Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-12-06
CONGRESsroNAL.
SxSATH-Yes'erday zfteruoou-

SxNATn-les'erday afternoon
The bill passed by he House TO repeai the
conhscatioa section OF the act Of 1892. IN regard
10 supressIne insurrecton, &c, was discussed
st eeme length. ana wac then referrrd 70 the
Committee on he Juciciary
with view TO reference, n Noint resol0tion
which ne had offered iset tsseslon, reporting an
amendment 10 the Constitution OF the United
SAFES, proposing TO restrlct the tenur- OF Of
nee of the President 10 four years. tie hoped
this great subject would be taken up and con
sidered now, and that, ~ the resolution zp-
psared TO need amendment, 10 would be ssat
back for the action sf the House. Referred TO
tae Committee on the Judiciary.
On motion OF Mr. Sherman, a bill (intro-
duced by him last sessloD) 10 prevent the ille-
gal Appointment OF ofiicers of the United States
was Iak.n up. and referred TO the Committee
ON the judiciary.
In regard TO suffrage IN the District OF Colum-
bia we ordsrtd 10 be printed.
The Senate concurred In the resolu tion from
the Mouse of Representatives reappointing the
Joint Committee OF Reconstruction of last ses-
sion. under The same res U lati0ne, and referring
10 them all documents then referred 10 them
On motion OF Mr.. Pomeroy, the resolution
amount due him As Senator was taken mp and
referred. Adjourned.
HousE.-Yesterday afternoon
Mr.. Schenck moved to amend Mr. Stevens
motion 10 refer the bill regulating appoint
ments to once TO the Judiciary Committee oy
moving 10 refer it TO the Joint Committee on
On motion of Mr Williams, the bill. with all
the amer dmeLfs proposed, was ordered to be
printed and made the special order for to-day.
Ms s LawrenSe = Son,o. trSm %n, the &C oSmn's.se sss
to amend the act regulating proceedings in
criminal cases, and for other purposes. with
for the word two" and thus making the bill
provide that on the trial OF any offence in
which the right OF trial by jury exists, the de-
fendant shall be entitled 30 only four peremp-
challppgQs This does M nFlu hou
ever, TO trials for capital offences. The amend
ment was agreed 10, and the bill was ordered
TO a third reading and passed.
Mr. Lawrence, from the Judiciar VI Oom ittee,
reported House bull No. AIS. relating 70 the
qualification ofJurors IN capital cases, with an
amendment providing that In cases OF trials
for crimes against the United States no Juror
shall be rejected by reason OF his having
pressed or formed an opinion on the guilt or
innocence Of the accused from having read the
newspapers of the day or from current report,
provided be be otherwise competent. An amends :
ment was also proposed striking out all after
the enacting clause, and providing thai upon
the trial of any person charged with treason. OF
with having taken part in any rebellion against
the authority of the United States, OF having
given aid and comfort TO rebels against that
authority, when a person called as a Juror shall
as 10 the guilt or innocence of the accused, the
court shall thereupon proceed 10 examine him
as to the ground OF mis- opinion, and IL IL shall
appear that IL has been formed upon ne wspaper
reports OF hearsay, and not from conyersation
with the witnesses in the case, and IL the Juror
shalt say that he feels capable. thstanding
that opinion, OF rendering an impartial verdict
on the evidence, under the law, and III the
court feel satisfied that he viii do so. be need
not be rejected. Also providing, in the second
section, that the courts OF the United States
shall have power to select or order TO be Sc
lected, by lot or otherwise. such Jurors NAV
be deemed necessary for the proper admins
tration Of justice, and 20 issue and enforce q
process therefor.
Mr.. Lawrence, who reported the bill, said
that the State of Ohio had a law similar TO that
now proposed TO be enacted, and that this bill !,
having been very fully considered by the Com
| mittee on the Judiciary, he thought IL ought to
pass.
Mr.. Lawrence, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported a bill 10 protect the rights
| of action OF loyal citizens.
| The bill provides that when a citizen of the
| United States, who has always remained loyal
| 10 the Government, shall bring an action TO re-
| cover for injury 10 person or property. no such
| action shall be defeated on the ground that the
| act complained of was done by virtue of the
authority OF the late so-called Confederate
States Of America, or any States declared in re-
! belliOn by the Presidents proclamation, unless
| such act was done BY duress, or in obedience
! TO the judgment or decree OF a judicial court
| The bill was amended by striking out in line
| nine the words Justify or sustain and in
serting the word "allow," and also by striking
| out the words "urless the action complained
| of was done by duress or in obedience 90 tue
| decree of a judicial court The bill, as
| amended, was read the third tune and passed.