The New York Herald Newspaper, January 6, 1869, Page 3

a WASHINGTON REASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS. The Authority for the Recent Am- nesty Proclamation Called for by the Senate. Speech of Mr. Windom in the House on the Pacific Railroads. Wastinéron, Jan. 5, 1869. ‘The President?» Amnesty Proclamation. Senator Ferry took occasion to-day to revive the old question as to whether the President has author- ity to issue a proclamation of general amnesty. In the words of his resolution, “By what authority of law’? was the last proclamation issued? The answer of the President to this inquiry will be that the pro- clamatton itself gives his authority in full, and that it ig derived from the highest law in the land—the con- stitution of the United States, The second section of the second article of the constitution states that “he (the Presiaent) shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.’ When Mr. Lin- coin issued his proclamation of amnesty on the sth of December, 1863, he began it with the following words:—“Whereas, in and by the constitution of the U nited States,g it is provided that the President shall have power to graut reprieves and pardons. for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment,” it is \well known that Mr. Lincoln held the authority above quoted to be an all suficient warrant for the issue of a proclamation of pardon, and that he regarded the thirteenth sec- tion of the act to suppress insurrection, &c., ap- proved July 17, 1862, as merely confirmatory of the President’s power to pardon offences against the United States, and not as being necessary to enable him to grant such pardon, for, in the first clause of the prociamation referred to, he says:—‘‘Whereas, laws have been enacted by Congress declaring that the President was thereby’ authorized at any time thereafter by proclamation to extend to persons who may have participated in the existing rebellion, jn any State or part thereof, pardon and amnesty; and whereas the Congres- sional declaration for limited and conditional par- don accords with well established judicial exposition of the pardoning power; therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do proclaim, declare and make known to all persons who have Pparticipatea in the rebellion that a full pardon is hereby granted to them and each of them.” In the debate that occurred on the repeal of the thir- teenth section of the act approved July 17, 1862, Senator Trumbull declared that the sec- tion in question neither added to nor detracted from the power to grant reprieves and pardons vested inthe President by the constitution. Prest- dent Johnson algo holds that all the authority requi- site to issue & proclamation of pardon and amnesty is given to the President by the constitution, and that neither the passage of an act of Congress nor its repeal can affect it. He holds that it will scarcely be denied that the power to grant pardon is con- ferred by the constitution, for that very word is used. The only doubt that exists seems to bein reference to the word ammesty. Therefore, it cannot be denied, treason being an offence against the United States, that the President has power to pardon a single individual, or two, three or a dozen, and in truth, there is no law limiting the number that may be included ina pardon. Conse- quently, there can be no question as to his right to issue a proclamation of pardon, mentioning by .Rame every person who was concerned in the re- bdellion. The only difference, then, netween such a proclamation and the one that was issued is that ‘the persons pardoned were not named. The two ‘words pardon and amnesty are regarded by the Presi- dent as synonymous terms; pardon used in the sense of remitting the penalties for an offence or crime committed, and amnesty as the removing or biot- ting out of the offences of a number of persons—in short, a general pardon, a6 an amnesty, to avold the tedious process of pardoning in detail. Thus it will be seen the President regards the terms pardon and reprieve to be included in the term am- ‘nesty, and there is the very best of evidence to show that President Lincoln viewed this power of the President in precisely the same light. If, therefore, Congress shall deciare that the President has no power to issue a proclamation of general amnesty, &@ proclamation of general amnesty. The only effect ‘would be to augment to an astonishing degree the labor and expense of pardoning the remaining offenders, for each individual would be granted a pardon and amnesty on a separate form. A Quiet Day in the House. ‘When the House met to-day there was barely a quorum present. The eccentric Mullins, of Tennessee, wanted to defend the constitution by having a call of the House; but this was not effected until a vote was taken, when a division by tellers showed that 120 members were in the hall. No business of special importance was transacted. Considerable time was taken up in personal explanations about newspaper attacks upon members for their abuse of the frank- ing privilege. At three o'clock the House, for lack of more profitable business, went into Committee of the Whole. Nominations Confirmed. In executive session to-day the Senate confirmed the following nominations:—William H. Russell, Collector of Internal Revenuedor the Second district of Connecticut; Charles C. Dame, Collector of Inter- nal Revenue for the Fifth district of Massachusetts; C.G. Megru, Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Second district of Ohio. A Busy Session for the Finance Committees. Some indications appear that at least the Finance Committee of the Senate will not be wie during the remaining two months of the session. They met to-day, and after disposing of various nominations for offices in the internal revenue, including that of Commissioner, agreed to meet every day in the fore- noon for the futare and go earnestly to work in framing @ report which will aim to embrace the clearest and most comprehensive scheme for settling the permanent basis of the national debt, for ar- ranging the condition of the finances and paving the ‘way to specie payments. The amount of material at the service of the committee is already immense. Elaborate reports, essays, speeches and bills tn- numerabie have accumulated on their hands. It will become their business to proceed at once through this mass of financial suggestions, taking