The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-03-03
BY TELEGRAPH.
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.
XXXVII OONGRESS.---Second Session.
WASHINGTON March 2

\ iegi.ature OF Michigan, concerning the rebel
lion, and approving the Presidents proclama-
/ ton, &c.
The bill to further regulate the proceedings
in prize cases, and amending the acts of Con-
| gress in relation thereto, was passed.
The bill for the collection of abandoned
property and the prevention of fraud in nsur-
rectionary districts was taken up, the pending
motion being to strike out the sections pro-
vidng for the purchase of cotton. rice, sugar
and tobacco. The motion was lost-14 against
81.
Mr.. Clark offered an amendment providing
that any officer or private coming into posses
sion OF any such abandoned property, shall
turn the same over to the agent of the treas
ury. Adopted.
Mr.. Davis offered an amendment that any
officer plundering any property, or bartering
or selling cotton, rice or tobacco, or aiding
any one else, shall be dismissed from service,
and be forever incapable of holding any office
or place in the service.
Mr.. Wilson read an extract from a letter
from Gen. Butler, thanking him (Wilson) for
defending MIN from imputations made against
him in the Senate; among others that he had
taken the plate and furniture of Alex. Rothers
for his own use. Rothers escaped from New
Orleans without taking the oath of allegiance,
on pass procured by professed Union man,
who turned out to be a scoundrel. Rothers
was one of the rebel Provost Marshals. who
destroyed property on the arrival OF the Union
troops. He (Butler) had taken possession of
Rothers' plate and furniture, and turned them
over to Gen. Banks quartermaster. He but
ler) is especially thankful for the offer of a
committee of investigation, and is ready at all
times to account for his conduct, though he
should not answer to newspaper ISLANDERS.
After further discussion the amendment was
rejected-lS against %.
Mr.. Doolittle renewed his amendment to
strike out the section authorizing the treasury
agent to purchase property In the insurrec-
tionary districts. Agreed to-24 against IA
Mr.. Chandler said the bill was worthless,
aud moved TO table it. Rejected-17 against
20-and the bill passed.
Mr.. Wiley presented the credentials of Hon.
l.. j. Bowden, elected Senator from Virginia
for six years from the 4th of March.
message was received from the President
transmitting copy OF the correspondence
with the working men of England: also trans
hitting the dispatch TO Secretary Seward from
the U. 5. Consul at Liverpool, with the address
of the distressed operatives to the New York
Relief Committee and inhabitants; also trans
hitting joint resolution of the legislature of
New Mexico, accepting the benefit of an act
granting lands for the benefit of college of
agriculture and the mechanic arts.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the committee of Con-
ference on the naturalization bill, made a re-
port.
Mr.. Richardson objected TO its reception,
on the ground that it contained new matters
not in the bill or amendments as they were
sent to the committee.
After some discussion, Mr.. Wall moved to
postpone the further consideration Of the bill
until Tomorrow
Mr.. Trumbull offered an amendment repeal
ing the payment of money not exceeding $500
for exemption. Rejected.
After some discussion the report was post
poned until o'clock.
Mr.. Fessenden, from the Finance Commit
tee, reported back the internal revenue bill
with amendments.
Mr.. Anthony moved an amendment to ex-
empt persons from the provisions of enrolling
on account of religious scruples.
Mr.. Richardson opposed the amendment, on
the ground that there were penple who should
take their chances with Others. The amend
ment was rejected.
Mr.. Pendleton offered an amendment as a
proviso, that no person of African descent shall
be commissioned as an officer in the service.
Adopted-yeas Is, nays IL.
Mr.. Lane offered an amendment to Mr.. PEN
dleton's bill, so as to make il read mo person
of African descent shall be commissioned as
an officer except as company officers, compos-
ed exclusively of African Descent Adopted
yeas 10, nays II.
ut posstu-yedS 20. nays 10.
A petition from w. G. jarrett was presented,
praying for immediate action on the bill ad-
hitting Colorado.
The internal revenue bill was taken up. An
amendment was adopted fixing the license of
retail liquor dealers at $40. The amendment
taxing deer skins cents each was struck out.
The amendment taxing all steam engines, in
GLIDING locomotives, l 12 per cent was dis
agreed to, and tax of 3 per cent. advalorem
on marine engines substituted.
An amendment was adopted that on raw or
manufactured cotton grown in countries be-
yond the Cape of Good Hope, when imported
from this side OF the Cape, shall pay no great
er duty than is imposed on the same article
when imported directly from places beyond
the Cape.
The bill was reported to the Senate and
passed.
The report Of the committee OF Conference
on the indemnifying bill was taken up.
Mr.. Wall opposed the bill, aud considered
the last hope of liberty gone il il passed. He
made special reference 10 his own incarcera-
ton, and said vengeance sooner or later was
sure to overtake tyrants.
p A note from the reporter of the Senate
states that the prospect favors daylight ses-
sion, and the time will probably be consumed
in speeches and dlatory movements.
HOUSE.
On motion Of Mr.. Washburne, the Secretary
of the Treasury was authorized to issue regis
tiers to certain vessels, in accordance with the
prayer of the petitioners.
The House receded from its amendment to
the Senate bill, TO act regulating the judicial
system of the United States. The amendment
gave the District Court of Admiralty jurisdic-
ton over the lakes and adjacent waters.
The House passed the Senate bill granting
lands to Wisconsin and Michigan for military
roads.
The House concurred in the Senate amend
ments to the bill granting to the independent
Telegraph Co. line, extending from Portland
to Washington, the privilege to extend their
wires into the District of Columbia.
The amendment grants similar privilege
to any other Company.
The House passed the Senate bill authoriz-
ing the Paymaster General to take immediate
measures for the payment of sick and wounded
within go days.
The House passed the Senate bill to organize
signal corps, after amending it.
The House, 81 against As, concurred in the
reports of the Committee of Conference on
indemnify the President and other persons for
suspending the privileges of the writ of habeas
corpus.
Mr.. Porter, from the Committee of Confer
ence, made report upon the disagreeing
votes on the bill amendatory to the act estab-
fishing the Court of claims, which was adopted
The bill as now amended and passed provides
for two additional judges and retains the pres
ent jurisdiction of the Court.
The House took up the Senate bill re-organ-
2