The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEB RUARY 1, 1868.

FENIAN ARRESTS A 7 IMP7FORD.

ferred to on the last examination, and which con-
tained the paper upon which certain verses were
written, which we have already published.]
Cross-examined—I was a chorister of Ely Cathe-
dral before I joined the police, and have been
in the force since 1861, and most of that time
I have been engaged as a detective in plain clothes.
I first began to watch Lyttleton on the 22d of
December. I was about four or five yards from
Lyttleton when I heard the observations I have
stated between Lyttleton and the other man about
his being a Fenian. When the men separated out-
side the Rodney public-house, they appeared to kiss
each other. You, sir, may call it " fraternal greet.
ing," but 1 can only say some of the men kissed,
each other—(laughter)—and did a great quantity,-
of shaking of hands. (Laughter.) The in' mi
when I was watching behind the bricks, to ;eked
about Government, but it was not until
they had talked about blowing up some-
thing or somebody. I know they said a
monarchy would never do, a republic was what
was wanted, and that they were determined to have
it. I did not hear the word " democracy." I know
the meaning of the word monarchy. I :first heard
of the word at school. (Laughter.) I received
my direction to watch the prisoners Lyttleton from
my superior officer, but I had been watching
M'Carthy long before that. Boutell is now stop-
ping at my house under my protection. I first saw
Boutell, my relative, in Lyttleton's company on the
10th of January, and I was very much surprised.
When he told me what he and Lyttleton had been
talking about, I told him I had been w atchingLyttle-
ton for some time as a suspected person, and I last
saw Lyttleton on the Saturday previous to my ap-
prehending him on the following Monday morning.
I had some conversation with Boutell abriut what
had taken place on the Sunday night, and it was
after Boutell had been at the police station I re-
ceived orders to apprehend Lyttleton from Inspec-
tor Griffin. I went on duty before I apprehended
Lyttleton.
Mr. Willis--What do you mean bfduty—Ty-
ing ?
Witness—Police duty.
Mr. Wontner—Such an observation is scanda-
lous, and ought not to be made use of by a profes-
sional man. I cannot allow it to pass.
Mr. Willes (very excitedly)—But I will. It is
an English word, and I have a right to use it.
Mr. Wontner —Oh, you may disgrace yourself if
you please.
The witness then went on to detail various other
circumstances connected with the apprehension of
Lyttleton.
The case was then again remanded for a week.

GREENWICH POLICE-COURT.
The following appeared in our Latest Edition of yesterday
evening:—
James Richardson, Florence M'Carthy, and
Maurice Lyttleton, were placed before Mr. Maude
for further examination at the above police-court,
charged with treason-felony.
The men were charged with attempting to ad-
minister the Fenian oath to a young man named
James Bendall, an American, with the view of in-
ducing him to commit treason-felony.
Mr. Wontner, jun., appeared on the part of the
Crown for the prosecution, and Mr. Pulling de-
fended M'Carthy and Richardson.
Mr. Wontner said he proposed to press for com-
mittal of the prisoners, unchr the 52d Geo. 3, c.
104, which made every person convicted of admi-
nistering an oath binding any person to commit
treason or murder shall be held guilty of felony,
and suffer death, without benefit of clergy, and
any person who should take that oath, not being
compelled, should be adjudged guilty of treason,
and be transported for life, or for any such term of
years as the court should adjudge.
Same discussion then took place between the legal
gentlemen attending for the prisoners, but Mr.
Maude said it would be better to proceed with
evidence.
The following-witnesses were then examined :
James Mitchell, potman at the William IV., said
he was acquainted with the prisoner M'Carthy for
the last ten years whilst he was working at the
docks. He had known Lyttleton for about two
months. On Sunday week he saw some men in
the passage, and they afterwards went into the
parlour, but did not see who they were. A
short time after the bell was rung, and
on his going into the parlour he saw
Lyttleton, the other two prisoners, and some
other persons whom he did not see in court. Bou-
tell and O'Leary were there. They ordered some
beer, and then O'Leary came out and told Lyttleton
to go in as he was wanted. He made a mistake
when he said Lyttleton was alre'aly in the room.
He (Lyttleton) went into the parlour, and then
the door was locked. Six persons were then in
the mom. About four minutes after he went to the
door of the room and told the people they must
leave the house. Some one inside said they should
not be three minutes before they were out. He did
not see any person leave, but he went to the back
gate to let the people out of the house. Lyttleton
came out first; three others were behind him—
viz., M'Carthy, O'Leary, and Boutell. They left the
house just as the church bells were going. A
very few minutes afterwards he saw Boutell in
custody, as he expected. ne of the men took
hold of his collar and went iOn the direction of the
station-house.
Mr. Willes, for M'Carthy, said if the magistrate
would say whether he intended to dispose of the
case, instead of sending it for trial, he shou
exa-
ld
know how to act with respect to his cross-

CONGRESS.

