Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL
Washington, Dec. IS.
SENATE.-Seyeral petitions were present

The Kansas contested seat WINS taken /
ny. The report Of the judiciary commit
tee is that F p Stanton is entitled to the
seat
After some discussion. the subject was
reeommitted to the Committee on Judici
airy.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Sumner,
that the army shall not be used to surrender
fugitive slaves, WAS taxed up. The resolu
ton was passed.
Adj urned
HOUSE, Mr.. Dawes from the Committee
on Eiecripns, reported that Charles Henry
Foster is not entitled to a seat in this Con-
gress. either frum the First ur Second Com
gressioual District If Nnrtn Carolina Mr.
Dawes said the committee had pursued the
investigation far 10 he entirely salts
fled that the claim IS founded in imTosition;
and SO well Satisfied Of this fact was Mr.
Foster himself that he had voluntarily abau-
d0ned the claim. The resolution was aGOp>
ted
The House then resumed the considera- |
ton of the bill to secure homesteads 10 /
actual settlers. heads If families. or those |
who have attained the age of 81 years, ard |
are citizens IF the United States, or fled |
ar intention TO become such. The provi |
si0ns oG the bill are extended to all who
have performed service in suppressing the
rebellion in lieu of bounty lands, the three
months volunteers are to receive $50, in
addition to the right Of the homestead, and
all who have served six mouths 500.
! A lengthy debate ensucd On the bill, and
/ on the several amendments proposed. The
| further consideration of the hit was, on
motion, postponed until the first Monday in
February, by vote of So ayes against so
nays.
! The bill nppropriating one million dol
| lars for gunbuats on the western waters was
pussed.
The House went into committee Of the
whole.
Ths ill far the payment Of invalid and
Other prise. ers was taken up.
Mr.. Steei., Of New Jersey, offered res
oldtion, which Was adopted, that the select
committee on alleged contract abuses be
requested to Inquire as to the policy OF
ali fishing sutlerships, or regulating the
system for the protection of the s,liier-
Mr. C,lax called attention To n commu>
niration from the P..stoffice Department,
stating that it has been asceFtained that
members of Congress frequently give en-
velupes IL cover matter unknown t. them :;
that franked letter envelopes, without ad-
oIcsSCr, AFRO DcllS CuCulhiou bHlbhH Tue
camps and sold by suffers at from one to
two cents apiece; that franked envelopes
are sent to merchants in varinus parts of
the country. to cover their cwn correspon
derce in return and that franks Of mem
bers Of Congress are forged. Mr Colfax
hoped that the simple statement Of facts
would correct the abuses without further
legislation.
| Adjourned.
Washington, Dec 20.
SENATE.-Mr. Trumbull presented pc
tition asking for the expulsion of Jessie d.
Bright rom the Senate.
Mr.. Wilson prese"ted a petition for the
establishment of a system Of exchange of
p:is lners; also, a report from the Military
Committee, and a joint resolution, ext ress-
ing a recognition of the gallantry of Gen.
Lyon ani the soldiers under his command
; at Springfield.
Mr.. Pomeroy made few remarks in
, eulngy Of the character Of Gen LYON,
with sketch of the battle Of Smingti ii.
where the warrior uf this war ended his
: gallant and well spent life he also paid a
! tribute TO the galiantry and bravery Of the
: soldiers.
; Messrs. Dixon and Foster, of Connect,
. cut, also spoke of the true worth, galantry
and devotion To the country which charac-
terizad General Lyon. The resolution
! passed.
Mr. Sumner reported. from the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, the House bill
, for the relief of the owners of the British
ship Perthshire. Laid on the table
! Mr. T,umbul reported back from the
Committee on Judiciary the bill to abolish
the U 5. Sumene Court, aud ask ed to be
Ilsah arra1 Irnp, fha I,,r L.. 4
the SUI ject whereUp1n the committee was
: discharged.
Mr.. Saulsbury's resolution calling on the
Secretary of War Tor copies of the prarl.-
! nation issued Ivy Gen Phelps. and 10y what
authority It was made, was taken up.
Mr.. Trumbul moved to amend the res l.
luton 81 as 30 include the pruclamations Of
all Generals.
Mr.. Wilson thought there as no neces-
sity OF sending for the proclamation. Gen
erals were appointed Ia use the sword and
not the pen it they could not use the
sword better than the pen, they should he
mustered ont nf the service. The best thing
! to do was to amend the statutes so that no
Generals be allowed to make aay prociama
, tuns.
Mr. Salisbury wanted a disavowaI from
! the administration that authority had been
given for such proclamation.
, Mr.. Rice said, If subordinate officers had
not carried out the wishes of the President,
II was his duty 10 correct the wrong. He
moved to lay the resolution m the table
Motion agreed to, and after executive SEES
sion the Senate adjourned
HousE.-Mr Burnett, Delegate from C,l
, orado, introduced a res, luton. which was
, adopted, instructing the Committee of
{ Ways and Means to inquire into the expe-
diency of establishing q branch mint at
, Denver.
On motion Of Mr. Law, the Committee
on Military affairs was instructed to in
quire into the expediency If instructin q
the Pavmaster General Of the army to au>
thorlze the PaymasteIs and Assistant Paw
masters to credit and pay all commissioned
officers and volunteers their pay and allow
ances from the date of their acceptance and
taking the oath of allegiance.
Mr.. Stevens, frnm the Committee IF
Ways and Means. reported a bill appro-
prlating $1,000 900 TO C mt lete the defenees
OF Washington. The bill Was passed
The House then passed the Senate bill
providing Tor transmitting certificates of
ailotments of pay OF the volunteers to their
families and friends the State to appoint
three persons to visit the several depart-
nents of the army to receive the money
The provisions of the former law, allowing
liens to suffers on the pay Of soldiers. Is
repealed, and oil regulations en- the subject
are abrogated beyond the rules and articles
of war.
The House also passed the Senate bill
authorizing the appointment of general
court martial in tine If war.
Mr.. Julian offered a res hItion that she
Committee on Judiciary be instructed to
report bill 60 amending thu fugitive slave
law of 1860 as to forbid the recapture or
return OF any fugitive from labor without
satisfactory prot that the claimant of such