the best points they discover and sweeping away the rubbish. ‘To inaugurate the work in earnest and draw around him and his colleagues all the co-operation possible Senator Shesman has dectded to give a party at his honse next Friday evening, in the name of the Senate Finance Committee to the Committees of Ap- Propriations of both houses, the Ways and Means, the Banking and Currency Committee and the heads of all the bureaus tn the Treasury Department. At this party, whichia an entirely new idea in Con- greasional practice, the members of the Finance Committee will be introduced to the gentlemen of the other committees and of fthe Treasury Depart- ment, thus establishing an acquaintance which will be of considerable advantage to all concerned, With ail the assistance and experience the committee in- tend to group about them there should be every reason to hope that the @nancial problems will re ceive @ satisfactory solntion and the country be reassured that wisdomand statesmanship still reside in the national councils. day on the questjon of reconstructing over again the State of Georgia, and presented for the edification of the Senate @ bill which tilustrates better than any- thing that has yet been introduced the mania of party recklessness. It gravely proposes that all the officers elected under the present constitntion in Georgia, and not disqualified by the fourteenth amendment, shall remain in office. In other words, Oi) the republicans shall stay in and pli the demo- ———————— cra‘s shall go ont, while those who are in are authorized to hold a convention on the 1st of March to amend the present constitution to suit themselves and then submit it to the people, by whom no votes shall be cast but such as are deisgnated in the amended instrument, providing, however, says this ingentously constructed document, that no one shall be prohibited from voting on account of race or color. This arrangement would bring more unal- loyed rapture to the hearts of the carpet bag fra- ternity and their colored supporters than the confls- cation scheme of the lamented Thaddeus Stevens, Cause of the Late Troubles in Georgia. Senator Pomeroy to-day received a letter from Georgia in which it Is stated that the recent troubles on the Ogeechee river were caused by the refusal of planters to share the crops equitably among the negroes, which they claimed pursuant to last year’s contract. Similar difficulties occurred as to the previous crops. The negroes this time declared the crops should not be removed till they had their just share. General Saxton, with two companies of soldiers, went tothe scene of confict, arrested the ringleaders and divided the crops according to contract. A Petition from Colored Georgians. A petition of 500 colored citizens of a county in Georgia was received by the Senate to-day, com- plaining of the present form of government as not being sufficiently loyal, and that more than a pru- dent number of rebels were allowed the privilege of voting. It called for the reinatatement of the colored members ejected by the Legislature and the restriction of the suffrage to loyal men. Out of the 600 names attached only a dozen or so were able to write their own; the rest were inscribed by one hand, with a cross wark aftereach. Petitions of this character are very numerous, aud should be taken cum grano satis, Sudden Collapse of the Colored Ropresenta- tive. Menard, the colored Representative from Louist- ana, who came here to take a seat in Congress and did not, has gone home in disgust. It is said here that he was necessitated to get money from the Freedmen’s Bureau fund to carry him to Lousiana. ‘The Alaska Bribery Investigation. The Committee on Public Expenditures, to whom 1s entrusted the investigation of the alleged bribery in the Alaska purchase, failed to hold a meeting to- day, owing to the absence of the chairman, Calvin T. Hulburd, A Pertinent Inquiry—Sales of Gold by the Treasurer Since 1863. With a view to ascertaining some of the mysteries of the sales of gold by the government, through its agents in New York, since 1863, when the govern- ment first became a seller, Mr. Morrell, of Pennsyl- vania, has prepared the following resolution, which he will offer in the House at the first opportunity:— coin sold by the government since poovery A See te each year, with date and amount of each sale, the rates and amount of premium realized, the commis- sions and exponses attending the same, ana to whom: paid, and stating particularly to what account such expenses and commissions were and to what account the premiums credited, In all reports made by the Secretary of the Trea- sury heretofore it has been found impossible vo ascer- tain the information called for in the above resolu- tion. The accounts of gold sales have always been mixed with other accounts, #0 that nobody wasabie to tell anything about them. ‘The Consular Appropriation Bill. The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bull, reported to-day, appropriates $1,106,234 for all pur- poses, being $116,000 less than the appropriation of last year. Among the items are the following:— For salaries of envoys extraordinaire, ministers and commissioners to the great Powers, $316,000; for salaries of Secretaries of Legation, $30,550; for con- tingent expenses of missions abroad and foreign in- tercourse, $100,000; for expenses of consulates in Turkish dominions, $2,600; for protection of American seamen abroad, $50,000; miscellaneous expenses of consuls, $40,000; for the Neutrality act, $10,000, A clause is in the bill making ts & punishable offence for consuls to demand for certificates of invoices fees greater than are allowed by law. The Russian Mission. Smythe’s nomination for the Russian mission bas not yet come up. It is said that he will have more votes than necessary for a confirmation. The Patent Office Stationery Frands. For some tame past there have been a number of conflicting reporta afloat about the stationery contracts of the Interior Department. Charges of fraud among the contractors, of ollusion among officials and complaints of general dissatisfaction all around were freely circur lated. In the HeraLp of Monday a detailed statement was published, giving the results attend- ing the exploration of the House Printing Committce into the stationery contracts of the Interior Depart- ment. Their report places the Commissioner of Patents in the light of