Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-19

portion oil this donation. The bill, MT.
Ingalls, said, was essentially dishonest,
and the States that would take money
under II were aetusted by precisely the
same spirit that would pick apccket or
rob graveyard. ILaughter.l 1t was
an act Of grand larceny on the Urea
sury. When the States Of the South
asked for this money on the basis OF
the whole number of its illiterates above
ten years old they knew, and the
whole country knew, that they were OBJ
tanning money under false pretences.
Mr.. Maxey emphstically denied that
Texas asked for the bill.
Mr.. Morgan read a telegram received
by him from the Governor OF Alabama
Governor 0'Neil) saying he saw no
constitutional authority for the bill,
ard endorsing Nf. Morgsn's position
on il.
Mr.. Riddleberger said some States
might not need the money. "0n be-
half Of as good people as those Of Kan
sas OF Texas" continued Mr.. Riddle
berger, Il am not ashamed to say that
we do want it. We think il is due to
us. ! am glad the slave is free; but |
ask the gentlemen who considered it
their duty under higher law to free
him whether it is not their duty to
come TO the rescue Of an impoverished
people who accept the situation, and
who ask that the freedman may be ed
ucated?" Applause in the galleries,
which was suppressed by the Chair.l
Mr.. Coke addressed the Senate in
opposition to the bill. lie entered an
earnest protest against its passage, de-
claripg it to be the most pernicious
measure introduced into either house
Of Congress since the war. Mr.. Coke
quoted from the writings Of Jefferson,
Madison, and other early authorities on
the Constitution to maintain his posi-
ton. and argued at some length that
the passage of the pending bill would
make Congress a body Of unlimited
and despotic power, and would be sub
yersive Of all the reserved rights Of the
States. 1t would result, he said, in
stirring up endless strife between the
North and South.
A number Of amendments having
been submitted in order that they may
be printed, Mr.. Eyarts took the floor,
He remarked that he was heartily in
favor Of the bill, but would not speak
OH it if the Senate desired to come to a
vote.
Mr.. Blair said that if Mr.. Evarts
was going to make speech somebody
would be sure to move an adjourn
ment. This remark was greeted with
loud laughter, in which Mr.. Evarts
himself heartily joined, and the Senate
went at once into executive session.
After q few minutes the Senate, at
$40 z. NJ, adjourned till tomorrow.
House OF Representatives.
The Speaker announced the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Findlay, of Maryland, as a
member of the Committee on Banking
and Currency to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the resignation of Mr.. Cur
tin.
In the morning hour the House re-
sumed the consideration Of the bill for
feiting the Atlantic and Pacific railroad
Immigrant.
The bill was discussed without any
result being reached until the expira-
ton Of the morning hour, and then
the House went into Committee Of the
Whole on the Fitz John Porter bill.
Mr.. Phelps, of New Jersey, said he
had believed for twenty years that Cen
eral Porter was traitor and deserved
to be hanged ; that that was the popular
opinion Of the loyal North, and his
heart had been with it. lie had changed
his opinion, and believed that General
! Porter was an honest man and loyal
soldier.
Mr.. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, earnest
" supported the bill. Porter had been
denounced as traitor. If Porter was
traitor he (Curtin) was a traitor, and
! if any one wanted to tell him that he
was a traitor, let him tell it in a corner.
Mr.. Curtin spoke but short time, but
he was attentively listened to, and his
crisp replies TO many interrogatories
which were propOunded to him gave
rise to a good deal Of applause and
laughter.
Mr.. Warner, Of Ohio, expressed his
belief that Fitz John Porter had done
his whole duty at the battle of the
Second Bull Run, but he also believed
that if the original court-martial could
assemble again to have the additional
evidence before it it would be compelled
TO reverse the verdict. For this reason
he would vote for the bill.
Mr.. Bragg, of Wisconsin, closed the
debate. He stood here, he said, repre-
senting the Fifth army corps, wearing
on his breast the badge of the old Army
Of the Potomac, that loved Mcclellan
and Porter well, that fought the bat
ties Of their country despite congress
sional interference. They sometimes
had good officers sometimes officers
Of medium capacity, and sometimes
bad officers but they fought steadily
and we'll against the flower Of the Con-
federate army led by the ablest cap
tains. Their danger had been more
from the rear than front, for congress
sional committees were proving
through the camp looking for presi-
dental favorites and interfering with
orders. That condition of things had
existed up to the time the country
cried out against it, and power was
given to Grant to command all the
army. With him at the head
the Army Of the Potomac had
gone forth TO victory, closed the
war, and saved the Union. So had the
friends of Fitz John Porter pressed
forward year after year, asking that
Justice be done him. Partisan zeal
and malicious personal motives had
prevented a fair and impartial hearing,
and had made men fearful to vote in
accordance with their judgment lest a
long black mark might GO down across
their names. and the curse Of the
G. o. p. be issued against them.
The committee then rose and report
ed the bill TO the House. Two attempts
to recommit the bill with instructions
failed by a vote Of ll2 to l73.