- -41. --------".

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.—The memorial of the
National Convention of Massachusetts was referred
to Finance Committee. A Bill to amend the Judi-
ciary Act of 1789 was read twice, and Mr. Sher-
man's bill on the coinage of gold and silver was
referred to Committee on Finance. Mr. Johnson

mination.
Mr. Maude said he could give no answer to such
an inquiry. He (Nlr. Wines) knew quite as much
about the case as he did.
Mr.lVille.s replied that under these circumstances
he should reserve his defence and refrain from cross
examining any of the witnesses.
Charles Shave, assistant bailiff at the Greenwich
County Court, said he knew M'Carthy, and also
that he was engaged at Deptford dockyard. In
September, 1865, the witness issued a judgment
summons against John M'Carthy.
Mr. Wontner was about to put certain questions
to the witness relative to expressions used by
M'Carthy on that occasion, when
Mr. Maude said he had no right to put questions
to raise a prejudice against the prisoner.
Mr. Wontner said the prisoner was in fact charged
with being a Fenian.
Mr. Willes objected to such a term being used,
the prisoners were not so charged. There was no
offence called Fenianism, so it could not be charged
against the prisoners.
Mr. Wontner—The prisoners were charged with
obtaining converts to the Fenian cause, and that
ug
h‘ollei
tu in
elreland.
had
a
set fbrth that the person taking the oath was bound
r
was
sai ahe
to further the objects of the Fenian Brotherhood,
which
asto
Maudetheoverthrowtiichhotßritishi
r.
v rule
right to put the question under certain restric-
ti•ms.

rose to a privilege question, and asked to take up
the resolution providing for the admission to his
seat in the Senate, of the Hon. Philip F. Thomas.
Mr. Johnson pointed out that the charge of con-
spiring with his successor, to depreciate the Go-
vernment credit, had, after investigation by the
committee, been proved to be without foundation.
He reviewed the circumstances of the loan nego-
tiated by Mr. Thomas while Secretary to the Trea-
sury, and those which led to his resignation, show-
ing the allegations to be untrue. Finally, he gave
a detailed account of the charge that Mr. Johnson's
son had entered the rebel army, showing that it was
opposed to his father's wish and in spite of his oppo-
sition, and that Mr. Thomas had advanced him $lOO
to guard the boy against starvation on the road. In
the course of the debate which followed Mr. Howe
contended that Maryland was a State in the Union
as much as New York, Massachusetts, or his own
State. Wisconsin. One of her rights was to be re-
presented on that floor by two Senators. The Con-
stitution prescribed their qnalifications, and if they
possessed these qualifications, they had the right to
-be admitted. Mr. Howard asked—Were the State
of Kentucky to elect Jefferson Davis to a seat,
would the Senate admit him? Mr. Thayer,
from Nebraska, exclaimed, " Not au impos-
sible case !" and Timothy 0: Howe, himself a
Republican, replied, "If the Legislature of Kentucky
were to send Jefferson Davis here, or John C.
Breckinridge, rankling as they have been in
treason for the last six years, he could not refuse to
admit them. They had no right to try before ad-
mittance. After admittance they might expel him
on a motion for treason. If they could try
thing before admission they could
for disloyalty, or even for mur-
ifhad no right to add to the Con-
stitutional requirements." Mr. Stewart supposed
Breckinridge to be elected by the Legislature of
Kentucky while acting as Confederate Secretary of
War, to which Mr Howe replied that in such a
case Mr. Breckinridge would have been hanged
before he got to the door of the Chamber. Mr.
Trumbull introduced a joint resolution appointing
Theodore Woolsey, of Connecticut, William A.
Astor, of New York, John McLane, of New
Jersey, and Peter Parker, of Washington, regents
n the Smithsonian Institute • to fill vacancies.—

