Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-12-25
pRoCEEDINes OF CONGRESS.

at0Ts Lane ana CafIiSle heeSI0' ,
Johnson Of Tennessee aud Wade were ap-
nointed the Senate committee on the con-
duct of the war. The House resolution
providing for a recess until the 9th of Jan
uary was postponed.
The House Of Representatives passed a
resolution authorizing the Provost Court
at Alexandria to retain in its custody pro-
psrty belonging to persons engaged IN aid
ing the rebellion Mr.. Elliott's resolution
proposing the emancipation Of the slaves
of rebels was taken up and after some de
bate referred, with all other resolutions re-
lating to the subject, TO the committee on
Judiciary This vote is 4 defeat of the
abolition element in the House. \ bill
for the relief of the owners of the British
ship Perthshire was passed.
The report of the special committee to
inquire into the Government contracts was
presented in the House The committee
have had sittings at Washington, New
York, Boston, New Bedford, St. Louis,
Cairo, Chicago and Harrisburg; have trav
eled over six thousand miles and examined
two hundred and sixty FIVE witnesses, and
spent about $4,000. The Cataline case
they have investigated, but not with any
great results They accuse no one of dis
honesty, but pronounce the price Of the
charter exorbitant, and call Captain Com
stock the agent of both parties. They re-
view at great length the transactions Of
Mr.. George D. Morgan, Of New York city,
who was appointed Government agent for
the purchase of vessels, and deem the amount
of his commission, $4,000, extremely
large. The purchase of arms by Gen.
Fremont, and the placing Of S2,000,000
in the hands of the Union Defence com
mittee BY the Secretaries of War and the
Treasury are condemned. The dealings of
the Quartermaster's Department at St.
Louis, while. in charge of Major Mckin-
stry, with the firm Of Child, Pratt 4 Fox,
at the profit Of the latter Of S280,000
upon SS0U,00Q, receives the severcst CEN
sure. Mr. Van Wyck, Chairman Of the
committee, then submitted a series Of res
olutions requesting the Secretary of the
Treasury to decline making any further
payments to the parties interested in the
chartering of the steamer Cataline, and
pay the claims against the Government on
the 5000 carbines purchased by Gen. Ere
mont at the rate of s12 80 each, and that
the practice of employing irresponsible
persons, having no official connection with
the Government, is injurious to the public
service and is disapproved Of by the House.
The consideration Of the report was post
poned till next Tuesday.
In the Senate on Wednesday Mr. Doc
little presented a bill for the collection of
the direct tax in the rebel States 1t pro-
poses that the Government shall seize
and hold the lands Of rebels until redeem
ed under the provisions Of the law. A
resolution ezpelling Trusten Polk, Senator
from Missouri, was referred to the Judic-
iary committee.
In the House the committee Of elections
reported against the claim of c. IL Foster
as a representative from North Carolina,
declaring it to be founded on an imposition
The resolution was adopted The home
stead bill was discussed and postponed un-
til the first Tuesday in February next
The pension appropriation bill was passed
with an amendment excluding disloyal pen
sioners from its benefits.
In the Senate on Thursday Mr.. Wiley,
Of Virginia, presented resolution declar-
ing that the existing war was forced upon
the country by the States in rebellion,
without provocation, and was designed to
destroy the Union and Constitution, and
that its purpose was to disown and repudi-
ate the fundamental principles of republi-
can government He addressed the Senate
nearly two hours in support of his resolu-
tions, and gave way to a motion to go into
executive session. The Senate afterwards
discussed the propriety of recess until
the 9th of January, but finally adjourned
without coming to a direct vote on the
House resolution.
The House Of Representative authorised
the construction of twenty iron-clad gun
boats A bill to authorize the construction
OF a street railroad between Washington and
Georgetown was passed The Consular
and Diplomatic appropriation bill was pas.