Congressional Proceedings

A literal mad buil plunging about in tbe traditional china shop, Raya a Washington correspondent, could not bave created greater havoo than did Mr. lilaino ia the Señalo to-day. Hamlin tcok the floor with a written speech upon the life and virtnes of WiUiani King, the first Oovernor of Maino, whose statue was to be uaveiled in tho national memorial gallery. Immediately a calm Bettled upon tho Senate. Every Genator was in bis seat and tlio galleries were densely crowdcd. Hamlin's speech was a plain one, dweliing upon the lifo and virtues of filr. Kiug, and tho roaBons which prouipted Maiuo to select him as the most fitting representntive whose marble statue wua to adorn he memorial gallery oí tho nation. Wben Hamlin had finisbed Blaino aróse, and at once thoro was a general cominotion in tbe galleries, and tho tfuong of spectators bent their heads in all directions to catch a gliinpse of the orator. Blaino's speech was a masterpieco of elocution. It laFted over thirty miDutes. It was au anahtical review of Maine's groatest men, iind a sele'ction of William King aa the greatesU Ho spoke of the powers of leadership of this hero, and, in doiug o, placed liim aa foremoat iu the movement which fieparatod the district of-Maine from the comnionvtealth of MassachuKetts aud made it a aoparate State. In this connection he dwelt npon the circumstauces of this soparation, tokl of the ranc"r and hate ongendered between tho people of tbe two sections, and which, to somo exteut, still existí!, and how Maine wasuimblo'to bear the tyranuieal dominatiou of Massachusotts. He spoke with great warmth, and was very severe on Massachusettn people. He even referred to the part which Ma8sachuetts had taken in the war of 1812, and gave it somo pretty hard rap.-j, several times making lidiculous compan.ions, and produciug general langhter at tho expenee of Massachusetts. All throiighrmt his Bpeech a whisper might have been heard in tbe Sonate, and, when he ended, the Senatc sat motionless as Yice PrcBident Wheolcr was about to put tbe question upon tho adoption of appropriata resolutions. The uccue waa at tha point suddenly changed by the rising of Senator Dawi's, ol Massacnusctta. He eaid that he did uot depre to interfere nith the formal arrangements of the occasion by prefmming to mako a speech when it was only inteuded that the two Senators from Maiiie shouid speak, but ho feit that he could not ailow the occasion to pass without some remarks from him. Thon he oven outdid Blaino's want of decency by indulging in a most partiaan attack upon the pcopleof Maine, a defense of Massachusetts, and a bitter charge npon Blaino for haviug draííged from tho aslies of the past eventa which tne respcctable element of Massachueetts had long repudiated. Aficr came Hoar. Hiaspeech was very severo upon Blaini. Indeed, Hoar's maiu forte is hU vcnomous tongue, aud when he wishes he can turn himsef into a bug of tho bitterett gall. He grew very oxcited as he addressed himself almoat exclusivelv to BLiir.o, and walking in tho direction of the Jatter, with flaflhing eyes, compressed lips, and hJB fln;;er shakhig at tho rate of forty motions to the Becond, he tol.l Blaine that if tbere was a heart that cherished guch centiments as ho had todfty exjatgsed that hoart did not beat in Massachusetts. Ho defended bis peoplo and defended thoir valor and patriotiam m tbo war of 1812, saying tbat tho only naval batllo that had occurred olï the coast of Maine was victoriou-ly won by a Boston crew. At this point B'aiue, with nervous txcitement, shontcd out, "No, Bir ! that was a Portland