The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-30
BY TELEGRAPH
THIRTY.ElGnTH CONGRESS.

BY TELEGRAPH
THIRTY.EIGnTH CONGRESS-.
WAsR1NaToN, April 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. It pro-
vides as follows: It shall not he lawful to
record any instrument, document or paper,
unless the proper stamp 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 q penalty OF $50 for
Z Rilure to afix the stamp.
The following IL the joint resolution pas
SD by the Senate:
Resolvcd. Bv the Senate and House OF
Representatives, &C., that until the end Of
60 days from the passage of this resolution,
50 per cent. of the rates of duties and i'm
pofts now imposed by law on all goods,
wares, merchandise and articles imported,
ehall be added to the present duties and
imports now charged on the importation OF
such articles, provided, that printing paper
unsized, used for books and newspapers
exclusively, shall be exempt from the op-
GRAFTON of this resolution.
The Speaker laid before the House an
Address to the President from the People
Of East Tennessee and the Presidents re.
ply. The Address recOpnts the suterings
Of the people of East Tennessee, aud asks
for the prompt payment of claims against
Government, and Tor thu establishment of
Railroad facilities for obtaining supplies.
and that the establishment of Railroad
between Knoxvills and Cincinnati, by way
of Central Kentucky, would be OF greal
consequence in the present emergency, and
estimates the expenses and losses which u
In. looe
5000, eco.
The President, in reply, said he had in
his annual message OF 81 recommended
the construction Of such q 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:
obedience to the resolution of your honor
able body, copy Of which is herewith re-
turned, have the honor to mOke the fol.
lowing brief Abatement, which is believed
to contain the information sought: Prior
to and at the meeting of the present Con-
gress, Robert C. Sctenck Of Ohio, aud
Frank p. Blair, Jr., of Missouri, members
elect thereto, by and with the advice and
consent Of OF the Senate, held commissions
from the Executive a. Major Generals in
the Volunteer Army. Gen, Schenck ten.
dered the resignation Of his said commits
sion. He took hill seat in the House OF
Representatives at the assembling thereof,
upon the distinct verbal understanding
with the Secretary OF War and the Execu.
tive, that he migh: at any during the ses-
sion at his own pleasure withdraw said res
ignation and return to the field.
Gen. Blair was, by temporary agreement
of Gen. Sherman, in command of Corps,
through the battles in front OF Chattanooga
and in marching to the relief of Knoxville,
which occurred in the latter days OF De-
comber last, and OF course, was not present
at the assembling of Congress-. When he
subsequently arrived here, he sought, and
was allowed by the Secretary of War and
the Executive, the same conditions and
promise as were 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 change Of commands and of
officers, Gen. Blair sought to be assigned to
the command of n Corps. This was made
known to Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman,
and assented to by them, and the particu-
lar Corps for him was designated. This
was arranged and understood, as now re-
membered, rs much as . month ago, but
the formal withdrawal of Gen. Blair's re-
signation, and he revokiug of the order as
signing him to the command Of q Corps,
were not contaminated Mt the War Depart
ment until last week, perhaps the 2Sd of
April. As summary Of the whole, it may
be stated that Gen. Blair holds no military
position or appointment. other than as
herein stated, and that 1t was believed he is
now acting ~ Major General upon the
assumed validity Of the commission herein
stated, and not Otherwise. There are some
letters, notes and kilograms, orders, entries
and perhaps other documents, in connec
ton with this subject, which it is believed
would throw no additional light upon 1t,
4pas hnn ALI L. e. = L.
April y, 1854.
Mr.. SCHENCK of Ohio, explained that
he was elected to Congress while engaged
In the military service, and he had consid-
cred for several months whether he would
take his seat here or not. AT last the time
approached when it became necessary that
be should come to decision. Mr.. Schenck
then related his conversation with the Sec
rotary of War and the President on the
subject, and these gentlemen said that the
matter could he arranged 90 that he could
return to the military service. He tender
cd his resignation on the 5th of December
Last, accompanying it with Q request that
6e should be relieved from command. He
DID not now claim to be in any sense in the
military service, bis Resignation having
been fAvorably rendered and accepted.
The Presidents Message, on motion Of
Mr.. DAWES, was referred to the Commit
tee On Elections.
The House then resumed the considera.
ton Oi the amendments to the internal tax
bill. Many OF the amendments were agreed
to en- Iiiasse, and others were reserved for
aepxrate votes.
FERNANDO WOOD offered a new sec.
ton, ~ repeal the act Of March taxing for.
oign liquors on hand.
Mr.. WASHBURNE presented substi-
tute, 10 tax domestic spirits on hand. the
rate thereon. WAY referred.
The House refused to concur in striking
ont the following: All Gas Companies are,
hereby authorized to add to the duty or tn
the price per thousand of cubic teet of gas
sold.
The House refused to tax coal illumina-
ting oil, &c: q cents, and left a. originally
reported, namely, 20 cents per gallon.
The House also refused TO agree to the
amendment taxing crude petroleum dol