The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-12 00:00:00

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Dec. 11.—Resolutionswere offered by Mr. Gentry,
looking to the abolition of the present system of tax
collectors, and the apportionment of the internal tax
among the States ; and by Mr. Cox, urging inter-
vention on behalf of American citizens held as poli-
tical prisoners by the British Government. Both
were referred. Various memorials and bills were
introduced. Among the bills was one to provide
for meteorological observation at the military sta-
tions in the interior of the continent, with a view of
lessening marine disasters on the Northern Lakes,
by timely notice of approaching storms. Mr. Ward
obtained leave to have printed and recommitted a
bill pending in the Reconstruction Committee, im-
posing, as a fundamental condition to the admis-
sion of Virginia, that she shall never deprive ne-
groes of the right to vote, sit on juries, or enjoy
equal privileges in the schools. A message from
the President was received, announcing that he had
signed the bill to remove political disabilities from
a large number of persons. The Census Bill was
considered. After eulogies of the late Senator Fes-
senden, the House adjourned.
Dec. 15—Mr. Jones, of Kentucky, offered a re-
solution authorising the President to detail war
vessels to receive the fleet conveying the remains
of George Peabody, and make other preparations
for the reception of the body. Bills were intro-
duced by Mr. Prosser to provide for specie pay-
ments, and Mr. Dyer to increase the tax on Na-
tional banks. On motion of Mr. Hay, tho Mining
Committee were directed to investigate the Avon-
dale Mine disaster, and report a bill to prevent such
occurrences, and also to consider the propriety of
the creation by the [louse of a new Committee, to
be called of • Public Safety," to investigate all
accidents fatal to or ehdangering human life. The
Census Bill was condiered in Corumitte, of the

W hole and reported to the House, which adjourned
pending its consideration.
Dec. 16.—Bills were introduced by Mr Judd and
Mr. Allison to apportion Representatives for the
Forty-second Congress ; by Mr: Schenck to esta-
blish a Bureau of Customs Revenue ; by Mr. Scott
to amend the law in relation to the assessment and
collection of revenue ; by Mr. Stone to repeal the
ten per cent. tax on State bonds. On motion
the Judiciary Committee were directed to inquire
if hOslation is necessary to decide any election con-
test that may arise in the Electoral College. A
letter was presented from the Secretary of the Navy,
asking authority to enlist 1,500 men for the Navy,
iu addition to the 8,500 now allowed by law. Ihe
remaining amendments to the Census Bill were
disposed of, and the bill passed and was sent to the
Senate. A message was received from the Presi-
dent, stating in reply to a resolution of the House,

that it is not deemed d advisable to furnish the corres-
pondence with our illinister to Spain in relation to
Cuba. The House went into Committee of the

Whole, and Mr. Mungen of Ohio read a speech ad-
vocating the repudiation of the national debt.
When he had concluded, lie was replied to and his
position denounced, by Messrs. Brooks, Cox, and
Slocum of N ewYork, Randall and Woodward of Pen-
sylvania, and Kerr of Indiana, who declared that for
themselves and the Democratic party of the country
they utterly disclaimed and opposed repudiation in
any form. Their remarks were liatencd to with
great interest by the Republican members, and Mr.
Garfield moved that the Committee report to the
House a resolution, declaring the House, without
distinction of party, condemned all proposition,
direct or indirect, to repudiate any portion of the
debt of the United States. The resolution was re-
ported to the House, when Mr. Jones, of Kentucky,
moved to lay it upon the table. On this motion the
only affirmative vote was Mr. Jones, and the reso-
lution was adopted by 123 yeas to 1 nay, Mr. Jones
being the negative.—Adjourned to the 20th.
Dec. 20.—A memorial was presented from the
Tennessee Senators and Representatives, asking
Congress to interpose " for the relief of the loyal
citizens of that State." A number of bills were
introduced, among them one for a free banking sys-
tem, and others to suspend the operation of the Pub-
lic Credit Act of March 18 last, abolishing frank-
ing, to regulate labour contracts with immigrants,
and regulate the taking of bail in civil and crimi-
nal cases. Mr. Cox offered a resolution declaring
for early resumption of specie payments, which
was referred. On motion of Mr. Woodward, the
President was asked informal ion in regard to citizens
in military custody. On motion of Mr. Poland, the
Coinmittee on Revision of LAWS was itistruct ed to con-
sider the expediency of providing that bankruptcy
proceedings pending in one district may be trans-
ferred to another. Mr. Butler having stated that
the Reconstruction Committee had postponed the
consideration of the Virginia resolution until after
the recess, Mr. Farnsworth moved to suspend the
rules that he might introduce a resolution for the
admission of Virginia. The House, by a vote of
105 against 63, refused to suspend the rules. Se-
veral Republicans, among them Bingham, Farns-
worth, and Poland, voted for suspension. The
Georgia Bill, as passed by the Semite, was taken
up and discussed, the debate being continued at a
night session, until 11.30 p.m., when the House
adjourned.
Dec. 21.—Debate on the Georgia Bill was con-
tinued, and it was opposed by Mr. Bingham (Re-
publican) of Ohio, who said it conflicted with the
past reconstruction legislation of Congress ; with
the order of the President, when he was General of
the army in 1868, and acting under the Recon-
struction law in relation to Georgia ; and with the
opinion of the Attorney-General in reference to
Virginia under the Reconstruction Acts. lie moved
to postpone the bill until the third Wednesday in
January. Mr. Farnsworth, of Illinois, also op-
posed the bill. Mr. Butler closed the debate in
advocacy of the measure, and the bill was passed
—yeas 121, nays 51. Messrs. Bingham and Farns-
worth voted with the Democrats against the bill.
The Senate bill suspending the operations of exist-
ing census laws until February 1 was concurred in.
On motion of Mr. Niblack, a joint resolution was
adopted extending the recess until January 10.
The House at 5 p.m. adjourned, with the under-
standing that next day's session should be for de-
bate only.
Dec. 22.—Some bills were presented, and speeches
were made by several of the members, the time
,eing mainly occupied in speech-making. Mr. Ste-
venson introduced a bill repealing the clause of the
Internal Revenue Laws which allows passenger rail-
way and gas companies to charge passengers and
consumers with the amount of Government tax.
Adjourned for the Christmas holidays.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET.-(THIS DAY)

Sales probably 10,000 bales.

The market wag

quiet.