Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-12-26
TOWANDA: 1:
Thursday Morning, December rs, 1861.
CONGRESS.

In the Senate on Friday, peti tions for the
emancipation of the slaves of rebels, for an ar
mory at Cock Island, for the establishments of
a system to exchange prisoners of war, and for
the expulsion Of Senator Bright, of Indiana,
were presented and appropriately REFEREED
The Military Committee presented report
end joint resolution expressing recognition of
the gallantry of General Nathaniel Lyon and
the soldiers under his command at the battle
at Springfield. Mo, Messrs. Pomeroy, of Kan
sas, and Dixon Foster, of Connecticut, eulo-
gized the character and conduct of Gen. Ly
on, and the resolution was adopted. A bill
appropriating one thousand dollars to the
owners of the British ship Perthshier, as in
demnity for damage by reason of illegal de-
tention by the blockading squadron, was re-
ported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
and laid on the table. The Judiciary Commit
tee were discharged from further consideration
Of the subject of the abolition and reconstruc-
tion of the Supreme Court. A bill for the
prevention of the sale of liquor to soldiers in
the District of Columbia was passed A bill
was introduced providing for the organization
of the STATS attached to the regular and voIun-
teer forces Mr.. Saulsbury's resolution, call
ing for copy Of General Phelps proclamation
to the loyal citizens of the Sou uthwest, and by
what authority it was made, was taken up,
briefly discussed and laid on the table. Mr..
Willie, of Virginia, then resumed and con-
cluded his speech on national affairs.
In the House Of Representatives, the Com
mittee on Ways and Means were introduced
to inquire into the expediency of establishing
branch mint at Denver. The Printing com
mttee were directed to report upon the subject
of printing the Patent Office reports recently
destroyed by fire. The Military Committee
were instructed to inquire into the expediency
of instructing the Paymaster General of the
army to authorize the paymasterS and assist
ant paymasters to credit and pay all commits
stoned officers and volunteers their pay and
allowances from the date of acceptance and ta.
king the oath Of allegiance, are required by
the officers appointed by the President. A
bill appropriating $l50,00O to complete the
defenses of Washington was passed The
House then passed the Senate bill providing
for transmitting certificates of allotments of
pay of the volunteers to their families
and friends Each State is to appoint
three persons to visit the several depart
ments of the army to receive the money
The provisions of the law allowing liens to
suffers on the pay of soldiers is repealed, aud
all regulations on the subject are abrogated
beyond the rules and articles Of war. The
Senate bill authorizing the appointment Of
general court martial in time of war was also
passed The resolution favorable to an amend.
ment Of the law relative to army chapIains was
adopted. By the existing law noue but Chris
tians can be appointed as cbapans. II pro-
posed 20 amend it so a to permit the appoint
ment of Jewish rabbs Resolutions of the
Kentucky Legislature in favor of relief of Ire
land, in view of probable famine there, were
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A resolution that the Committee on the Judi
ciary be instructed to report bill 50 amend
ing the Fugitive Slave law Of 1850 as to for
bid the recapture or return of any fugitive
from labor without satisfactory proof first be-
log made that the claimant of such fugitive is
loyal to the government was adopted by q
vote of Is to 49, A resolution was adopted
thanking Col Mulligan and bis command for
thorizing the 23d regiment Of Illinois to bear
on their colorS the name of Lexington" "
Mr.. LoVejoy, of Illinois, offered a resolution
instructing the Judiciary Committee to report
a bill providing for the confscation of all the
property of all rebels, aud their aiderS and
abettors, and the unconditional liberation of
their slaves, and protection of said slaves from
recapture by their masters. The proposition
was laid on the table by two majority. Mr..
Wilson, of Indiana, offered resolution direct
ing the military Committee to report an ad.
ditional article of war, prohibiting officers Of
the army from employing the force under their
command to return fugitive slaves to their
owners, and providing for the punishment of
such officers by dismissal from service No
action was taken on the subject.
EFFICIENCY OF THE BLocKADE-The n. Y. .
Times says: We hear a great deal about this
and that port being ineficently blockaGed, and
it can be readily understood that one vessel
running the blockade will provoke great deal
more comment and gossip than the capture of