Mr. Willes remarked that, as his objection had
been overruled, he was glad he should have the op-
portunity of raising it before another tribunal.
'l'h6 expression " Fenian " could only have been
used to prejudice the prisoners in the present ex-
cited state of the public mind. He thought two
years and nine months was rather too long a time
to make the prisoner responsible for opinions then

expressed.
After some further observations from Mr. Maude
Mr. Wontner said he would defer putting the ques-
tion until another opportunity.
Samuel Long said—l am a detective, and I have
known Lyttleton since the 22d December last. He
was pointed out to me, and I watched him oa that
occasion. Constable Yardley and Inspector
Ebbs were with me. I watched Lyttleton that
night from the Noah's Ark publichouse, and
three other men also, who are not now
present were with him. Two of the men that were
with Lyttleton advanced some few yards in front
of him. He (Lyttleton) then put his hand on one
of these men's shoulder and said, " You know
what you are, and what you've got to do." I will
not, however, swear that these were the exact words.
The man said " Yes, Maurice, I know now I am a
Fenian, and I will stand by you," or 'be with you,'
I don't know which. The two went down to the
Rodney publichouse and found the other two men
in whose company they had formerly been. They
then met another man, and then I crouched behind
some bricks in order to hear their conversation. I
distinctly heard Lyttleton sty, " It will not want
half of that ; that will blow it to the -- ; that
will blow it to shivereens." I think that was the

—After the introduction of a few resolu
tPioajsnsasen,d.. 71r.. Sumner sail, that on making inquiry at
the desk, he found that the bill for the further
security of equal rights in the district of Columbia
had been presented to the President on December
10, and, as it had not been returned, he now would
ask leave to introduce it again. The bill was read,
when Mr. Sherman said there were strong reasons
for believing that the action of the President had
and he thought the proper
course
thewould
c
not endangered this bill. In his opinion it was
n
the Secretary of State, whose duty it will then be to
promulgate it officially. He suggested that the
of theto land,eirty the facts of the case to
lawb e
subject be referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Sumner thought that perhaps it would be
better to have the opinion of the Judiciary Com-
mittee, and had no objection to the reference. Mr.
Johnson alluded to the law of New Hampshire as
being similar to the law of the United States, ex-
cept that three days only were allowel to the Exe-
cutive of that State to return a bill, and the
Supreme Court of New Hampshire ha i decided
that an adjournment was not an adjournment
in the sense in which it seems to have been
taken by the President. If that decision was
correct, then this bill was now the law of the
land. Mr. Sumner.--That might be, but unortu-
nately the President and Congress entertained such
different views that there seemed to be no choice
of reconcilement of opinion, and it was probably best
to have the whole matter considered by the com-
mittee. The bill was then referred to the Judiciary
Committee. On motion of Mr. Davis the Com-
mittee on Commerce was instructed to inquire into
the expediency of regulating the fares of the rail-
roads of the country, so as to make them uniform
and just, particularly in reference to connecting
,railroads in two or more States. The unfinished
.business, the bill exempting raw cotton from in-
ternal tax was taken up, the question being, on
the motion of Mr. Conkling, to postpone it until the
third Tuesday in February, and finally the amend-
ment of Mr. Conkling, exempting raw cotton from
tax during the year 1868 only, was agreed to by a
vote of 24 ayes to 21 nays. Mr. Drake offered an
amendment that nothing herein contained shall be
construed as preventing the levying again of the
tax after the year 1868. —Adopted. Mr. Morrill,
of Vermont, offerA an amendment suspending the
duty on imported raw cotton from April 1, 1868,
to April 1, 1869.—Adopte 1. The bill was then
passed, and now goes back to the house for con-
currencc.,, and the Senate adjourned.
Jan. S.—Mr. Trumbull reported in favour of the
indefinite postponement of the bill amending the
Bankrupt Act.—Agreed to. A resolution was
passed instructing the Committee of Finance to
inquire into the expediency of affixing a penalty
upon any officer of the Government who shall au-
thorise a payment or appropriation of any money
for any purpose not previously authorised by law.
Mr. Edmunds, by unanimous consent, offered a

