The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-20


Secretary of War for a detailed state
ment of the numerical strength of the
regular army, the number of officers
and men and where stationed, and how
employed. The resolution was adop-
ted.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a resolution
calling upon the Secretary of War for
Information as to the number of Major
Generals and Brigadier Generals OF
volunteer forces, the name, where sta
toned and how employed, &c. The
resolution was passed.
Mr.. Anthony called up the House
resolution for the adjournment of Com
gress from Wednesday, next to the 9th
day of January, and moved to amend
Wednesday and the Sd of January in
stead of the 9th.
Mr.. Hendrick moved to amend Mr..
Anthony's amendment by striking out
the word, "third" and inserting the
nth of January" on which motion
Mr.. Fessenden called for the yeas and
nays: Yeas 10; nays %. The ques-
amendment which was adopted,
Mr.. Trumbun gave notice of bill to
increase the powers of the Freedmen's
Bureau SO as to secure the freedom to
all persons within the U. s. and protect
every individual in the full endowment
of the rights of persons and property.
"A message from the President in re-
ply to resolution of the Senate, call
ing for information as to the condition
OF the lately rebellious States, was read,
also report from Gen. Grant on the
subject Of his late trip to the South.
MIR. Wilson introduced n bill the more
ehectually to provide for the national
defence by establishing a uniform milf
tary throughout the U. s. 1t is his bill
EahFIlaF-V a til, A.
militia system and providing military
bureau OF the government. The bill
was referred to the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
Mr.. Doolittle introduced bill in re-
lat1on to the Freedmen's Bureau, which
authorizes the President to extend and
maintain a branch of that bureau in
any State in which slaves have been
emancipated by the operations of war,
or the amendment of the Constitution,
and also authorized him to suspend its
operation in or withdraw the military
FORCES from the States in which he Is
satisfied that hostilitieS have ceased
tho instruction having been Suppress
ed, peace and order restored and the
civil authority established and the laws
SO modified as to procure equal protec-
tlon to all persons in all their rights,
without distinction of race or color. in
Guiding the right to make contracts,
sue and be sued, appear as witnesses,
buy or sell real and personal estate and
All the rights of property and personal
liberty. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs. :
Mr.. Conness introduced a bill to
amend an act for the disposal of coal
lands and town property, which allows
the right to enter 100 acres of coal lands
TO any person actually engaged in coal
upon the premises at the pas
sage OF that act, and fixes the price at
twenty dollars per acre.
"A declaratory descriptive statement
OF such lands and improvements is re-
CURED to be filed within one wear from
the passage of this act, and proof and
payment within one year thereafter.
The Bill was referred to the COMMITTEES
on Public Lands. -
Mr.. Wilson offered the following
which was adopted: 9'
Resotved, That the Secretary of War
be directed TO report, for the informa-
ton OF the Senate, what number of
men are now in service in the regular
army; what number of officers are now
holding commissions; where such off
GERS are stationed, and what duty they
are performing; said report to include
cavalry, artillery and infantry regi-
ments, and to state the number Of men
and officers In each company, battery
and regiment, and what number of en-.
listed men are actually fit for and ner-
forming active service with their COM
or elsewhere.
Mr.. Trumbull gave notice of a bill to
enlarge the power of the Freedmen's
Bureau, SO as to secure freedom to nil
persons within the United States, and
protect every individual in the fnIl an
joyment of the rights of person and Of
property, and furnish him means of
their vindication.
Mr.. Trumbull-1n giving this notice
desire 10 say 1t is given in view of the
adoption of the constitutional amend
ment abolishing slavery. Whatever
diversity of opinion there NAV be as 70
the actual adoption of the amendment
at this time, In consequence of the alb
normal condition of some of the lepis-
latures which have ratified it, there can
be no doubt that there could be had in
Congress the sanction of a sufficient
number of States to put its adoption
beyond cavil. ] have never doubted
that under the I'd section of the amend-
ment, 1t would be competent for Con-
gress to protect every person within the
United States in all rights of person
and property belonging to free citi-
zen, and to secure these rights is the
object of the bill propose to intro
duc0. I think it important that action
should be taken on this subject at an
early day. The federal government
will, by virtue of its own AUTHORITY.
see that they are fully protected.
Mr.. Anthony offered resolution that
until otherwise ordered all papers re-
lattng to the question of representation
OF States lately in rebellion be referred
to special committee of Is,
Mr.. Cowan objected to the present
consideration of the above, and It went
over under the rules.
Mr.. Cowan said a message had inst
been received from the President in
response to a resolution calling for in
formation as to the condition Of States
lately In rebellion. He called for the
reading of the message.
The message of the President VIVA
read as follows:
To the Senate of the United States. in re-
PIyto GresoLltioH adopted b. he Senate
on the 18th:
I have the honor to state that the re-
bellion waged by a portion of the people
against the properly constituted author
tiles of the Government of the United
States, has been suppressed; that the
United States are in possession of every
State in which the insurrection existed
and that, as far as could be done. the
courts of the United States have been
restored, postoffices re-established and
steps taken to put into effective onara-
ton the revised laws of the country. as
the result of the measures instituted by
the Executive, with the view of induc-
ing resumption of the function of the
States comprehended in the enquiry of
the Senate. The people in North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama.
Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and
Tennessee have recognised their res
pecttye State Governments and are
yielding Obedience to the laws and gov
ernments OF the United States with
more willingness and greater prompts
tude than under the circuinsta noes
could reasonably have been anticipated.
The proposed amendment to the consti
tuition, providing for the abolition of
slavery forever within the limits of the
county, has been ratified by each one of
the Sfates with the nHnnnAiS - ~ =