Call of the States and Territories for Bills, &^c.

After which various bills were passed.

Dr. Mary Parsons sounded Elizabeth’s lungs this morning. She is an old friend whose acquaintance we made in 1876. She found one spot (the upper part of the left lung) a little rough; but the heart was weak and its action fluttering.

Met with the Com. on Territories this morning <and we> transacted considerable business.

The House resumed work on the Rules.

Had a severe attack of bowel complaint last night, and still continues. Wrote a note to Mr. Ainslie to stand guard for me at the House, that is, to watch that nothing was introduced against Utah that his objection would prevent. Kept in my rooms all day.

This evening we stopped boarding at the Riggs House. The children were tired of eating away from their mother.

Went to the House this morning, but felt so badly that I returned to my rooms

Went as far as the Office of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, but felt unable to go to the House and returned to my rooms.

In my rooms all day. The House was not in session. Wrote to Bro. John Nicholson, Liverpool; also to Cousin Alice Christina Kidd; also to Mrs. Welch of London, whose brother was the last husband of my Aunt Eleanor.

Reading principally. Attended to the Sacrament.

Met with the Delegates.

The day was principally consumed in the call of the States and Territories.

The new rules went into operation to-day.

Wrote to John Q. and Abraham, my sons.

Met with Com. on Ter.; various items of business attended to.

After morning hour, the House took up the Bill to prevent officials being assessed for political purposes.

Snowing to-day.

At the Treasury and the Agricultural Dep’t. After the morning hour resumed the discussion of the non-assessment Bill.

Had an evening session to hear reports of from the Invalid Pensions Com.

At the Land Dep’t. After morning hour resumed the consideration of the political assessment bill – the day was fillibustered away.

At the P. O. Dep’t.

The morning hour and the business of the day (Private Bills) were set aside by vote for the Deficiency Appropriation bill. Snowing and wintry.

A stormy night; still snowing at intervals.

At the P. O. Dep’t. on business.

Reading. Attended to the sacrament.

Met with the Delegates. In the House the States and Territories were called for bills and joint resolutions; after which motions were made to suspend the rules.

My son wrote to me that my horse Warpanna, a valuable stallion, had died suddenly.

Met with the Com. on Territories. The House set aside the morning hour and discussed the Deficiency appropriation Bill.

Wrote to Pres. Taylor respecting a Bill which had been forwarded to me for the selection of Grand & Petit Juries for the 1st Judicial District of Utah.

Resumed the discussion of the Deficiency Bill.

Received the following dispatch from my son John Q. announcing his marriage to Annie Wells, daughter of Bro. Dan^l H. Wells and Sister Emmeline B. Wells:

The deed was done at twelve noon. Everything is lovely. Good wishes are numerous and acceptable. Have we yours?

To which we replied:

We join in warmest congratulations to Annie and yourself. We rejoice exceedingly, our only drawback being we are not with you.

Called at Indian Dep’t. with Col. Downey of Wyoming and had an interview with Hon. Rowland E. Trowbridge of Mich., the new Commissioner. He knew Bishop Hoagland very well. His Father and the Bishop were deacons in the same church, before the Bishop joined the Latter-day Saints.

Found the card of Bro. S. P. Teasdel and daughter on my desk at the House. They are at Willards. Sent a dispatch to Bro. Cummings to call upon them.

Engaged upon the Deficiency Bill all day.

Called at Willards and saw Bro. T. and daughter; and again after dinner and she returned with us to our rooms and seen Sis. Cannon

Arranged with Bro. Cummings to go around and visit places of interest with Bro. T. and daughter.

To-day was the most exciting day for political discussion we have had in Congress during this session.

Bro. Cummings and myself and daughter Mary Alice went with Bro. Teasdel and daughter to Ford’s Opera House to see the spectacular play of “Enchantment.” It was very grand and in many respects interesting; but in the ballet too great a display of legs to be what I think is proper for the stage.

Went through Treasury Bureau where greenbacks are manufactured, in company with Bro. Teasdell and daughter and Bro. Cummings. Afterwards went to Soldiers’ Home with them and Sister Cannon in a carriage. The weather was fine for March.

Reading, &^c. Attended to the Sacrament. Accompanied Sister Cannon in a carriage ride.

Met with the Delegates.

Call of States and Territories

The House then took up the Consular and Diplomatic Bill. Wrote to Pres. Taylor stating the condition of affairs here and saying that the two last April Conferences I have left here to attend on my own responsibility, but that this time I did not feel to do this. I would like to be there; but I should not leave here unless he and the Council thought it best for me to do so to be at the Conference.

Wrote my son John Q. a letter on business.

Met with the Com. on Ter.

House did no business to-day except discuss the action of Townshend of Ill. in referring a Bill to the Com. on Revision of the Laws which should have been referred to the Com. on Ways and Means. The discussion at times was a hot one.

The day was spent in fillibustering, and the House remained in session until 12.15 on Thursday morning. I remained in the Hall until the last roll was called.

There was much boisterous fun over the arrest of the Members by the Serjeant-at-Arms and the bringing of them up before the bar of the House to make excuses for their absence.

The entire proceedings of yesterday and to-day are altogether unworthy of a deliberative body of barbarians, much more a body of enlightened statesmen, such as the Representatives of the American people profess to be. Wisdom and a sense of propriety seem to have fled.

The dead-lock was brought to a close to-day by a compromise. But it took the entire day to finish up the votes and get the cause of difficulty out of the way.

Went to the Agricultural Dep’t., also to the Smithsonian Institution.

House engaged in private bills.

After the morning hour the House discussed the Consular and Diplomatic Bill.

A very disagreeable day. Did not go out. Attended to Sacrament. Reading. Wrote a letter to my Aunt Eleanor at Liverpool.

I wrote home to Pres. Taylor giving him an account of the situation of affairs (see the letter dated the 22nd inst.) and stating how I felt also about going home to conference. The last two April Conferences I had attended on my own risk, feeling that I should do so. This time I did not feel to leave here on my own faith. If they felt clear about it I would return; but not without. Received a dispatch as follows: “Letter read. It is thought Washington proper place. Will write.”

At the Departments this morning. After call of States and Territories resumed discussion of Consular and Diplomatic Bill.

At the House.

Went to hear Mrs. Scott Siddons’ Readings in the evening in company with Bro. Cummings. They were very good.

At the Departments. Discussing the Star Service Deficiency Bill. Received dispatch from Gen. Tho^s L. Kane informing me that he would be at Willards in the evening. We spent the evening together at his room, excepting when he called to see Sister Cannon.