one with a disposition very easily imposed upon and with little taste for figures amd the exact fulfilment of contracts, The contract- ors are represented as being decidedly inclined to make sharp and profitable bargains. Now another the Commissioner of Patents, one by the Secretary of the Interior and the other suggested by the con- tractors,themselves. After due investigation they come to the conclusion that “No evidence of any fraud or collusion was given or taken before us that ‘would implicate the contractors. The articles fur- nished were such as were specified in the contracts and schedules attached and at the prices specified.” They proceeded to state that the purchases may be considered a matter of contract, particularly when the payment of the bills rendered are by means of &@ requisition upon the Treasury signed by the Commissioner of Patents and the Secretary of the Intertor. Further on they state that no doubt exists but that the Commissioner of Patents contracted for deliver, & portion of which would be an offset to amount overdrawn. They conciude, however, by stating that if the firm do not furnish the 17,000 legitimate business after the holiday recess. There were thirty-seven pregent; but through the sfternoon several more dropped in and made tho number over forty. Senator Sumner was, as usual, the first to engage the attention of the chair, while he poured Out @ flood of bills, petitions and resolutions, num- bering in all nearly a dozen and a half. Of the seven bills he introduced one or two may finally emerge from @ committee only to disappear again for ail time. Senator Pomeroy introduced one of that in- teresting family of bills which have recently grown to such formidable dimensions—for establishing steamship lines and buliding railroads out of Uncle Sam's pocket. Mr. Pomeroy's project meritatcs the employment of two steamships to carry the mails between New York and Vera Croz every fif- teen days, the contract not to exceed a term of ten years, and the Postmaster General being authorized to make it. This offers a nice specniation for the owners of any worn-out and profitiess pro- Ppellers calculated to float at two knots an hour and safe enough to carry a few matibags containing cor- Tesponcence for a score of American famitiles at the city of Mexico. Senator Rice Introduced another of these wild-cat bills—a novelty, too, by the way. It ‘Was nothing less than a bill to incorporate the Cen- tral Railroad Company, in the Indian Territory, and gave for incorporators the names of people belong- ing to the Creek, Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes of Indians, with the proviao that any others who choose Might aiso become incorporators. ‘The Busteed Investiaation. The sub-committee of the House Judiciary held Another mecting this morning, the three members, Messrs, Woodbridge, Eldridge and Churchill, being present. The examination of Senator Spencer, of Alabama, was resumed and continued till noon, ‘No other witnesses appeared to-day; but nearly a dozen are on hand. Subsidies to the Union Pacific Ratlroad. In a communication laid before the House to-day from the Secretary of the Interior to President John- son, dated December 18, he says:— The Union Pacitic Railroad Company bonds on 90 miles of its road, amount to $22,798,000, The comt has submitted favor- able reports upon two. miles each, but no Executive has been taken upon them, 280,000, which will be due the of your acce| cepted. ‘The Denver Pacific Railway. Governor Evans, President of the Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company, says the reports Sent out to the effect that the company has received aid from the government heretofore or that it now asks for any, except in lands, is erroneous. That all it asks is @ transfer of lands that have been already granted to the Union Pacific, Eastera Divi- sion, Company, with its assent, ~ Troops Engaged in the Indian War. In compliance with the Senate resolution of the ‘14th ultimo the Secretary of War to-day transmitted to the Senate a statement as to the number of United States troops employed in connection with the Indian hostilities in protecting the Missouri river tramMe and the Union Pacific Railroad, and otherwise policing that region of the country, of which the followiag is a recapitulation: — Number of regular troops employes in guard: and lclug tle frontier, 10,601; operating against the jians and poiicing the frontier, 6,824; coer ting against the indians, 2,119; guarding the Union Pacific Railroad and policing the frontier, 667; guard- ing the Union Paci road, 405; guarding the trafic on the Missouri river, 1,352: operating against the Indians and guarding the Union Pacific Rail- road, 3,553. Total regular troops, 25,601; add volun- teer troops, 1, egate, eld. Rewards for Friendly Indians. ‘The Senate received this rather novel communica- tion to-day from the Secretary of the Interior, ad- dressed to him by Commissioner Taylor, of Indian affairs:— Sin—I have the honor to state that it is customary, when a President of the United States has been elected, to have medallions of such President made and pemiaged for distribution to some of the chiefs and men of ihe different Indian tribes at peace with and under the jurisdiction of the government, and also toany other member or members of any tribe who may have proved deserving of some spe- clal mark of favor or recognition from the govern- ment. Ihave therefore caused an estimate of ap. Pe ig ae (35,000 required for medallions of U. rant, President elect, to be prepatod and respect fully ask that the same be laid before Congress for its action. Yours, obediently, N. G TarLOR, Nomination of Internal Revenue Commis- sioner. ‘The precise action of the committes. om the nom nation of Oumutings for Internal Revenue Commis- sioner is diMcult to arrive at, but it is generally understood that it was laid on the table, which is equivalent to killing it. Petition for the Pardon of Dr. Mudd. . Paul Bagley, the missionary, is circulating a peti- tion here for the pardon of Dr. Mudd, now a prisoner atDry Tortugas. It is headed by Hon. Stevenson Archer and {s signed by twenty other democrats of both Houses, Sapreme Court Proceedings. ‘The following cases were argued in the Supreme Court to-day:—No. 21, The Steamship China, Her Tackle, &c., v8, Walsh et al; case in admiralty. Ar- gument concluded. No, 22, The Louisiana Mutual Life