Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-24
THIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION
THURSDAY, DECEMBER II, 1868.
IN SENATE.

CONDITION OF THE FREEDMEN.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate
message from the President Of the United States,
follows
To the Senate and House of RepresentatiUes
Herewith lay before you letter addressed TO myself by
committee Of gentlemen representing the Freedmans Aid
Societies in Boston, New York Pniadalphia and Cincinnati
The subject Of the letter indicated abo is OF great
magnitude and Importance, and which these gentlemen,
cred with great care Not having the time
Of to whether the plan they is
the best submit the whole subject to Congress deemng
that their attention thereto s almost impeavey demanded
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Mr.. SUMNER moved that the message be printed and
laid on the table. He said he made the suggestion be-
cause it seemed to him that there should be special
mittee constituted to take into consideration the whole
subject. He, however, made such proposition.
The motion was agreed 10.
RETIRING JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Mr.. HARLAN introduced bill for the relief of JUS
tees Of the Supreme Court Of the United States in
therein described; which was read twice
This bill proposes to provide that whenever the chief
justice any associate justice Of the Supreme Court of
the United states shall have attained the age Of seventy
ears, and shall signify TO the President of the United
States his desire account Of physical iufrmty, to
tire from his office, the President may place his
retired list OF Justices of the Supreme Court OF the
United States Judge thus retired 10 to receive
pensaon to be paid in the provided for the
payment of tho salaries Of Justices Of the Supreme Court
to the end Of his natural e namely: if 1t shall appear
that he has at the date of his retirement served chief
years, $4 900 per annum If for period greater than
fifteen aud exceeding twenty years 500 per
If for period greater than twenty and not exceeding
twenty five yeais, $5 COO per annum if for period
greater than twenty five and not exceeding thirty years
$5 500 and if for period greater than thirty years. he
shall receive $4,000 per 1t is aso provided that
whenever vacancy shall thus in the Office of the
chief associate justice of the Supreme Court Of
ths United States it shall be filled provided by the
Constitution and laws OF the United States in of
vacancy from other causes
The bill was referred to the Committee on the judiciary
THE EHoLYDAYs-MlLiTARY NECESSITIES
Considerable discussion took place on the proprety of
adjournment from the 23d instant to the 5h of January
proposed in resolution from the House of Representa-
tives.
concurrence ia this resolution of the House at this
time was opposed mainly the ground that Congress
ought first to decide upon the amendments proposed to
the enrolment act in order that the executive authorities
might proceed promptly with the impending draft, which
is appointed for the 5th of January next
Mr.. WILSON, chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs stated during the debate that the Government has
called for three hundred thousand and has offered
bounes OF 400 for sud $500 for other persons
The money has already been paid to persons who
have enlisted under this call has out of the Of
about twelve million dollars that raised from persons
who paid the Communication when drafted That sum- he
said exhausted and there persons already enlisted
under this call who entitled directive their bounty
but there is money to pay them, and Congress must
before adourning pass act To appropriate OF
ney to pay the bounty Then he further sad there
calls for changing the enrolment act aud 1T is proposed
to make few notifications of that act that experience
has proved to be necessary and will take short time 10
do that
MIR. WILSON proceeded to say Nearly all this business
s prepared now think and prepared to be salts
factory generally, but not quite So hope therefore
that shall not fix time to adj until at any rate,
day two hence, until the condition of affairs
for is certsa that whatever do 10 regard to the
roment act must be done before the hoydays because
under the call for troops, the 5th of January xed
drafting. hope, therefore, that sh. not agree
this adjournment for day two yet / think we can
pass these bills between and Monday next.
The debate uted n decision OF the Senate by which
the further consideration Of the question OF adournng
the holydays was postponed to Tuesday next.
A proposition to adjourn Monday was also re-
jected and then the Senate adjourned.