The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-05-02
xxx CoNGREss---1st Session.
WASHINGTON, May 1.

4
Mr.. johnson read letter from Gen. Wade
Hampton, contradicting the charge of Gen
| Sherman that he (Hampton) ordered the
| burning of Columbia, S. c., and asking the
| appointment of special Commission to inyes-
| tigate the subject. t9 ~ q
The joint resolution to extend the time OF
| completion of the first hundred miles of the
eastern division OF the Union Pacific Railroad
passed.
The Post Office appropriation bill was then
taken up, the question being on the aeoption
OF Mr. TrumbulPS amendments offered YES
terday. A debate ensued without action be-
ing taken upon it. e-aisE hmE siE.
The report of the Committee of Conference
on the bill relative to the writ OF habeas cor:
pus, was agreed to.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion and adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Boutwell, sent to the Clerks desk an
amendment he proposed to offer to one of the
bills reported yesterday by the Reconstruction
Committee, which was ordered to be printed.
1t provides that whenever the proposed Con-
shtutlonal amendment shall become part of
the Constitution, and Tennessee or Arkansas
have ratified the same and modified its Con-
stltutlon and laws in conformity Herewith,
and shall have established an equal and lust
system of suffrage for all male citizens within
Its Jurisdiction, who are not less than 21 wears
OF age, the Senators and Representatives from
such States, if found duly elected and quail
fed, may, after having taken the required
oatn OF Office, be admitted into Congress as
such, provided nothing in the section con-
tanned shall be so construed as to require dis
reimbursement OF any loyal person who is en-
titled to vote.
MIR. Bingham also sent up a substitute
which he proposed to offer for the bill, which
was ordered to be printed. It provides that
whenever any State lately in insurrection
shall have ratified in good faith and irrevoca-
Dly, the above amendments, and modified its
Constitution and laws in conformity therwith,
the Senators and Representatives from such
state, II found duly elected and qualified, may,
after having taken the oaths of office required
by law, be admitted into Congress as such.
The Senate joint resolution making appro-
priations for the expense of collecting the
revenue from Customs was passed.
MI. Kelley offered the following resolution
which was adopted :.
Whereas it is reported by citizens of Ala
Dama In formal memorial to Congress that
many people of the mountain districts of that
State are suffering from the want of adequate
supplies OF food and that considerable mum.
Der have died from actual starvation. therefore
ResOlUed that the President be requested to
instruct the nrnnas,- -a4aiaA---,. elsaeers of the
3 bureau OF Refugees and Freedraef, to inu,,;rz
into the condition of said districts and any
other districts of the insurgent States in which
such suffering may be said to exist, and to re-
heye the people thereof and to provide them
with corn and other seed for planting crop
sufficient for the annual supply of each family
requiring such relief
Mr.. Schenck from the Military Committee,
reported back the Senate joint resolution pass
ed on the 9th OF February last, expressive of
gratitude to the officers and soldiers and sea-
men OF the United States, by whose valor and
endurance on land and sea, the rebellion has
been crushed, which was passed.
Ihe Senate amendments to the House bill
Tor the better organization of the Pay De-
partment of the Navy, was concurred in.
The bill reported on the 11th of April from
the Committee ON Commerce, to amend the
act of July 4th, 1864, to encourage immiora-
tion, and the act of March Sd, 1856, to regu-
late the carriage of passengers in storeships
and other vessels, was passed.
The appropriation bill for the Freedmen's
Bureau was considered.
The appropriation for school houses was re-
duced from $4,000,o00 to $4,000. -l-l9'.
The Speaker appointed Messrs. Shellabar-
ger, Window, Boyer, Cook and Warner as q
special committee on the management of the
Provost MarshaPs Bureau. - IN -
The House then considered the Niagara
ship canal bill.
After long debate motion to lay the bill
on the table was negatived and the bill slight
amended, passed.
Mr.. j. M. Humphrey introduced joint res
olutlon authorizing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to grant American registers to American
vessels. Referred to the Committee on Com
merce Adjourned sse