The Portland daily press., 1865-02-04
xxxvI11 CONGRESS Second Session.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. /,
The Niagara Canal bill was read twice and
referred to the Military committee.
The bill 10 relation to the enrolment act was
made a special order for Tomorrow at one
O'Clock.
A resolution calling upon the Secretary Of
the Navy for information as to the employ
ment of Detectives, and whether any instruc-
tions were given to enquire into business mat
ters of any member Of Congress, was taken up
and passed.
The Senate voted to adhere to its amend
ments to the Military Academy and deficiency
bills.
The joint resolution excluding the electoral
votes of certain States, was taken up, the ques-
ton pending on the motion to strike ont Louis
lana, thus exempting that State from the pro-
visions of the resolution.
Mr.. Doolittle favored the amendment.
Mr.. Sherman opposed the counting of the
electoral vote of any State not represented in
Congress. gssa 4slrt lsc tsl ~ baa
Mr.. Powell spoke against the civil govern
ment of Louisiana, the Presidents amnesty
proclamation, dc. se ~ le9
The question was then taken on Mr.. Ten
Eyck's motion to strike out Louisiana, and 1t
was negatived Is against %. @ soy
Mr. Lane, of Kansas. moved to amend the
joint resolution by striking out the preamble
Negatived 8 against 80.
Mr.. Collalner offered an amendment as
substitute, being that The people Of no State
declared in insurrection shall be qualified to
choose presidential electors, until such insur-
rection is suppressed or the State is represent
ed in Congress.
Mr.. Harris offered an amendment thereto,
that it is expedient to determine the question
OF the validity of the elections in Tennessee
and Louisiana, and in counting the electoral
votes without them. Negatived IL against
81.
Mr.. Collamer's amendment was considered.
Mr.. Trumbull opposed 1t as to sweeping. .
Mr.. johnson also opposed it, favoring the
resolution as reported by Mr.. Trumbull. he
said, If the rebels threw down their arms to-
morrow they would be in the union, and we
had no right to declare them out of the union
now. He alluded to Mr.. Blair's embassy, the
result of which we don't know, but we can
speculate. Suppose Mr.. Blair had informed
the President that the rebels are willing to lay
down their arms. and come back into the
union ct once, that they are willing to admit
that slavery is actually abolished by the Presi-
dents proclamation, or practically SO, to the
extent that our armies have gone, and that
they are willing to leave the decision as to the
effect of the proclamation over such portions
of the slaves as have not come into the posses
sion of the military authorities to the courts.
The President has agreed to that himself. Sup
pose they are willing to assent to any Constitu-
tional amendment as to slavery that may be
adopted. The President has no right to carry
on the war an hour after the terms are COM
piled with. After further debate the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House went into committee on the
Navy appropriation bill
Mr.. Davis favored his amendment creating
board of Admiralty.
Mr.. Rice opposed the Admiralty board.
Mr.. Rice of Mass, defended the Navy, show
ing that by embodying the American idea of
reform in ship building. we had achieved most
important results. Adjourned.