tically
xisted

word.
Lyttleton—l have never conceived that word
Repeat it, sir.
The constable did so, and then
Mr. Willes objected against the reception of such
evidence, as it prejudiced the other prisoners fof
whom he appeared.
Witness continued—A woman then joined the
three men, and Lyttleton got very much excited.
I could not understand what was said then, as they-
seemed to be speaking Irish. Lyttleton, some time
after ; put up his hand and said, " It's high time,"
or " quite time that this Government was over-
thrown," and then I heard these words from one
of the three, " A monarchy will never do; we want
a republic, and by God we'll have it," or " we
must have it." They then left the place
I bad been watching, and all three went
to the Little Shamrock beer shop. This
took place at about half-past 11, and they remained
at the beer shop until a few minutes after 1. Lyt- ,
tleton,the woman, and the two men then separated,
Lyttleton and one of the men going into a house in
Dock-street. That is all that took place there.
Lyttleton—lt's time you were tired.
Witness—l know O'Leary. I have seen him in
company with Lyttleton. I know Boutelland three
; he is a
relative of mine. On 20th January I
other constables watched the house at which Lyttle-
ton lived, 103, New-street, Deptford. I afterwards
knocked at his bed-room, and said, "Maurice, I
want to speak to you," and a voice replied, " He's
not at home ; he's been out all night." I said,
" Open the door ?" but this not being done, I went
to the front of the house, pulled open the shutters,
and there I saw him in bed. I again demanded that
the door might be opened, and Lyttleton said, All
right." I went to the door again, leaving a con-
stable at the window. I then told Lyttleton he
must consider himself my prisoner, and he then
told me to state the charge in his wife's hear-
ing. I said it was for treason-felony. He then
dressed himself, and said to his wife, "You ought tobe
gibetted, as it is you who have done this." When
he got oltaide the house Lyttleton said, " I ex-
pected this ; I suppose it's my Yankee friend has
done this." I searched the prisoner at the station-
house, and found the memorandum book I now
produce in his coat pocket. [This is the book re-

