Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-12-05
Congre:- sional Summary.
WAsu,NGrOy. Dec

present. A message was received from tht
Senate that quorum was present.
A committee of both houses was appointed
to wait on Che President and inform him thai
they were ready to proceed to business.
A resolution was adopted, instructing the
Committee on Naval Affairs, to report the
best mode Of placing vessles on Lake Ontario,
when exigenc:es may arise.
Mr.. Vallandigham offered resolution that
the Committee on Judiciary inquire and
report by what authority of the constitution
or laws the Post Master General decides what
newspapers may or may not be transmitted
through the mails.
Mr.. Cox offered resolution that, as many
citizens of the United States have been arrested
and carried out of the jurisdiction Of the State
in which they reside, and imprisoned in mill
tary prisons and camps, without any charge
being preferred against them, and as such
arrests have been made in States where there
is no Instruction,
ACSOtCCU, 1udt IuC l1OuSC COtUuOih al
such arrests, as unwarranted by the Constitu'
ton and laws, and a usurpation Of power
never given by the people to their rulers, and
do hereby demand that all such arrests shall
hereafter cease, and that all persons so arres-
te ! and yet held, shall have prompt aud
public trial, according to the provisions Of tho
Constitution and laws of the United States
The motion was laid On the table by a vote
of 40 to so.
Mr.. Richardson offered o resolution that
the President be requested to inform the
House what citizens of Illinois arc now con-
fined IN any fort or place Of confinement, and
upon what charges such citizens were arrested.
WASHINGTON, Dec 9.
HousE.-A bill was passed that all judge
ments now pending, or hereafter brought for
collection, or in receiving duties or other
monies due the United States collectors or
other officers, shall be paid in gold or silver
coin.
A resolution was adopted, instructing the
Military Committees, to inquire into the expe-
diericy of advncing the pay of privates to
SIS per month, and reducing the pay of off
GERS not on actual duty.
The Committee on Ways and Means wers
instructed to inquire as to admitting cotton
from other countries, free from duty.
The Committee on Public Expenses were
instructed to inquire into the expenses Of the
Land Office, and if the expenses could be re.
duced.
A bill was introduced, annulling all treaties
between the United States and the Sioux
Indians.
Adjourned at l21.
SENArE.-A resolution was introduced, but
aid over, calling on the Sec. Of the Treasury
to furnish information as to the amount of
money paid for prosecuting land titles suits,
&C., in the State of California, during the years.
1890 and 81. -.
Mr.. Powell offered joint resolution that
The arrests of citizens Of the United States
without any charges being preferred against
hem, is unauthorized by the constitution,
Ind is . usurpation of power, and that they
Do hereby condemned, and that all such
arrests shall cease hereafter. Laid over.
Mr. Davis offered joint resolution declar-
ng that it is hereby recommended, that all the
States choose delegates to attend convention
TO be held in Louisville, KY, the first MN
lay of April next, to take into consideration
The present condition of the country, AMI the
best means of restoring the Union. Laid over.
Adjourned.
WAsHINar ON, Dec. 8.
SENArE.-The standing committees are the
same as last session, with the exceptions of
Sumner in the place of Simmons on Finance,
and Mr.. Arnold in the place Mr.. Thompson
on Commerce #.-
A resolution was adopted, instructing the
Committee on Military to report bill for
the indemni6cstion of the citizens of Mime
sofa who suffered loss at the hands of the In
dams.
A resolution was adopted, inquiring of the
Secretary of war if any freemen who were
captured by the rebels had been sold into
slavery, and what steps had been taken to re-
dress this outrage on civilization.
A resolution was adopted instructing the
Committee on Military to inquire into the
of organizing corps, with proper
officers, to have charge, under
the medical officers, Of the hospitals and
The Senate went into Executive session,
and on the opening of the doors adjourned.
House-Various committees were called
upon for reports but none were made.
A resolution was adopted calling on the
Commissioner of Patents to inform the House
what amount of money belonging to the agri-
cultural fund, had been expended by him
previous to turning It over to the Committee
of Agriculture, and also the statement of the
accounts.
A dill was adopted instructing the Com
mittee on Military Affairs to inquire into the
expectancy of bill to allow soldiers who had
been discharged from service on account of
wounds, 50 much of their bounty As was pro-
portonal to their actual service. Adjourned
at IL o'clock.
BADLY WANTED. "A bridge over Cedar
river is want felt by all classes merchants
and farmers alike. There is large district
of country on the other side Of the Cedar to
the productions of which Muscatine is the
natural market and outlet. Nearly half of our
trade comes from the Cedar valley-one Of
the richest sections of country in the West.
This trade is of incalculable value, and the