The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-12-21
xxx coHeREss- SESSION..

or mittss On 'Commercs, reported s5oiak rvs-'
oIu,;on no amend the 9th section OF the oiii Tor
The protection Of the lives OF passengers ON
are. mboats 90 as TO ALLOW stesmbosts.to-earry
matches without slowing them In hrs proof
ssf.s. Read three times, aud passed.
Mr.. Yates introduced bill 10 provide for
the publication " amendments 10 the Consti.
tuition Of the United States. Referred to the
Committee on Reconstruction.
A resolution was adopted, relative TO Nation
al Banks that had not compiled with the pro-
visions Of the Law, 10 keep Cd hand . reeervei
fund. A bill making al steam vessels snens-
I IL TO the navigation laws, TO be under the con
troll OF licensed pilots. Referred. The District
OF Columbia suffrage bill was taken up, The
question being on Mr.. piIon's amendment to
attach qualifications Of reading and writing TO
the name OF the voter. Messrs. Foster q Lane
spoke in favor Of the amendment, and Sowsn,
Freliughuysen. Wilson, Rendricksand Sumner
against. II resulted on the 6nal vote IL y..:-
II nays, 20 the amendment was lost. Mr, VA.
son offered an amendment 10 two sections.--
| First punishiny those who offered q bribe at an
election. The second, punishing those Who
accepted L. For Offering bride, the punish.
ment Is hne Of $4,000 or two years .impris
oument, or both. For accepting bribe, the
punishment Is one years imprisonment anu
disfranchisement thereafter. Adopted,
The question was then upon adopting the
bill reported as substitute for the bill refer,
red last sessiou.
Various verbal amendments were then offer.
oil aud adopted. alter which the bill passed BY
yeas 30, nays Is. Adjourned.
HorsE. - Bills referred. To erect . light
house at the entrance Of MenLota harbor; TO
extend Jurisdiction Of the U 8. Courts 10 the
Western District Of Penn; relative to the rank
aud pay Of army officers; the credentials "
Mr. Wiley Of Alabama; for the payment OF
Commander Preble OF the Navy from the time
he uas discharged; to impose my per cent
penalty and ten per cent annual interest on
unpaid taxes; for the appointment OF hevenue
| Assessors and Collectors throughout the United
States; to re-establish civil goyernment IN
North Carolina. Mr.. Stevens bill for the ad-
| mission VI North Carolina, recites that where
a certain persons have been appointed to rs.
sist the President In maintaining peace and Or
der, aud whereas It's the duty OF Congress To
preserve North Carolins rs one Of the States
Of the Union, L provides for sovereign con-
vention ofloyal citizens Of the District former
~ accomplishing the Stats OF North Caroliha.
composed Of 100 delegates, the same rs 20 the
State House o. Commons prior 10 1851, 10
frame aState Convention, which shall DO sub
mitted Ia Congress for approval, modification
| or rejection. All male resident citizens without
distraction OF race or color, who can Rad and
write. who may own in Tee, real estate Of 500,
may vote for delegates. The delegates are
Ia he sworn that they complied with the Presi
dents proclamation. and since March 4th, 1854
have opposed the continuance OF the rebellion.
Mr. Meyer, from the Naval Committee re-
ported back the Senate bill of last session, re-
leasing 10 \ Lyon the interest OF the United
STATES 10 Alabama. Read thee times and
passed. r.r.rrr .,t sru.l .rsffEu H.f- .u
Tn. House passed the concurrent resolution
20 take recess from Thursday. December Goth
to Thursday, January 81. ur-a
SENATE, Dsc. 1.-The deficiency bill was
read three times and passed with amendments.
An inquiry whether TennessceSebatOrs should
be paid from the commencement VI the pres +,
ent Congress. Was refused. The bill for the
admission ofNebraska rs s6tate INTO the Union.
vas taken up by vote VI 81 to IL. Mr.. Brown
offered nm amendment, declaring the act to
take effect only when all distinction Of race or
color as abolished. Wade, Sherman and
Brown spoke on the amendment, pending the
consideration, Mr. Sprague called up the Joint
resolution concerning the survey Of the 18th
mus Of Derien-Passed. The yeas aud nays
were taken on adjournment from December
2o,h to january Sd, for the holdays-yeas ~,
nays 10. Adjourned till Monday. ..g, ...
