Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-22
coaonEssIoNAL sUmmARY.


public lands for the benefit OF the public
schools in the District of Columbia. Re-
ferred. Also, bill instructing the Commit
tee on Military Affairs to inquire into the
expediency of instituting Board Of Exam
instion, with view OF retiring any officers of
the regular army who have not rendered mer-
itorious service during the war, or who shall
he found incompetent or inefficient, and sup
plying their places from the officers of the
regular army, the Veteran Reserve Corps,or
the volunteer forces most distinguished in
the fell Referred. The House bill for repair
ing aud refurnishing the Presidents house
was passed. The Committee on Commerce
mas instructed to inquire into and report up
on the manner in which American vessels
transferred during the rebellion to British
owners are now being refurnished with
American registers. Mr.. Brown presented a
ill to authorize the construction of bridge
over the Mississippi, at st. Louis. The two
houses are to assemble in the House of Rep
resentatives on the 18th of February, and an
address will be delivered by Hon. Edwin NJ.
Stanton The President, Heads of Depart
ments, and foreign Ministers are to be invit-
ed to be present Adjourned.
In the House of Representatives Mr. b.
G. Harris, of Maryland, appeared and took
the requisite oath. Mr.. Rice, of Iowa, Of
iered resolution, which was referred to the
Committee on Reconstruction, that no State
raeNtly in the rebellion ought TO be entitled
tA nrssentation until such State shall by
its Is. Stature, or the proper constituted au-
thorites, ADOPT the amendments to the Con-
stitutiou, securing the payment of national
debts, ard repudiating the rebel debt. The
Select Committee on Freedmen was instruct
ed to inquire into the expediency of some
immediate legislation securing TO the freed
meu and ;olored people of the States recently
in rebellion the political and civil rights of
citizens of the United States. Mr. Baker, of
Illinois, offered a resolution declaring against
class rule and aristocracy as privileged
power, and asserting the duty of securing
the largest attainable liberty to all persons,
irrespective of race and color, which was re-
ferrad to the Select Committee on Recon-
oAtAAAAVhs ~ itoblublOh vi uls uOIulDU,
declaring that the regulation of the elective
franchise belongs exclusively TO the States,
was laid on the table by vote of iii to 40.
On motion Of Mr. Orth, the President was
requested to furnish any information he has
relative to the application of the so-called
Mexican Empire for recognition from the
United States. Mr.. Hall offered a resolution
that the test oath under the act of July 2,
1862, should in no instance be dispensed
with 4 motion to lay on the table was lost.
The resolution was then passed. A bill ap-
pTopriatng $4,000 to the widow of Presi.
dent Lincoln was adopted. The Judiciary
Committee reported bill extending the right
Of Suffrage IL the District of Columbia, which
was made the special order for January 10th.
resolution declaring that the House cor.
daily agrees with the Secretary of the
Treasury in relation to the necessity of a
contraction Of the currency was Adopted
Mr. Wasd introduced resolution against
polyganly in Utah. The House then went
into Committee of the Whole on the State OF
the Union on the Presidents message, and
Nj. Stevens made n speech. Adjourned
In the L. s. Senate, on Tuesday, Mr.. vii
son, bill to establish a uniform militis
throughout the country. Referred. Mr.
Doolittle, bill to extend and maintain
branch Of the Freedmen's Bureau in an,
stutes in which slaves have been emancipat
edhy tAe operations of the war or the amend
ment of The Constitution. Referred. Mr.
Wilson, resolution directing the Secretar,
OF War TO report what number of men ar
now in service in the regular army, whic
was adopted. The resolution of the IIous
Tor the adjournment for the holidays wa
amcnde] 50 as to fix the time from Thursda
until january 3, 1866. Mr.. Trumbull CAV
notice Of bill to enlarge the powers of tn
Frccdmen's Bureau, so as to secure freedoi
TO all persons within the U, States, and protet
every individual in the full enjoyment Of tn
rights Of person and property, and furnis
him the means OF their vndication. A re-
olution calling upon the Secretary of w,
for information as to the number of mai,
and brigadier generals in the volunteer Sc
vice, how and where employed, &c, WI
adopted. a message from the President, a
onpanied BY report from Lieutenant Gel
Grant, relative to affairs in the soutl
wot td Mr.. Sumner then demanded til
the report Of Carl Schurz attached to Il
message, read. After some discussion Il
reading vas commenced, but had not pr
cecded I'M when Mr.. Sherman moved tn
the further reading be dispensed with al
the epo.; he printed. This caused a lengtl
disc. 'sio- between Messrs. Sumner She
maj ,DooIittlo and Dixon. The rcsouti,
10 print the report was then agreed to. A
iournad
In the House of Representatives, tho CT
dontials OF the Louisiana members were NJ
sonled, md were referred to the Commit
on Reconstruction. Mr.. Farnswortb. of
linois, oGsred n resolution reciting the nj
CATION that Mr.. Harris, OF Maryland, h
been convicted by court martial Of dislc
atty, expressing sympathy with JeiIers
Davis, and saying that tho assassination
Mr.. Lincoln came too late, &c, theref
that the Committee on Elections be instru
ed 10 inquire into the facts aud report su
action as may be proper. The resoluti
was passed-l27 against 81. Mr.. Wilson.
Iowa, from the Committee on the Judicial
4 reported a Joint resolution proposing
3same1dmtnt TO the Constitution forbiddi
~ .haymen. Of the rebel debt. A discuss
I'd cn the bill Under the operation