Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL.

FRIDAY, teOruary II.
Mr.. Willey presented the credentials of Jeseph
Segar as Senator elect from the State of Vir.
ginIa, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
death OF MIR. Bowdin, which occurred last
winter.
Mr.. Sumner moved to refer the credentials
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
On TINS motion an animated debate arose,
Mr.. Wiley holding that there was no more
reason why Mr.. Segar's credentials should be
so referred than those of his predecessors
Messrs. Cowan and Foster also opposed the
reference as unnecessary.
Mr.. TrumbulI held that the Judiciary Com
mittee should have the opportunity to decide
Whetner these credentials came from proper
legislative body.
the reception of such credentials. The State of
Virginia was at war with the United States,
and should not be admitted to representation
here no more than South Carolina.
Mr.. Wilson held that the policy had hereto
fore been determined on this subject by the
presence here OF Senators and Representatives
from Virginia.
Mr.. Wiley said the loyal people of Virginia
were waiting anxiously the decision OF this
question. The Legislature which elected Mr.
Segar represented over 100000 loyal people,
and mat LIE gislature and that State government
had been recognized by the United States and
the fact OF the adoption Of the amendment OF
the Constitution tor abolishing slavery COM
municated officially to it. Congress should
sustain the loyal people in the States which had
rebelled, instead of discouraging them.
Mr. Sherman remarked upon the fact that
these credentials showed that Mr.. Segar had
been elected Senator in Decmeber last yet he
had never presented them here till this late
period of the session. Without reference, there.
fore. to the merits Of the question, he moved to
lay the credentials on the table, in order not to
delay with debate.
The motion to lay on the table was carried
90 to 10.
HoUsR-Mr. Dawes, from the Committee of
resolution in favor of admitting A. p. Field as
representative from the second, and MI
Mann from the third Congress sional District of
Louisiana. A report was previously made
from the same committee in favor of Mr.. b.
Zano, as representative from the first district
of that State.
Mr.. Dawes also reported a resolution to ad.
NIT Messrs. Jack ank Johnson, as representa-
tives from Arkansas-the former from the
first. and the latter from third Congressional
District OF that State.
These reports were laid over, and will be
taken up for consideration In a day or two.
The House passed the Senate bill relieving
Major Brigham, paymaster, from the respon.
sibility of two thousand dollars. The facts
appear to be, that the Major. in 1862. drew a
check on the Assistant Treasurer at New York
for S3S, sos, but on counting the several pack
ages there was deficiency Of $4,000, for which
he had to draw check.
Some time was cons umed in the consideration
of private bills.
The House resolved itself into a Committee
OF the Whole on the state OF the Union on the
amendatory internal re venue bill.
The amendment pending was offered last
night by Mr.. Boutwell, to tax sales one. half of
one per cent. to be collected monthly.
MT. Griswold briefly expressed his views on
the subject of taxation, expressing the wish
that some equitable indirect tax would be
adopted in preference to the present oppressive
mode.
Mr.. Merrill replied the subject of income
taxes and taxes on lies had occupied the at
tention OF the Committee of Ways and Means,
and he then opposed the pending amen dment
to tax sales.
Mr.. james G. Allen also opposed the amend.
ment, AIT would impose q heavy burden on
the consumers. -