The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-12-21
CONGRESS.

lSitltIOil utIcSSdEN III w SlAS
succession to the Presidency, in case OF
disability by death or otherwise Of the
persons now designated to Fl ii that off-
ice. The bill suspending all payments
for services of slaves enlisted i'm the
United States army until the awar OF
the Commissioners has been appro' ved
by Congress was reported from the Co NJ
mittee on Finance. The bill providiI lg
for negro suffrage in the DistrictO OfCo /
umbia was then taken up, the question !
being on Mr.. Cowan's amendment al
lowing females the right of suffrage. a
long debate ensued, in which a number
of members participated, Mr.. Viii
llams, of Oregon, made vi
olent speech in favor of negro suffrage,
in which he said that che wished the
descendants of those proud and haugh-
ty families of the District to go to the
polls with negroes" He thought all
males should be allowed to vote, butdid
not favor female suffrage. Mr. Morrill,
| declared that suffrage was not a natu-
raj right, but privilege, which could
| be taken away any time. Mr.. Cowan,
| the author of the amendment, made
several humorous speeches in favor OF
| it, and Mr.. Wade advocated female Suff-
rage. Without finally disposing ofthe
| amendment the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-A bill requiring the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to sellfifty millions
| of dollars Ofg0ld, or more if necessary,
| was Sintroduced but was fterwards with
drawn. The Committee on the Judici-
ary reported bill requiring the Clerk
| of the House to make aroll of the Rep
resentatives elect from all the States be-
| fore the next Congress, and forbidding
| the insertion of the name any person
from State not repre- sented in this
Congress. The bill was passed. A bill
was introduced by Mr.. Wilson prohibit
| ting the counting Of electoral votes
from any Southern State until such
State shall be allowed cpresentationin
Congress. The bill was referred to the
Committee on the JUG Cliciary. A bill
was passed repeating rs much Of the
act of April 80, 1890, as n9lated to the
powers of jurors. The bill regulating
| appointments and removals from office
was taken up and debate1. A substi-
tute was offered by Mr.. Hale, from the
Committee on retrenchment. A long
| discussion ensued and was continuedup
to the hour of adjournment, but no
definite action was taken on the bill.
| SENATE.-A joint resolution return
ing thanks to Mr.. Cyrus w. Field for
his efforts in establishing theocean tele-
| graph was introduced and referred to
| the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The
President was requested to inform the
Senate whether any appointments have
| been made to fill vacancies existing pri-
or to the adjournment Of Congress on
| the 28th of July, and ifso, whether per-
| sons so appointed have received any
| pay for their services, and especially III
relation to the Office of Surveyor of the
port of Philadelphia. The consideration
| of the bill providing for negro suffrage
in the District of Columbia was then
resumed, the question being on Mr..
| Cowan's amendment giving females
| the right of voting. After very long
| discussion vote was taken on the
| amendment, and it was rejected-yeas
| 6, nays 81. amendment was offered
| by Mr.. Dixon, requiring all persons
| who have not heretofore voted in the
| District to be able to readand write be-
! fore their ballots shall be receiveda at the
| polls. The Senate then adjourned.
| HOUsE.-The credentials of Hon. B.
| II. EppersOn, representative elect from
! the Western district of Texas, were in
| troduced and referred to the Committee
| on Elections. The bill reported from
the Committee on the Judiciary repeal
ing so much of the statute of 1880 as
prohibits prosecutions for treason from
being made after longer period than
three years from the commission of the
crime was taken up. A long debate
ensued, in which Mr.. Rogers, of New
Jersy, argued with greatability against
| the repeal of this law. A number of
other members also participated in the
| discussion, some favOring and others
| opposing the bill. 1t was finally recon-
| mitted to the Committee on the Judici-
ary. A bill was passed allowing the
| President to confer brevet rank ON Off
GERS in the regular army, who have been
brevetted for gallant and meritorious
actions while serving in the volunteer
forces. The bill regulating appoint
| ments and removals from Office'Was ta-
ken up, and an amendment was offered
allowing heads of Departments to ap-
| point their own subordinate officers
with the consent of the Senate. This
amendment was afterwards modified
so as to give the appointing power to
the President, and was then passed by
vote of 78 to II. An amendment was
adopted providing for the punishment,
by fine or imprisonment, of all persons
who shall presume to hold Office after
being rejected by the Senate. The bill
was finally laid over and madethe spec
| ial order for to-day. A resolution was
| adopted calling on the President for all
| information in his pOssessionin relation
to the New Orleans riots. The House
then adjourned.
sen ATE.-Noti was given that the
| bill for the admission of Colorado will
be called up to-day. The bill provi-
ding for negro suffrage in the District
| of Columbia was then taken up, the
| question being on Mr.. Dixon's amend
ment, requiring all persons offering to
| vote, who have not heretofore been
voters in the District, to be able to read
and write before their ballots shall be
| received. A long discussion ensued,
in which number of the members par
! ticipated. Mr.. Lane, of Indiana. made
| speech in which he said that he would
| never vote for the readmission of the
| Southern State until they allowed the
negroes to vote A vote was taken on
the amendment and it was rejected
yeas IL, nays 81. An amendment was
| adopted providing that any person at
tempting to bribe voter shall be pun
ished by imprisonment for not over
two years, or by fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars, and any person re-
| ceiving bribe by not over one years
imprisonment and shall be forever dis