Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-12-23
CONGRESS.

the President 70 transfer one OF our gunDOats TO the
Republic of Liberia, that Government to pay for ii
IN ten annual instaliments. Mr. Sherman reported
bill to construct six cutters for the lakes
After some debate and the reading of a letter from
the Secretary of the Treasury, the bill was passed
Mr.. Wilson proposed joint resolution securlngfree-
dom to the wives and childrenof all coored soldiers
Referred to the Military Committee. That part of
the Presidents message speaking OF foreign imml
grafton was referred to the Committee on Agrleult
ure The Bankruptcy Bill received from the
House and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The credentials Of Senator Anthony of Rhode ls-
land were presented. He is elected for six years
from the 4th Of March next. After an executive
session the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Elliot offered resolution, which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee declaring
that the State of Louisiana may political re-
ations with the General Government Mr. Cole
introduced bill granting public lands TO certain
railroad companies in California. He also introdu-
eed bill to establish Department of Mines, to
collect and diffuse useful information on that sub
iect. Laid over. The papers of the Louisiana
Members, before referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee were sent tothe Committee on Rebellious States
A resolution by Mr. Chanler was adopted, to inquire
into the expediency of reducing the tax on COAL
The House then took up the blu for Nayy-Yard al
New London. After some debate, the whole subject
was laid on the table. The House then took up Mr.
Ward resolution of last Session, proposing to give
Great Britain notice OF an intention to repeal the
Canadian Reciprocity Treaty, and to appoint Com
missioners to make new treaty Mr.. Morrill,
moved substitute omitting all reference to a new
treaty, simply giving notice of intention to ter
inmate the agreement. In this form the joint reso
luton passed. SIS to 81. Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Dec IA.
SENATE.-A memorial fromthe Legislature Of Or
egon, asking for the establishment of mandatory
Of arms in that State, presented The Naval
Committee reported resolutions of thanks to Captain
Wnslow and Lieut.. Cushing which were passed
Mr. Chandler made statement in regard to the dis
charge of the st. Albans raiders, and introduced
resolution directing the Military Committee
TO inquire into the expedencv of Immediately
enlsting army corps to watch and defend our
territory bordering on the lakes and Canadian line
from all hostile demonstrations and incursions.-
Mr.. Johnson, of Maryland, objected to the resolu-
ton, and it was laid over Mr.. Chandler then sub
mitted preamble, reciting the depredations com
mitted upon American commerce by vessels fitted
out in English ports, and closing with resolution
instruetng the Secretary of State to make list
Of the ships and cargoes destroyed, with a fair yau
alton and SIX PR cent interest from the date of cap
ture to the date of presentation, and directing him
further to demand from the British government pay
ment in full for all ships or eargoes destroyed Mr.
johnson also objected to this resolution, and it like
wise went over. The resolution nstructing the Fl
nance Committee to inquire into the proprety of i'm
posing tax upon all sales of real personal prop
erty offered by Mr.. Doolittle on Monday was taken
red to the Committee on Finance. The Joint resolu-
tion from the House, authorizing notice to be given
to Great Britain of the termination of the recproci
ty treaty, referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations. After an Executive session adjourned.
HoUsE.-A bill providing that any alien of twen-
ty-one years of age, who shall have been honorably
discharged from the army, navy, or marine corps,
may become citizen without any previous declara-
ton, and shall not be required TO prove more than
one years residence was passed. The Committee
on Ways and Means reported bills making appropria
tons for the diplomatic and consular expences and
for invalid and other pensioners. The bills for a
ship canal around the Falls of Niagara and canal
from the Mississippi to Lake Michigan were post
poned until the 23d of January. The Committee on
Foreign Affairs was instructed to INQUIRE into the
expediency of forthwith providing by treaty or 9TH
erwse for the protection of our northern frontier
The Committee on Militry Affairs reported bill
providing for dropping from the rolls all major gem
erals and brigadier generals who, on the 18th of
January, 1865, shall not be in service corresponding
to their respective grades ranks. The bill was
passed. The resolution of last session, authorizing
the appointment of commission to inquire and
report the best mode of taxation to increase the rev
enues was tabled The Senate bill authorizing the
of six steam revenue cutters on the
lakes were concurred in. The Honse then went
into Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and several speeches were made on the
Presidents message. Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Dec IS.
SEYATE.-A resolution was passed. asking the
President to furnish information concerning an ar
rangement between the United States and Great
Britain relative to the naval force to be maintained
upon the American lakes. A petition from cigar
makers of Philadelphia asking the removal of the
AK upon manufactured articles, and that ii be pat
IN the material, was referred to the Committee
on Finance. Mr.. Lane offered resolution instrue.
ing the Committee on the conduct of the War to /
INQUIRE to the truth ofthe charges that large num-
lers of disloya persons are employed in the navy
-ards, quartermasters and ordnance depots A dis
:ussion ensued, and it was stated that a number of
hese disloya persons are in the Philadelphia navy
ard The resolution was passed. The Committee
IN Military were instructed to inquire into the ex-
'ediency of amending the act of 1892, by establish
ng uniform militia throughout the United States
tic. The bill to regulate commerce among the sew
ra States was made the special order for the first
y ednesday IN January. The bill to transfer gun
,oat to the government ofLiberia was passed The
Committee on the Conduct of the War was instruct
ID to inquire into the facts connected with the as
anlt upon Petersburg in July l3. 1864. Adjourned
Ill Monday.
HousE.-Mr. Mallory, of Kentucky asked leave
0 introduce resolution requesting the President
Q communicate the papers bearing on the arrest of
lieutenant Governor Jacob and Colonel Wolford. of
kentucky. but Mr.. Stevens objected. A resolution
reeting an investigation of all the facts as to the
ractlcal operation of the pension laws was passed
so, resolution asking the Secretary of State for
i the communications in reference to the difficult
es upon the northern borders. The Senate reso-
ltions OF thanks to Captain Winslow and Lieuterl-
Mt Gushing were concurred in Mr. Davis, from
ne Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a reso-
ltion declaring that Congress has constitutional
ghtt authoritative in declaring the foreign
ohey OF the United States, which was laid on the
ibie by vote of SO to 63. Mr. Davis then asked |
} be excused from further services upon the Com
'ittee on Foreign Affairs. This caused a long de-
ate upon the foreign policy of the government,
nd at Its conclusion the request of Mr.. Davis was
Fused resolution to adjourn from the I'D inst
January 9th was passed The following hills I
ere passed. The bin making appropriations for
valid and other pensions, the bill making an ap :
ropriatisn for the Diplomatic and Consular estab. )
ihment, the joint resolution giving the true con
ruetion and meaning to so much of the Internal
eYenue act as relates to the tax on tobacco and
gars Adjourned until Monday