resolution mof inquiry addressed to the President, Mr. Sumner repotted a joint resolution to provide
reciting that the bill for the further security of equal for the representation of the United States at the
rights in the district of Columbia had been repre- International Maritime Exhibition at Havre. Also
sento Ito him, and not having been signed in the one to pay the $28,000 to the Spanish Government
ten days allowed by the Constitution, whether it on account of the steamer Nuestra Senora de la
had . been transferred to the office of the Secretary Rega, seized by General Sherman at Port Royal,
of State to be published among the laws adopted. and afterwards taken for the use of the Navy De-
'The Senate then went into Executive Session, and partment. The morning hour having expired, Mr.
afterwards adjourned.
Sprague, who was entitled to the floor, said the
Jan,. 'O.—Mr. Sherman, from the Committee on present greenback circulation was the most power-
Finance, reported the House Bill, to prevent fraud ful element of speculation now in the country.
in the collection of the tax on distilled spirits, with There was no head of the financial system. The
an amendment striking out the words "in bond," circulation was distributed among three hundred
so as to make the provisions of the bill apply to all national banks. What would be thought of a man
whisky, whether in bonded warehouses or otherwise. who, on the verge of bankruptcy, would send his
The amendment was agreed to and the bill passed. money out through a hundred different agents?
Mr. Williams, from the Committee on Finance, There is nobody in the world who depreciates the
reported in favour of the indefinite postponement of paper of the United States as much as the Treasury
the bill to authorize the conversion of common of the Government—there is no greater speculator
bonds into registered bonds.—Agreed to. Mr. in gold than that Government. Mr. Sherman Raid
Morton called up his resolution instructing the Ju- it was almost the unanimous opinion of both
diciary Committee to report a bill abrogating the llouses that contraction should be suspended ; it
existing State governments in the rebel States, and was the opinion also of the Secretary, and the ques-
providing proper governments in lieu thereof. After Von might therefore arise, Why pass the bill then ?
some discussion, the House Bill to suspend the For the reason that the power to contract has been
further contraction of the currency, was taken up. given by law ; that a new Secretary of the Trea-
Mr Sherman said it was understood that this reso- sury might be appointed, and new contingencies
lution contemplated further legislation during this arise, and therefore the contraction should be pro-
session, and some broader financial provisions would hibited by law. The only question is, Shall we
yet be made. The passage of this bill was now withdraw from the Secretary the power to contract
necessary to allay the anxiety in the public mind. the volume of United States notes, or shall we not ?
There was great stagnation in business, and that all The question then recurred on the amendment of
knew; many thought it was owing to the unparallel- Mr. Sherman, that the amount of United State;
ed contraction of the currency, $140,000,000 out notes now existing shall not be reduced until au-
of $7,000,000,000 in less than three years. Whether thorised by Congress, which was adopted. Mr.
this opinion were wise or not, it was held by many, Conkling moved to amend that the amount of such
and it was but right that this action should be taken notes shall not be increased until authorized by
to relieve the apprehensions. Mr. Morrill, of Ver- Congress. Mr. Fessenden advocated the amendment
mont, would say nothing, but that he was unwilling as having the effect to quiet the public mind as
that it should go forth to the country that this to inflation. It would give the assurance that
measure expressed the unanimous voice of the Se- Congress intended to go no further than to suspend
nate. Mr. Corbett was of the opinion that the contraction. Mr. Sherman said the amendment was
measure would be in the interest of the gold specu- of no possible account, as there was now no power
lators, who were fattening upon the distress of the vested in the Secretary to increase the currency.
country. Mr. Fessenden saw no good to result from Mr. Wilson was in favour of taxing the Govern-
the passage of this bill. In his opinion, it was only ment bonds, and there was not a bondholder in
by a reduction of the currency that the country Massachusetts, as far as he knew, who was not in
would be in a condition to resume specie payments. favour of a just taxation upon them. The bill was
Mr. Sprague said it was generally understood further discussed by Messrs. Cameron and Conk-
among business men that the Secretary had retired ling, both in opposition, and the latter modified his
at one time twenty millions, thus destroying at one amendment so as to provide that nothing herein
fell blow this amount of the property of the coun- contained shall be construed to affect the power of
try. Mr. Henderson argued in favour of the pas- the Secretary of the Treasury to maintain the re-
sage of the bill. The bill was further discussed serve authorised by section 4 of the Act of June
by Mr. Howe and others. The Senate at 3.45 30, 1864. Mr. Doolittle protested that any infer-
went into Executive Session and then adjourned. ence should be drawn here or elsewhere that be-
January M.—After some business, the following cause of the passage of this bill the Senate was in
resolution was introduced by Mr. Henderson, and favour of an increase of the greenback circulation.
referred to the Committee on Finance :—Resolved, Mr. Morton alluded to the necessity of a return to
&c., &c., that the Committee on Finance is in- specie payments, but it could not be done in
lent
strutted to inquire into the expediency of reporting than three years. Considerable further debate took
to the Senate, for its consideration at an early day, place, but of an uninteresting nature. The amend-
a bill containing the following provisions, to wit: ment of Mr. Conkling was rejected. The bill was
The consolidation of all the national indebtedness into then passed, as follows :—Yeas—Messrs. Anthony,
long bonds bearing not more than three and a half Buckalew, Conness, Cattell, Cole, Cragin, Doo-
per cent. interest per annum, but payable semi- little Drake, Fowler, Frelinghuysen, Harlan,
annually. Principal and interest of the bonds to Henderson, Hendricks, Howard, Howe, Morrill of
be paid in gold, and to be secured against taxation Maine, Morton, Norton, Nye, Patterson of Tenne-
by State authority. The repeal of the provision in see, Pomeroy, Ramsey, Ross, Sherman, Stewart,
the national banking laws, limiting the amount of Thayer, Tipton, Trumbull, Wade, Willey, Wil-
the national currency to three hundred millions of liams, Wilson, and Yates —33. Nays—Messrs.
dollars, so that any person or persons depositing Conkling, Ferry, Morgan, and Patterson, of New
the mew bonds, and otherwise complying with the Hamphshire-4. The Senate then, at 6.30 p.m.,