Insurance Company vs. Tweed; action in policy of insurance, Argument commenced. Mysterious Denth of Two Colored Men. There was considerable excitement in the upper part of this city to-day, m consequence of two colored men being found dead in their beds, at the residence of the French Minister. Large crowds ‘Were surrounding the house. Reports were current that they were either suffocated or poisoned. Health ef General Spinner. General Spinner still remains very unwell, and ts unable to be at his desk at the Treasury Department. Personal. General Logan appeared in his seat to-day, although still suffering from sickness. THE FORTIETH CONGRESS, Third Session. SENATE WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1809. The Senate resumed its session at tweive o'clock, the following named Senators being present:— Messrs, Buckalew, Cattell, Cole, Conkling, Dixon, Davis, Edmunds, Ferry, Fessenden, Fowler, Freling- huysen, Grimes, Harlan, Harris, Howard, Howe, Kellogg, McCreery, Morgan, Morrill, of Vermont; Morton, Nye, Patterson, of New Hampshire; Patter- son, of Tennessee; Pomeroy, Rice, Robertson, Ross, Saulsbury, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Trumbull, Vickers, Wade, Warner, Willey, Williama, Wilson, COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED AND REFERRED. ‘The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate communt- cations from the Secretary of War transmitting a statement of the number of troops, regular and vol- unteer, employed in service against the Indians. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Aiso a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a report of the Special Com- missioner of the Revenue, Mr. D, A. Wells, and ask- ing the attention of Congress to his recommenda- tions. Referred to the Commit tee on Finance. Mr. SHERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio, offered @ resolution to order the printing of 10,000 copies of the report for the use of the Senate, Reterred to the Committee op Printing. NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1869.—TRIRLE SHEET. the Garland cage that the President coutd pardon in general terms before conviction, ‘Mr. Doo.irrns replied that be believed that Gar- 4 was pard under such @ general procla- jon. Mr. Ferny asked whether the Senator made any distinction between jon and aimuesty. Mr. DoorrrL# said no. ‘The question whether the us joned were named in the proclamation, his opinion, was and had not been de- by the because no one has ht of pening i. ‘The President having the right to pardon one aer as ® matter of course, a right to pardon another of several persons together, guilty OF accused of the same offence. Mr. FRELINGHUYSBN, (rep.) of N, J., also was giad that attention was called to the mation, although he though it more important as raising a great westion in to the powers of the Execu- ive than in any other He did not find in the constitution a grant of any such power as the President clai the caae, nor power to grant amnesty at all, In England the power, but that was because he represented the sovereignty of the nati: Sqninet which the offence ig commutted, There it King vs, A. B.; but im the United States it is not the President vs. A. B., but the People va. A. B. Mr. Davis, dem.) of Ky., ap} of the resolu- tion of inquiry because the subject was important; but he had no doubt of the President's right to grant the amnesty, the constitution vesting such power wholly in the President—not at all in Con; He thought there could be no donbt of the right to par- don before conviction as well as after, Mr. CoNKLING remarked that the decision in the Garland case did not go so far as Mr. Doolittle menems it did. The question, he said, was not, whether the President could jon & man for an offence, but whether he could thus pardon all men for all ofences—a very important question. Mr, DOOLIVTLE sal he had been mistaken in saying that Garland was pardoned under a general amnesty without being named; but he held the de- cision in that case to be that the power ofthe Prest- dent to pardon and grant reprieves except in the case of impeachment is aniimited, The question was then iaken upon the resolution and # Was adopted. AMENDMENT OF THR NATIONAL BANKING LAW. ‘Mr. WILSON, (rep.) of Mass., introduced a bill to amend the actentitied “An act to provide a national currency, secured by pledge of public stocks, and to provide for the circulation and ption thereof,"” which was referred to the Comanittoe on Finance, Section one makes 1t unlawful for any bank organ- ized under tho said act to pay or receive interest or money in any form for or on account of any deposit Made by, with, or on account of any other bank, corporation or individual; provided, however, that the State, city and town treasuries may receive in- terest on their deposits tn any bank or banks. Section two prohibits any bank officers from cer- tifying as any check, draft or note, or to issue certificates of deposit or other evidence of debt, unless at the time of such certificate or issue the whole amount so certified is in the actual keeping of sald bank and payable on demand. Section three oes that hereafter ail deposits fn behaif of the United States in any national bank shall be special deposits, not to be used by said banks for loans or discounts, but held subject draft by the Treasurer of the United States or other disburs- ing fa and such deposits shall not be subject to ion. Section four provides that the Comptroller of the Currency may at any time-call on any banking asso- ciation for a statement of its affairs'on any past day to be by him specified, and such report shall be made within five ons after the receipt of the requisition therefor, with @ penalty of $100 for e' day's delay of such report after the sai five days; abstracts of such report published by the Comptroller. and a report of Be published in a paper in 'the city. of W: eoparatc lation si newspaper in the place where the association ts es. tablished or in the nearest place thereto, such publi- cation to be atthe expense of the assoclation making said report. Each association is required to report to the Comptroller on the first Tuesday of each month the condition of the association on the preceding day, said statement to include a report of loams and discounts, specie, deposits and circulation, MEXICAN MAIL STEAMSHIP SERVICE, Mr. PomERoY introduced a bill to