The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-26
CONGRESS.


Washington, Dec. 1S-President Johnson
has signed the bill recently passed by Congress,
to prevent the importation of cattle.
The Secretary of State has officially declared
the constitutional amendment, which has been
ratified by three-fourths of the States, valid to
all intents and purposes as part of the Consti-
tuition of the United States.
The House Of Representatives went into COM
n,ittee to-day on the Message. Mr. Stevens
made speech, the point of which was, to give
the blacks the rights claimed by the Declaration
OF independence, and to place the South IN a
territorial condition, with view TO their subse-
quent admission as free States.
A resolution was offered that Congress, on the
18th of February, will listen to an address by
Hon. Edwin NJ. Staunton on the late President
Lincoln and that the President, Cabinet, For
eign Ministers and officers of the Army and
Navy " o have received the thanks Of Congress,
attend
In the House, the credentials of James II.
Johnston, member elect from the third district
of Alabama, was presented and referred to the
! committee on reconstruction.
AIr Price, of Iowa, offered preamble and
I resolution, that, whereas an attempt may come
in some shape to repudiate the national and as
sumo the rebel debt, therefore, Resolved, that
!
into Congress, until an amendment is made to
the Constitution precIuding such result; re-
ferred to the committee on reconstruction.
| Dir Moulon offered a resolution calling upon
the President to inform the House why Jeffer-
son Davis bad not been tried for treason.
4 resolution passed the House declaring that
! the test oath will not be dispensed with.
Dec. 19.-In the Senate to-day resolution
was offered calling upon the Secretary of War
for detailed statement Of The numerical strength
! of the regular army.
! Mr. Trumbull gave notice of bill 20 enlarge
the powers of the Freedmans Bureau, SO as to
secure freedom to all persons in the United
States, and to protect any individual in the full
enjoyment of the rights of person and property,
aud furnish him the means Of yindicatiOn.
| A message was received from the President
in relation to the condition Of affairs in the South,
in which he says, "from all information in my
possession, and from that which | have recently
derived from the most reliable authorities, I am
! induced to cherish the belief that sectional ami
mostly is surely and rapidly merging itself into
a spirit Of nationality, and that representation
| connected with properly adjusted system of
taxation, will result in harmonious restoration
of the States to the National Union"
The President also furnishes a communica-
ton from Gen. Grant, in which that officer says
t he had free conversations with the people of
the South, during his recent tour, and is salts
fled that the people have accepted the present
situation in good faith Gen. Grant also says
there is such universal acquiescence in the
thority Of the general government throughout
the country visited BY him, that the mere pre-
sence of military force, without regard to num-
bers, is sufficient to maintain order; and be
fbo a tbo
quire that this force should be white troops
In the House, Mr. Farnesworth offered pre-
amble and resolution instructing the committee
on elections to examine into the alleged disloyal
statements of Harris, of Maryland, and report
the same to the House, together with such &C.
ton as they may recommend to be adopted
A resolution was adopted in the House by
more shan two-thirds majority, to submit to the
Legislatures of the several States, an amend
ment 20 the Constitution forever prohibiting an
assumption OF the Confederate debt
December 2O.-In the Senate, Mr. Wilson
called up the Senate bill to maintain the free
dom Of the inhabitants Of States lately in rebel
lion. MIR Sumner addressed the Senate in
favor of the bill. He said that when he
thought of what occurred in the chamber yes
terday, in an attempt to whitewash the unhappy
condition Of the rebel States, he felt that he
ought to speak Of nothing else here to day. lie
read number of letters from the South, private
and public, to show that the spirit of the rebel
lion still existed.
Mr. Salisbury said that, from indications,
there to be a split in the Republican party,
and if President johnson stood by the princi-
plies of his"specal message he would promise
him tire support Of two millions of people who
did not vote for him at the late election.
Mr. Cowan co6troverted the statements Of
MIR Sumner, which be said were all based upon
anonymous letters.
in the House, Mr. Stevens introduced bill
to double the pensions Of those who were made
pensioners by the casualties Of the late war; to
pay the damages done to loyal men by the late
Rebel government and Rebel raiders, and co.
force the confscaton laws as to pay the same
out OF the con6scated property of the enemy
Both Houses agreed to adjourn until the 9Th
of January.
MEXICO We have seen letter from Gov
Henry " Allen, dated at the City of Mexico
on the Sd inst Generals Price and Shelby
Gov. Harris and Judge Perkins, were still at
Cordova; General Nagruder, Captain Maury and
| Gov. Reynolds of Missouri, were in the City of
Mexico, in the civil service of the Empire
Agents we're about being sent to all the large
cities in this country and Europe to invite
colonists.
The Governor says: "The Empire is an ac-
eomplisheG fact Law and order is being re-
stored, and the Juarez party is on its last legs
Robbers and other evil doors will soon be cleared
out. The climate here is delightful, the lands
rich and money plentiful
Twenty thousand French troops are now on