The weekly union record., 1865-12-09
The Opening of Congress.


+ says: The Union Representatives TO the num-
Der Of q met iu caucus, tonight, in the ball
OF the House of Representatives. No members
were present from the late insurrectiouary
States. A Committee Of Seven was appointed
consisting OF Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, Ray.
mond, Of New York. Spaulding, Of Ohio,
Washburne, Of Illinois. Payne, of Wisconsin,
Boutwell,. of Massachusetts,. and De Lacy. of
Maine, who reported the following resolution
Resolred, By the Senate and House OF Rep
resentatives OF the United States 10 Congress
assembled, that Joint Committee of fifteen
members shall be appointed, nine to De men,
bers Of the House and six of the Senate. who
shall inquire into the condition OF the States
which formed the so called Confederate States
OF America and report whether they or any of
them are entitled to be represented in either
house of Congress, with leave to report al any
time by bill. Until such report shall have
been made and finally acted upon by Congress,
no member shall be received into either house
from the so called Confederate States All
papers relating to representatives. of said States
shall be referred to said Committee, without
debate.
( The resolution was adopted unanimously,
and will be offered ia the House of Represent
atiyes by Thaddeus Stevens Chairman OF the
Special Committee, who prepared it. Schuyler
Colfax was nominated for Speaker and Nc
4 Pherson for Clerk of the House by reclamation
/ Sergeant at Arms Ordway was also renom-
mated unanimously. Colonel Gwin was selected
as candidate for Postmaster in place of the
present incumbent, King. With this excep-
! ton, all the officers OF the former House have
been renominated. As soon as the nominations
were completed, the caucus adjourned
/ Mcpherson, Clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives. has completed his roll The list of
members will exclude the names of Represent.
aliyes elected from all States heretofore in
/ instruction. About one hundred and eighty
/ four Representatives are on the roll Harrison
and Pitton, from Alabama, and Stubbs and
Turner, from North Carolina, are here with
certificates, claiming seats. There appears to
be no opposition in the Union ranks to the
re election of Cofax as Speaker and Nc
Pherson as Clerk.
The Democratic members of Congress to the
number OF twenty-five or thirty held a caucus
on the night of Dec ID, NJ. R. Winfield pre-
siding. They had an interchange of views, and
decided to hold al adjourned meeting on Mon
day morning, at ten o'clock, to nominate
candidates for the opposition.
The Ohio Union caucus, on the night of
Dec. lst, was attended by sixteen Representa-
tives. Not the least significant action of the
caucus was the unanimous passage of resolu-
ton offered by General Garfield, pledging their
votes solid against the admission of any Rep
reseutativeS from any State lately in rebellion,
prior to the organization of Congress or after
it, until the credentials of such Representatives
shall have been referred to tie regular Com
mlttee, and the whole matter investigated and
discussed. The caucus also decided to go in q
body for ColfaX for Speaker and Mcpherson
for Clerk, to follow the lead of the New Eng
land States in the vote for Sergeantat- Arms,
to support Hawkins Taylor for Doorkeeper,
and 10 vote for Colonel Gwin, of Ohio for
Postmaster
a Washington dispatch Of Dee. Alb says
The proposition that the Senate shall act in
harmony with the House on the admission of
Southern Representatives is coldly received by
Senators, on the ground that is an infringement
on the rights of Senators. The House galleries
arc densely crowded. At noon, Mcpherson,
Clerk, proceeded to call the roll of members.
While it was being called, Maynard, of Tenn.
essee, whose name had not been placed on the
roll by Mcpherson, wanted to suggest some
thing, but the Clerk refused to be interrupted.
After the call was completed, Maynard rose to
speak, bat the Clerk ruled him out Of order
One hundred and seventy-fve members an
swered to their names. Brooks of New ork
made a speech characterizug the omission oil
names Of members from the roll as unprece
dented, unjust, and totally uncalled for. IT. he
sand, Maynard was not loyal man. from q
loyal State, then the President was not loyal
mau, but an alien aud a stranger. He charged
that the adoption Of the resolution excluding
Southern members from the House by the
Union Caucus, was designed to be antagonstc
to the Presidents message. The House took
10 action on tie subject, hut, under the prevl-
Gus question, proceeded to the election Of
Speaker Schuyler Coliax and James Brooks
were pat IN nomination. CoIfax was elected
The Senate met al noon, and was called to
order by Foster, President pro TEN. Rev. Mr..
Wylie then offered prayer. Holland, of Yer
mont, successor to Collamer, appeared and was
sworn into Office
CoN-er=-