The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-16 00:00:00

CONGRESS.

THE SENATE.

On the 17th Feb. the bill for a site for a new
Executive Mansion, Mr. Sumner's bill striking out
the word " white" from the naturalization law, and
the credentials of 11. V. M. Miller, Senator elect
from Georgia, were reported adversely. The Ju-
diciary Committee also reported their opinion
that the President's last Amnesty Proclamation was
illegal. A substitute for the Supreme Court Judge
Bills was reported from the same committee by Mr.
Trumbull. It provides'for the continuance of his
full salary for life to a Supreme Judge who shall
resign at the age of seventy years. The House
message asking a conference on the suffrage amend-
ment was taken up, and the Senate receded from
its amendments to the proposition. On a motio❑
to concur in the House proposition, the yeas were
31 and the nays 27, so the motion failed for want
of the necessary two-thirds. On the motion of Mr.
Stewart, the amendment of the senate Judiciary
Committee was then considered and paned—yeas 35,
nays 11.—On the 18th, bills were reported to en-
courage the building of steamships, and to establish
an American line of steamships to Europe, and re-
lating to captures by Admiral Farragut's fleet in the
passage to New Orleans. The Virginia Election
Bill was reported with amendments. Adverse re-
ports were made on the bill to create a Department
of House Affairs, proposing an Electoral College
Tribunal, and extending the time of commence-
ment for certai❑ suits in the Court of Claims. Mr.
Thayer introduced a bill requiring the planting of
trees o❑ the homestead settlements. The resolution
to pay Senators from the Reconstruction States for
the full term of the Fortieth Congress was discussed.
The Indian Appropriation Bill was considered.
The credentials of Allen G. Thurman, Sena-
tor elect from Ohio, was presented. The house
Funding Bill was agreed to in evening session.—
On the 19th Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to repeal
the Act fixing the head-quarters of the General of
the Army at Washington, and requiring orders of
the President and Secretary of War to be issued
through him. The bill in relation to prize money
for Admiral Farragut's fleet and the men of the
Kearsarge was passed. The Indian Appropriatiol.
Bill was passed, an amendment transferring the
India Bureau to the War Department having bee:,
rejected. The Tenure-of-Office B:11 was taken up,
but the Senate adjourned without acting upon it.

—On the 20th Feb. the credentials of Senator
elect Casserly, of California, were presented. The
bill repealing the Tenure-of-Office Act was dis-
cussed. The total repeal of the Act was advo-
cated by Senators Doolittle, Dixon, Morton and
Robertson, while is modification only was urged
by Senators Conkling, Howe, and Sawyer. On the
22(1 the United States Senate took a recess until
evening to allow of a caucus of the Republican Sena-
tors, in relation to the Tenure-of-Office Act. On
reassembling at 7 p.m. the bill abolishing the office
of Superintendent of Exports was passed. The
Supplementary Banking Bill, which provides for a
re-distribution of the currency, was considered, the
House amendments rejected, and a conference
asked. The Suffrage Amendment, as passed by the
Houseovas considered, hut not acted upon.—On the
23d the Suffrage Amendment was taken up, and Mr.
Stewart moved to disagree and ask a committee of
conference with the House. Mr. Davis moved to
pestpoue all business in order, and consider the
bill respecting the Tenure-of-Office Act. Mr.
Davis's motion was lost—the yeas being 14, and the
nays 36. Mr. Stewart's motion was then car- •
ried by a vote of 32 to 23, aed a committee
of conference was appointed. The bill to
supply deficiencies in approi:riatiou for In-
dian trea'i(s was passed. Mr. Trumbuli's bill
10 amend the judi.Aal system was also passed. It
provides for nine independent Circuit Judges to do
the business of the circuits now done by the
Supreme Judges, at an annual salary of $5,000
each. The bill to punish office hold;ng in violation
of the Fourteenth Article was discussed. The
Amendatory Civil Rights Bill was passe t. The
ill reorganizing the Supreme Court was considered.
Various bills were passed in evening session, in-
cluding cne giving consent to the erection of a
bridge across the Delaware, at Philadelphia.—Ou
the 24th the Judiciary Committee reported the
Georgia Bill and the bill to abolsh peonage. The
veto of the Copper Bill was read, and the bill passed
over it by a vote of 37 to 12. Messrs. Fessenden,
Ferry, Grirm s, Trumbull, t=rnner, and Van Wink le
were among those voting no. 'J, he bill to provide
a provisional government for Mississipii was re-
ported. The Army Appropriation Bill was con-
sidered. Ihe bill repea!ing the law requiring the
General of the Army to temain in Washington, and
that all orders to the army b. issuud through him,
was passed ; also the joint resolution dropping irom
the army roll certain officers absent three months
without leave.— On the 25th a bill was reporter pro-
viding for a board to consider the question of pre-
venting obstructions of the harbours of the United
States. The bill exempting manufacturers of naval
machinery from tax was passed. The Army Ap-
propriation Bill was consul red. The Suffrage
Amendment was made the order for to-day.