HoUsE-Atter Q number of bills and rcsOlu
lions were presented and referred Mr.. Julian
introduced hill providing for civil govern.
ments for the Districts lately in revolt against
the Government of the United States. The bill
provides for temporary territorial governments
for all the late rebel States, except Tennessee,
suffrage being given tn all males without re-
spsct to color, aud nll who have borne arms
against the United States, or held civil or mil
itary ofce under the Confederacy, are TO be
ineligible sither 10 hold office or to vote. Re-
ferred Ia the Committee on Reconstruction.
Tho Committee on Claims reported q joint
resolution to pay 0ber Nausen & Co., mer-
chants OF New York. $4,000 for compound
interest notes lost at sea. Alter discussion the,
Joint resolution was passel-76 to ". .s'|
The House took M the Senate blu giving ne
gro suffrage In the District ot Columbia, and
passed. II without discussion. under the pre-.
yious question, by n strictly party vote. ....
The vote on the Suffrage bill for the District
OF Columbia was iiS yeas 20 Is nays. There
was no excitement. The House then went into
q committee Of the whole ON the Presidents
message. after which the House adjourned till
Monday. '.u
SENATE Dec l7.-.Mr Sumner presented n
petition Of loyal citizens Of Virginia asking
for the recognizing Ut the government Of Va.
So. Referred TO the Reconstruction Commit
tee. Mr.. williams reported favorable the
House resolution for . monument to the mem
DRY Of Gen Scott. Mr.. Sumner presented u
bill TO punish thUse who induce the emigration
0f free colored persons under false pretenses.
Referred. The bill to repeal the Presidents
amnesty power was taken up, and discussed ut
some length. after which the Senate postponed
all other business to listen to eulogies on the
late Senator Wright Of New Jersey.
HousE-Mr. Washburne, OF Illinois, offered
q resolution directing the select committee on
the New Orleans riot to investigate the alleged
frauds In the New Orleans Custom House and
the appointment ot rebels therein to the exclu.
sion OF Union men. and into all matters con-
nected with the administration Of affairs In
that Custom House. Adopted.
Mr.. Harding, Of Illinois, offered the follow
Ing Resolred. That the House Of Representa-
tives Of the Congress Of the United States will
give unfaltering support to the Executive De-
partment Of the Government. to yind'caie the
foreign armed Intervention which tends to the
destruction Of Constitutional liberty on this Con-
tinent, and especially commend the tone nj the
National voice In reference to the Republic Of
Mexico. Adopted. Mr.. Moulton offered res
olution relative to authorizing loyal citizens Of
districts OF country late In rebellion. to form
Constitutional State Governments and provid-
ing for the restoration Of such States to the
Union. Referred tn the Reconstruction Com
mittee The Senate amendment to the concur
rent resolution for adjournment over the holi
days vas concurred IN. I'll
A resolution was offered relative to the sale
Of colored man In Maryland under sentence
Of acourt. Mr.. Stevens made speech on the
subject. sbesing that Maryland was not the
only State where colored people hal been sold
into slavery. lie recited several cases where
negrues had been sold At auction, ZONE for the
term Of seven years, and others whipped with
stripes on their naked backs. At whipping posts
under discriminating laws. He thought the
inquiry should extend TO all Of the eleven
States. Mr.. Schenck enlarged upon this theme
aud narrated an instance Of oppression In
Georgia, where colored agent Of Philadel.
phiA benevolent society vas arrested ON the
charge Of vasrancy, and condemned to the
chain gang for q term of twelve months. MIR.
Lawrence, of Ohio. moved TO amend the reso.
luton 90 ~ TO direct the commttre to report
what legislation Ia necessary To protect loyal
citizens in the enjoy ment of life, liberty and