Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
THURSDAY, February 9,

THURSDAY, February2.
SENATE.-The President of the Senate laid
before that body a communication from the
Secretary of the Interior asking an appropria.
tiOn OF Is, 600 for the purchase Of medals for In
dian chiefs Also an appropriation OF ST.
ia 3 to pay tor Indian supplies, lost on a
steamer burned at st. Louis.
MIR. Nesmith presented the credentials of
Geo II. Williams, Senator elect from Oregon
tor the six years from the Sd Of March next
Mr.. loot offered a concurrent resolution
which was adopted, instructing the Commit
tee on Public Buildings and Grounds of both
Houses to examine Jointly into the cause of the
fire at the Smithsonian Institute, the loss sus.
tanned both in the bull ding and valuable de-
posies- the means necessary TO preserve and
repair the remaining portions of the property,
and prevent similar accidents in the future
MIR. Wilson offered resolution directing the
Secretary OF War to communicate to the Senate
the records OF the court martial OF Colonel
Nortn, New 1orK State Commissioner, tried
for alleged frauds in soldiers ballots
Mr.. Hale said if the Senate were going TO re-
wise the action in enc court martial case, there
was no reason why it should not do SO in all
others. Formerly the body refused to make
any OF this class OF calls, and he thou ght it
should be the practice.
The resolution was LAID over.
Mr.. Sumner endeavored to call up his reso.
luton offered on Tuesday, relative, as he said,
to certain Peace Commissioners, and for which
Mr. Johnson offered substitute. He wanted
it acted on at once.
DIR. Trumbull objected, as it would diapIace
the unfinished business, being the solution
declaring certain States not entitled to repre-.
sentation in the electoral college.
Mr.. Sherman thought the subject would ex-
cite discussion, and MIR. Doolittie also thought
so, as there were other Senators than Mr Sum.
ner and MIR Johnson. who would desire to say
something on the subject of the Peace Commits
sloners. He, himself, would desire to do so.
The objection of Mr.. Trunbull prevailed,
and the resolution declaring that the States OF
Vireinia,t North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Lou.
and
not entitled to representatives in the electoral
college for the choice of President and Vice
President for the term commencing On the 4th
OF March next, was taken up.
The pending question was on the amend
ment of Mr. Ten Eyck to strike out Louisiana
from the list OF States excluded.
The subject was debated by Messrs. Harvey,
D2olittle, TrumbuiI, and others.
HoUsE.-Mr. Law, OF Indiana, from the Com .
mlttee OF Revolutionary Pensions, reported a
bill to paw to each OF the five surviving reyo-
luuoDary soldiers three hundred dollars year,
as eratuitv, in addition to the pension OF one
hundred dollars now received.
The Dill was passed unanimously.
Mr.. Elicit maze report from the conference
committee On the disagreeing votes of the tw y
Houses on the bill to establish department of
freedmen's affairs and abandoned lands. The
report was explained by Mr. Eliot, who said
that the care of the abandoned lands and other
property was to be taken from the care of
Treasury agents
Mr.. Herman opposed the bill, conten ding that
this suffering class is NOS TO be benefited by any
such legislation as is now propose d, and there
fore some other mode will necessarily ha We to
be adopted.
ME- Eldridge moved TO lay the report on the
table; but this was disagreed to-yeas, s.; nays,
On motion of Mr.. Eliot, the further consid.
Grafton Of the subject was postponed for one
week.
The House took Up the special order, beine
the bill for the construction of the Illinois an6
Michigan Canal