Year: 1874




ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE TILL TUESDAY.


WASHINGTON. Feb. %. 1874


Every wear for n long time the Democrats have
tried 10 get the House to adjourn over the I'D OF
February, but the Republicans have always taken
the ground that the best way to honor Washfston's
birthday was to attend to the public business, and
have refused to permit an adjournment This year
the 22d came on Sunday, tut the Democrats to per-
fetuate their old custom of trying TO appear more
patriotic than their opponents, moved on Saturday
that Monday be observed as holiday and that
there be no session then. To the general surprise
the motion prevailed, receiving majority by the
aid of the votes Of Republicans who took their
revenge for being obliged to attend business ses-
sion on Saturday, and who thought besides that
there would be nothing lost by dispensing for once
with the miscellaneous business that comes In on
Mondays under suspension OF the rules. ABOUT
five times as many bills are placed on the private
calendar of the House every week as are worked on
During the morning hour on Fndays the Committee
report measures of this character and as by Tar the
larger part of them contain appropriations they
mainly go to the calendar under the rule in
Committee of the Whole. There is no previous
question. and an entire afternoon is often
nsed ND in passing half dozen insignificant
hills. A large part of Friday and the whole
of Saturday were spent upon tins kind of trivial
snecial legislation. While days are thus wasted
debating these petty individual CLAIMS the pub
lie business is of course neglected Under the pres
week are devoted TO private bills and only three TO
measures of public character Not counting Mon
day because that day is as good as wasted. being
usually spent in the introduction Of bills and IN
voting upon buncombe resolutions. There ought to
be q Constitutional amendment restraining Con
gress from considering any private claim. Inc
Conrt of Claims was established for such cases. but
| the trouble is many claimants do not want justice
but favor, and hope to get from Congress what no
| court would allow them.


THE RECOGNITION OF GOD IN THE CONSTITUTION.
| The House Committee on the Judiciary, to whom
was referred the petition of E. g. Goulet and others
| asking Congress for ian acknowledgement OF
| nu;cbtv God and the Christian religion" in the
Constitution of the United States, having conSdered
tbe matter referred to them have reported: That
upon examination even of the meager debates by
the fathers Of the Republic in the convention which
framed the Constitution, they find that the subject
of this memorial most fully and carefully con-
sidered and then in that Convention decided,
after grave deliberation, to which the subject
was entitled that, this country, the foundation
of whose government they were then laying,
was to be the home Of the oppressed Of all nations
| of the earth whether Christian or Pagan, and IN
full realization of the dangers which the union be-
| tween Church and State had imposed upon 80 many
| nations of the Old World, with great unanimity
! that il was inexpedient to put anything into the
| Constitution or form Of government which might
be construed to be reference to any religious creed
or doctrine and they further find that this decision
was accepted by our Christian fathers with such great
upanimity that in the amendments which were after
ward proposed, in order to make the Constitution
moro acceptable to the nation. mono has ever been
nroposed to the States by which this wise determn-
| stion of the fathers has been attempted 10 ne
| Changed Wherefore. your Committee report that ~
is inexpedent to legslate upon the subject OF Ine
| above memorial and ask that they be discharged
from the further consideration thereof ana that tns
report together with the petition be laid upon the
| table. o-r,o.,
| The NEw-HAMPsHIRE ELECTION.


| A urominent New Hampshire Republican who Is
an influential Administration office-holder In this
| city has lust returned from that State, where he
spent several days among the politicians in various
sections He says politics run very high there"
and unusual excitement and interest prevail. lie
| believes the vote will be a very large one, and
that all elements will be fully represented. he
saws McCutchins, the Republican candidate for
Governor, will lead in the race, and ho has
no donbt that on the day of the election,
q fortnight IRON Tuesday next. he Will have
4 oluIalisy vote. lie. however. thinks 1t matter