The Portland daily press., 1864-06-01
xxxVuI 0OHGREss---rirst Session.

WASHINGTON, May 81.
4 SENATE.
The credentials of Mr.. Baxter, Senator
elect from Arkansas, were read and laid on
the table.
Mr.. Davis submitted the following:
Whereas, it has been frequently charged In
public prints and other modes that when the
leaders of the present rebellion were engaged
in plotting aud maturing it, Benjamin f. But
Ter was cognizant Of and privy to their treas
sonable purposes, and gave them his counte-
nance, sympathy and support, and that he, the
said Butler, after some OF the rebel States had
1 published ordinances of secession, turned
against the conspirators whom he had been
sustaining to get position aud Office under the
Government of the United States to enable
him to consummate his own personal aud cor
rupt objects; and that after he was appointed
TO, and whilst he was acting in the military
service, he was by himself and his accomplice.
ID. j. Butler, and many others, guilty oil many
other acts OF fraud, speculation and embexze-
ment against the United States, and many
acts oil extortion, plumber, spoliation, oppres-
sion and cruelty against individuals; there
fore, be it
Resolved, That the President of the Senate
appoint committee Of three to investigate
all such charges against said Butler; that said
committee have power to sit during the re-
cess OF the Senate, to send for persons and
papers, and that it report all the testimony
and its proceedings to the next session.
The tax bill was then taken up.
Mr.. McDougal opposed Mr.. Shermans
amendment TO strike out State banks.
Mr.. Sherman's amendment was rejected.
The amendments moved by Mr.. Clark. rep
resenting the Finance Committee, were
adopted.
Mr. Wade attempted to reduce the tax on
Oh made from coal, and strike out the duty on
coal from which oil is distilled, but failed. He
tneh moved to insert provision, in the form
o. new section, abolishing the fishing boun-
After debate the Senate took a recess.
EVENING SESSION.
Adebate occurred on the fishing bounty |
question.
The resolution was rejected-yeas IL, nays |
24.-Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The bill 10 carry into effect Consular Con-
ventpns with France and other nations was
passed.
The bill authorizing the President to con-
structa military railroad from the valley of
the Nio to East Tennessee was passed
Thebill Incorporating the Peoples Pacific
Railr0d and Telegraph Co., on the route from
Lake Superior to Puget Sound, was passed
"a to 20.
The House took from the Speakers table q
bill proposing to the several States an amend
ment u the Constitution of the United States,
amely-"Neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude, except in punishment OF crime, OF
which the party shall be duly convicted, shall
exist within the United States, or In any place
within their jurisdictions, and Congress shall
have power BY appropriate legislation to carry
the foregoing article into effect"
Mr.. Holman, of Ind, objected to the second
reading d the bill, and so, under the rule. the
question occurred, "shall it be rejected-neg-
atiyed, yeas SIS, nays 10.
Mr.. Morris, of N. j., spoke in favor Of the
BILL
The House here took a recess.
EVENING SESSION.
About dozen members were present.
Messrs. Herrick and Kellogg, Of n. Y,
made speeches on political topics.
Adjourned.