authorize the es- tablishment of ocean mail steamship service between the United States and Mexico, which was referred to the Committee of Post Ofices and Roads, Jt authorizes the Postmaster General to make con- tracts, to continue not exceeding ten years, for the transportation of all mailable matter between New York and the ports of Sisal and Vera Graz, with re- mnsible possessing ample ability to furniah the necessary steamships, provided that he require the departure of a mail sveatnshif from New York at Teast once tn fifteen days, and that the expense of such service shall not exceed $5,000 per round trip. In case of failure to eae regular voyages, & 10 rata deduction is to be inade from the Lamy Ae tecee and sult fines and penalties may also be impo: for delays and irregularities in the of service to contract. THE NEW YORK AND LONDON TELEGRAPH. Mr. CONKLING introduced a bill to authorize the New York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Cony to land one or more submarine cables upon tho si of the United States, aud to maintain and work such cables for the transmission of incssages and intelligence between the United States and Eu. TOG, Oe Say of the intermediate places, during the existence of the company’s charter. Reserred to the Committee on Commerce. RECONSTRUCTION OF GRORGTA. Mr. STEWART, (rep.) of Nev., introduced a bill to the of Georgia to form a State gov- in form, which was referred to judiciary. It vides the repealing of so much of the act of June 25, 1868, as relates to Georgia, and making the government of the State visional only, and subject to the act March 1867, All officers lected under the pro- a of sald State who are not dis- by the foarteenth amendment or any of the acts above mentioned, except members of the Leguslatare, ice until the State diafranchised sh March next, vith fall powers to alter or amend said constitution in any Manner not in conflict with the laws of Congress and the constitution. Said State ieee earn Gi are yoo be aes to ae People at such time as the Convention may ap ‘and on ratification or rejection of satd amended con- ‘stitution such persons, and no others, shall vote a8 shall be prescribed said amended constitution, vided that Fah ives shat! be excluded from vot- on account of race or oolor. When sald amended constitution shall have been ratified by @ majority of the votes it may be submitted for the consideration of Congress. BILLS REFERRED. Mr. Scuxrr introduced a bill providing that acces- sories to a violation of the fifty-fifti section of the National Currency act shall receive the same punisa- ment as the pi of the association. Also a bill « that the words. “trial at com- =~ jew,” ey firet ‘eogh| Rees of July, ta. ating the Witnesses, heid to include crimalnat trials and proceedings; also to impose sentences of tmprisoument, with jabor, in Cs amg the law merely provides prosecutions under the laws aking & general allogation ‘of embonzie- meat, &c., vfctent in the indictment, and making no restriction as to the amount einbezzied, PETITIONS PRESENTED. @ bill to repeal the act of February 28, 1803, Mr, SuMNER, (rep.) of Mass., presented several | Prohibiting the importation of certain persons into Petitions of citizens of Virginia asking the removal.| All of which were referred to the Committee on of their politieal disabilities, Referred to the Com- J ‘ye mittee on the Judiciary. ‘Mr. SUMNEN also introduced a bill to provide for Also a petition of Ht citizens in the United | th tion in the District of Columbia of commis- Baten, praying fr the, tof @ Consulate | sions by the courts of the States and Territo- General of the United States at Buda, Pesth. Refer- | ries and of fo Bations, and for taking depost- red to the Com tions to be such courts, Referred to Also the petition of the University of Committee on the District of Columbia. peeay bata | ai upon certain appa- Also @ bill to for the punishment of acces- ravus red from Et to the Commit- tn crimt against the United States. tee on the Judiciary. Referred to the on the Judiciary. Also & petition of citizens of Philadel, and REPORTS OF PAUIFIO RAILROAD COMPANIBS. taal potiical righ vo ail eitize tary of the 7 ta transmit oo tthe last t sm the 4 in of the. Union Pacito Haliroed Gom- Railroad benno the road Company, and the , which was to the /ominittee on the Judiciary. saving for tus pascage of w eivil service Gil, the MURPHY, OF ALABAMA. Of the indian Hurean to the Wur Departinent i, callod up the bill for the pb gh it of the i | BK. 3, and government, which was . \ Dey i] (et allowing the claim, Mr. MORTON, (rep.) of Ind., offered a jotnt resolution hat the government was —_—i landing of any submarine cabie tn persons for losses inflicted Dart of of the United States wit the consent of to the Committee '® advocated the claim upon the a on the Judiciary. that even if the were not to pay PRE '8 AMNESTY PROCLAMATION. for losses inti the army, it certainly was Mr. FERRY, (fep.) of Conn., obliged to pay for of loyal citizens taken offered a resol ¢ President to transmit Soon te with of ti certain States. the Judiciar, jungarian e establishment mittee on Commerce. of duties urope. sortes na, of Georgia, setting forth of Congress. Referred ted of ution a, Inte atmneaty procamation, muatoroest ofthe | “Mr CoNsLINa made against paying ‘am a Ir. CONKLING ‘an argument ay Pa oA wich he issued it. Mr. Ma yd that | the clain ae r| he e resolution because although he favored ADJOURNMENT. the amnesty he doubted the right of the Presfdeut to Without potas the bill the Senate at forty It in this sweeping way, and he wished to have | minutes past Went into executive session, MA HOWARD, (rrp.)