The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-07
XXXVIII OONGRESs---First Session.
SENATE.

WASHING Ron. Jan q.
| Mr.. johnson presented petition from the
| Friends of MARYLAND, Virginia and Pennsylya-
| mia, asking exemption from military duty,
Also, petition from Susan w. Hatch, of
MARYLAND, PRAYING for a compensation for the
| slaves owned by her and which had been taken
| by the military. and for which nav was disal-
lowed on account of her husband. Referred
to the committee OH Claims.
Mr.. Morgan presented petition from the
| Society of Friends. praying for exemption.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony the Senate nro-
ceeded to the election of the Select Committee
on the Pacific Railroad. He nominated Mr..
| Howard as Chairman, and as members of the
| committee Messrs. Collamer. johnson. Harlan.
| Trumbull. Sherman, Morgan, CONFESS and
| Brown. who were elected.
Mr.. Morrill, offered the following:
| Resolced, That the Secretary of War be
directed to inform the Senate whether the
steamer Niagara, which was chartered by the
| Ouartermaster's Department i'm 1862. and re-
ported by a committee of the Senate as unfit
| for service, has since been purchased By the
| government. and if So by whom, and at what
price, and whether any claim is made for the
| original charter. and if SO. what, and particu-
| larly what is the situation of the claim
| Adopted.
| Mr.. Howard submitted the following resolu-
tiops, which were objected to and laid over:
| Resolred. That the committee on Judiciary
| be instructed to consider the propriety of re-
pealing the joint resolution of July 7, 1862,
relative to the construction of the confiscation
| act, and in particular. SO much of said Joint
resolution as purports to prohibit the forfeiture
of real estate beyond the natural life of the
real offender.
Mr.. Wilson reported, from the Military com
mittee, the act to amend the enrolling act ;
| also. the bill to extend the time to paw the
|
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
| alton of the bill Of Mr.. Powell, to prevent
| officers of the army and navy, or other per-
| sons engaged in the military service, from in
terfering with the election Of States.
| Mr.. Grimes opposed the reference of the bill
| to the Judiciary committee, on the ground
| pacity
Mr.. Powell contended for the reference of
| the bill to the Judiciary committee, as it pro-
tected the freedom of the elective franchise in
the States. The evil sought to be remed:ed
was of startling import to every freeman.
! Elections have been carried against the will
and majority of the people at the point of the
| bayonet.
Mr.. Davis favored the reference of the bill
to the Judiciary committee, as it introduced
| the question whether certain acts performed
| by military men shall be a civil of1ense.
The Senate refused to refer the bill to the
| Judiciary committee by vote of q to 10.
Mr.. Powell moved a Reconsideration.
| A lengthy debate then ensued. in which
Messrs. Lane, of Indiana, Powell and Davis,
of Kentucky. and Wilson. of Massachusetts.
| participated.
Mr.. Powell, in the course of his remarks.
said: "The hero of military operation on a
railroad makes his will the supreme law. He
saws Won shall not vote unless Won become the
subjects of the hero of the blood-stained field
of VIENNA
| Mr.. Powelrs bill was then referred to the
committee on Military Affairs.
The Senate received the House bill extend
ing the bounty to volunteers. which passed to
| its second reading.
Adjourned.
| uorrsr.
Mr.. Kelly. of Pennsylvania. asked to be. and
| was excused from serving as q member OF the
| special COMMITTEES on the bankrupt law for the
reason that his other public duties engrossed
| ali his time
The Sneaker announced the nend;nc busi-
ness to be on the passage of Mr.. Branderer's
resolution, offered Yesterday, for the appoint
| mont of a salact comnittae of n;na members
to inquire into the expediency of constructing
railroad between New York and Washington
for postal and other purposes The resolution
was adopted-6tj against As.
On motion of Mr. Brandeger, OF Conneeti-
cut, the committee on the District of Columbia
was instructed to call the attention of the
municipal authorities to the necessity for some
measure to prevent the spread of small pox in
the District of Columbia
Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, from the COM
mittee on Military Affairs, reported a Joint
resolution extending the bounties heretofore
paid, from the 9TH Of January to the LIST of
March.
Mr.. Farnsworth urged the immediate pas
sage of the resolution.
Mr.. Brooks, of New York, and others, de-
sired further time to look into the subject
The resolution finally passed.
Mr.. Dawes, of Massachusetts,, from the
committee ON elections, reported a bill fixing a
uniform time for holding elections for Repre-
sentatives to Congress, and enabling soldiers
| to vote for said officers, which was ordered to
! be printed and re-committed
The committee on Elections, and Ways and
Means, obtained leave to sit during the sessions
of Congress.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, made an Intellectual
effort to limit the extension of bounties to the
9Th of Feb in order to induce speedy enlist
ments
Mr.. Elliott, of Massachusetts,, introduced a