, 1862-01-31
THE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
M4sHSGToE, Jan. 30. ]
SENATE.


Dir. FOSTER offered resolution that the
Secretary Of the Treasury inform the Senate
what, If any, further legislation is necessary
to enable the Executive Department to take
charge Of the cotton and other lands Of South
Carolina now in possession Of the Govern
ment, and to place the same under cultiya-
ton; also. if any further legislation is necessa-
r. to provide for the blacks Of those localities
and furnish them proper employment.
Nj: SUMNER introduced bill authorizing
the President to appoint three persons skilled
in law to revise, simplify, arrange and consor-
date United States statutes, general and per
manent in their nature, with head-notes to
each title and subdivision, giving the sub
stance in side notes guiding. to the text, and
referring to original acts and decisions under
them, the Commission to report to Con-
gress, which shall correct contradictions and
rc-enact. The bill vas referred.
On motion Of Mr. WADE, the bill to au-
thorize the President to take possession OF
certain railroads and telegraph lines was taken
as war measure, and to affect such roads as
were not willing to be used by the Govern
meut.
Resolutions were adopted.
4 debate ensued on the want Of proper man-
NJ. JOHNSON Of Tennessee, from tile
Special Committee on that part Of the PEesi-
dents Message relating to the construction Of
q military railroad from kentuc6yto Tcnnes-'
sec, reported q bill for that purpose.
The case Of Bright was then taken up.
: rEIocecded to speak at length
on the subject, He thought it was very poor
apology for the Senator TO say that he had for
gotten that he had ever written that letter, or
that Mr. Lincoln was his friend
The subject was nncOnc1uded.
After Executive Session The Senate adjourn
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Representative ELY took his scat to-day for
the first time since his release from Richmond
Mr.. WARD, from the Committee On Conf
lnercc, made report upon petitions praying
for the abrogation OF the Canadian Reciprocity
Treaty. So far from advising, its abrogatlon,
the committee nrges that the commercial
union with Canada should he more, not less,
intimate. Tie Committee, in the course of 4
very long document, discuss the resources
| and present condition Of the British
Provinces, the state Of our present relations
with them, and the line Of policy most con.
/. duciyc to the welfare Of both countries.
! The House then went into Committee oi
/ the Whole on the state Of the Union, and re-
i sunled the consideration Of the executive,
judicial and legislative appropriation bill.
| This was subsequently laid aside, and the
! special order proceeded with, namely: the bill
and for the redemption Or funding thereof, and
i Tor the funding Of the floating debt, which was
| published last week.
| Mr.. MORRILL, gave notice Of his intention tc
introduce substitute for the bill, onlittin4
| such parts as make the notes legal tender.
! Mr.. sPAULDING proceeded to explain tht
bill, saying that the Secretary Of the Treasury
has acted in strict conformity With the law
and borrowed money at the rates authorized
By the act Of Congress. He has borrowed 1
hundred millions at $40 per cent, and issuet
sufficient bonds for fifty millions, for which
he has received not quite S45,000, 600. I'll.
Secretary has acted III good filth and shoult
be SUSTAINED. We were never in greater peri
than now, and our best energies arc requiret
to meet the crisis. This was war measure
one Of necessity and not Of choice. Tie pub
lie debt On the 18Th Of January WAS $500,
76+,000.
The House considered the bill to pay til
expenses incurred by the several States i'll til
enrolment Of troops Laid on the table.
The consideration Of the Treasury Note bill
was postponed until tomorrow.
Tie Committee on Elections reported tha
Chas. e. Upton, from tue 7th Congressiona
District, Va, is not entitled to j seat.s4
Tie House then went into CoIn4a6tee c
the Whole on the Army Appropriations
whicl. was passed as originally reported.
Adjourned, l..