Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-12-22
CONGR ESSIONAL,
Turpsnay noco-hor .,

1htRSDAis DeCemDor
SESATR.-Mr. Wilson presented a petition
from omcers OF the army, for an increaee OF
psy. Referred to the Military Comn.ittee
Mr. Wilson reported from the Military Com
mittee adversely on the House bill to drop from
the army unemployed general officers. The
report was ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. Hale introd uced bill to incorporate the
association OF the Sisters Of Mercy, in the city
Of " ashington. Referred to the Committee on
the District Of Columbia.
MI Sumner presented petition from Mrs.
Catharlne Spear, widow OF the late Chas.
Spear, who devoted his life to prisoners, In
favor OF al institution for the care and reforma-
ton OF juvenile offenders In this District
Referred TO the Committee on the District or
On motion OF Mr.. Wilson, q resolution was
adopted Rs follows:-Tnat the Committee on
Military Affairs inquire into the expediency
OF continuing the relief to soldiers at the Sol.
diers' Home; inquiring into the manner in
which the funds tor the said institution have
been managed: the present condition OF the
same; and, also, whether the benevolent pur.
poses OF the Government in establishing the
same might not be better carried out by repeal
Ing the law, aban doning that mode Of relief,
and substituting therefor pensions to those at
present by Law entitled to its bene fits.
MIR. Sumner called up the Senate bill of last
session, supplementary TO the act OF July 2,
1852, to prescribe an oath OF Office, and reported
upon adversely by the Judiciary Committee.
1t provides that no one shall be admitted to
practice in the United States Supreme Court
or District Court Of the United States, or court
OF Claims, except he shall have subscribed to
the oath Of loyalty embraced In said act-any
person so swearing falsely, to be deemed guilty
OF perjury.
MIR. Johnson suggested that some specific
date should be fixed in the bill from and after
which this oath should be required-say the
1s OF March next.
Mr.. ]. alluded to the remark Of Mr. Sumner
yes 'erday, that there were lawyers in this city
who refused to take'the oath OF allegiance In
the local courts, yet practised in the U. 5. Su
preme Court. So far as he knew there WAS
hut one legal gentleman in that category, and
that gentleman had Informed him that he b I'D
no objection to subsci ibiug to such an oath
when presented In legal way. There was no
law for the administration OF any such oath
1t had only been ordered by the judge Of the
court of this District. But II any law were
passed by Congress generally prescribing au
oath for all practitioners he Mr.. j } kn.w 1t
would be readily complied with 1t was DE-.
sirable, however, that the modification should
be made IN the bill which he had suggestas +,
fixing time for the requirement to take effect,
e. pecally as il was TO reach the Dstri 1t courts
of the United States, and affect those at q dis.
lance
Mr. Sumner said he had no objection To such
q modification, and the bill was altered to read
'that no person, after the date OF this Act,
Court Of the United States, or at any time
after the 9Th of March next, shall be admit,ed
70 the bar OF any Circuit or District Court OF
the United States, or Of the Court Of Claims,
or shall be allowed to appear or be heard ia
any such Cont, unless he fret subscribe 70
the said oath" Ats
The bill was then passed-yeas 81, nays A.
the nays being Mssars. BuohaIew, Davis,
Richardson's, and salisbury.
After some other upimportant hussuess, the
Senate adjourned till the 9Th OF January
tHoUsk-On motion Of Mr.. Elliot, resolu.