The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-02-02
COngres~i pll,al.

WAsHINaToS, Jan, 81
The House is. to-day exclusively occupied
in the consideration cf private bills.
SESArE.-Mr. Wilson presented a petition
from citizens Of Savannah for compensation
for losses entailed on them by the destruc.
ton of property by the Union troops. Re.
ferred.
Mr.. Clarke reported against several Pc
titions for compensation to individual losses
sustained by the incidents of,shs war.
Mr.. Wilson presented the following which
was objected to:
. Resolved, That the Committee on the
Conduct Of the War be instructed to in
quire in and report on the action of Brevet
Major General JEFF. G. Davis, 10 preventing
negroes who had joined the army on its
march through Georgia from crossing .
creek known as Ebenezers Creek, near Saw
vannah, by burning the bridge, after. his
troops had crossed'on night Of the 9Th Of
December last, many; of, these negroes hav-
ing been killed by the rebel cavalry or
drowned IN attempting to cross the river. on
RATS.
The above was aecomn,nied' by extracts
from a letter from-an officer in the army of
Gen. Sherman. setting forth in detail the
facts connected with the circumstances al.
luded to in the resolution. = e
Mr.. Pemersy offered joint resolution
CALLING upon the President to issue his
proclamation declaring the State Of Arkan-
sas to be no longer in state.of insurrectioH
against the United States, and authorizing
the resumption Of commercial intercourse
between that and the other States also, de.
claring that the Senator'S aud, Representa-
tives recently electedin that State shall be
recognised and admitted to seats in. Con-,
gress.
Laid on the table and orderedi printed.
Mr.. CONFESS presented' s,resolhtion, in
structing the Secretary Of the Treasury to
eaforce the regulations for carrying of pass
engers between New York and San Francis.
co on the Atlantic side. ' 8
The resolution, advocating. retaliation was
taken up and discussed by johnson and
Howe. A-a 4@".
Davis, Of Md, called on the. Secretary Of
War for information as to the aggregate
number of men enlisted in each State for
military and naval service, the number Of
negroes recruited in each State and in each
county Of Kentucky.
Sumner objected to the resolution, and it
lies over.
On motion Of Clarke. the deficiency bill
from the House was taken up. He moved
to strike out the section giving extra com.
pensation to employees of this capitol. =
Agreed to and the section was stricken out
and the biz passed.
The Senate resumed the con sideration of
the resolution advising re talistion for cruel
treatment Of Union prisoner.
Johnston spoke in opposition to the reso-
luton
Howe advocated the resolution The
lengthy dep osition Of nm escaped soldier was
read, showing that inhrman treatment to-
our soldiers was continued to the present
time.
Morrill, moved to amend by striking out
the provision to retaliate in kind, and insert.
ing IN heu the words in conformity with the
law Of nations
Trumbull, CONFESS and Wright were ap-
pointed Committee on counting the Presi.
dental vote. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, jan. 2s.-Hou.E The
House set apart to day especially for the con.
s;deration Of the sntislavery constitutional
amendment, it being the intention to take
vote on it on Tuesday.
Ab,ut thirty members oaIy wer. pres
ent at the ope ling Of the House.
Patterson, Cole, Starr, Norris AMI Pike
spoke in favos Of the amendment, and Fink,
of Ohio. spoke against it.
Highly, of California, spoke in favor of the
amendment. .
Sprague introduced an act supplements
~ to the act regulating the compensation Of
congressman. It provides for an increase
of nav to the members of both Houses from
$4,000 to $4,000 per annum.
The resolution advising retaliation was "a
ken up.
WAsHlNe4oN, Jan. 3o.-HousE. John.
son, Of Pa. moved that as and 80 per cent.
respectively be added to the salaries of Con-
gressmen and employees in civil service.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means. r7
On motion Of Grinnel the Committee on
the Conduct OF the War was instructed to
inquire into the treatment by Gen. JEFF. @.
Davis of freedmen in Georgia.
Ross offered the following resolution
Resolved, That the thanks of Congress
and the country are due to President Lin
coin for removing Major General Butler
from military Command. Tabled-97 to
45.
The House passed the resolution that
Virginia. North Carolina, South Carolina.
Georgia, Florida, Alabama. Louisiana, Mis-.
sissippi and Tennessee are rot entitled to
representation in the electoral college, and
the refore no such votes shall be received or
counted for President or Vice President.
The House proceeded to the considers
ton of the appropriation bill.
.o.ol,,t;oc ,v.s .dontad in strt,ctinp the