Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-05-12
Congressional.

| In the senate, on tue Z9tn uit., Mr..
Grimes Of Iowa, presented the memo
rial of Alanson Penfield, clerk in the
Treasury Department, praying for the
construction of Reservoirs for supply.
ing the Upper Mississippi with a
medium stage Of water for naviga-
ton throughout the dry summer
months, and canal from the head of
Lake Superior to tue Red River of the
North via Sandy Lake, distance of
40 miles, thence via Crow Wing, Leaf
River and Attartal Lake to Breckin-
ridge, a total distance of 240 miles,
thus opening navigation by Red River
and Saskatchewan for 1000 miles to
the base of the Rocky Mountains, and
furnishing an outlet to the Hudson
Bay region. This would require an
Improvement of AZ miles less than the
Fox and Wisconsin River Canal route,
and so miles shorter than tue Illinois
and Mississippi Canal.
In the House, the bill guaranteeing
a Republican Government to Rebel
lious States, after long discussion,
was passed-Yeas, 10: Nays, SO,
The bill provides for the appointment
of Provisional Governors, and as soon
as the military resistance shall be
suppressed that measures be taken
for calling a Convention for the forma-
ton Of State Constitution. Certain
classes Of persons who have voluntari-
~ borne arms or held Office under the
Confederate usurpation are excluded
from voting or being elected as dele
gates. The conditions on which such
States shall be admitted include a
provision that involuntary servitude
shall be prohibited and freedom for
ever guaranteed, and that no debts
created under the sanction of the
usurping power shall be recognized
or paid by the newly created States.
Col. AIlison's bill for a grant of
land in aid of the McGrcgor railroad
has passed the House, and ere this
has undoubtedly passed the Senate.
This bill is preferable to Mr.. Harlan's
for the reason that it is OF immediate
benefit to the Railroad Company. Mr..
Harlan's bill onl y allowed the Com
pany coterminus sections Of land to
road actually built-thus compelling
the company to build $50 or more
miles of road before they could receive
any lands while, under Mr.. Allison's
bill they draw lands for every ten
miles, and must build twenty miles OF
road each year and every year, or for
felt their right to them. We learn
that Mr.. Harlan would cheerfully ac-
cept this as a substitute for his bill.
Judge Hubbard, the Member from
Sioux City, has faithfully stood by our
interests in this land grant measure,
and is entitled to the gratitude of our
people.
The House has agreed to the Sen
ate amendment to the Army Appro.
priation bill, equalizing the pay of
colored and white soldiers from and
after Jan. |, 1864. Colored soldiers
hereafter mustered in may receive a
bounty not exceeding 800. 1t is
further stated that on case submit
ted by Gov. Andrew of Mass, the At
torney- General Of the United States
has given an opinion that under the
existing statutes all colored soldiers
are entitled from the date of their
muster-in to the same pay and allow
ances as white soldiers. Such a deci-
sion would override that of the War
Department, and under the ordinary
rule of action 10y the Government,
would result in the payment to the
colored troops of wages from the date
of their entrance into service.
Senator Foote good authority, thinks
that an adjournment cannot be reach
ed before the last of June. The
House has unfortunately to devote the
evening sessions hereafter exclusive
ly to declarations.