Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1874 — FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

Thursday, January 29.—Senate.—Petitions were presented and referred—from citizens of Illinois, asking that legal tenders be subetituted for national bank notes; from citizens of Montana, asking for a division of that Territory... .After the expiration of the morning hour, Mr. Ferry, of Michigan, wascalled to the chair, and Mr. Carpenter addressed the Senate on Louisiana affairs. He reviewed at length the condition »f affairs in that State; he referred to the lengthy report of the Congressional Committee on Louisiana affairs, and said it is too late now to talk about seating Pinch back on prtma facie cause, as this committee had agreed there was no legal government in Louisiana, nor a legal Legislature, on the 15th of January last. Before the conclusion of Mr. Carpenter’s speech the Senate went into executive session and soon after adjourned. Home.— Bills were reported and referred to Committee of the Whole—to amend the several acts relating to the National currency, and to establish free banking; limiting the amount of United States notes in circulation to $400,000,000. and allowing their exchange into couvertible 3.65 bonds.../The bill to establish and malutaln National Savings Depositories as branches of the Postoftlce Department was reported adversely from the Committee on Banking and Currency.... The Army Appropriation bill was further considered in Committee of the Wh01e.... An evening session was held for consideration of the bill codifying and revising the statutes. Friday, January 30.— Senate.— A large number of bills were Introduced, among them one authorizing the President to appoint a board of five officers to investiga’c the charges against General O. O. Howard, which was laid over informally... .A memorial was presented and read of the Governor of the District of Columbia, In response to certain statements made in a memorial presented a few days before. The Governor says the District officials ; have . not sought and do not now seek to evade the fullest investigations into the affairs of the District.... Mr. Carpenter concluded his remarks ou Louisiana affaire. He claimed that the President’s proclamation was issued without authority, but that it had a salutary effect at the time. He ar gued that Kellogg was not legally elected; that his associates in the State offices were never elected, and the Legislature sending Pinchback to the Senate was never elected. He thought a new election should have been ordered in Louisiana at the last session of Congress.... Mr. Morton began a reply to the speech of Mr. Carpenter, in which he said the new election was -not demanded- by the Republican party of the State, nor by the business men of New Orleans. The men who were interested in the preservation of order and protection of honest labor opposed a new election for the reason that they were opposed to anarchy, and knew full well that the overturning of this State Government would be the signal for disorder and the shedding of blood. He contended that the Kellogg Government was in sympathy with, and sustained by, a large majority of the people of Louisiana.... Before the conclusion of Mr. Morton’s speech the Senate adjourned to the 2d. Home.— Various reports of a private character were made from committees and referred. .. .A joint resolution was reported from the Committee on Military Affairs requesting the President to convene a Court of Inquiry, of not less than five officers of the army, to investigate fully all charges against Brigadier-General O. O. Howard contained in a communication of the Secretary of War of the Sth of December, 1873. and to report their opinion as well on the moral as legal responsibility for such offenses, if any may be discovered. An amendment to this resolution was offered, giving the aecnsed the right of challenge allowed by law in trial by courtmartial. and an exciting debate ensued, after which the amendment was agreed to —172 to 64 and the resolution as amended was passed. . .Several joint bills were considered and disposed of. ... .Adjourned, the session ou the 31st to be for debate only. Monday, February 2 — Senate.— The House bill changing the time of meeting of the United States District Court in lowa was passed, with an amendment fixing the time of "meeting at Council Bluffs on the fourth Mondays in March and September of each year, instead of the third Tuesdays of those months... .Mr. Morton concluded his remarks on Louisiana affairs. He reviewed the argument of the Senator from Wisconsin (Carpenter), and contended that the Kellogg Government was the legal government of the State, the President and thenther House of Congress having recognized it. The recognition of that government by the President was in pursuance of law. The proposition to set aside the State Government of Louisiana and order a new election was one of the gravest character. It could not be done without setting aside a portion of the Constitution of Louisiana. If Congress should order a new election now, the Constitution of Louisiana would require another one for members of the Legislature next Novem-ber-After Mr. Morton concluded the debate was further participated in by Messrs. Frelinghujsen, Carpenter and Stewart... .The House joint resolution for a special court of inquiry in the case of General O O. Howard was adopted, with a verbal amendment .. The Bankruptcy bill was taken up and considered.... Ad jourued. House.