The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-03-15
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March :.
In the House memorial was present
ed from the Legislature of California
ton of an overland railroad and tele-
graph line to the Pacific. Mr.. Schenck
presented the joint resolution OF the
Legislature of Ohio relative TO the In
crease of the regular army, ana recon-
mending the appointment OF volunteer
officers to fill positions therein. A bill
was introduced to provide for the greater
safety If the lives of passengers on board
steam vessels. which was referred to the
Committee on Commerce. Mr.. Van
Horn of New York reported bill for
the construction of a ship canal around
the Falls of Niagara, which was read
twice and recommitted. Mr.. Boutwell,
presented a petition from some five
hundred negroes in Georgia, asking the
right of suffrage; also memorial from
some white men in Alabama, protesting
against the organization of the militia
of that State, and imploring the Presi-
dent Through a Massachusetts repre-
sentative) not to remove the Federal
troops from that part of the country
Mr.. Baker of Illinois asked leave to offer
an amendment to the Constitution, to
exclude from the Presidency, Vice Presi
dency, Congress, the army and the ju-
dietary, and all other Federal officers,
those who have voluntarily aided the re-
bellion, or taken part in the civil, mill
tary or naval service of the Confederate
States; but Mr.. Chandler of New York
objected, and the matter went over
The reports of the committees on pri-
vate bills were then considered, after
which the Civil Rights bill was taken
up, and Mr.. Thayer of Pennsylvania
took the floor in favor of the mes sure
He spoke at some length, and with con-
siderable interruption in the way of in
quiry by other members. He was follow
ed by Mr.. Hill of Indiana in favor of the
bill by Messrs. Eldridge of Wisconsin,
and Thornton of Illinois, in opposition to
Window, Shellaberger and others, the
House adjourned. '#
SENATE.-March 2.
In the Senate on Friday, a petition
was presented from the officers of the
Pacific Squadron asking for an increase
of pay; also a petition from leading
authors and publishers of the country,
asking for an international copyright
law between the United States and
Great Britain. A resolution was offered
instructing the Judiciary Committee to
inquire into and report upon the ex-
pediency of providing for National
Convention to consider what amend
ments are necessary, if any, to the Con-
stitution. The bill granting laws to aid
in the construction of railroad from
Springfield, Missouri, to the Pacific, was
called up and passed. Mr.. Sumner pre-
sented the petition of John A. Andrew
and others, asking for a change in the
mode of electing the President of the
toral college system and eject by the
popular vote. The House concurrent
reese luton, excluding Southern Senators
and Representatives from Congress until
such time as the now dominant party
may choose to admit them, was then
taken up, when Mr.. Cowan took the
floor in opposition to the measure,
making one of the most powerful speech
es of the session. At the conclusion of
Mr.. Cowan's speech, Mr.. Wilson rose to
say that the Opposition had consumed
more than their time in debating the
proposition. He declined to make a
speech himself, when Mr.. Davis took
the floor in opposition to the resolution,
declaring it to be unconstitutional and
revolutionary in its character. He was
followed by Mr.. Doolittle, who also OPP
posed the resolution. After lengthy
speeches by Messrs. Wilson, Fessenden
and others, the resolution was passed by
vote of twenty-nine to eighteen; after
which the Senate adjourned till Monday.
SENATE.-March 5.
On Monday, the Vice President laid
before the Senate the petition Of a citi-
zen of Columbia, South Carolina, ninety
eight years of age, setting forth that his
entire property, valued at ten thousand
dollars, was destroyed by the Federal
troops last winter; that he has always
been loyal citizen, and asking indem-
nifty from Congress; which was referred
to the Committee on Claims. Petitions
asking for equal rights, equality before
the law, and the abolition of all distinc-
tons on account of color, were presented
from different sources, by Messrs. Sum
ner and Wade. Mr.. Morgan presented
a petition from the Assistant Assessors
OF New York for an increase of pay
Mr.. Wilson introduced joint reso-
luton; providing that the States lately
In rebellion shall be entitled to repre-