The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-18
LATEST NEWS.
RTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
First Session.

In the United States Senate on Monday, the
18th inst, Mr.. Dixon presented petition of
numerous assessors asking for an increase of
compensation. He also gave notice of bill
to exempt all clergymen from the action of the
conscription act The Standing Committees
were then elected, Mr.. B. Gratz Brown, of
Missouri, was qualified, and took his seat.
Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts, presented
resolution of thanks to Major General Joseph
Hooker and the officers and soldiers of the
Army of the Potomac, for covering Washing
ton during the advance Of General Lee, in
June last, and to Major General Meade for
valor displayed at the battle of Gettysburg.
Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Wilson also presented q resolution OF
thanks to, Major General Banks and his army
for the skill and courage displayed at the
capture of Port Hudson, This resolution was
also referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs, Mr.. Nesmith, of Oregon, presented
petition for the establishment of. port of
entry and branch mint at Portland, in
Oregon Mr.. Hendricks gave notice of bill
to extend the time in which States may re-
ceiye lands for the establishment of agrieul-
tural colleges Mr.. Doolittle called up the
joint resolution voting gold medal to Cen
eral Grant. 1t was referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs. Mr.. Lane introduced a
bill to strike the $500 clause from the con-
scription act and to increase the pay of our
| ~..l Elo NJ Gr;nooo IF Iowa intro
duced bill to encourage enlistments in the
navy, and to give credit for the same in the
quotas of tho various States. Mr.. Hale in
troduced bill to more effectually suppress
the rebellion by prohibiting the holding in
seryitude of any person in the country. MIR.
Wilkinson introduced bill to grant pensions
to person wounded in the Minnesota Indian
war. The Senate then adjourned.
In the House Speaker Colfax announced
the Standing Committees. Mr.. Morrill, in
troduced joint resolution authorizing the
President to give notice to Great Britain Of
the time required for the termination of the
reciprocity treaty. Mr.. Ward of New York
moved 10 refer to. the Committee on Com
merce. Mr.. Morrill, thought it was time the
treaty should be abolished, as it prevented us
from revising our tariff or levying interna
taxes according to our judgment. Mr.. Ward''
motion prevailed, and he then introduced {
joint resolution for the appointment of com
missioners to negotiate new treaty of recip
I, rocity with Great Britain. Bills were intro
duced to establish bureau of emancipation
i, to provide for the election of Representative
lie lands in aid of the Peoples Pacific Rail
road Company to fix the pay of colored off
GERS, chaplains and musicians; to fix the tim
for holding an election for Representatives il
Congress to enable soldiers to vote; to ena
be Colorado and Nebraska to form Stat
/, governments, and to provide for their admis
sion into the Union to organize temporar.
government in. the territory of Montana; Il
,, provide for the recruiting of negroes in insur
rectionary districts for the restoration o
civil authority in such States as are now un
der the control of rebels to repeal the fugi
= tive slave law; to amend the Constitution S
!, as to abolish slavery in all the States to pre-
vide that all persons held in slavery in tn
!, United States shall be declared free, and shal
' be protected the same as white men now are
u and to declare any one convicted of seizin
such freed persons guilty of high misdC
" meanor.
" Mr.. Wood, of New York, introduced res
~ olntion, the preamble of which calls Mr.. Lir
u coins offer of pardon to the rebels, containc
in his message and proclamation, degradin
~ and destructive conditions, and requostin
,e him to appoint commissioners to open neg
tiations with the authorities at Richmond |