law, may receive national currency for the purpose adjourned.
of circulation, to the extent of seventy-five per Jan. 16.—The bill suspending the tax on cotton,
a
cent. of the par value of the bonds, such an amend- as received from the House, with the refusal of the
ment to the banking laws as shall require the banks
House to agree to the Senate amendments, was read.
already established to deposit within a given time
Mr. Sherman, from the Committee on S'inance, re-
theported in favour of the Senate *receding from its
new bonds, or surrender the circulation now
secured by deposit of Government securities. amendments, but inserting the proviso that imported
In case the banks surrender any part of their circa-
raw cotton shall be exempt from duty on and after
Wien already issued so as to reduce the amount
July 1, 1868. He asked for an immediate vote, but
,
it was postponed till 1 o'clock, on the motion of Mr.
outstanding, that the Secretary of the Treasury be
authorised to issue a similar amount of United States Trumbull. Mr. Chandler called up the bill providing
legal tender notes, and to use the same in the pur-
for the appointment of line officers of the navy to
chase or ayment of bonds which at the time may
consular positions, and asked for a vote on his mo-
p
be redeemable by law. The creation of a financial ton to refer it to the Committee on Commerce.
board tom posed in part of the Secretary of the Mr. Grimes said since the discussion of yesterday
, he had further looked into this matter, and had
Treasury and the Comptroller of the Currency, who
found that numbers of our consuls and commercial
shall have power, in case the national bank currency
agents were in the receipt of from six to sixteen
shall not be materially diminished, to cause the
thousand dollars per annum. Mr. Sumner asked
United States now outstanding gradually to be
for the names. Mr. Grimes said the names could
funded or cancelled until the resumption of specie
be found by a reference to the list. Mr. Sumner
payments be authorised, in times of commercial dis-
said if such was the fact these officers were acting
tress or money panic, to cause to be issued and de-
in direct and palpable violation of the law in retain-
livered to the banks, in proportion to their circula-
ing such amounts. Mr. Grimes said the Sena or
lion on the deposit of bonds herein provided for,
United States legal tender notes to an amount not was wandering from the subject. Some further
discussion then took place, when Mr. Stewart
exceeding $50,000,000. The house bill to sus-
moved to postpone the pending business on the
pend the further contraction of the currency was
Bill to " Establish a National School of Mines"
taken up. being proceeded with. Mr. Stewart took the
Jan. 11. Several petitions were presented, and
floor in advocacy of the bill, reading from printed
other business transacted. Mr. Sumner introduced
a joint resolution declaring the adoption of the slips, and first discussed at some length the
immense wealth of the mineral
amendment to the Constitution known as Article 14. regions of the
United States, which ivere
The resolution sets forth that the amendment pro- superior to those of any
Constitution by the 39th Congress, to country in the world, and it was a reproach to the
posed to the
be known as Article 14, has been ratified by the Le- country that it depended upon foreigners for the
number—and proper management and development of its mining
gislatures of 22 States—a sufficient
interests. After a considerable amount of business
that it is now valid, and a part of the Constitution.
Mr. Sumner said there was no doubt in his mind of in supplying
Sherman aMr.
the validity of the amendment, and moved that the yinskgeddeciencies and appropriations,
tofi take up the Cotton Bill, which led
to some discussion, but without action the Senate
resolution be referred to the Judiciary Committee,
went into Executive Session, and after some time
which he appealed to to make an early report. It
spent therein adjourned until Monday.
had been the custom heretofore, he knew, to leave
such matters in the hands of the Secretary of State.
bat he thought it was peculiarly the province of
Congress to pass upon it. The bill was then re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
Jan. 13. —Among the resolutions offered was one
by Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, requesting the Com-
mittee on Post-offices and Roads to inquire whether
in the postal convention recently concluded with
foreign countries privileges have not been granted
to citizens of those countries which are denied to
our own citizens.—Adopted. Another by Mr. Ed-
monds was referred to the Judiciary Committee, to
inquire into the expediency of regulating by law
trials in cases of impeachment, and in case the
public safety should require it, providing for the
suspension of officers who are under trial of impeach-
ment. Mr. Howard moved to go into Executive
Session, upon which Mr. Sherman demanded the
ayes and nays, when the motion was agreed to, and
the Senate accordingly went into Executive Session,
and then adjourned.
Jau. 14.—Mr. Thayer introduced a bill to reduce
the number of major and brigadier generals in
the army. Referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs. Mr. Frelinghuysen introduced a bill to
restore the possession of lands confiscated by the
States lately in rebellion.--Referred to the Com-
mittee on Judiciary. The resolution of Mr. Davis
relating to the appointment of a tribunal to deter-
mine constitutional questions was then taken up.,
and Mr. Davis continued his argument in its favour.
Without action on the bill, the House Bill suspend-
ing the further contraction of the currency was
taken up, the question being on the amendment
limiting the suspension to the Ist of July next. Mr.
Frelinghuysen thought it would be a lack of judg-
ment for Congress to attempt to fix a day when
contraction could be resumed. The amendment of
Mr. Buckalew was then disagreed to.
• Mr. Corbett
in this act
moved an amendment, that nothing
should be so constructed as to prevent the Secre-
tarys pay-
of the Treasury from s
übin titplautceg notes,
of an equal
able in gold on demand,
amount of legal tender notes, in such manner and
at such time as he may deem best, which was re-
jected by nays 40, ayes I—Mr. Corbett. Mr.
Morrill, of Vermont, moved an amendment, that
the suspension shall cease when the price of gold
rises to 140 in United States notes, or to 100 in
coin.—The amendment was rejecte 1. Mr. Sherman
Cie amount of
moved to amend by providing that
United states notes now existing shall not be re-
(laced until Congress otherwise provides. At 4.30
Mr. Sprague rose and moved to adjourn, stating
that he was too feeble to remain longer. The Chair,
by unanimous consent, before putting the motion,
laid before the Senate the Report of the Indian Peace
Commission. The motion of Mr. Sprague to ad-
journisagreed to. Mr. Sprague
was then put and d
argue against
then took the floor, and proceeded to
measure of porary
the pending bil b
las eing a tem
conclusion of Mr. Sprague's
relief only. After the
remarks the Senate adjourned.
Jan. 15.—Several petitions were presented, and

