The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-17 00:00:00

CONGRESS.

SENATE.
On the 22d January the credentials of the Me3srs.
Bayard, Senators elect from Delaware, were pre-
sented. The Pacific Railroad Committee reported
a resolution declaring against the issue of Govern-
ment Bonds to any railroads not at present entitled
to them. Mr. Wilson offered a resolution to drop
from the army roll, officers absent without leave,
and Mr. Stewart offered a bill relative to the refin-
ing of the bullion at the Mint. Both were referred.
The bill for a railroad to 'Washington was con-
sidered, and a Conference report, authorising
notaries public, as well as bankrupt registers, to
take testimony in election cases, was concurred iu.
—Jan. 23.—0 n Saturday, Mr. Stewart's amend-
ment to the Constitution, relating to suffrage, was
taken up, and, on motion of its author, made the
special order for Thursday afternoon. The joint
resolution for the removal of officials under dis-
ability iu Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi, was
concurred in as passed by the House. Mr. Trum-
bull, from the Judiciary Committee, reported an
amendment to the Civil Rights Act. The Air Line
and Central Pacific Railroad Bills were discussed.
Mr. Hendricks then submitted a Constitutional
amendment requiring the ratification of future
amendments to be made by Legislatures, por-
tions of whose members shall have been
chosen at a general election after such amendments
have been proposed in Congress.--On the 25th
the credentials of Senator Ramsey, of Minnesota
walithco amendments.intriite were presented. Mr. Edmunds, from the Retrench-
ment Committee, reported the bill repealing the
Committee, presented
esen Mr.le d
Tenuret-.ofr-oOmffice the
jiciAct,ud
Stewh..
the credentill
ls of Senator elect Hill, of Georgia,
• +,hat be is not
with a resolution . entitled to his seat.
The Central Pacific ha.....road Bill came up in order,
and Mr. Sherman moved its 1,-2stponement, so that
his Funding Bill could be conside:fd• Mr. Sher-
man's motion was lost by a majority of .z2jne votes,
and the pending Railroad Bill was discussed until
adjournment.—On the 26th the credentials of
Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts, were presented.
Mr. Sherman offered a resolution, which was
adopted, providing for a joint Special Committee
at the next session to consider the civil service. Mr.
Grimes, of lowa, introduced a bill to reorganize the
Navy. The Central Pacific Railroad Bill was con-
sidered. On the 27th Mr. Chandler introduced a
bill to prevent collection of illegal imposts, Mr.
Henderson a bill to enable the Choctawas and
Chickasaws to become citizens,
and Mr. Morgan
one to designate the place of confinement of
offenders against the United States. The Naval
Appropriation bill was reported. Mr. Sherman's
financial bill was taken up, and Mr. Davis offered
a substitute. Mr. Sherman spoke in advocacy of
his bill. The subject was then postponed, and the
Central Pacific Railroad Bill considered. This bill
being put upon its passage was rejected by a vote
of 28 against 26. On the 28th the credentials of
John Scott, Senator elect from Pennsylvania,
were presented. The bill relating to the appoint-
ment of midshipmen from the Southern States was
passed. The proposed Constitutional amendment
allowing negroes to vote and hold office was
taken up, and the substitute of the Judiciary
Committee for the first section was adopted. Mr.
Buckalew moved an additional section, requiring
Presidential electors to be chosen by the people,
and authorizing Congress to prescribe the mode of
their selection. Mr. Davis, of Keutucky, offered an
amendment requiring all Constitutional amend-
ments to be submitted to a direct vote of the people.
Mr. Buckalew subsequently offered his amendment
as a separate measure, and it was referred. Mr.
Davis withdrew his proposition. The House Bill
restoring the Indian Bateau to the War Depart-
ment was reported, with a substitute creating a
Department of Indian Affairs.

THE CONVERSION OF CAST IRON GUNS.—TiIe
first batch of 61 rifled guns, converted on the Palliser
principle from smooth bore cast iron guns, has been re
ceived at Woolwich. The guns have all been proved by
the Royal Gun Factories, and 60 have been passed into
the service, one gun being rejected for defective manu-
facture. A second batch of 30 guns is on the road from
the Elswick Ordnance Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne. it is
stated that Government have decided to convert a consi-
derable number of cast iron gucs next year in the gun fac-
toriep at Woolwich.