_ of Mich., was very gina that | . How, (rep. the ‘attention of te, Senate naa been caliea to. the question. He thought it important that Ofthe United States should kuow whother dent had such a dispens! ) 5 NT fumwadranied ty Bret mrre Clamation without naming any’ that Hon, at any time after ti a gomimteson i en 0 Proceedings or ing their pendenc; as well as before conviction, to pard: ers, and that ( had no right whatever to limit this power, in the exercise of which tue Presi dent represents the sovereignty of the people of the United States, He read from the decision of the Supreme Court in the Garland case in support of his position. Mr, CON RLING inquired whether it Was decided la alier whicu @ short open session was held and the Senate adjourned, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wasutnaton, Jan. 5, 1399, The Sreakee announced that the recess having expired the House resumed its session. THE DIPLOMATIO APPROPRIATION MILL. Mr. WASIBURNR, (Pep.) of IIL, from the Committee on Appropriations, feported « bili making approprt- ations for the consalar and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending Jone 80, 1870, Mr. MULLINS, (f@p.) of Tenn., rose to a question of order, believing that @ quorum was not present, He moved that the roll members be called. The mn was taken jed in the ve. te bil reported , Washburne referred to the Committee Whole on the State of ihe Union, and made order for tomorrow ‘and from day to day diaposed of. TRANSPORTATION OF THE OVERLAND MATT. Mr. WASHBURN, (rep.) of Ili., by instruétion of the Committee on Apy th offered a By and resolution setting forth that on the 16th of De- ceimber, 1864, Che House referred to that committee a letter from the Postmaster General in answer to a Fresolution of the House reiative to the contract for carrying the overland mails, and Whereas it appears from @ communieation from Spectat Ageut aii 1 toe Hou. George W, Mokelian, Second Assist ant Postmaster (ieneral, stating that Fete, Fargo £ Co., the contractors for the transportation of said mail, have’ not dad adequate facililfes, and that express matter haa carrted to tho exclusion of the mals, which were left on lay aud week after week, and never tected, nnd that on the 1th of Novenaber 400 pounds of Yah matter were piled up in an open stock gris whereas it is Teporied by the acecial agent that the employes of Welt, Fargo & Oo. have had s hand ta rifling the letter mall; there- fore, be ft fy That the Postmaster General be directed to make to Wells, Fargo a Co, until a full examination be the contract with Wells, Pango « Oo., and into the tlarges ot the speclal ageai of ike Vogt Olea a no role int trath of Departme! linquencies of said firm in carrying Mr. JOHNSON, (dem.) of Cal., objected to the con- sideration of the resolution at this Ume, Mr. WASHBURNE sald he would move a suspension of the ruies om Monday next to see whether the House would pass the resolution. Mr. FARNSWORTH, (rep,) of JiL, referring to the subject of the overland, mait th connection with Wells, Fargo & Co, asked permission of the House that a resolution be offered for the appoint meet of & special committee to investigate the Mr. Wasnavrne sald the Committee on Appropri- pe were desirous that @ special committee should ENCOURAGEMENT OF HORTICULTURE. Mr. Keronaa, (rep.) of N. resented the peti- tion of A, J. Caywood, of P eepsie, N. Y., and others, mambers of the Grape Growers’ Association, asking for legisiation to protect and encourage in- ventors of new fruits. RSGISTRATION OF VESSELS. - «Mr,. Exton, (rep.) of Mass., mtroduced a Dill, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, to extend the iaws relative to the register of vessels. On motion of Mr. Wastin, of titinots, mn motion of Mr. Wasiau: of iting @ reso- jution was adopted that the Secretary of the Trea- sury be directed to inform the iouse whether any consular oficers of the United States have demanded and received or are now demanding and receiving for the verification of invoices tees gros those provided by law; Uf so, what consula: and waat amount received; and that the Secretary, also inform the House what consuls have fatied or pasiesied to make returns and for how long a tine; and that he further inform the House of the probable amount now due to the United States in the aauds of such officers. FREEDOM OF TRANSIT IN THE UNITED STATES. Mr. BUTLER, (rep.) of Mass., introduced a bill to secure and protect the freedom of transit in tho United States, Referred to the Judiclary Commit- tee, It V Sglteed that no citizen of the United States, tn passing from one place to another within the same, Shall be subject to capius, summons, citation or other process, of whatever, name or nature in civil action, suit or cause, whethér on mesne process or execution in any State, Territory or district through which he may be passing and of which he is nota citizen, unless he shall voluntarily tarry therein for the space of more than forty-eight hours. All rocesses and writs contrary to the 3 bbe of this ill shall be held null and void, Persons offending shall be held guilty of a high misdemeanor and sub- = to indictment, and on conviction be fined not 9 vo show that it was an entorpri all respects practi- cable, and one that wij! cost the goverament no money, but Will save Vast situs to the Treasury, and one that will strengthen the public eredit, largely augment the public revenues and reduce sie publio burdens. In stenting to point out some of the pe- culiar advantages of this route he would not be un- dersteod to depreciate the merits of olvers, While conceding their inostimable value lo the country he Would insist that in regard to length, climate, water communications, agricuitural and inineral resources, &e., the Northern Pacific has advantages supe rior to them all, He discussed these proposi- tions at length, showing by the North era route the distance between the waters of the Atlantic and Paciic is 660 miles shorter than by any others; and that from New York to Paget Sound the distance is some 400 miles leas than from New York to San Francisco, ‘That in its grades also. it hag great advantages; that the highest summit It will have to cross is 3,912 feet lower than on the Central route, That in Ngees to climate there had been misapprehiensions. He proved front otis fon and other evidences that the climate of Walla Walla, ip lativude forty-six degrees, is sima- lay to Washington city, m latitade thirty-eight de- pe ee that the Bitter Root Vailey, in latitude forty six degrees to that of Philadelphia, with about the kame amount of snow. He qu numerous authorities showing the mildness of the climate and the from snows in the mountains through which thi petted on! and gave the reasons for the peculiar meteorological condition existing there, After demonstrating tue physical advantages of the Northern route he discussed the question—“Is it safe, expedient and necessary to grant the proposed aid at this time?” He insisted that it ts safe because of the stringétic provisions of the bill, of existing rail. road laws, requiring the retention by the govern- ment of one-half the compensation for services