Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-20
CONGRESS.
HOUSE nF REPRESENTATIVES,.

IReyOrted for ne National IRteliigeRcer ]


FRIDAY, JANUARY IA.
Mr.. Sergeant. from ihr committee on the
judiciary reported bi.l Ia alter the term,
u the W stern Court of Virginia, which
was VICE read aud ordered To be eli
gross Tor a ,iiird red,iing.
Nj ShOther moved the adoption of the
following ,esnluii"ns
I. keSoired, Thai the Secretary ofthe Treas
ury he directed To report, without delay. io
this house he actual balanc" IN the rredsn-
ry. nd II thr hands OF the Treasurer, as a.
gent of The Navy Department aud War De-
par,meut, aud the amount it any, in the
Treasury. subject to the control OF the com.
misslouers OF the sinking fund, the first of Jan.
sar> 1870
2. Resoirrd, That the Secretary of theTreas-
ur, be directed without delay TO report u
thi hols' urou what principles he has ,sti
mated tn. receipts into the Treasury from the
sales of Quulic lands. tor the year 1870.
3. Hesored That the Secretary of the Treas
gury b directed without delay, to report to
this house what am0nnt ofthe public debt will
be redeemabie, according To the terms of the
contract IN the years 1870. 1921, Io22, 1873 aud
1924. AID what amount would he left of the
sinking 'tnnd1n each year respectively, after
the payment OF the interest OF the public debt,
AMI The portion of the principal which may be
redeemdhle within the year
a Resoired, That the Secretary of the Treas
ury be directed, without delay, 10 report TO
this house the present. price OF The stocks, and
whether, i'm his opinion, IT the price is above
par, II will probably continue so until the peri
cd at which the stock issued in the late war
shall become redeemaAle and If, in his opiu
ion, such should probably be tue fact, whether
il would not be advisable to apply the sur
pins of the sinking' iRnd TO the current ex-
pences of the government rather than resort
to loans or taxes.
MIR. Williams, Of North Carolina, sug
ges Ell the proprieiy Of omitting the " ords
without delay" as unusual and not he.
cessary.
Mr.. Srother insisted OIL retaining the
words, which were intended 70 express
the wish OF the House TO have an early
report, and not as an intended departure
from courtesy. Mr.. 5. proceeded TO ex-
plain his views i'll offering the resolutions,
Ia sbew their proprieiy, and 10 enforce
In" necessity OF the information required,
te 'nable the House 10 act understand
ingly OH the aonleniOus subject of pro-
yiding for the public eXigeucies.
Mr.. BdIiUin objected to The fourth FeSolu-
ton, because the subject of it had already been
submitted To the deiiberaton and decision Of
ihr House by the Secretary himself III his au-
nuai report, aud II was improper to refer II
back To the Secretary for his opinion, &c.
Mr. Stf0thPr re piled at some length 10 sustain
the propriety OF the resolution referred to
Stain that from The i0Ts period which The
Secretary had flied lis station, he must, ne
cessariiy, be better qualified by has experience
AZ well as by his political requirements ana
vigorous mind TO ativi u the Information Called
tor, and he hoped the Huusc would consent
to il.
Mr. Lorndes had no objection to any of the
resolutions, except the fourth, and as the Sc
cretary would he able TO furnish prompti, the
information requested by the others, he nOpeC
and moved that, the words, = without delay,
be stricken out. MIR. l.. was opposed To The
fourth resolution, because the Secretary of tue
Treasury, to comply with il, must necessarily
enter into all The minute calculations OF proba
Bile events tor years 10 come, OF peace and war
90. or else ne must be uHder the necessity oil
King d report eXtTemei, unsatisfactory. He
re moved, to amend the fourth resoiu-
w striking out all between the word
fher "a the 9Th line; bur, uerore any uueo,rvn
sFas taken,
MIR. Ratenldn moved that the resolution be
laid on the table anu he printed; which motion
pr, vailed, so 10 AZ; and
The resolutions were laid on the table ac-
cordiDgly.
CONTESTED ELECTION.
The House then went into a committee OF
fhe whole, Mr.. Smith. of Md. in the chair, OIL
she report of the committee of Elections on the
petition OF James Guyon, jim. contesting the
right of Ehenezef Sage, one of the member
EetRrued elected from the state Of New
York, which report declares that MIR. sage is
not entitled to a seat and tIIat MIR Guyon is
The question involved in this case, was,
whether votes which were given for James
Guyon, J1i!IOr. but returned by the officer
without the addition OF" jEnior," should be al
lowed 10 J q. jan. no other person of ihat
nam .lug candidate These votes had been
withheld troal Mr. q which gave Mr.. Sage "a
~ Joriiy-by Giving 10 Guyon, jun. all these
votes IL would make a majority IN his favour
The committee decided to correct the error
OF ibe returning officer agreeaOy tn the prac
fice OF the House of Representatives IN SINH
Aar eases heretofore. MIR. y. has not appeared
60 claim tie seal.
a good deaf of discussion took place on this
subject, relative TO various circumstances al
tending the election, The c0ndGct Of tIe officer
DC AFTER which tive committee rose and rs-
ported their agreement u the report. The
heuse coRcurred in tive spOrt, which decided
she petitioner eUttled 10 a seal in the House ;
"he0 he came forward, qualified, aud
took lis seat and the House Adjourned TO
Monday.