The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-20
CONGRESS.


The proceedings Of Congress yesterday wore very
important and Of far more than usually interesting
character. In the Senate . message from
the President in response to the resolution requesting
information regarding the Southern States covering
reports the condition Of those States and their people
OF Lieutenant General Grant and General Carl schrx
The reading Of that OF General Grant produced pro.
found sensation in the minds Of the Senator's II OK
presses confidence in the good faith Of the people lately
in rebellion against the government and their readiness
accept The results of the forever dsposing Of
tho slavery and secession questions and favors
their early restoration TO the full privileges
OF citizenship The Presidents message
ranyins these reports also strongly advocates
the restoration of the Southern State governments
General schuz not read, but ordered to bs
printed Mr. Sumner, in short speech, denounced the
message OF the President, saying II worse than
President Pierces embarrassing message Kansas"
Ho was replied TO in defence Of the President by Mr.
Doote, of Wisconsin; Mr. Dixon, OF Connecticut, and
Reverdy johnson, Of Maryland the debate being
what animated. resolution. adopted calling for
tho report OF General Howard, Commissioner Of the
Freedmens Bureau Of his late trip through the SOUTH
Of yFAr for statement Of the numerical strength
and disposition of tho various portions OF the
army, Increasing the bonds Of the superinten.
dent Of Public Printing from forty thousand to eighty
thousand dollars amending the House resolution for
the proposed TO make 1t extend from
I'LL che ID OF January. bin passed giving to
sailors who have lost both feet in the national The
same pension OF twenty dollars per month already
provided for similarly afflicted soldiers Bills intso
duced and referred, TO establish uniform militia sys
tenn Throughout the country to provide for the defence
Of Northeastern frontier, regulating the OF
the entry and working Of public coal lands and author
nng the Pr sdent TO extend and maintain branches Of
the Frcedmcns Bureau in tho lately rcbellous States
Notlcs given by Mr.. Trumbull OF another bill Of
purpor somewhat similar TO the latter. An executive
session hold, sstcr which the Senate adjourned.
la the Reuse OF Representatives the credentials Of
che Louisiana members presented and re-
ferred TO the Committee on tho Southern states
A resolution was adopted, BY one hundred and
thr;ysovcn yeas 10 twcnty-one nays, instruciing
the Can,mitcc Elections to inquire into the cir.
cumstonccs connected with tho appearance in the
House = n,clber Of Benjamin G Harris OF Maryland
time ago. alleged. convicted by a court
martial OF having aided the rebels appaudcd the char
acler and Of JEFF. Davis approved the assass.
OF President Lincoln, and sentenced therefor
among other things, 70 perpetual disqualification
for holding any ONCE under government A
bill was reported from the Committee on
Commerce authorizing every railroad company through
out the country carry freight mails passengers gov
eminent supplies, troops SC, across States, nowth.
standing any State law 10 the contrary, which after
debate passed Its provisions viii seriously affect Ma
land and New Jersey railroad monopoies The Secrea
ryo War called for statement Of the present
dtion Of the harbors Of the country new committee,
10 be known as the Committee Of Mines and Mining,
authorized The Scnate's amendments changing the
dates for tho proposed were nonconcurred In
The resolution proposing amendment to the constitu
zion 10 prohibit any portion Of the debt incurred
70 assist the rebellion being paid by
either the nation any State was reported
back from the committee having II in charge, and after
. long and earnest debate, in which number Of men,
bcrs participated adopted by vote OF hundred
and fortynine yeas to eleven nays, after which the
House adjourned