The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-02-03

Il
of the Constitutional amendment. An
act was introduced to increase the
compensation of certain officers in the
field. The bill defining the rank and
pay of paymasters in the navy was
passed. The resolution advising re-
taliation for cruel treatment of our
officers and soldiers, was taken up,
and after some debate, postponed.
In the House q resolution was
adopted reducing the duty on imported
paper to three per cent, advalorem.
A resolution of thanks to Gen. Sheri-
dan was referred to the Military Com
mittee. The resolutions of the Legis-
lature of New York in reference to the
amendment were pre-
sented. A resolution was adopted APP
pointing committee to inquire into
the facts of the recent assault upon
Judge Kelly, and excluding Mr.. Field
from the privileges of the House until
the report of the committee shall have
been made Mr.. Brooks, of New York,
caused to be read letter which he
had received from Gen. Butler, asking
him to explain certain disparaging re-
marks made in recent speech on the
floor of the House. Mr. Brooks COM
planned that the reading of the letter
constituted a breach of privilege of a
member of Congress. The Speaker de-
cided otherwise A long and excited
debate arose on the question, in which
Messrs. Couch, Stevens, Brooks, and
Herman took part. iFs
Jan. "a. In the Senate, Mr. Sher-
man reported back the bill to appro-
PIRATE money for the Post-off De-
partment. Mr. Sumner reported a
series of resolutions as a substitute for
the resolution before the Senate on
the subject of retaliation, setting forth
that it would be impracticable i'm
moral and degrading for the Govern
ment to initiate the practice of the re-
bel prisoners, and reiterating the de-
termination of the people to put down
the rebellion. Mr.. Sumner supported
the view expressed in that resolution
in long and able speech, Mr. Will
son introduced new and very strin-
gent conscription bill.
In the House n resolution was
adopted to inquire into the expediency
of reporting bill removing the tariff
on all the materials used in the manu-
featuring of printing paper. A bill
was introduced for the reconstruction
of the Medical Department of the U. S.
Navy. The House then resumed the
consideration of the question of priv
lege raised on Monday by Mr.. Brooks,
based on the letter written to him by
Gen. Butler. Mr.. Boutwell, of Massa-
chusetts, made very able defense of
Gen. Buffers career in New Orleans,
to which Mr. Brooks made an evasive
and personal reply. Messrs Cox, In
gersoll, Stevens and Gooch also partic-
ipated in the debate, which closed by
the withdrawal of the appeal from the
decision of the chair
Jan. %. In the Senate Mr. Trum-
bull presented the petition of chap
lains, asking that they may be allowed
the same pay that is allowed to line
officers of the same rank. The House
Bankrupt Bill was reported with
amendments and ordered to be print
ed. The resolutions of the Military
Committee, advising retaliation upon
the rebels were discussed at some
length by Messrs, Clark, Henderson,
Salisbury, Wade and Foster. Mr..
Wade moved an amendment, max
ing the resolution amendatory in
stead Of advisory, and compelling
the President and officers of the army
to retaliate i'll kind but no action
was taken in the matter. The Senate
voted to adhere to its amendment of
the Deficiency Bill and the bill conse-
quently fails on account of disagree
ment between the two Houses.
A resolution was agreed to directing
the Committee on Commerce to inquire
into the matter of Treasury permit
to exchange provisions with the rebels
in North Carolina for cotton. A reso-
luton of thanks to Gen. Sheridan was
almost unanimously agreed to, Mr.. Har-
ris, of Maryland and Mr.. White, OF
Ohio, alone voting in the negative.
The House receded from their disa-
greements on the Deficiency Bill, with
the exception of the one giving the
clerks and employees of the House
twenty per cent additional pay. The
House then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the report of the Select Com
mittee providing for the heads of the
department to occupy seats on the
floor of the House, to be Intercepted
under certain rules concerning their
respective departments, and, toSa linn
tied extent, participate in debate The
measure was advocated by Mr. Ganson
of New York, and opposed by Mr..
Morrill, of Vermont. No action was
taken on the subject
Jan. 26. In the Senate resolutions
from the Rhode Island Legislature,
asking for the passage of the abolition
amendment to the constitution, were
presented and also petition from
chaplains in the army asking increase
pay. The retaliation resolution was
then discussed without arriving at any
action.
In the House Mr.. Stevens reported
bill defining the limits of National
Bank issues, and its consideration was
postponed till Monday week. The
Housa then rasnmad tho cono,darat;o,,