Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1874 — FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

Thursday, January 22.—Senate.—Several petitions were presented and e ferrod, among them one from Susan B. Anthony, relating the circumstances of her registering tn Rochester, N. Y., and her subsequent indictment and trial for illegal votingrbefore judge Hunt, of the United States Supreme Court, stating that her trial was not a fair one and her conviction was in violation of the statute, and asking that the fine Imposed on her be remitted. ...A resolution was submitted, laid on the table and ordered printed, Instructing the Committee on Transportation Routes to the Seaboard to consider and report the bill creating a Commission of five eminent and skilled persons, to.be appointed by tbe President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall examine anft report to Congress what legislation is necessary and practicable in regard to inter-State railways, to promote the efficiency of such railways, the interests of commerce, and the convenience and safety of the traveling public A resolution was adopted against the printing in the Congressional Record any speech or part of speech not actually delivered in the Senate or House of Representatives ...A bIH was introduced for the further improvement of the Great Kanawha River... .Consideration of the" Finance resolution was resumed, and Mr. Boutwell addressed the Senate in opposition to an Increase in tbe volume of the currency, and at the same time in opposition to any reduction of it; he considered a general inflation of the currency of the country would be followed by speculation, disaster and ruin; he thought that the Issue of the $14,000,000 ought never to have been questioned, and hoped that the-matter would now be determined; the Treasury Department In using a part of it, had acted on the idea that it could lie used whenever there was a necessity for it, though It was to be retired when the exigency had passed; he opposed the plan of a currency convertible into bonds, and did not consider specie payments possible.... Adjourned. House— The bills to repeal all taxation on bank checks and friction matches were reported adversely from the Committee of Ways and Means, and the adverse reports were referred to tbe Committee of the Whole for discussion, and made the special order for the 28th.'... A bill was also reported fixing the amount of legal-tender notes at $400,0! o,<®o, which bill was made the special order in Committee of the Whole for the ■-’Wlh... .The West Virginia contested election case was further considered, bntno vote was reached, ."... Au evening session was held for the consideration of the bill revising and consolidating the statutes. Friday, January 23— Senate.— Among the pctitiona presented w’as one asking Congress to appoint a committee to examine into tbe manner in which the affairs of the Government of the District of Columbia are conducted, and especially those of the Board of Public Works, and that the petitioners be allowed to be present by counsel at such investigation.... Bills were passed—to confirm title to certain lands purchased for the site of the Fort Kearney military reservation; to pay the bonds of the Louisville & Portland Canal; the Postal Route bi 11.... A bill was Introduced and referred to provide for cheap transportation by way of tbe great lakes, southwest... .The ft-solutlon reported by the Finance Committee was further considered, Mr. Stewart speaking of the evils of depreciated currency, anil advocating free banking on a gold basis; he thought we could stand the efforts toward a return to specie payment now, but if a step be taken backward it could not. be retraced. The further consideration of tire resolution was postponed to the27th... .Adjourned to the 26th. House.— Several committee reports of a private character were made and referred.... A bill was reported and referred to the Committee of the Whole in reference to the education of the blind of tbe District of Columbia.... The West Virginia election case was further cpasldered, bnt without coming to* vote the House adjourned, the session on the 24th to be for general debate. Thursday, January 20.— Senate.— House bills were passed—to confirm certain land titles in Missouri; granting authority for coinage to be executed at the mints of the United States for foreign countries; to abolish the office of First Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue.. The resolutions in regard to the seating of Mr. Piuchback as Senator from Louisiana were taken up; an amendment was offered that P, B. Pinchhack be allowed to take his seat in the Senate upon taking the necessary oath, and that the Committee on Privileges and Elections subsequently consider the grounds upon which his seatie contested, and report to the Senate; and Mr. Morton then announced that, since his argument of a few days before as to the validity of the Kellogg government. and the legality of the Legislature tn electing Pinchback- and the General Government being bound by the decision of the State tribunal on a question of State law, or of tbe State Constitution., he had received information charging Pim bback with procuring bis election by bribery and of conduct in connection with his • election which, if true, render it improper for him (Piuchback) to have a seat on this floor He therefore moved-that the credentials of Mr. Piuchback : be recommitted to the Committee on Privileges and Elections, and that the said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and be instructed to investigate the conduct of said Pinch baek in connection with tbs said election. Mr. McCreery spoke at great length ths subject or

