Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-01-12
coNGREssIONHL SUMMARY.


CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.
Congress re-assembled on Monday last
In the Senate communication was received
from the Mayor of Washington, detailing
the result of the recent election there on the
question of giving the right of suffrage to
colored people II was laid on the table,
A memorial of the New York Chamber OF
Commerce, asking for legislation 10 exempt
Northern creditors from the operation OF
Southern statutes of Imitation was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Cres-
well, of Maryland, offered a resolution, which
was adopted, calling on the Secretary of War
to inform the Senate why the commission to
investigate the claims of loyal slayeowners
to compensation for colored volunteers owing
service to them has not been appointed. The
credentials of Mr.. Hunt, Senator elect from
Louisiana, were submitted by Mr.. johnson,
of Maryland, and laid on the table. On mo-
ton of Mr. McDougall, resolution was
adopted calling on the President for infor-
nation in regard to the issue of an order by
by the commanding officer in California, for
bidding the expectation of arms from the
frontier, and whether such an order was not
violation of neutrality towards Mexico
The Senate then adjourned.
In the House of Representatives Messrs.
Stevens and Garfield introduced bills for the
construction of additional lines of railway
between Washington and New York. Both
bills were referred 10 the select committee
on the subject. An act for the disposition
Of the public lands as homesteads in the
States of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Arkansas and Florida was referred to the
Committee on Public lands. Mr.. RAYMOND
introduced bill to amend the acts of Con
gress relative TO naturalization, A bill grant
ing pensions to the soldiers OF the war of 1912
was referred. An act to secure the benefit
of the writ of habeas corpus TO persons held
in slavery was referred to the Judiciary
Committee The resolutions denouncing
polygamy and declaring that it should be
swept from the Territories of the United
States, were adopted. A resolution request
ing the President to communicate any infor-
nation in his possession relative to the al
legged kidnapping of young Iturbide in Mexi-
CO by Macmillan was agreed to. On mo.
ton of Mr. Williams, of Pennsylvania, "A re
solution was adopted declaring it to be the
sense of the House that the Military power
Of the Government should not be Withdrawn
from the late rebelious States until Congress
shall have declared its further presence
there unnecessary bill providing boun-
ties for those who enlisted in the army or
navy in 1861, and amending the laws on
that subject, was referred A resolution of
inquiry relative to the delivering up of the
pirate Shenandoah was passed.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, II memorial
asking for the donation of public lands, for
educational purposes, in the lately rebellious
States, was adopted VIM. j. Mcdonald
was appointed Chief Clerk, vice Gen Hickey,
deceased. The Committee on Foreign rela.
tions reported the House resolution accept
ing the invitation lor participation by the
United States in the Industrial Exhibition
at Paris The Committee on the judiciary
was instructed to inquire il any further lcgs.
laton is needed to prevent the kidnapping
of freedmen and the revival Of the slave
tlhAN bu bhl HuuNllNln tbdNA. OlIs sumner,
who offered the resolution, read letter set
ting forth that freedmen are now kidnapped
and transported TO Cuba and Brazil, to b.
held as slaves. Mr.. Wilson gave notice of
a bill to increase and fix the number of men
in the regular army. Aler an executive ses-
sion, adjourned.
In the House of Representatives, Messrs
Stevens, Garfield, Francis Thomas, Bran
degee, Starr, Grinnell and Bradford were
appointed the Select Committee on the pro-
posed military and postal railway between
Washington and New York. A letter, pur
porting TO have been written by Mr.. Bald.
win of Massachusetts,, and published in the
Worcester Spy, declaring that the bill to IA
ciltate railroad communication between the
States was not designed TO operate on the
Camden and Amboy Line, but was intended
to relieve the Illinois Central Railroad Com.
pany from its obligations to carry the mails
and the troops of the United States free of
charge was read, and caused a lengthy dis.
cussion as to whether the bill did really re-
lease railroad companies from their oblga.
tions to the United States The Senate was
finally asked to return the bill, as it had
passed under Misrepresentation. The Mill
tary Committee was instructed to inquire in
10 the expediency of converting Arlington
Heights into home for the disabled and
wounded soldiers. Mr. Voorhees,, of Indi
ana, called up the resolutions heretore offer
ed by him, declaring that the Presidents
Message is regarded as an able, judicious,
and patriotic State paper; that the principles
therein advocated for the restoration of the
Union are the safest and most practicable
that can now be applied; that no State or
number of States confederated together can
sunder their connection with the Union ex-
cept by total subyersiop of the government,
and that the President is entitled to the
thanks of Congress and the country for the
faithful, wise and successful efforts to restore
civil government in the rcbellious States
The resolutions caused a lengthy debate
Mr.. Bingham offered as a substitute reso
luton that the House has an abiding conf
dence in the President, that in the future, as
in the past, he will cooperate with Congress
in restoring to equal position and rights with
the other States in the Union all the States
lately in insurrection. Under the operation
of the previous question the resolution was
referred to the Committee on Reconstrnction
Adjourned.
in the United States Senate, on Wednes-
day, the colored people of Savannah pc
titioncd for the right of suffrage. A memo
rial of the American Free Trade League,
praying for the removal of the protective