The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-04 00:00:00

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feb. 6.—The House resumed the consideration
of the bill in relation to the rights of American
citizens abroad. Mr. Chanler, of New York, ad-
dressed the House, and argued that this country
should demand by treaty that the American law of
naturalization and expatriation should berecognized
everywhere. He thought the bill did not go far
enough, and opposed it. Mr. Boyer, of Penn-
sylvania, gave notice that at the proper time he
would offer a substitute for the bill, in the shape of
a joint resolution, providing that all naturalized
citizens of the United States shall be entitled to the
same protection and privileges as native-born
citizens when an attempt is made to deprive them
of any one of their rights of person or property ;
and the President of the United States shall
report to Congress if any citizens of the United
States, native or naturalized, are deprived
of their liberty in foreign countries in con-
travention of the rights of American citizens.
The Army bill reported to the house to-day appro-
priates $33,082,091, being $19,490,125, twenty less
than the original estimate. It contains a proviso that
the expenditure of the money herein appropriated
shall be limited and controlled by the following
conditions, viz. :—That the military force is reduced
to 25 regiments of infantry, seven of cavalry, and
five of artillery. No new commission shall be
issued in any regiment, except to those who are by
law entitled to appointments as second lieutenants
by graduation at the United States Military Aca-
demy, and the Secretary of War is hereby directed
to consolidate regiments as rapidly as the require-
ments of the public service and the reduction in the
number of officers will permit until the aforesaid
minimum is reached. But this provision shall not
be construed to deprive any officer in commission of
whatever promotion may be open to him by the oc-
currence of vacancies among his superiors in rank,
such promotion, however, to be always made so as
to facilitate, not obstruct, the consolidation of re-
giments.
Feb. 7.—A bill restoring to actual settlement
the even-numbered land sections along the line of
the Union Pacific Railroad and branches was
passed. Mr. Poland, of Vermont, offered, as a
privileged question, a resolution to rescind the re-
solution of March 5, 1867, in relation to drawing of
seats, and after debate it was decided by a vote of
86 to 74 to make the drawing on Monday after the
drawing hour. The appropriation for compensa-
tion on mileage for Senators was reduced $320,000.
An amendment was agreed to adding an increase
of 2t) per cent. to the salaries of the officers and
employes of the Senate; $3,590 for packing boxes,
and $25,000 for miscellaneous items for the Senate
were struck. The pay of officers and employes of
the House was also increased 20 per cent. The
$50,000 for folding documents, including materials,
were reduced to $42,000.
Feb. B.—This day was devoted to debate on
general topics, the House being resolved into Com-
mittee of the Whole--Mr. Dawes, of Massachusetts,
in the chair. Mr. Hawking, of Tennessee, Mr.
Hunter, of Indiana, and Mr. Stevens, of New Hamp-
shire, spoke.
Feb. 10.—After a considerable number of bills
acid resolutions had been offered, together with a
large number of private bills for claims, pensions,
&c., Mr. Paine, of Wisconsin, brought forward the
following
Resolved, That the seat of Govern-
ment of the United States ought to be removed to
the Valley of the Mississippi." It was defeated by
a strictly sectional vote—yeas 77, nays 97. The
House then proceeded to draw for seats for
the Fortieth Congress. When again called to
order, the Speaker presented a Message from
the President of the United States in re-
lation to the trial and conviction of American
citizens in Great Britain, and transmitting there-
with a Report of the Secretary of State.—Referred
to Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. Stevens, of
Pennsylvania, offered the following resolutions :
Resolved. That the evidence taken on impeach-
ment by the Judiciary Committee be referred to
the Committee on Reconstruction, and that the
committee have leave to report at any time. Mr.
Eldridge would not object if a clause were inserted
to print 50,000 extra copies of the testimony on
Impeachment for distribution among the people ;
nor Mr. Brooks if a resolution was adopted re-
questing General Grant to transmit to the House
President Johnson's last letter on the removal of
the Secretary of War. As Mr. Stevens had no
objection to either, his resolution was adopted with-
out opposition.

Feb. 11.—The bill on the Rights of American
nCitizenster,
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favouringStates
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was discussedassago ; Mr.
HuMr.
Cook, of Illinois, approved the general features ;
Mr. Baker, of Illinois, desiring a more distinct ex-
pression of the doctrine of expatriation, had there-
fore prepared a substitute ; Mr. Orth, of Indiana,
advocated the measure. The Speaker then laid
before the House a message from the President,
enclosing his last letter in response to General
Grant, which was read. Referred to Committee
on Reeonstruction, and ordered to be printed, and
a resolution adopted to send any further corre-
spondence on the same subject to the House.
Feb. 12. The House resumed the bill in relation
to the rights of the American citizens abroad. A
number of gentlemen appealed to Mr. Banks, who
had the floor, to yield ; but he declined, as ho
thought the debate had gone far enough. He wanted
the bill passed virtually as reported by the cow-
mitttee, for he did got wish the door to be thrown
open to the amendments that had been offered.
He would leave it to the House to say whether they
wished this debate to be further continued ; but in
justice to the business of the House, he felt im-
pelled to demand the previous question. Mr.
Jenckes asked Mr. Banks if he would not permit a
vote upon his amendment. Mr. Banks declined.
The proposed substitute was a declaration similar
to that contained in the British law, and he was
opposed to incorporating such a feature in an
American statute. Mr. Butler, Mr. Wilson, of
lowa, and others, wanted a clearer recognition of
the right of expatriation, and hoped the pre-
vious question would not be seconded unless a
vote was permitted upon the substitutes offered,
The House refused to second the demand for the
previous question. Mr. Jenckes, of Rhode Island,
then offered the bill reported by him a few days
ago as a substitute for the report of the committee.
[lt provides that the right of expatriation and the right