The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-05
T n & NJ e w S !.
CONGRESS.

CONGRESS-
The Grst session OF the Thirty ninth Congress com
mouced in Washington yesterday. There present
the time OF assembling forty members in the Senate
and hundred and seventy Ave in the House Of Rep
resenatiyes being all but Of those the roll ofthc
former body and all but eighteen OF those on that Of the
latter The roll lists include the names of no members
the States which part in the rebellion There
was but little delay the organization Mr. Schuyler
Cofax Of Indiana being chosen Speaker Of the House
on tho first ballot. The Presidents message however,
not sent in, but will doubt be delivered today,
and shall probably be able to lay il before readers
Ia an afternoon edition Of the HERALD.
The Senate was called 10 order at twelve O'Clock by
Woe President Foster The credentials of Messr Luke
r Poland, Of Vermont, and John p Stockton, of Now
jersey being presented and accepted these Senators
were in protest OF members Of the New Jersey
ordered lie the table for the present
Bills wore then introduced by Mr. Sumner and ordered
10 DO printed 10 enforce the constitutional amendment
nboshng slavery to allow negroes TO vote in the Dis
trict OF Columbia to require jures TO be partly CON-
posed OF persons OF African descent In sections where
large portion OF the population composed Of negroes
Ind in which negroes parties to tho suits
md prescribing to DO taken by persons in the lately re-
belous Sta,ss an oath 20 maintain their republican
form OF government 10 support the national Union and
government TO discouncnance all efforts to repudatc
rho national debt and to oppose any distinction Of per-
sonai rights on account Of color. Mr. Sumner also in
troduccd joint resolutions decaraory of the adoption Of
La.
ing amendment base representation in Congress
tho number Of voters instead Of population and sug
sesye Of the duty Of Congress in respect loyal citi
OF the Southern States Other bills introduced
10 regulate the Judiciary system and to maintain the
freedom OF the negroes In the South. Bills to reimburse
Missouri for calling out her militia and to construct a
bridge tho Mississippi river at ~. Louis
sliced No other business was transacted
In the House Of Representatives tho members were
csicd orer twelve o'clock by Mr. McIheson, Clerk
or The last Congress- who proceeded to read tho roll
when tho Ssts Of Tennessee reached Mr. Maynard,
sisced Representative from that State expressed do
sro b mako remark; but as his namc was not on the
ls, sae Clerk declined recognize him. On the
oiHsiea Of the reading animated debate took place In
regard the sxciuslon Of the Southern members, Mr.
Brocts. Of New York, denouncins II, and hessrs.
Stevens OF Pennsylvania and washburne and Wentworth
o. Illinois, speaking In vindca,ion Of Il. Finally. the
motions of democratic members tho subject being
ruled order the election Of Speaker proceeded
with. Mr. Cofax receiving ono hundred and thirty nine
vces. scens. thir,yavo cast for Mr. James Brooke Of
New York. Mr. colfax then conducted 10 the
Speakers chair returned his thanks for being chosen TO
preside over the House. and took the oath or Office
resolution was adopted declaring temporarily elected
Messrs Edward Mcpherson, Of Pennsylvania as Clerk
A. o. ordway as serreant-at Arms. Ira Goodcnow Is
poorkecpor and Josiah Gwin "a Postmaster. The Pres
bont and Senate then informed that the House was
organized. Mr. Stevens then introduced joint rcsolu
lion, which, after suspension Of the rules was adopted
by vote Of hundred and thirty three 10 thirty six
10 tho eject that Joint committee OF nine members
~ the House and six Of the Senate DO appointed 10 In.
uure and report whether any Of the lately nsurrecon
ery States are now entitled to DO represented In Con.
Kress and that until said report shall have been made no
member from any OF said States shall be admitted into
either house Notice given OF bills 10 revive the
grade Of general In the army, to amend the constitution
by spporoning Congressional representation according
% the number Of voters and 70 allow negroes 70 vote In
shs Dssisci ef Columbia Tho House hon adjourned Till
oday.
TIE saxarery aa.sndmsas - sAs nstioaal constita.
assn Saturday last rasnsd BY the AisbAms Logs
iasars ~ IN overwhelming vote" a. announced in .
pvSSssm foccved Dy ccCrsiafy SoWhSu frO Fvvisi"ns
Governor Pwsons. Alabama IL the twenty Seventh
Ftah. and the third Of those recently In rebellion
% adopt tho amendment The approval Of only one
more State ia required to make part Of the supreme
Cav OF the republic
= Our city election for Mayor, Corporation Counsel,
plight Aldermen, twenty four Councilmen and School
commissioner and Trustees viii take place to-day For
Mayor there still remain before the people the four
hidntes- hessrs Marshall Q. Roberts, Charles Godfrey
USnthcr John 7. Hoffman and John Hecker-and the
contest will doubt be very animated one. Tho polls
Will open M nino minutes past seven o'clock In tho
Dnornng and close Of thirtytbree minutes past four
p'cock in the evening Afu list Of the polling places
throughout the city published yesterdays HsRALp
large enthusiastic meeting Of merchants 70 ratfy
bbe nominations OF Messrs Marshall Roberts for Mayor
aud Murray Hoffman for Corporation Counsel was held
yesterday afternoon al the intersection Of Wall and
Broad street, Speeches were made BY Generals Wal