crew." This eudduu outburst was the occasion of laughter aud applaupe, dnring which Hoar's voico was complotely drowned. Ho went on, however, aud said that Blaine'a attempt at ridicule of nis State was done only for the purpose of in gratiating himeelf with a certain eiass of Senators upon the floor who may not feel ovcrkiudiy to Maasachusetts. Ho "even went furthcr, aud charged that Blaino's gricvance against Massachusetts was Uie outgrowth. not ! of the war of 1812. but of moro recent evènts. ■ By tiuH he referred to tbc failure of Blaine to secare tho votos of the Massaclmselts delegation in the Cincinnati Conventioc, and I body underutood it. Subfequently Dawes spoke again, ainl mado the same point, only with greater force. Blaiue qiuetly replied tö Hoar that ho had uo desire to enter into a controversy upon tbo snbject on thia occasion, bat wt-ut on to criticise Massachus&tts' courso fn the war of 1812. Dawea undortook to get in a littlo moro ; abuse of Blaine, when the latier, na if unabla to reKtrain hinifelf, arosO vel} excitcdly, and, addnnsing biuiseif to both bia antagonistu, asked if the Soiatois from Jlassaohusetts could ptand thero to day and say that their Stato ht.d not bristled with acts of cowardioe tbat bordeied nigh upou treason. "Certainiy," taid ! ho, "such acts of bravery as are re'couated ! here to-day would have been beller if done iu I war." IJawos tried to interrupt Blaine here to nay somothing about the promptr-esH ol sachurctts BOldiers to respond to the cali to arms, but Bïainc langbed to derision this siatemr'it, and, walking upanddown in tho groatest excilcment imaginablo, said that it was not truc, but tbat Muino voJnntcors haI first rroHsed the line. Hoar took auothur hand .: 'I mado a personal onslaught upon Jüniiii', ch&rglng prostltnöon of liit: offico as Spoaker ol tin Hou ie toacoompliahpartyends, whon Blainu BUddenly iuternip!ed him and aokedhiin wbat bc; moant. "'Imcaa," siid Hoar, "ÜW Ku-Klux legislaUou of 1871." Blaine retoited that whatover were his acts theu, Hoar, who waa thon a member of tho House, was always hia clofost adviser. Blaino theu lii-cdanotber lpnA-range voUey of canister at bis adversarios, nud ct;i)ucially at Ho&r. Ho repudiated tho charge that ho (Blaine) was i tn ing to ingratiato hunself witb the Bouthern W':3:ators, and aid the remark carne with bad ! taste fronj Hoar, who wan on oí thOHO iou.8 for roconciliation and was villing to embracé evcry wayward brotuor in the land. Thia disregard of dignity and personal and political abuKO of ench other cnntinned for 8omo time. Several timen diiring this uccne tho gallories became vcry noiey, and loud applauso camo forth unrebulud by tho chair. Regular FroceedinuM. Tuicsday, Jan. 22. - Senate. - Mr. Morrill, fiüiu tho ?inance Cammitteo, rcportcd a bil) to rorait taxfw on insolvent t-avings banlifl... A few unimpi n-t;irit bilis werc introdwced The ?tatue of WilHaui King, opee tiovenior of Maiue, contributed by tbat State to the National Statuary Hal], was aceepted, af ter a harp debato botween Mesura. Blaine, Hoar and D;uvph. Houke. - Mr. WUlis, of New York, from tho Coin mittco on Naval AffairH, reported a bilí authorizing Ilear Admiral John J. Almy to rcooivo a decoration from the King of tho Hawaiian Islandp. PasBod... The IIouso epent a considerable portion of the day in conBidcring a bilí to amend the existing laws concorning commerco and navigatum. ...The joint rrsolution accepting the fctatue of WilHaiu King was p&ssed. Wedwesday, Jan. 23. - Senate. - Mr. Blaine introduced a bill to coin a filver dollar of so many graiuH as the Director of