— Several bills were introduced, among which were—to amend the Bankrupt law; for a board of army officers as Indian Psace Commissioners; prohibiting Territorial Legislatures from authorizing towns or counties to issue-bonds in aid of railways... .After more discussion a joint resolution was adopted providing for ihe appointment of a Select Committee to iuvesilgato the affairs of the District of Columbia Government. The Speaker appointed as such committee Messrs. Wilson, of Indiana; Hale, of New York; Hubbell, of Michigan; Clymer, of Pennsylvania, and Jewett, of 0hi0.... Articles of impeachment against Richard Busteed, United States Judge of Alabama, were presented, ordered printed, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.... A bill was passed providing that medals, with appropriate devices, emblems and inscriptions, shall be prepared at the Philadelphia mint to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the meeting of the Continental Congress and of the Declaration of Independence....A joint resolution was adopted—providing that in all cases under the Civil Service examinations for Government positions, when a disabled soldier, his wife or the widow of a soldier who died of wounds or disability contracted in the service shall pass examination at the required standard fixed by rules, such person shall have precedence to appointments.... Adjourned. Tuesday, February 3. — Senate.— A petition of the colored citizens of Atlanta and a resolution of the Georgia Legislature were presented denying the statement in A. H. Stephens’ speech that the colored people of Georgia did not desire the passage of the Civil Rights bi 11.... A resolution of the Grand Army of the Republic was presented asking an equalization of bounties... .The bill providing for the arming and equipping of the whole body of the militia of the United States wa- reported unfavorably from the Committee on Military Affairs.... Among the bills introduced were the following: For the redemption and reissue of United States legal tenders and National Bank notes, and for free banking; to establish a Bureau of Health at Washington, under the direction of the Interior Department... .The Bankrupt bill was further considered, and several amendments were disposed of. ....Adjourned. Home.— A bill was passed providing that the law which limits contracts in the Postofflce Department to one year shall not apply to mail locks and keys, mail bags, stamped envelopes, postal cards, or newspaper wrappers... .The Army Appropriation bill was considered In Committee of the Whole, and an amendment was agreed to providing that no money appropriated by It should be paid for recruiting the army beyond 25.00'Jenlisted men. ...A resolution was reported from the Election Committee to the effect that Hodges, of Arkansas, had a prima facie right to the seat.... Adjourned. 5 Wednesday, February 4.— Senate.— A resolution was introduced and referred providing for the payment to Ray and McMillan, of Louisiana, of their full compensation as Senators of the United States from the time they were elected to March 3,1873... .The bill to secure the equalization of national bank circulation was taken up and debated.... Consideration of the Bankrupt bill was resumed and amendment* were debated—Adjourned. Home— The resolution declaring that Asa Hodges is entitled, prima facie, to a seat as a Representative from Arkansas was adopted, and Mr. H. took the modified oath as a member from the First District... .The Army Appropriation bill was taken up in Committee of the Whole, and amendments were adopted providing that only actual traveling expenses, never to exceed ten cents per mile, shall be allowed to any person whatever in the service of the United States, tud declaring illegal all allowances for and transportation lu excess of the amount actually paid, and that no part of the money appropriated by this act shall be paid to any railway company forth* transportation of any property or troop* of th* United States over any railway which in whole or In part was constructed by aid of the grant of public lands, on the condition that each railway should be * public highway for the Use of the Governxtaßt of tM United State*, free of toll or

other charge for such transportation, nor shall any allowance be made out of any money appropriated by this act for the transportation of officers of the army over any such road when on duty and under orders as military officers of the United States... .Messrs. E H. Roberts (N. Y.) and Hamilton (N. Y.) were announced by the Speaker as members of the Joint Select Committee ou the Affairs of the District of Columbia, in place of Clymer (Pa.) and Hale (N. Y.), excused. ~. An evening session was held for the consideration of the bill to revise and consolidate the statutes,