Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-29
Congressional.
WAsHINGToN. April %

Tor the graduation of their pay, was passed.
Mr.. Fessenden, from the same committee,
reported the House resolution increasing
temporarily the duties on foreign imports
50per cent, with one amendment of 331aa
per cent. increase on tho present duty, and
also excepting goods in bond and transit.
i A lengthy debate ensued on the House
bill increasing temporarily the duties Oh
imports. The amendment decreasing the
increase of the temporary duty on imports
from 30 to 331a per cent. on the present
rates, was passed. The Senate amendment
exempting foreign goods already in bond
and transitu from the temporary duty was
adopted. On aseperate vote the amendment
was adopted in committee of the Whole,
levying an increased temporary duty of 1874
per cent. instead of 30 per cent on the pres
ent rate of duty on foreign rates, was re-
jected.
The amendment excepting goods in bond
and in transitu, was rejected.
The House bill was then passed without
amendment by vote of 80 to s, and the
Senate adjourned at $50 =. NJ.
The following is the joint resolution as
passed by the Senate:
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentdtires, &C., That until the end Of sixty
days from the passage of this resolution,
fifty per centum of the rates of duties and
imports now imposed by law on all goods,
wares, merchandise and articles imported,
shall be added to the present duties and
imports charged on the importation of such
articles; provided that printing paper un-
sized, used for books and newspapers ex-
clusively, shall be exempt from the opera
ton of this resolution. H
HoUsE.-The House went into Committee
of the Whole on the Internal Revenue bill.
Mr.. Kasson offered substitute for the
15lst section, which was adopted. 1t pro-
vides as follows: 1t shall not be lawful to
record any instrument, docement or paper,
unless the pr0perstamp shall be affixed and
the record, when the proper stamp is not
affixed shall be utterly void and shall not
be used as evidence. The section stricken
out proposed penalty of fifty dollars for
failure to affix the stamp.
The Speaker laid before the House an ad-
dress to the President from the people of
East Tennessee, and the Presidents reply.
The address recounts the suffering of the
people of East Tennessee, and asks for the
prompt payment of claims against the Gov
ernment, and for the establishment of rail-
road facilities for obtaining supplies; and
that the establishment of railroad between
Knoxville and Cincinnati, by way of central
Kentucky, would be of great consequence
in the present emergency, and estimates
the expenses and losses. A railroad, in
1861, would have saved at least $5,000,0O0.
The President in reply, said he had in his
annual message of 1861, recommended the
construction of such road, and now with
the hearty concurrence of Congress would
yet be pleased to do so.
The Speaker also laid before the House
the following message from the President:
To the House Of REPRESENTATIVES:
In obedience to the resolution of your
honorable body, copy of which is here
with returned, have the honor to make
the following brief statement, which is be-
lieved to contain the information sought:
Prior to and at the meeting of the pres
ent Congress, Robert G. Schenck, of Ohio,
and Frank p. Blair, jr., of Missouri, mem
bers elect thereto, by and with the consent
of the Senate, held commissions from the
Executive as Major-Generals i'm the volun-
teer army. Gen. Schenck rendered the res
ignatiOn of his said commission, and took
his seat in Che House of Representatives at
the assembling thereof, upon the distinct
verbal understanding with the Secretary of
War and the Executive that he might, at
any time during the session, at his own
pleasure, withdraw said resignation and re-
turn to the field.
Gen. Blair was, by temporary agreement
of Gen. Sherman, in command of a corps
through the battles in front of Chattanooga
and in marching to the relief of Knoxville,
which occurred in the latter days of De-
cember last, and of course was not present
at the assembling of Congress. When he
arrived here he sought and
was allowed by the Secretary of War and
the Executive, the same conditions and
promises as was allowed and made to Gen.
Schenck. Gen. Schenck has not applied to
withdraw his resignation, but when Gen.
Grant was made Lieutenant General, pro-
ducing some changes of commanders and
of officers, Gen. Blair sought to be assigned
to the command of corps. This was made
known to Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman,
lar corps for him was designated.
This was arranged and understood, as
now remembered, so much as month ago;
but the formal withdrawal of Gen. Blair's
resignation and the revoking of the order
him to command of a corps were
not consummated at the War Department
until last week, perhaps on the 23d of
April inst. AS summary of the whole, it
may be said that Gen. Blair holds no mill |
tary commission or appointment than as
herein stated, and that it was believed he is |
now acting as Major General upon the as
,umed validity of the commission herein |
stated and not otherwise. There are some |
etters, not as kilograms, orders, entries, |
md perhaps other documents, in connection |
with this subject, which it is believed will |
throw no additional light upon il, but which |
will be cheerfully furnished if desired.
-rE -.'s ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Mr.. Schenck, of Ohio, explained that he |
was elected to Congress while engaged in |
he military service, and he had considered |
or several months whether he would take |
his seat here or not. At last the time ap- |
preached when it became necessary that he |
should come to decision. Mr.. Schenck |
hen related his conversation with the Sec
'etary of War and the President on the |
ubject and these gentlemen said that the |
natter could be arranged so that he could |
'eturn TO the military service. He tender
ID his resignation on the 9Th of December
asst, accompanying it with request that
he (Schenck) should be relieved from COM
nand. He did not now claim to be in any
ense in the military service, his resigna-
ion having been formally rendered and ac-
epted.
The Presidents message was, on motion
# Mr.. Dawes, referred to the committee on
lections.
The House then resumed the considera-
ion of the amendments to the interest tax
ills. Many of the amendments were agreed
o en- masse; others were reserved for sep
rate votes. se.
Fernando Wood offered a new section to
onaoI tho aot nf March favin0 foroion 1;o |