tary OF the Interior regarding the Issue OF
patents TO the Back bone" Railroad was taken
record" OF the Backbone Road. He said
that Gould and Huntington were at the
bottom OF sch ,me 70 get possession OF the
special meeting If the Cabinet TO legahze the
fraud; but the settlers did not have any adj
, yo ate there, ~, The Cabinet did not protect
to the tender mercies OF the corr grafton.
The whole history of the land bu-
grant corporations and DEGREES of the depart
ment in obedience thereto. When the demand
was too exacting. as in this case, the opinion
of the Attorney General was sought behind
which to hide. BY what mysterious power.
Mr.. Van Wyck asked. could this company
The into an extra session
partment to work nights and Sundays In or
der TO secure action foreclosing Congress
ana the people from rending the BpO1ler from
his prey? Mr. Van ~ ek gave notice that the
patents issued would be contested Ex-Secre-
tary Teller In his reply said that Mr.. Van Wyck
his, pbject was to pose before the public and to
gain notoriety. Mr.. Teller's speech an
elaborate legal argument TO show that the
Backbone" Company was entitled to the grant.
A RESOLUTION offered by Mr.. Hoar that Mr..
Blair be sworn in as Senator to ill hevacancy
from New Hampshire. was taken up in the Sem
ate on the 10th inst. and very long argument
ensued. The Legislature which is to elect the
Senator from New Hampshire will not meet un-
the point whether. in this emergency. the Gov
ernor had the right TO appoint Blair TO NIL the
vacancy, and whether vacancy had really oc-
CURED which the executive could provide for.
Nothing of particular interest was developed In
the debate except the point made by ingalls, that
the question at issue bad . significant bearing
upon sena orial vacancies In Illinois and Oregon.
After further debate the resolution agreed to
yeas SO, nsys 20. The only departure from d.
vision upon party lines was in the case OF Jones.
or Florida, who voted In the Affirmative with the
Republicans. The oath was then administered
TO Mr.. Blair. The Chair laid before the Senate
memorial from the Governor Of Arizona asking
the appointment Of fourth Judge OF the United
States District Court. Referred
THE backbone" resolution offered by Mr.. Van
Wyck was laid before the Senate, on the 18th
inst, as unfinished business. Mr.. Van Wyck
said the Senator from Colorado TELLER had gone
to New York to be absent day or two, and
asked that action upon the resolution be de-
ferred for couple OF days. Mr.. Van Wyck then
offered the following resolution, and asked that
II lie upon the table for the present: "Res0ioed,
That tife Secretary Of the Interior and the
Attorney General OF tho United States be and
they are hereby directed, respectively, TO take
such action each may deem necessary topre-
yentany sale Of the Atlantic and Gulf West
India Transit Company, or by any company or
person claiming under them, OF any OF the lands
described in the act approved May II, ls56,
entitled An act granting public lands In alter,
nate sections to the States of Florida and
Alabama TO aid In the construction Of certain
railroads in said States far a the same
lies within the line of said railroads between
Waldo and Tampa Bay, Florida. until Congress
shall have authorized the same The President
sent TO the Senate the names OF Edward ID.
Clark Of Miss,ssipP to be Assistant Secretary
Marshal of the Western District of Texas.
Republican Senators, at caucus, pre-
pared the allotment OF places on the
is to be hairman of the Committee on Post
offices and Post Roads. Mr.. Pike takes the chair
Of the Committee on Claims. and Mr.. Sewell
Military Committee. Mr.. Teller 10 made Chair
man Of the Committee on Mines and Mining
and member OF the Public Lands COMMITTEES:
Mr.. Evarts Ia placed upon the Jud iciary and
Foreign Relations Committees.
THE principal topic of interest in the Senate
on the 18th inst, was the consideration OF SEN
ator Van Wycks resolution, offered by him on
the previous day. directing the Secretary Of the
Interior and the Attorney General TO take such
action as may benecessary TO prevent any sale
by the Atlantic and Gulf West India Transit
Company of The lands scribed in the act Of May
II, 1885, anting ian ls in alt rnate section to the
States or Florida and A ALBANIA TO aid in the con-
struction of certain rairoads In said States far
as the same lie within the line OF said railroads
between Waldo and Tampa Bay, Florida, until
Congress shall have authorized the same. SEN
ator Van Wyck said the land grant was made In
1S56 in order that the railroads might develop
the country; that from that time until the
present nothing has been done in that direc-
ton; that the land has increased from 10 cents
TO $40 and SIS per acre. and now the road
asks the Government to recognize its title.
Mr.. George. of Mississippi presented the Gre
dentials OF +. G. Walthall, appointed by the
Governor TO succeed Mr.. Lamar. After the
reading of the credentials. Mr. Walthall was
sworn, and took his seat. written message
was senlsto the Capitol by the President for the
purpose OF withdrawing the Nicaraguan and
Spanish treaties. The Senate, however. had
adjourned.