the Mint shall from time to time prepcribe, to be a logal-tendcr in coinmon with gold coin up to and iucludüig $5, and for all buidb exceeding $5 the dpbtor BhaÜ have the right to tender, and tho creditor to domand, one-half of the amount in gold coiu and onehalf in eiher coin Mr. Ferry inlroduced a bilí to regúlate the compensaron of Poittmasters and for other purposes. Referred. It provides, &a its main feature, that the conipensation for fourthclass PopttuosterH nhall bo bascd upon tho etanips canceled in their offices instead of Btampe sold The Senate then resamod consideraron of unftnifjhed butiiuesa - the rosolution of Mr. Matthews to pay the interest and principal of bonds in nilver - and Mr. Cockrell continucd hiB rcmarkB in favor of the resolution. Mr. Kandolph epoko in opposition to the reeolutlon, and in favor of goltt as the single standard of value. Hot:bk. - The proccedings in tho House were excocdinííly tame, the greater porti on of the day's session bcing devoted to the coneideration of the Steaiuboat bill. Thubsday, Jan. 24. - Senate. - Messro. Howe and Camerou, of Wiuconsin, presentod rceolntiöns from the Milwaukeo Chamberof Commerce In favor of extending the time for complet ing the Northern Pacific raüroad on cerüiin conditions. Iteferred. . .At tho expiration of the morning hour, tbc Senate renumed consideratiou of the resolution of Mr. Matthews to pay the interest and principal of bonds in Rilvcr, and Mr. Lamar epoke in regard thereto. Ho oppoaed tho remonetization of silver, and advocated the singlo gold btandard. Hovse. - The House sprnt another day in discueeinp the Steamboat bilt. Friday, Jan. 25. - Senate. - A nnmbf r of petitiona and memorials, most of them reïatinff to the tariff and rcetoration cf eilver to the currcocy, A-ere presented and referred The bill to remit taxea on insolvent savingtt banke was briefly ubcuBBed.. Conelderation was resiimed of the renolution of Mr. Matthews. declaring the right of the Government to pay ita bon ds in siiver. The amendment of Mr, Conkling, makiüft tho rfsolutíon a joint iuetead of a concurran t one, was rejected - yeas, 23 ; nays, 39. Mr. Edmunds then spoke in oppoïtion to the resolution of Mr. Matthews, and favored the auiendmont offered by hJmself. The amciidmcnt was dofeated- yens, 18; nays, 4i. The question then recurred on the amendment of Mr. Morrill submitted on the lbth inst., to the effect that it would be detrimental to the economical interrsts of the Government a;ul people to pay the Ixmds m sil ver. Rejectêd - ycaa, 14; nays, 41. Mr. Edmunds moved to indeflnitely pOBtpono iurther connideration of the Matthews rcaolution. Bejcctcd - ycaa, 22 ; nays, 43. The resolution of Mr. Matthcws was then agreed to hy a vote of 43 yeas to 22 nays, aB follows : Yeas- AHison, Armstrong. Hailey, Beek, Booth, Brnco, Camcron of Pounaj lvania, Cameron of Wisconsin, Chaffee, Coke, Oonover, Davis of Illinois, Davis of Weat Virginia, Deniiin, Dorf-ey, Enstis, Ferry, Gordon, Grover Hereford, Howe, Johnston, Jones of Florida, Jones of Nevada, Kirkwood, McOreerj', Mcponald, McMillaii, Miittliews, Maxey, Merrlmon. Morgan, Oglaeby, Plumb, ]:;iuRom, Haulsïjury, HauiHler, Spencer, Teller, Tlnirnmn, Voorhces, Wallftee, AVither- 43. NapS- Anthony, lïarnum, Bayard, U'jnno, Burnside, Christiancy, Coulding, Dawes, Katon, Ëdmiuids, Hamlin, Kernan, Lamar, McPherflon. Mitchell, Morrill, Paddoek, Kandolph. Roïlins, Bargent. Wattleigh and Windom- 22. House. - The House paoscd the Steamboat bill by a vote of 173 to 80. ...Mr, Cannon, of Illinois, intredueed a resolntion requestlng the Postmaster General to tnrnlBb