Louisiana affairs, contending that the Kellogg government was ,an usurpation, and denying that Louisiana had a republican form of government, and argued that steps should be taken to protect her against fraud and usurpation. The further consideration of the motion to recommit was laid over till the 28th... .Executive session ■nd adjournmen.. House.— Bills were introduceu —repeal so much of the act of March 3,1873, as provides that the Representatives elect to Congress may receive their compensation monthly, from the beginning of the term until the beginning of the first session of Congress; to provide for a national currency, for the redemption thereof in coin, and for the redemption of the circulating notes issued by, or under the authority of the United Slates; providing for the survey, by army and navy engineers, or the ship canal from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River near Cairo; for the removal of all troops in Southern States to the Western country as protection against the Indians; to incorporate the Eastern and Western Transportation Company, with a capital of $30,000,000; to maintain and manage a railway from Port Royal Harbor, S. C., to Leavenworth, Kansas, via Macon, Georgia, and Memphis, Tennessee.... Resolutions of ihstmcilon were adopted, among theAa one instructing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into the relations existing between tbe Federal Government and the loeal government of the District of Columbia.... The West Virginia Election case was further considered, hut without coming to a vote the ‘House adjourned. Wednesday, January 28,— Senate. — The credentials of William L. McMillan as Scnatorfrom Louisiana were recommitted to the Committee on Privileges and Elections....A bill was reported from committee, without amendment, providing that every volunteer accepted by the War Department under the proclamation of May 3, 1161. shall be paid the full bounty of one hundred dollars promised thereby.... Mr. Morion spoke in favor of the resolution providing for a Commission of five person* to examine and report to Congress what legislation is required in regard to inter-state railroads, and to provide for cheaper transportation, etc.... The bill supplementary to the act to protect all citizens of the United States in their civil rights, and to furnish the means of their vindication, was taken up and a debate ensued on a motion to refer to the Judiciary Committee.... The joint resolution proposing an amendment, to the Constitution, providing for the election of President by a direct vote of the people, and abolishing the office of Vice-President, came up and was referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections... .The bill to authorize the organization of National Banks without circulation was taken np and debated Adjourned. House.— The Senate amendments to the Post-Route bill were concurred in.... Bills were reported and recommitted—reviving the grant of lauds to aid in the construction of a railroad from Vicksburg to the Texas State line; to incorporate the Southern Trans-continental Railroad Company, and to grant the right of way through public lands; to amend the act to encourage the growth of timber on the Western prairies,... The West Virginia contested election case was further considered, and at the close of the debate a vote was had on tbe resolutions, those reported by tbe majority of the Committee on Electionsbeing that J J. Davis and J. M. Hogan, chosen at the August election, were not. and that Benjamin Wilson and B. F. Martin, chosen at the October election, were duly elected—the resolutions reported by the minority of the Committee taking opposite grounds; the malorily report was supported by the Democratic and the minority report by the Republican side of the house, and the vote resulted in declaring Davis and Hogan entitled to seats, and they were accordingly sworn in... .Adjourned. < Thursday, January 29. Senate.— Among the petitions presented was one from soldiers in the late war, staling their belief that they are entitled to 16'' acres of land, and asking for the appointment of a special committee to investigate as to the working of the. existing laws touching the subject, .r. A bill was introduced and referred to amend the diplomatic and consular systems act of August 18, 1856.... The finance resolution was further debated, Mr. Bayard advocating the resumption of specie payment at the earliest possible day; he thought the Legal Tender act was a war measure, and should not be continued now in time of peace. Mr. Morrill (Vt.) replied to Mr. Boutwell, citing his (Boutwell's) former votes and reports to show that “his policy of standing still was impossible.” ...Executive session and adjonrnment. . - r —; —. • House.— A bill was passed establishing life-saving slations, and appropriating SII,CCD therefor, and $1,600 for medals ordered previously to be presented Io persons who had distinguished themselves in saving lives from the wreck of the steamer Metis... A memorial was presented and referred of New York bankers against any further inflation of tbe currency. ..A substitute was offered and referred for the bill introduced iu the House by the Committee of Ways and Means, fixing the status of the over-issue of legal tenders, such substitute deciariug that United States notes issued in excess of $306,u00,000 were issued without authority of law, and are not legal tenders, and Congress cannot give them the attribute of money under the recent decision of the Supreme Court, but, having been issued, are a just debt against the United States, redeemable in legal money.,.. he Army Appropriation bill, appropriating $28,449,916, was considered in Com.i.iitee of the Wh01e.... An evening session was provided for, to be for the consideration of the bill revising the statutes.