Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-01-17
Congressional Proceedings.

/
question was presented A resolution was
.dopted calling on the President for informa-
ion in regard to an order issued torblddlng
he expectation of arms across the Mexican
rontier, and asking whether the order was
lot violation of neutrality with Mexico.
Another was also adopted asking why the
commission to investigate the claims tor
compensation of loyal slave owners, whose
slaves had joined the Union army, had not
been appointed. Adjourned. In THE HOUSE |
bills were introduced, and referred, for the |
disposition of Government lands in the |
Southern States as homesteads; to amend
the act for the establishment of freedmen S
bureau; to establish railway between Wash
ington and New York. to acertain and ac,
Just claims or injury to, or destrustion of
property, by the military, during the rebel
lion; to grant additional bounties to soldiers
who enlisted in the early part of the war
A resolution was adopted calling for intor-
nation in regard to the kidnapping of the
child of an American lady, by Macmillan,
in the city of Mexico. Another was also
adopted instructing the Committee on Naval
Affairs to report on the property OF accept
ing League Island as the site tor Navy
yard A resolution declaring that the ma
tional forces shall not be withdrawn from
the lately seeded States until Congress
shall deem their further presence there un-
necessary was adopted. A bill was report
ed from the Ways and Means Committee
providing for the funding of obligations of
the United States The bill denouncing
polygamy, declaring that, like its twin-sis-
ter, slavery, it should be swept from the
Territories, and pledging the power of the
Government for that purpose, was passed.
Adjourned.
IT,, Nm, i
Mcdonald was, by resolution, appointed
chief clerk. A resolution, offered by Mr..
Sumner, directing the Committee on the
Judiciary to inquire whether any further
legislation is necessary to prevent the kid
mapping of freedmen and their importation
to other countries, was adopted. No other
business of Importance was transacted. In
THE House, the special committee on the
bill establishing railway between Washing
ton and New York was announced; Mr..
Stevens is chairman. A long discussion
here ensued in relation to the bill passed
some days ago, to facilitate railroad commu
nication between the States; Mr.. Wash
burn charged Mr.. BALDWIN with sayin G
that the bill was intended not as blow at
railroad monopolies, but for the purpose of
relieving the Illinois Central Railroad from
| certain obligations. Mr. B. ACKNOWLEDGED
| UIlat he ldu fllduc SuCl al dSScfIdlu, UuG
not intend to charge the gentleman from
Illinois with practicing deceit. Mr. Wash
| burn and others disclaimed that the bill
had any such design. On motion of Mr.
| Boutwell,, the Senate was requested to re-
turn the bill to the House A resolution
was adopted instructing the Military Com
| mittee to inquire into the probability OF
| converting the Arlington estate into home
for wounded and disabled soldiers, with the
view OF establishing an invalid corps to
manufacture army and navy stores. Mr..
| Voorhees, resolution endorsing the Presi-
dents message, and asserting that the
States lately in rebellion are still States of
the Union, was taken up. Mr. Voorhees,
made speech, and was replied to by Mr..
| Bingham, of Ohio. The latter offered a
substitute, but the whole matter was re-
| ferred to the Committe on Reconstruction.
In THE SENATE, on January 10th, a
memorial Of colored citizens of Savannah,
asking tor suffrage, was presented. A bill
was introduced to increase the regular army.
There are to be seven regiments of artillery,
ten of cavalry, and sixty Of infantry. Of
cavalry, and ten of infantry shall be colored
persons. The cavalry and artillery are tc
be organized as at present, and all the in
fantry regiments are to be organized on the
basis OF ten companies each. Part of these
last are to be composed of men who have
been disabled in battle, and will be officer
ed by officers of the Veteran Reserve Corps
Several departments are reorganized, anC
the ignal department is made part of the
regular organization The bill to regulate
the elective franchise in the District of Co
lumbla was taken up and amended, and then
sent back to the committee. A resolution
; declaring that provisional governments were
necessary for the wants and necessities O
the lately rebellious States was offered anC
debated, but no result was arrived at, and
after an executive session, the Senate ad
journed. In THE HOUSE, bill for the sup
port of the navy was introduced The
Committee of Ways and Means were in
structed to inquire into the expediency O
revising tie system of income taxes
Resolutions were offered expressing the con
fidence of the House in the President, ant
calling for inform alton why jeff Davis anc
Others are held in confinement A. bill wa
introduced to punish counterteiting witt
death. A long debate ensued on the bill
granting the right of suffrage to colored per
sons in the Districtot Columbia, after which
the House adjourned
In THE SENATE, on January 1Ith, peti
tlons were presented from citizens of Michi
gan against renewal of the Reciprocity Trea
ty, and from colored Baptist Convention
for universal suffrage The bill to author
ize the Secretary of the Treasury to appoin
assistant assessors of Internal Revenue wa
; called up, and Mr.. Summer offered al
amendment that the Secretary should ap
point nobody who could not take the oath re
CURED by law. Mr.. Fessenden and Mr.
Howard commented on the admitted viola
tions of the law in this respect by the Sec
retary, but suggested that an admonition tt
him should take the shape of a resolution
MIR Sumner withdrew his amendment. anf