The Portland daily press., 1866-02-28
by 2TELEGRAPH,
Wednesday Morning, February 90, 1855.
xxx CoNGREss---First Session.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.

Wednesday Morning, February 20, 1855.
xxx CONGRESS---First Session.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 81.
SENATE. .isa
Mr.. Wilson, from the Military Committee.
reported a resolution of gratitude of the ma
ton to officers, soldiers and seamen Passed.
He also reported bill to promote uniform mil
itia, with slight amendments. Err
Mr.. Morgan introduced bill to exempt from
State or local taxation lands granted by Con-
gresS tor educational purposes. Referred. ri
MIR. Sumner introduced a resolution calling
on the President for information relating to
the appointment of Provisional Governors
Passed. f.r ..-
The Senate considered Mr.. Davis resolution
for the appointment of a committee to inves-
tigate the frauds of the cotton bureau, &c. -
MIR. Davis caused to be read lengthy COM
munlcatlon from former Provost Marshal of
Natchez, detailing number of alleged cotton
frauds coming under the knowledge of the de-
partinent of the Southwest. sss
AT the expiration of the morning the House
concurrent resolution from the Reconstruction
Committee came up. ha
Mr.. Dixon made speech in defence of the
policy of the President and the acts of the ad-
ministration. o89a ~. .9ayifs IS. .5tl 'sf
Mr.. Poland introduced a bill giving bounties
to widows OF deceased soldiers.-Adjourned.
HOUSE. aa n
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to fix the num-
Der of Judges of the Supreme Court. Refer
red to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. O'Neill introduced a bill in regard to the
fees and costs of clerks, marsha.s and attor-
neys in the U. S. Courts. Referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee. se., .....i.. "a ~
The House then resumed the consideration
of the joint resolution reported yesterday, to
amend the Constitution. IT, 80 ri
Mr.. Highly favored it. .9a
Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, stated his OBJ.
jectiOns to the proposed amendment, arguing
that a proposition like this ought not to be
submitted to those States which were not rep
resented here, and which would be necessary
to make it law. He did not go to the ex-
IRENE length of his friend from New Jersey,
Mr. Rogers. & ~ ~ seHa
Mr.. Kelley declared that he should support
the proposed amendment. .a4s
Mr.. Hale felt compelled to vote against the
measure and gave his reasons at some length.
Mr.. Price followed in favor of the amend
ment. He said Congress had jurisdiction I'M
der that clause of the Constitution which de-
claIed that Congress shall have power to pro-
vide for the general welfare. 5,;.'.,ii
Mr.. Rogers-Will the gentleman inform me
where he finds that clause?
Mr.. Price-Certainly it has been the ioy of
my life to impart information to the ignorant.
lLaughter.) 1t is in the Sth section, first arti-
Gle. Mr.. Price read it. tifeg
Mr.. RogerS-Does the gentleman read from
the text OF the Constitution
Mfr. Price-See the difference between COM
mon sense man and constitutional LAWYER.
(Great laughter.) 81 as1 93f7
Mr.. Rogers-You are right. 1t is here T
supposed it was only in the preamble. Laugh
ter). 49,. Bsao7s s,s;
At the conclusion of Mr.. Prices remarks,
Mr.. Davis obtained the floor and the matter
went over until tomorrow, when, it is under
stood, the previous question viii be ordered.
Mr.. Morrill, from the Committee on Ways
and Means reported bill regulating trade
with the British North American Possessions,
which was read twice and made the special
order for Friday next. iA
The Speaker presented communication
from the Secretary of the Treasury, with the
report of S. S. Hayes, U. S. Revenue Csm-
missioner, on petroleum as source Of nation
al,wealth, which was referred to the Commit
tee on Ways and Means. Ir .e-et.r
Mr.. Woodbridge offered resolution which
was adopted requesting the President to COM
municate to the House all the information in
his possession in relation to the distribution
of the rewards offered by the Government for
the arrest or the assassins of President Lin
coin. rs s af ffyf5 .,..rs-.
Mr.. Julian from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill to develope and reclaim
the public lands requiring irrigation in Iowa,
Colorado, Arizona, Montana and Nevada
Recommittcd
Mr.. Smith introduced resolution, which
was adopted. requesting the President to COM
municate any correspondence or information
in possession OF the government in reference
to the term of Office Of President Juarez, &C.,
&C., or as to any vote of confidence or extra
ordinary powers given to him by the Congress
of the Mexican Republic.
Mr.. Cobb offered a resolution, which was
adopted, directing the Secretary of War to
communicate the estimates based on the sur
veys of Lake Superior harbor. "a ~
Mr.. Hubbard offered resolution, which was
adopted, directing the Secretary of War to iur-
nish the names of Chaplains in the nayy
Mr.. Raymond offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted: .
ResoIoed, That the Committee on Commerce
be instructed to inquire into the expediency of
imposing lighthouse dues on vessels arriving
or departing from ports of the United States,
and to report by bill or otherwise.
MIR. Mercer offered resolution instructing
expediency of providing by legislation for the
issuing of certificates to soldiers who have lost
their discharges The resolution was modified
and adopted.
Mr.. Van Horn offered the following:
Whereas, The Emperor of France at the
opening of the French Chambers, announced
his purpose of withdrawing his troops from
Mexico, expressing hope that the emotion
excited in this country would be allayed by
such action, and -
Whereas, The nation accepting such declar-
alton in good faith it is but proper that it
| should insist, as guarantee for its fulflment,
that no further employment to French troops
in Mexico should be made except to preserve
the statu quo until the period of the withdraw
al arrives; therefore, m
ResoLved, That in the Judgment of Congress
the, employment of French troops in further
conquests in Mexico would and should be con-
sidered as violation of such pledge on the
part of France. Referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs. fst..
Mr.. briggs presented the joint resolution oil
the Legislatures of New York and Wisconsin
in favor Of the extension of the time for COM
| pleting the Portage Lake Canal in Michigan
DC. Referred to the Committee on Public
Lands. lla1 o,...-
Mr.. Brandage offered resolution, which
was adopted, instructing the Committee on
Naval Affairs to enquire into the advantages
| OF the site offered to the Government on the
a Navy Yard OF Naval Station for ron-clads
or other Naval vessels, and into the expedien.
cy Of accepting the same.-Adjourned
Washington Correspondence.