ren- dered by the roads and the paymeat by the company of five per cent on the net earnings as a sinking rund for the redemption of the bonds, and of the pro- visions authorizing the enforcement of the govern- ment ilen, as in case of default, It is safe also be- cause, as shown by the chief engineer of the read and of the engineers of the War Department, the company Wil have to expend from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000 in its construction, which will be a lien subsequent to that of the govern- ment. Its safety is also demonstrated by the working results of the other Pacifle Railroads par- tally completed, by which the government made an actual net profit in 1867 of thirty-five mulion dollars, enough to pay & five years the entire amount of government nds issued to them at that time, Which net profits will be proportionately larger when the roads are completed, He cited the ex, ampies of the wise and conservative statesmen of Great Britain and France, showing that Great Bri- tain had loaned on credlé within ten years to rail roads in India, four hundred and forty million dol- lara; that the debt of Great Britain is three billion mine hundred and fifteen million dollars; ner stand- ing army in time of peace is one hundred and minety- eight thousand officers and men; her cur. rent annual expenses four hundred and sixty-nine million dollars; her increase in popaieeion during sixty-eight years was lou per cent; her increase tu wealth trom 1830 to 1869 was 60 percent. France also had loaned her in less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000, and tm- ty not less than one nor more than ten years, the discretion of the Court. Mr, ed (rep.) of N. H., asked leave to offer a pre- amble and resolution providing for a spevial com- mitiee of five members, to investigate certaim news- per charges mst Postmaster General Randail connection with the Arizona mail service. Mr. MoKks, (rep.) of Ky., objected to the consider- ation of the resolution. RESUMPTION OF SPRCIR PAYMENTS. Mr. BARNgs, (dem.) of N. Y., offered tne following resolution :— Bo it resolved, &c., That it ts the imperative duty of this government to develop its resources, increase {ix revenue and retain its surplus gold with a view to as speedy a rewrn to apecte payment as is possible; that it will retard this pur- pose, disturb values and tnterfere with the revenue to con- tract the currency in any respect, or to und to fix the Ume by law,when specie payments shall commence, until gold and Jogal tender notes We more nearly approxiinated in valuo through the operation of natural causes, ‘The consideration of the resolution was objected to, THE LINCOLN ART ASSOCIATION. Mr. CULLOM, (rep.) of Il, introduced a bill to in- corporaie the Lincoln Art Association of Wasluog- ton, which was referred to the Coimuitteo for ine District of Columbia. SITE FOR A NEW EXECUTIVE MANSION. Mr. MILLER, (rep.) of Pa., introduced a bill in rela- tion to a site for an Executive maasion on Meridian Hull, im the county of Washington, of Mino to hav riated a tract of land t proposes we appropriated a of lan¢ beginning at a point on the northern side of Bound- ary street, opposite the eastern side of Fifteenth street, west, where it iutersects Boundary street; ex- tending thence along the northern side of Boundary toa it Opposite the western side of Seventeentit street, west; thence in a northern direction to inter- #ect the western side of Central avenue. ‘The bill was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, THR FRANKING PRIVILEGE—PERSONAL EXPLANATION. Mr. LYNCH, (rep.) of Me., upon a question of privi- lege, had read extracts Irom articies in the Cincin- nati Gazetie and the Worcester Spy, intimating that he had goid the use of lis frank, Which was a com- ion thing among members of Congress. ie should tice Of the matter here but for tie article in the Spy, which was edited by a member of the House, and from the fact that the paper which originated tue libel had substantlaliy reiterated it w all the circumstances had been fully ex- by iked the Mercan- Gie Journal, convaining his speech, as it had been the uniform practice of members to do, which waa in to law, and was one of purposes for whieh the privil Believing the new than phi should use it whenever he had occa- sion, 80 long as the law allowed it. The right to do the same as that of newspaper pub- Sten It was welt known that THE ARIZONA MALL SERVICE. newspaper which published been #0 franked. ‘These pape! own ali this and had never called tv an abuse. Havirg — the matter fully and shown, as he said, the unfairness and inconsistency of the papers, he would leave it without farther commen Mr. BALDWIN, (rep.) of Mass., who is the proprictor of the Worcester Spy, sald “the WZentlemen comely did not suppose that was res r the articie in question, which the during his absence from that city. His knowk of the gentieman from Maine assured him the charges could not possibly be true to the extent ited. From the result of his in’ he found that the gentleman had acted entirely within the law. it was, however, undoubtedly true that the law was deleotive, and accordingly the required modtfica- tions ought to be made. Mr. Cany, (dem.) of Ohio, said the gentleman from Maine was not the hong member of the House attacked the Cincini Gaaette, which paper bad made charges against him, He would not boon copied into respectable papers like tno New cop! respec pers like the New York 7ribune and ‘commented Upon. He did not consider the Gazette capable of siandering him, paras seresan nOm vee mainneaee » PRICR, (rep. jowa, jaced a Dill pro- vid that ail railroad companies which have ac- or may hereafter accept any ‘of Seeiral ua att ayant none nasa re ¢ same, use man facture: aint, 1 case of thelr refasal or ct to to es 80, eat caer artes gel null and votd. The Lay was referred to the committee which re- it. RELIEY OF THE POOR OF THY DISTRICT, Inetfectual IOWA WAR CLAIME, ‘The bill in to the clatins of the State of lowa on account of the late war was reported, It was re- ferred back to the committee which reported it with instructions. MECHANICS AND FARMERS’ BANK OF ALBANY, N.Y. On motion of Mr, Hoorrr, wep.) of Masa., a reso- Jution was calling on tl of and with the ad and consent of the seme, to fill the position of Chief of the Bareau of Steam im the Navy Department. THE PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL