Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-19

There was an unusual activity in land
operations during the month of November
last. There were e2,256 acres of the pub.
lie lands disposed of at Massahaska, Wis.
%cOnsin, and Bonneville, Missouri, offices,
the greater portion of the land having
been taken for actual settlement and cul-
tivation, and viii add about three hun
dred and Fifty farms to those States.
The HoGse Committee on Banking and
Currency agreed on an important bill to
day. amending the National Banking law.
1t adopts many of the recommendation;
Of Secretary McCulloch, and inclines to a
contraction of the currency. The banks
are required TO redeem in New York city,
but the House, it Is believed, will not ac-
cept that feature. The section prohibiting
any bank from having over a million OF
capital was agreed to. with a provision
taking the surplus over that amount away
from the banks. This surplus will reach
thirty millions of dollars, and half Of it
Will at least be distributed for banking
capital in the Southern States The bill
will be reported to the House next week.
The Government has commenced topay
some of the bounties provided by what IS
known as the Equalizing Bounty law.
The United States Marshal here has
made preparations for the safe keeping of
John Surratt, on his arrival.
The Ways and Means Committee will
soon take up the Tariff bill. If the Senate
Finance Committees amendments are IN
satisfactory, the Ways and Means will get
up an independent bill.
Tue PENNSYLVANIA Senatorial contest ex-
cites interest here. The opponents of
Cameron are hunting up charges against
him.
The Special New Orleans Committee
organized to-day, and leave tomorrow
night for New Orleans. They heard some
slight evidence Of New Orleans gentlemen
today.
The position taken by Mr. Stevens in
the House yesterday, in regard TO the
status of JEFF. Davis, Is the general topic
of conversation to-day. Mr.. Stevens said
he did not believe that Mr.. Davis could be
tried for treason. His ofiense was that of
a belligeTent, not of a traitor, and he was
utterly opposed TO passing laws to hang a
man, passed after his offense, and for the
purpose of hanging him.
Mr.. Stewart yesterday received a tele-
gram from San Francisco, stating that
Senator Nye, of Nevada, received a
majority in the Legislature, and will I'M
doubtedly be reelected.
Official advices have been received at
Grants headquarters from Gen. Sheridan.
There is nothing of Importance in refer
ence to affairs on the Rio Grande.
The bill reported by the Committee on
Judiciary Of the House repeating the act
of 1890, which limits prosecutions for
treason to three years, has created a pro
found sensation, and the finest legal talent
of that body has been promptly arrayed
against the proposition as a monstrous one.
Many leading Republicans, including Mr..
Stevens, will resist the proposition to the
last, as an &c post facto law.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, '66.
The great event of the Senate was, to-
dav. the passage of the District suffrage
bill. The vote on Dixon's amendment
for the reading and writing qualification
was as follows: Yeas:-lI. Nays:-33.
On the passage of the bill, the vote was
as follows: Yeas:-32 Nays.-l3. If
all the Senators had been present and
voting, the vote would have been, yeas Sc,
nays Is. 1t will take IS to pass it over
the expected veto.
The bill, as passed, is in the following
language, emitting the two last sections.
which prescribe punishment for Offering
or receiving a bride; for the first named
offense the punishment Is $4,000 fine or
two years imprisonment, or both for the
last named, one years imprisonment and
Acknowledgement thereafter: Yeas, II.
NAYS. IS. On the passage of the bill the
vote was, Yeas, 81. Nays, Is. Its thought
if all the Senators had been present and
voted, the result would have been yeas &c,
nays 10. 1t Will require 50 to pass it over
the veto which is expected to COM as a
of course. The first section of the
bill, as passed, grants impartial suffrage,
as follows:
ssThat from and after the passage of this
act each and every male person, excepting
paupers and persons under guardianship,
of the age of twenty one years and up
wards, who has not been convicted of any
infamous crime or %offense, and excepting
persons who may have voluntarily given
aid and comfort to the rebels in the late
rebellion, and who shall have been born or
naturalized in the United States, and who
shall have resided in the said District for
the period of one year, and in the ward or
district in which he may offer to vote three
months next preceding any election there
in. shall be entitled to the elective fran
chise, and shall be deemed an ~elector, and
entitled to vote at any election IN said
district without any distinction on account
of color or race.
Senator Yates, of Illinois, introduced q
bill providing for the publication of the
ratification Of THE Constitutional Amend
ment, which was referred to the Recon-
struction Committee.
Mr.. Yates holds that three fouIths Of
the States Represented in Congress are
competent 10 amend the Constitution, and
that this view Of the case necessary fol
lows the assumption that two thirds of
their Representatives in each House OF
Congress. are competent to propose an
amendment fol ratification,
1t is well known that the Administra-
ton does not take this view Of the case,
and hence che necessity according TO the
radicals of providing a new method for
its publication, if the amendment now
before the States should be ratified by
three-fourths of the loyal States. 1t Is
believed that the dissuission of this bill
will develop the views of Senators upon
the subject of annuliing the State govern
ments which have been set up in the
South BY the executive, and the establish
ment ofterritorial governments, wherein
all the people, without respect to color,
shall nave a Eo:os.
Colonel ForRey will publish in his pa
per here tomorrow, q letter declining to
be a candidate for United States Senator
from Pennsylvania, and strongly urging
the claims of Thaddeus Stevens as the
successor Of Mr.. COwan.
The Presidant sent TO tie Senate today
a long list of appointments of Internal
Revenue collectors and assessors, made
during the recess. Tho whole number
will be sent in in a few days
The Star says that the statement that
pardon will be offered to John Il. Surratt
on condition thet he will testify against
others is untrue. Any testimony given
by hiIa must be voluntary on his part
with the understanding that he does not
thereby save his neck.
WAsHINGToN December Il, 1866.
Mr.. Wade moved TO take up the bill to
admit Nebraska.
Mr.. Poland hoped the bankrupt bill
would be taken up.
Mr.. Sumner opposed the Nebraska bill,
because he said 1t was a provision Tor q
white mans government.
Mr.. Wade few back at Sumner ana
charged him with being impracticable
and visionary.