Litchfield enquirer., 1866-02-15
Congressional Summary.

In the Senate Monday, the President pro tenn presented communication from the May or of Washington, transmitting the results of the late elections in Washington to the subject of negro suffrage. Ordered to lie on the ts- ble. Mir. Morgan presented Q memorial from the New York Chamber of Commerce in refer snce to Southern Statutes of Limitations and the yightezof Northern. creditors. Several pe- titions were offered, asking for an equalization of pay and bounty to all the soldiers in the late war, resolution was adopted calling for information as to why the commission upon the claims of loyal slaveswners for compensa- ton for colorsd volunteers owing them ser vice, had not been, appointed At l2:so the Senate adi0urned. " FA 'i A Nf '
 In Ahe House . bill for the disposition of public lands as homesteads' in sundry South ern States. a Referred. MT. Raymond intro duced bill to amend the several acts of Con gress in regard to naturalization. Referred . resolution was adopted requesting the con. mittse on Banking and Currency to inquIre into ths expsdisncy of providing TOT .;ons, aIe r currency by the United States Internal keve- nue Collectors or other financial agents. biils were introduced to authorize the construct uon of military and post road between New. iork and sWasbinpton. Q A bill was introduced granting bounty to soldiers, seamen and ma rines in the war in l86l.s A bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee to secure the ben. eft of the writ Of habeas corpus to persons held sssolsitSaHf i alitafa agpaEsEx 1 the sense of the House that the military forces should not yet be withdrawn from Virginia. After the adoption of various resolutions of inquiry, the House resolved itself into spe- cial Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, and listened to speeches by MT Latham, of West, Virginia who argued that the southern States were never out of the on fen; Mir Blaine, of Maine, who proposed a new amendment of the constitution; and MT. ShellabarQer, on the relations between the Central Government and the several States The House then adjourned.
 In the Senate, Tuesday petitions for univer- sal suffrage, were presented and referred' MT Sumner. from the Committee on Foreign Ke- lations, reported bill to appoint diplomatic representative to the Dominican Republic. resolution was adopted to inquire into the expediency of paying loyal citizens of rebel lious States for quartermaster's stores taken by the army v The joint resolution for the Amendment of the Consultation was taken up Mir. Doolittle ofered Q substitute passing rep resentation upon the number of electors qual- flied by State laws to choose members of the popular branch of the legislatures, and appor- tioning direct taxes according to the value of real and personal property. MT. Sumner re- sumed his speech which was left unfinished yesterday, and concluded it. At 39 o'clock the Senate went into Executive Session, and soon after adjourned. J.- |"' '.
 In the House, a resolution was adopted to inquire into the expediency eff admitting into the Naval Academy candidates up to the age of 2l years. The Freedmen's Bureau bill was taken up.5 The amendment offered by MT Smith to exempt Kentucky from the operation of the act was rejected by S4 to Al. The substitute of Mir. Stevens, retaining most of the origiginal bill but authorizing the Presi- dent to set apart S,000,000 acres of land to be assigned in 40-acre parcels to freedmen and loyal refugees, and confirming to the freed men permanently their possession of the lands held under Sherman's order, was rejected Yeas 37. The bill reported from the Commit tee on Frsedmen's Affairs as substitute for the Senate bill, restricts the operation of the law to those States wit hin which the habeas corpus was suspended Feb. l i; reduces salar- ies defines the term " destitute" so as to linn it the number of those to whom relies shall be extended; provides for exchange of lands held under Sherman's order for other lands by consent of the occupants of the former; and directs the purchase of lands for the use of freedmen and the erection thereon of asylums and schools. In this form, the bill was pass cd by 198 to os. A recess was taken till na1r- past seven, and after brief evening session in which no business was done the House ad-
 In the Senate Wedn nesday, a bill was repor- ted to punish kidnapping The Judiciary Committee reported that no Legislation was necessary to protect Northern creditors from the operation of statutes of limitation passed in Southern States the act of June II, 1864, being sufficient. Mir Wilson made an elabo- rate speech on his resolution to amend the constitution 50 as to prevent any State paying for slaves emancipatea or debts incurred in aid of the rebellion. The resolution was re- ferred to the Recon nstruction Committee The freedmen's Bureau Bill was sent to the Judi ciary Committee. The amendment fixing the basis of representation was discussed by Mir. Fessenden and others. Mr. Henderson pro- posed asubstitute to prohibit any State from making distinctions in civil rights on account of color. The debate occupied the remainder of the session.
 In the House, the Public Lands Committee reported bill extending the Homestead Act and prohibiting discrimination under the act on account of color; 1t was discussed, but went over without vote. Bills were passed giving the franking privilege to Mrs Lincoln appro- priating $10, 900 for the expenses of the Re- constructiou Committee. The Naval Appro- priatien bill was discussed and some what amended in committee. The evening ses- sion was devoted to speeches on negro suff- rags, Sc. amal0e saIlg aui .s.r. .'a. tts si
 In the Senate, Thursday A resolution was adopted instructing the Judiciary Commi. tee to inquire what legislation, if any is necessary to protect citizens of the United States in the Territory of Utah in their civil rights. It was voted that the Colorado Senators be admitted to the floor. A bill to repeal the act authori- zing the settlement of claims against the Uni ted States for property used or destroyed by the army or navy in the late rebellious States was referred to the Military Committee. The Constitutional Amendment to regulate the ba- sis of representation was called up, and Mir Lane, of Indiana, made Q long speech there on,1u grtsaA 1l- v ug alg1a, aI ssv ss.U =. oF
 In the House, the bill for the disposal of public lands for homesteads for actual settle ment in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ar kansas and Florida, was adopted by 112to 29 The bill to establish 3 uniform system of bank ruptcy was taken up, and MT. Grinnell, of Iowa made an elaborate speech. ''' 13a '' .A'
 In the Senate Friday, A resolution was of fsred for committee to investigate charges against the cotton agents of the Treasury De partment. The resolution was debated at some length, and before action was taken the morning hour expired, and the joint resolu- tion te amend the Constitution was taken up. Mir 3ohnson, of Maryland, spoke at length against the resolution. .3s At 4 O o'clock the Sen ate adjourned till Monday