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Speaker called the House to order
atjla2no.'c6l'o—ckT. he
Ater the call of States and Terri-
tories for bills and joint resolutions, Mr. Upson, of
Michigan, introduced a resolution directing the
Committee on Reconstruction to inquire into the
expediency of authorizing by law the several Consti-
tutional Conventions elected under the Reconstruc-
tion Acts in the State lately in rebellion, to appoint
all civil officers, whether State or county, in said
States, to act temporarily and until State Consti-
tutions shall be adopted therein, and officers shall
be chosen and qualified to fill said offices ; and that
for this purpose the said Conventions may remove
all civil officers now acting in said States, &c. Mr.
Boutwell, of Massachusetts, moved to amend the
resolution, by adding, to instruct the Reconstruc-
tion Committee to inquire into the expediency of
authorizing the General of the army to detail offi-
cers for service in said States ; also to inquire into
the expediency of constituting said States each a
separate military district under the command of the
General of the Army ; and also as to the expe-
diency of providing additional legislation to secure
the elective franchise to all, and also to declare by
Act of Congress that the Provisional Governments
set up in said States by order of the acting Presi-
dent are not Republican forms of government. Mr.
Upson accepted the amendment, and Mr. Chanter,
of New York, moved to lay the whole subject on the
table. Not agreed to—yeas 28, nays 66. The re-
solutions were then adopted. Mr. Eldridge offered
a resolution declaring that the thanks of Congress
are due, and are hereby tendered, to Major-General
W. S. Hancock for his wise, patriotic, and kindly
recognition of the first rights of the citizen, and for
the patriotic order issued by him upon assuming
command of the so-called fifth military district, and
for his determination promptly expressed to enforce
the supremacy of the civil law within his command.
Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, desired to amend by a re-
solution condemning the President for removal of
Stanton and Sheridan, and approvalof Gen. Grant's
course in relation tosuch removals. Mr. Eldridge de-
clined to allow such an amendment. The resolution
was laid on the table by a vote of 85 yeas to 28 nays.
Mr. Washburne, of Wisconsin, offered a resolution
declaring that this House utterly condemns the con-
duct of Andrew Johnson, acting President of the
United States, for his action in removing the gallant
soldier Major-Gen. P. H. Sheridan from the coin -
mand of the fifth military district., and that the
thanks of the House are due to General U. S. Grant,
the General Commanding the armies of the United
States, for his letter of August last, condemning the
act of said acting President for his removal of Secre-
tary Stanton, as well as for his indorsement of Gen.
Sheridan in relation to affairs in the State of Texas.
The resolution was divided on the demand of Mr.
Chauler, of New York, and the first part was
agreed to by a vote of 79 yeas to 28 nays,
and the second part by 82 yeas to 23 nays.
Mr. Wood, of New York, sent to the clerk's desk
and had read a number of letters from American