Smyrna times., 1866-01-31
CONGRESS,

In the House last week two bills were intro
duced to regulate suffrage in the District OF
Columbia, and another to repeal the test oath
all of which were referred. A number Of
other bills were reported, aud resolution OF
f1reI asking for the trial OF the leaders in the
late rebellion by cOurt-martial or military com
mission, and asserting that it would answer no
practical purpose to have them tried by ju-
| licial tribunal in the South The committee
of ways and means were instructed to inquire
into the cxpcdiency Of reducing the duty on
sugar, tea coffee, salt and pepper The same
committee WAS instructed to inquire into the
expcdicncy of lcvying tax on tobacco in the
leaf Mr.. Stevens, from the committee on re-
construction, reported a joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution so as
to include all persons, except Indians who are
not taxed, in the basis of representation, and
providing that when any State shall withhold
from class Of persons the right Of suffrage
such class shall not be included in the basis Of
representation This resolution has led to q
protracted debate.
!, A number Of petitions were presented in the
Senate, including one from Wilmington, Del,
in favor Of the eight hour system to be applied
: to government employees. :,
A Joint resolution was offered and referred,
to amend the constitution so as to prohibit pay
, ment for slaves or the rebel debt. Resolutions
were also introduced to provide for the restora-
ton Of property Of loyal citizens conhscated by
the late Confederate government petition
q was presented from loyal citizens OF Loudon
= county, Va, asking compensation tor property
> DESTROYED bv order of Gen. Sheridan and also
{ petition from the women of the United
n States asking that the elective franchise be
conferred upon them as is proposed to be con-
: ferred upon the negroes.
The House instructed the committee on the
:. District Of Columbia to report bill excluding
J., from the right Of suffrage in that District al
persons who have voluntarily borne arm
: against the nitcd States government. A bill
was introduced and referred, to amend the In
, ternal revenue law so as to levy an income tal
of one per cent. only on all incomes from an.
n mining stock.
toI In the Senate resolutions enacting the oblite
N ration of all distinctions of color we're reterre
4 to the Reconstruction Committee; bills wer
rs introduced rcOrganlzing the Judiciary, increas
le ing the number Of cadets at West Point an
I'd promoting military education. The bill re
az stricting the fees to be paid for prOSecutln
soldiers claims was passed-yeas 33, nays T.
Resolutions were offered thanking Admir-
e, Farragut and his men for services at Mobil
in Bay
is In the House, resolutions thanking the Pre-
c- Sident for not accepting the carriage tendere
him from New York were passed. The Con
on mlttee on Rules was instructed to inquire mi
es the expedcncy of rule prohibiting the Ha
la. of the House being used for any other than l.
hit gslative purposes Resolutions for the speed
of trial Of Jefferson Davis for treason were intr
duccd, but the previous question on them b
m ing refused, they were postponed. Bills e.
oc cmpting the Pennsylvania Institution for Il
law Blind from taxation, and excluding rebels fro
~ suffrage in the District Of Columbia were
md troduced. The House took recess, VIII,
Wv. Gen. Sherman was introduced by the Speak
> amid great applause, after which the constit
ri. tional amendment regulating the basis of re
art resentation was debated by Mr. Raymond.