the House with &uch Information as ho may have in rolation to the ocean mail Bteaznship eervice of foreign countrics. Adopted. Mr. Tipton, of Illinois, introduced a resolution directing the Committee on Postónicos to report wliat lrgislation is neeessary to enforce tho provïionfi of sfction 4,257 of thelieviscd Statutes relatin to postal te'ograpli. lïeferred. . .Mr. Knott,of tho Jndiciary OonuniUee, made a report on tho eubject of tin: arrest and iiupriBomnent óf Ilobert SiuallB, ttcniber from South Carolina, to the effect that there was in that nobrr-achof privilege of theHoutse. Ordercd printed The Houfo lndulged in a long and animated debate on the bfil extending the time for the withdrawal of whisky in hond until the end of the fiscal year. SATUKDAwJiau. 26.- Senate.- Notiu soBSion. Hoube.- Tho Houso met for general debate ouly. 3Ir. Darham thtu made a speech in favor of the re .nonet] zation of sil ver and íhe rnpeal of the BesnmpÜon act. In the eoursn of bis speech, Mr. Durbaui baid he would vote for the Matthowfl BÜvtr repolution, and for any bill which would propose a reduction of the tariff. He would also lend lus aid in repeiling tho r.ankrupt law. Mr. Bright aleo 8p-ko in favor of the romonotization of PilVer, aiid callod attention to tüe fact tbat he was the flest persou wlio, in 1875, had brought that queetion before CongroB. fr. 1 1 ring favored a return to the don ble nt&ndarri of Tune, Mr. Hmapfarey Kpok'? In the same struin, and denied that there wae a porjUcto of rpicí) of r.-pudiatfon in the West. Mr. 'lijiiun Btrfd thoAebple were demanding the iiumcdiate jasbaRe of the UenmnetiKation bill and the Rcpcal bill, and If th.t were not done the West would eend to tho jbortysixth Congreps men who would not bc satisüed with the pasBuae of Ihose bilis, but who would also repoal the National Banking law. Müxday, Jan. 28.- Skxate.- A great pert of the morning hour was cwcupied in lUe preteutation Of petitinns reiuonfltratmg frgaiOBt a rerluction of ("Ti;un tariíT latios and the restoration oí the tax o:i rr-a and coiTee, etc, ail of which were refured. Mr. Voorheen presentod the petitiou of 1,200 cilizeus of Albany, N. Y., iu favor ot the rcDïoueti.:ilKn of zilver and the repeal of tlie Spccic-K'SMii.píií'n act. Iïefr rrcd... . Bills werft introducid and reiowl uk followa : By Mr. Plumb, provldÜng for he di-po&iüon of public timbar and dsabei landfl of the United Statet ; also a bill to auiend the Army Appropriation bill for the fiscal year ediug .Tune 30, 1876, in regard to compenpation to raiiroads for Government trannportution . . . Mr. Ingatls iniruduced a bill to reimburse the States of Kannaa, Texas, Ncbraska and Colorado for exix-nses incurrid by aaid Stads in ru pc Hing invasions and suppreFPion of rnddn Imsii'lties. Roferred.... The House b'l! to remotfl the oTWtrnctionj from the lippi, Miss urij Arkaneas and Red ri vers was taken up and paeaed aftèr, a Jrief dicuafion At the expiratiou oí tho moruim: hour tho Bland Silver bill was called up for consideratiou, and Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, spoke ín oppesition to the measure. House,- A great ïnmber of bilis of minor impertance were introduced and referred, To prevent the considerador? of Mr. Matihews' silver resolution the reading of every bill was domamled by the anti-Bilvcritcö. The Biaithewa roeolutfon was finally reached, howevrr, and was paesed without debate by more tban a tw.)-thirde vote - 187 yeaa to 79 nays....The House by more than two-thirdu pahSfd a rcHi lutiou, introduced by Mr. Baker, of Ehdiana, diciariug agaiust the granting of any Bubsidies.