Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-02
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

SENATE-Y YEsTERDAY.--Ih Joint Commit
tee on Reconstruction was Instructed TO inquire
into the exredlency Of amending the Constitu-
ton of the o. S. 50 as to define more accurate
" the power of Congress 10 designate and en-
force all its guarantees: and especially that
which says thar :he people, without discrlml
nation on account Of rate or color. are those
who are to elect representatives, &c. 1t was
resolved that the Committee on the judiciary
inquire into and 1epOrt1n tue proprlety OF con
'sttutionally extending the jurisdiction ot the t.
S. Courts over all actions against persons for acts
authorized by orin aid Of the military forces OF
the i. S, or aeairst those acting by authority
or n aid of the Confederate States Mr.. Fas-.
sender gave notice that on Monday next he
would call up the constitutional amendment
Dassed by the House Mr. Howard called uD
his resolution asking that shat Jefferson Davis
and Clement c. Clay he tried before military
commissions with an amendment including all
others engaged with them. Mr. Howard made
speech On the subject Mr.. Trumbull called
up the bill for the protection Of civil rights.
The discussion was on Mr.. Trumbul's amend
-nent which amendment was finally adopted by
avote Of 81 to TO- The amendment declares
vssall persons horn in the i. s., not subject to
foreign Powers, except Indians not taxed; 70 be
citizens Of the u s.. without any distinction
speech against the bill Whilst the discussion
was still pending, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIyE Es.--Mr: IMor-
rill. from the Committee on Ways and Means,
reported the bill amendatory of the Revenue
bill now in operation It was made the special
order fyr Thursday next. a resolution was re-
ported back from the Committee on Agriculture
providing for the graduation Of the fares and
rates charged by railroad companies, IN order
that the revenue derived theretrom shall be
given to the protection q the agricultural ~
fteresis frem high and oppressive taxation. 1T
was referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means The consideration Of the bill IN regard
10 the Decentralization Of American vessels
which changed their fag during the war; was
resumed After some debate, The bllwas pass
: ed BY a vote Of yeas 90, nays 81. The Senate
a3tiliio enlarge the powers of the freedmen,
Bureau was taken up. ano whilst the discus
sion was still pending, h5 House adjourned.
9g5 The sale of land in Virginia has taken a very
orapd start. Especially il the region Of Pied
mont Virginia, E:lany farms have been soio-
y In the business Of huNng and selling sanos,
Gen. William Il. Payne. OF y aTrenlon, va,
= has been very successful. Ills te long ac-
uuain tanca with the Piedmont section ct me
corIntry, made more familiar by duty II the
Information Of that country, aud rendered hln
most excellent agent for the purchase OF sale
of lands
TIE ships supposed 70 have een lost during
4ha late ga)ps on tbe British coast number be-
tween three and four Hundred. One ct the
Tiyernool papers says that letter from Iorboy
states that tLirtv-one tine vessels and eleven
s fishing sloops we're dashed to pieces en- the
shore, It IS feared hat one hundred and fifty
mer must have perished The Liverpool jour
mails give fnrther particulars Of the wreck or the
Australian steamship, London, (bullt OF IRON,
s in the Bay Of Biscay, and the loss OF 2lo llVes.
Advices from Hong-Kong to the 1st ultlmo
have been received. There were no new move
q ments oF the insuE gents. 1t appears as It the
Imperia Government had e1tlrpated the rebel
& lion from the land The mandarlns are endeav-
oring to cootGrun to mora enlightened policy
oo toward fnreigrers being frightened by tie ap-
8 peara nee OF The British Minister at pokn
The story sent from New Orleans, to the
effect that the Navy Department. IS now pre-
( parir, for active service eleven 0n-cadS at
New Orleans. and that orders have been issued
l7e,c1iirine vessels bound for the Rio Grande TO
{ cell al Galveston in order to convey troops 70
aathe Mexican border, is without a particle CT
foundation.
The Louisiana Congress;ona delegation has
left Washington for home, feeling that there
was no prospect at present OF being aumitteu
to seats ia either House.
s@ A very destructive fire. has occurre&! III the
+ oil regions Of Pennsylvania. At z1etrojeunl
Z Centre eight wells were burned and eleven thou-
sand barrels Of crude oll consumed.
AZ The SMALLPOX prevails at Mobile and IS on
-agthe ;nc.aasa 81 Monre1.9erv Il IS very iatal