The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Thirty-Ei.hth Congress--lst Session.
Mondays Proceedings Concluded
WASHINGTON. Feb 8.

lMonttay'S Proceedings Concluded.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.
SENATE-Mr. Davis presented petition
! from citizens of Kentucky praying for COM
pensatiOn tor losses by rebel incursiOus.
Mr.. Berry presented memorial from the
Kansas Legislature to indemnify citizens of that
/ State for losses bv guerilla raids. Referred TO
! Committee On Military Affairs.
| Bills to organize the Territories of Nevada
and Colorado, were referred to Territorial
| Committee
Mr. Sumner introduced seven resolutions
defining the powers of the National Govern
| ment.
| The President sent in a communication en-
| closing correspondence with the rebel au-
| thorities relative to exchange of prisoners
| The Secretary of War was requested to trans
nit to the Senate information as to orders to
| Provost MarShals in regard to elections in Bor.
| der States. After Executive business the Sem
ate adjourned
WASHINGTON. Feb g.
SENATE.-Mr. Sumner presented petitions of
II 706 ladies of New York. Is, 300 of Illinois,
| and 1,641 of Massachusetts,, and duplicate
number of males, praying for the entire abol-
ishment of slavery. The introduction of the
petitions caused spicy and interesting. debate
between Salisbury, Sumner, Wilson and others.
MIR. Sherman introduced a bill, which was
referred to the Finance Committee, prohibiting
speculations in gold, silver, and foreign eX-
| change and for other purposes.
Mr.. Powell introduced a bill amending the
| Constitution SO as to provide new method of
| electing the President of the United States
Mr.. Hotchkiss,, of New York, Introduced
bill granting lands to aid in the construction
of the Lake Superior Railroad providing for
its use by the United States free of charge.
Mr Dawes called up the Louisiana Congress
| siOnal case.
Mr. Fields advocated his right to the seat.
He said he had a few slaves, but if he had
| thousands he would have sacrificed them on
the altar of his country
Mr.. Ganson opposed the admission of Mr..
Field on the ground of insufficient constitu-
ency, and took occasion to sternly condemn
| the conduct of interference in elections bv
General Shepley, who had become a convert
| to the perniciOus doctrine that the revOlted
States are out of the Union.
Mr.. Brown, of Wisconsin, replied that the
military Governor had SO interfered as in effect
| to prevent an election.
The House by 81 against IA adopted the res
| in the House.
The House went into Committee of the
| Whole on the enrolment bill.
| The House went into C0mmitte of the Whole
on the state of the Union. Mr.. Dawson in the
chair. and resumed the consideration of the
Senate bill amendatOry of the enrolment law.
Mr.. Keenan,, of New York. offered an
amendment excmpting from draft, clergymen
who are not engaged in any trade or secular
business
During the debate Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, OBJ
posed the amendment, saying 1.-THE pestifer-
Gus clergymen of the country onght not to be
exempted"
Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, was also OPP
posed to the amendment but for different
reason; he did not want to put an insult on
the patriotism of clergymen
| Mr.. Spaulding, of Ohio, said, NO patriotic
clergyman had asked any such exemption:
DR.. Old's church will remedy all defects of
which my colleague, Mr.. Cox, complains.