The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-01-13
CONGRESS-.
Congress req assembled on Friday Ia.

Congress re-assembled on Friday last
Jan. 9Th.
| In the Senate, two new constitutions
amendments W ere pre- 1ented-one by Mr.
Sumner, against the Reputation of the
national debt: and the other by Mr.. Wilioms
prohibiting pay ment for emancipated slaves
Mr.. Sumner took up most of the days SEES
sion in presenting negro peutions, comment
ing upan them, and having them referred.
In the House the only resolution worthy
of note adopted was one directing the judi
ciary committee to report more stringent
bill for the SD ppression of polygamy in
Utah.
Mr.. CooE asked unanimous consent to
introduce the following resolution:
ResOired, That it is the sense Of this
House that the Terms OF the second section
of the article proposed to the Legislatures OF
the several Sta les as an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, by joint
resolution approved February |, 1868, confer
upon Congress the power, by appropriate
legislation, to secure 70 the people of the
| United States, of whatever race or color, the
enjoyment of the rights of freemen, and to
protect them from involuntary servitude,
Except as a punishment for crime.1 under
whatever preteXt such involuntary seryitude
may be imposed, and no Legislature of any
State. IN ratifying said amendment, can
attach Any condition to such ratification
which will in any manner restrict or modify
the effect of said section,
Mr.. Stevens. l do not know whether
shall object to that resolution. ] dislike to
But rather think it is in conflict with the
opinion of the Secretary of State. We all
know that the second section is restraining
Mr.. Voorhees,. As | see the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Stevens) wants it
objected to, will object.
The House went into committee of the
whole, and Mr.. Spaulding. Of Ohio delivered
lengthy address heartily endorsing the
Presidents reconstruction policy.
Both houses adjourned over to Monday.
Monday, Jan, Sin the Senate, memo
rial was presented from the New York
chamber Of commerce. asking for Legislation
to protect northern creditors from the opera
ton of southern statutes Of limitation A
resolution WAS adopted calling on the P:esi.
dent for information in regard TO an order
forbidding the expectation Of arms from
California.
Gen. Howard, of the freedmen's bureau,
sent communication to the House. in an
swer to resolutions of inquiry, stating that
no abandoned plantations allotted to freed>
men had been restored to former owners. and
that no property vested in she United States
under confsca;ion as enemies property had
been taken from the United States and be-
slowed on conquered enemies.
Bills were introduced authorizing the
building of railroad from Washington to
New York ; granting pensions to the soldiers
of 1872; AID to amend the act establishing
q bureau for the relief OF freedmen and
refugees.
A resolution was adopted declaring that
the troops should not be Withdrawn from
southern states until the two houses Of con
gress have aseertained that their further STAY
is unnecessary.
Jan. 9.-In the Senate, VIM. J. Mcdonald
was appointed Chief Clerk, in place
Hickey, deceased. \ resolution was adopt
ed, instruetiIig inquiry into the repor cd kid
mapping of freedmen for transportation TO
Cuba and Brazil. Notice was given of bill
to increase a bad Tx the number of men il the
regular armT.
In the Ho pse, there was a long discussion
on a statema nt by a Represen alive in q let
ter to new4 paper, that the bill to facilitate
commerce bttwecn the States relieved the
Illinois Cent ral Railroad from its obligations
to the Cove rnment; and finally the Senate
WIS request led 10 return the bill, on the
ground of its having been passed under
misapprehen,sion. Mr. Voorhees,, of Indiana.
called up his resolution endorsing President
Johnson, and made 4 long speech thereon
He was replied to by Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio,
who offered a substitute for his resolution;
and both documents were referred 10 the
Committee on Recon>tructioa.
January iOth.--In the Senate, a bill
was introduced TO establish the military
peace establishment Of the country
The bill provides that the army shall
onsist Of seven regiments of artillery, ten
of cavalry, and sixty of infantry; that
one regiment of artillery and two Of cavalry
shall be compo:ed Of colored men that
eight regiments of infantry shall be organs
lied from the Veteran Reserve Corps; and
that the army shall be ohicered by one Lieu
tenant General, FIVE Maj r Generals, and ten
Brigadiers. A speech was made Bys Mr..
Howe, of Wisconsin, on the reconstruction
question, contending that the rebel States
had destroyed their functions Of government.
In the House, the question Of negro suf
frage IN the District of Columbia was dis.
eussed. 4 piil vas introduced to punish
counterieiting with death. The Committee
Of Ways and Means was instructed to inquire
into the eXpediency Of doing away with the
income tax, assessing it only upon incomes
of over 81 200, or reducing the present per
centage; of conforming the internal revenue
law to the suggestions of the recent Tobacco
Dealers Convention and OF lessenlng the
import duties on cotton fabrics.
Jan. 1l.-In the senate the bill was pass,
ed authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury
to appoint the assistant assessors of internal
revenue. Mr.. Trlmbuil, from the judiciary
committee, reported bis bills to enlarge the
powers of the Froedmen's Bureau. Mr..
Johnson, Of Nd, made speech on the re-
construction question.
In the he use the discussion of negro suif.
rage in the District of Columbia was coniinu-
ed The ar my appropriation bill was reported
and made the order for the 18th. The COM
mittee on territories was instructed to inquire