The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-13
XLVIIIth Congress--2d Session
SENATE.

WAsHINGroN, Ja1. -.
In the Senate today, among the petitions was ore
offered By Mr. Hoar from Mrs. BelVa A. Lockwood
praying Congress to see that the votes cast for her
at the late presidential election be counted.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate resolution
heretofore offered by Mr.. Hawley, calling on the
President for copy of the historical statement con
cernipg the public policy of the executive depart.
lnent of the Confederate States, filed at the War
Department by Gen. Sherman;
Mr.. Harris made some opposition on the ground
that the papers we're Ged Sherman's side of a per-
sonal issue between himself and Jefferson Davis.
If the Senate did not propose to take action On the
matter he failed to see the object of tho resolution
Mr.. Hawley said he presumed the papers would
find their way into publicity, and he had desired
lshed.
Mr. Vest regretted The Introduction of the reaolu
tlon not that he would oppose the largest publica-
toa of the history of the Confederate States but
because the Senate would be making itself indireet-
~, at Least, party to controversy that beeo
going on in the public press.
Debate on Mr. Hawley's resolution eontinted at
some length and became pretty warm before it
closed The participants in addition to Senators
Hawley, Harris. George and Vest were Senators
Sherman, ingalls,, Morgan, Couger and Lamar.
Mr.. Vest Inquired whether it was manly to COM
nit he Senate to any sido of personal controVer-
sy when Davis could not be heard Davis was to-
Gay an old man, broken in fortune and health liy-
ing among the e5ople who honoreo him. He (Mr
Vest) had been member of the Confederate Sem
ate, and frequently opposed Davs's measures but
he believed as an overwhelming majority of
the Southern people believed that Davis was true
and loyal to the cause he espoused as ever was q
wife to husband, OF religious devotee to the
God he worshipped,
MIR. George said that the controversy was a perso.
nal one between two private citizens of the United
States.
Mr.. Conger disputed Davis's right to be called
citizen in any relation of equality to Gen Sherman
Mr.. George was willing that the controversy
should be settled by history. He had no fear that
the result would be adverse to the honor patriot
ism of Jefferson Davis.
Mr. Morgan said, it may be true that Jefferson
Davis's po itical disabilities had not been removed .
but be was no less man because of that. 1t was
not less true that he beloved by millions of peo-
pie yet in the United States. He had been no more
enemy OF the United States than many senators
now on the floor of the United States Senate.
MIR. Ingalls, said Jefferson Davis name had never
been mentioned in the Senate without Messrs.
Morgan, Vest and their associates endorsing him
and declaring that he was a man of honor and q
patriot, and that millions of people in the United
States loved him. So long as such remarks were
INDUCED ia it was in vain to declare that the
animosities eDgendered by the have been
buried forever. 1t did not sound well to have
Haunted so constantly in our faces by members of
the Senate, the fact that Davis was a patriot and
q man of honor and was beloved by millions.
Mr.. Sherman after reciting the circumstance of
the controversy said that he did not desire to
God, said he, will it ever be disputed in this
country of ours at any time within a thousand
years that in the war and before the jefferson
Davis was consprator and traitor to his country?
never, trust.'' Mr.. Sherman felt compelled to
enter his most solemn protest against Davis being
treated as patriot.
Of the controversy as marked by fagrant inaccur-
acies to the issue between Jefferson Davis and
General Sherman. He (Mr. Lamar) did not i'm
pugn Gen. Sherman's veracty, but insisted that he
had been misinformed about Davis. TIE South,
Mr.. Lamar said, had surrendered upon the ques-
tion of dividing sections, had given up the rights
of a To ada fln nil hud
up the right of each state to judge for itself of
nfracions of the constitution ana mode of redress;
But no man should in bis presence call Jefferson
Davis a traitor without his (Lamar's) responding
with stern and emphatic denial.
Mr.. Vest said the Senator from Kansas (aIr.
Ingalls) could not speak in the Senate without be-
coming personal. There under the old COM
mon law an otfsnse known as being common scold,
the punishment for which was ducking. Mr. Vest
replied to the assertion that he had never been
accredited to the Confederate Senate. He
asserted that his credentials had never been dis
puted by his own constituents, and added that the
Senator from Kansas knew what he meant.
At p m. the matter went over till tomorrow.
The Chair laid finally before the Senate the unfin-
ished legislative business. being the Interstate
commerce bill, but this yielded to motion for the
consideration OF executive business.
The naval bill, just passed by the House, first
however, laid before the Senate and referred to the
committee on appropriations.
The joint resolutions providing for meeting of
both houses in joint convention Feb. 11th to count
the electoral vote, was also laid before the Senate
and referred to the committee on privileges and
elections.
The Senate them on motion of Mr. Miller of Cali.
forDia, went into executive session, and when the
doors were reopened adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House the Speaker announced the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Perkins of Kansas as a member of the
committee on rivers and harbors IN place of Mr.
Robinson of Ohio, resigned.
Under the call of States the following were in
troduced and referred;
By Mr.. Boutelle of Maine to settle the claims o
any state for expenses incurred in defense of the
United States.
By Mr.. McCormas of Massachusetts rendering the
thanks of Congress to commanders Sebley and Cof-
fin and Lieutenant Emory and the officers and men
under them for rescue of Lieut. Greely's suffer-
ing comrades.
By Mr.. George of Oregon to authorize the trans
fer of of the vessels of the Greeley expedit or
to the Treasury department for revenue cutter
and retention of the other two for in the navy
The House then proceeded to considerat ion o.
business relating to the Eistrck of Columbia.
At 3.15 the House went into conference of the
whole, Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, in the char) on til,
Consular and diplomatic appropriation bills.
Mr.. Hill OF H., moved to restore to the $500
the Consuship at Hank-ow, China, which in tn,
bill had been placed in the $500 class
In advocacy of this amendment Mr.. Ryan o.
Kansas called attention 10 the fact that line o
steamers was now runniag between Shanghai and
Hawkon under the American flag.
In response Mr.. Burns of Missouri intimated tina
the steamers sailed under the American flaJ
not because Americans owned or interested il
them but for the purpose of protection during tn,
French and Chinese war.
Mr.. Reed of Maine inquired how foreigners could
sail vessels under the American flag under stat
utes.
MIR. Burns replied IL at he could not answer fo
| the truth of the assertion.
After further debate vote was taken and tn,
| amendment was lost.
Mr.. Cannon of ILL.,, raised the point Of no quorum
and call of the roll disclosed the presence of les
than quorum and that fact having been reported
to the House the House at $40 adjourned.