MESSAGE. . JONES, (lem.) of Ky., asked leave to offer a pre- je setting forth that, Abn trodaced and passwd in ea Choy ject of the matt tnances vl in ton of state of thi ‘ ir consideration euch “4 pam eS eras caameanaea tees Objection was made to the consideration of the Olbor bustiees’ was Anctudt w - rp ‘ransacted, including the in- THB HOUSH IN COMMITTRE OF THE WitoLR. On motion of Mr. WASHBURNR, of Ill, the House went into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. Callom in the chatr, and prove two | 9 Tl on Of the President's annual Mewage Mr. Winpom, of Minn., obtained the floor and aa- | dressed the House on tie subject of the Northern Pacific Railroad. SPRROH OF MI. WINDOM, OF MINNESOTA. Mr. Winpom, of Minn, said the Northern Pacifle Railroad m an enterprise in which his comstinents have @ profound interest. He would cadeavor to credit to ratlways for $620,000,000; her debt ts $2,208,000, 000; her standing army 750,000 men; her annual expenditures in time of peace, about $615,000, 000; her increase in population in sixty years only 87 per cent. ber gro in wealth, about equat to Great britain, Our public debt is $2,535,000,000; our standing army about 40,000 ; our annual expenditures, including interest on the debt, Jess than $50,000,000, being $119,000,000 per annum less than those of Great Britain and $155,000,000 annum less than the expenses of France; our in- crease in population in seventy years 18 700 per cent, being sevenfold the inerease of Great Britain and nineteen times that of France, During the last decade our increase in popetation was 6,000 per cent greater than hat of Great Britain; our inerease tn wealth from 1830 to 1860 was seven hundred per cent greater than that of Great Britain, During the same period the working results of the roads, atded by France and Great Britain, have demonstrated the wisdom and entire salety of that policy by which they were built with incalculably greater inducements and moro abuity vw en in these great enterprises of the century. The Northern Pacific Ratlroad is a sa bag necessity. All of our efforts to maintain peace wit! the Indtan tribes have been disgraceful and costly faiturea, and always will be so until we have proper fac lites for conducting Indwn wars. The total of our Indian wars for six years has largely exceeded one huadred millions of dollars, For alt this we have accomplished absolutely nothing except to ktit a few friendly Indians. ‘The fault is not in our army or our ofcers, Why, then, have we so signally failed? Because of the ulcer in} bility of getting at the foe; so long as has behind him a militon and # half square miles of unoccupied prairie and moun- tain fastnesses for a place of retreat the government ‘will be powerless to control him and will continng to squander untold millions in futile atcempts to keep the peace, There is but one remedy. ‘The construc- tion of rallroads across the continent, thereoy selt-] ting settlements and cities will Lot UD and by which troops can be Speediy moved, iy! General Grant, “The completion of those roads will far towards dian adfairs,’? 8 r ic road, hms sity.” Saye substantially onds our also «quoted =6to)§=6the: =6same — effect the opinions of Generais Hancock, Meigs, Ingalls, Sanborn and others, showing that among the mii- tary authorities of the country there is but one voice on Utis point—“The Northern Pacific road is a ne- cessity a4 & measure of retrenchment.” He argued, further, that this road ts @ judicious revenue moas sure, and for several reasons, Firat, because it will stiinulate tumigration, which was one of the causes of Our wonderful growth in wealth asa na. tion. There had been added to the national wealth’ ithin the last five oars, tmmigration more than § 000,000, $1 90,000 of which permanent pettlement of our In- General oe of the Kansas tt from been —s in the shape of com, to the cirevlation the country. Immigration instinc- tively soll its own paralieis of iatitude. Four. = of our bh penne = from = — of Lurope which ite north of oc Nortuern Pacific road. ‘This road will be potent tn stimulating immigration, because it wil open up a settlement Ln that part of the public main which in climate and productions will meet the wants of the populations of Northern Second, it will deveiop our agricultarai and mint resources, and thereby greatly strengthen the pubil credit, augment the pubic revenues and reduce the ear burdens, ‘The tue way to pay the national debt to develop the national resources, The re debt of a nation is great or small according the proportion it beara to the public wealth, A debt that would have crashed the United States in 1500 would scarcely be felt today. To have paid the debt of in 1849 would have required Log 4 cent of ali the property, public and private, he to-kay resent nation, To pay our mt debt would re- uire only eight per cent of our eo i the debt shad remain aac and ogy nabendi tax of one pe robable wealth of the year 1900 Will pay our entire national debt, while it now requires one per cent for of @ single I. Hence it is clear of our debt diminishes in wealth tn this coun iH TT ah 2 3 Pt zuF i i ciple. A Hy the re. 7 in afew frie mating the u of the ‘ork Central, Pennaylvania and jroads will give §197,000,000 per annum. it, tO illustrate his proposition, he wi hat for ninety er Pn ee carniuge Would ba, ah Miliion dollars per enna f SS tax of (wo per cent woul 80 a ual sinking fund of two milion dollars, if invested every year for ninety years at / cent, compound loverest, would ‘at the end Mi ually to ie pt of United States Reorder our pet come interest It would ra, if the (ntereat accruing on all bond: purebased be reinvested tm bonds at the same ra! reduce the taxation of the to the t and at the same Mine pra uid im yimoty years pay om SPDROH BY MR. CARY, OF OTtO. Mr. Cany delivered @ speech inne the vlow of tho workingmen whom he had the honor bo repre t. In the Course of his remarks he sald: Logie 142,000,000 per ana Ms Sinking fund Wet entire debt. n Waa too much in the Interest Of Capiial Wh» |? wed improper advantages over Uo tothe asses, the eatabiishment of monopolies, tic givit of apecial privileges and banking syst priate labor without equivalent, ani the ns, AO pT had brought the King classes to view their j condition, and they were learuing that baliot ve are stronger than ariuios, ADIOURN MENT. The committee ruse aud thy Aguse adjourae de