The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-12-21
CONGRESS.


islation is necessary in relation to the
succession to the Presidency, in case OF
disability by death or otherwise Of the
persons now designated to Fl il that Otf-
ice. The bill suspending all payments
for services Of slaves enlisted in the
United States army until the aWar OF
the Commissioners has been appr0 ved
byCOngress was reported from the Co NJ
mittee on Finance. The bill prOvidh lg
for negro suffrage in the District OfCo l.
umbia was then taken up, the question
being on Mr.. COWan s amendment al
lowing females the right of suffrage. \
long debate ensued, in which number
of members participated, Mr.. Viii
llams, of Oregon, made Vi
Olent speech in favor of negro suffrage,
in which he said that che wished the
descendants OfthOse proud and haugh-
ty families of the District to go to the
polls with negroes" He thought all
males should be allowed to vote, butdid
not favor female suffrage. Mr. Morrill,
declared that suffrage was not a natu
raj right, but a privilege, which could
be taken aWayatany time. Mr.. C0Wan,
the author Of the amendment, made
several humorous speeches in favor OF
it, and Mr.. Wade advocated female sutf-
rage. Without finally disposing ofthe
amendment the Senate adjourned.
HOUsE.-A bill requiring the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to selltifty millions
of dollars Ofg0ld, or more if necessary,
WasintrOduced but was fterWardS with
drawn. The Committee on the Judici-
airy reported a bill requiring the Clerk
of the House to make q roll Of the Rep
resentatives elect fromfllI the States be-
fore the next Congress, and fOrbidding
the insertion of the name Ofany person
from a State not repre- sented in this
Congress. The bill was passed. a bill
was introduced by Mr.. Wilson prohibi-
ting the counting Of electoral votes
from any Southern Sta te until such
State shall be allowed presentation
Congress. The bill was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary. A bill
was passed repeating as much of the
act of April 80, 1890 as related to the
powers of jurors. The bill regulating
appointments and removals from office
was taken up and debate1. y substi-
tute was offered by Mr.. Hale, from the
Committee on retrenchmGnt. 4 long
discussion ensued and was cOntinuedup
to the hour Of adjournment, but no
definite action was taken on the bill.
SENATE.-A Joint resolution return
ing thanks to Mr.. Cyrus W. Field for
his efforts in establishing theOcean tele-
graph was introduced and referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The
President was requested to inform the
Senate whether any appointments have
been made to fill vacancies existing pri-
or to the adjournment of Congress on
the 28th of July, and ifsO, whether per-
sons so appointed have received any
pay for their services, and especially in
relation to the office of Surveyor of the
port of Philadelph The consideration
of the bill providing for negro suffrage
in the District of Columbia was then
resumed, the question being on Mr..
COwan's amendment giving females
the right of voting. After very long
discussion a vote was taken on the
amendment, and it was reieCted-yeaS
6, nays 81. amendment was offered
by Mr.. Dixon, requiring all persons
who have not heretofore voted in the
District to be able to readand write be-
fore their ballots shall be received at the
polls. The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.-The credentials Of Hon. B.
IL iAtptICOii, CSCllttllIN L EItNb II 1lii
the Western district of Texas, were in
troduced and referred to the Committee
on Elections. The bill reported from
| the Committee on the Judiciary repeal
| ing so much Of the statute Of 1890 as
prohibits prosecutions for treason from
| being made after longer period than
| three years from the commission of the
| crime was taken up. \ long debate
| 81, t. Of
| Jersy, argued with gTeatability against
| the repeal of this law. \ number Of
| other members also participated in the
| discussion, some faVOring and others
| opposing the bill. 1t was finally recon-
mitted to the Committee on the Judici-
| ary. A bill was passed allowing the
| President to confer brevet rank on Off
/ GERS in the regular army, who have been
brevetted for gallant and meritOriOus
actions while serving in the volunteer
forces. The bill regulating appoint
mentS and removals from Otiice'Was ta-
ken up, and an amendmentwa offered
allowing heads of Departments to APP
point their own subordinate officers
with the consent of the Senate. This
amendment was afterwards modified
so as to give the appointing power to
the President, and was then passed by
| a vote of IS to II. An amendment was
adopted providing for the punishment,
| by fine or imprisonment, of all persons
who shall presume to hold Office after
| being rejected by the Senate. The bill
| was finally laid over and madethe spec
/ ial order for to-day. A resolution was
/ adopted calling on the President for all
F! information in his pOSsesSiOnln relation
| to the New Orleans riots. The House
then adjourned.
Sen ENATE.-NOtice was given that the
bill for the admission of Colorado will
be called up to-day. The bill proVi-
| ding for negro suffrage in the District
of Columbia was then taken up, the
question being on Mr.. DiXOn'S amend
| ment, requiring all persons offering to
vote, who have not heretofore been
voters in the District, to be able to read
| and write before their ballots shall be
| received. A long discussion ensued,
| in which a number of the members par
| ticipated. Mr.. Lane, of Indiana. made
aSpeech in which he said that he would
never vote for the readmissiOn of the
Southern State until they allowed the
negroes to vote. a vote was taken on
the amendment and it was rejected
yeas II, nays 81. An amendment was
adopted providing that any person at
| tempting to bribe voter shall be pun
| ished by imprisonment for not over
two years, or by fine not exceeding two
| thousand dollars, and any person re-
ceiving bribe by not over one years
imprisonment and shall be forever dis