The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-20
by TELEGRAPH.
MIDNIGHT REPORT.
xxx CoNGREss---FIRsT SESSION

4 Il
xxx CONGREss---FIRsT SESSION
SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner presented the petition Of citi
gems Of New York asking that no State thai
rebelled be admitted into the Union without
adequate security for the future. Referred to
committee on reconstruction.
Mr.. Simmer also presented the petitions oi
citizens OF Jefferson county. Pa, asking fol
an amendment to the constitution prohibiting
any State making distinctions in court rights
among naturaized citizens of the United
States or those born on American soil on nc.
count Of race or color Referred to comittee
on reconstruction.
Mr.. Sumner presented two petitions in IA.
vor of an international copyright law, which
were referred to the committee on foreign re.
lations.
Mr.. Wade presented a petition from Ohio
wool growers asking for an increase Of duty
on wool. which was referred to the commit
tee on finance.
Mr.. Wilson presented petition to increase
the pay Of army officers, which was referred
to the committee on military affairs.
Mr.. Wilson presented petition Of several
colored men who represent that they were
once the slaves efGeo. T. W. Cortes, who in
support from the property left by him. They
ask that portion of the Arlington estate be
set aside for their benefit. The petition was
referred to the committee on the judiciary.
Mr. Wilson from the military committee
reported the bill to establish soldiers and
sailors Of the United States, with recon-
mendation that certain amendments of the
laws be concurred in. The amendments
strike out the provisions with regard to the
seamen and make them applicable to soldiers
only.
/ The House amendment was concurred in
and the bill now goes to the President for his
signature.
| Mr.. Fessenden rose to make personal ex-
PLANTATION. He found in the National Intell-
gencer of the 18th inst, letter from Wm.
l.. Graham, claim agent, for seat in the
Senate from North Carolina, in reply TO his,
Fessenden's s, remarks of q few days ago, CON
cerning tue nature of the investigation carried
on by the committee Of Is. This letter Of Mr..
Grahams was intended to carry the impress.
ion that the investigation was not impartial.
Mr.. Graham had written to him, Fessenden,
making two requests. one. that Witnesses
suggested by him, Graham. should be exam
| ined by the Representatives and Senators,
and another. that the Representatives and
iSenators from the Southern States, should be
ipresentto cross examine the Witnesses. The
1 last request was not complied with, because
II was not customary III cases OF inv eetigafions
!, by committees, and because the proceedings
OF the committee were not in the nature Of a
criminal examination. when cross examina-
tions were necessary He, Fessenden, did not
lregard the Representatives of the lately re-
beilious States, in the light of criminals on
trial. nor Was he acting in the capacity Of a
ha IF
!, his belief. that the ,es,imsny had closed be-
canse il had been ordered TO be printed. II
had not closed, except in the case Of Tennes
see. In the case of \ orth Carolina, no testi-
imony had as yet been presented, il all being
I in the hands Of Mr.. Howard of Michigan,
now absent on account of domestic affiiction.
| Mr.. Davis in reply to Mr.. Fessenden advo-
Gated the right of the claimants for seats an
| Southern Senators and Representatives, TO be
present
Mr.. Davis proposed to read Mr.. Graham s
statements in the In.eligencer. Having
! read for haitian hour, he WAS called to order
/ by Mr.. Chandler, who said there was no
question before the Senate.
! Mr.. Fessenden said he had yielded to Mr..
Davis for him to read Mr. Grahan's letter,
but it was evident now that he was reading
the editorials and news columns of the
newspaper.
Mr.. Davis said that he was reading an
explanation OF the case by Major Lawrence.
| At the conclusion Of Davis reading, Mr..
Fessenden rose to say that if Mr.. Graham
desired to introduce further testimony in the
case of North CaroIir he should do so.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill TO provide for
the equalization of bounties to soldiers in the
late war Of the rebellion. 1t enacts as fol.
! lows:
See. 3. That to each and every soldier who
served in the armies of the United States in
the late war Of the rebellion, and who have
been honorably discharged therefTom hercaf
ter specified, bounty of IS 33 per mouth
for each and every mons b of service rendered
Sec. 2. That in calculating the amount Of
bounty due and to be paid to each soldier un-
der the provisions of this act, deductions shall
be made fQe any and oil payments of bounty
made or r6greed TO be made by the United
J Safes sb that in no case will any soldier re-
eelve greater sum in bounty than SS 33 for
each or any month OF service, and no bounty
" hatever shall be paid to any soldier who has
deserted from the service; nor to any soldier
who was prisoner of war at the time of en-
listment; nor to any soldier who has been
discharged at his own request unless for the
purpose OF accepting promotion or appoint
meut IN army or navy or who has been di%-
charged at the request Of parents, guardians
or other persons or on the ground of mi
nority.
Sec. 8 That any soldier who has bartered.
sold, assigned, transferred, loaned, ex-
changed. or given away his final discharge
papers, or any interest in any bounty provi-
ded for by this or any other act Of Congress,
shall not be entitled to receive any bounty
whatever under this act; and before payment
is made to any soldier, he shall be required to
make oath or affirmation that neither his dis.
charge paper nor any interest as aforesaid in
any bounty has been bartered, sold, assigned.
transferred, exchanged, loaned or given away.
Sec. 4. That in the pay and of the bounty
herein provided for, it shall be the duty ofthe
Paymaster General, under such rules and
regulations as may be prescribed by the Sec
retary of War, to examine the account
Of each and every soldier now living to
whom the said bounty is payable, and
upon ascertaining the amount due. to cause
the same to be transferred to an assistant
assessor, national bank, United States pay
master or other paymaster to be designated
by the Secretary OF War, and stationed in or
nea., the same county or district with the
claimAnt, who shall pay the said bounty to
the soldier himself and no other person, and
who shall require the Identification of said
soldier By affidavit of two respectable resi-
dents OF said county or district, and under
no circum instances whatever shall any agent
or any third person be allowed to act for or
take part in the prosecution, collection. re.
mittance or payment of the claim Of such
bounty, except the person or persons desg.
mated Tor that purpose by the Secretary OF
War; nor shall any power Of attorney, trans.
fer or assignment be recognized or entertained
bv auY accounting officer Or dishnrs.nt. oca,,t