The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-10
BY TELEGRAPH,
Wednesday Morning, January 10, 1866.
xxx CONGRESS---1st Session.
SENATE.
TO THE DAILY PRESS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. g.
A petition of the Clerks of the State De
partment for increase of pay, was referred to
the Foreign Committee.
memorial, asking donation of public
lands for educational purposes, in the late reb-
ell States, was referred to the committee on
Public Lands.
A resolution was adopted appointing W. j.
Mcdonald Chief Clerk of the Senate, vice
Hickey, deceased.
The resolution of the House, accepting an
invitation to participate in the Industrial Ex-
hibitiOn at Paris, was reported ana lald over.
The following resolution was offered:
Whereas-It is reported that persons de-
clared free by the proclamation of emancipa-
ton, and by the recent amendment OF the
Constitution, are now kidnapped and trans
ported to Cuba and Brazil to be held as slaves,
and that in this way new slave trade has
been commenced on our coast; therefore,
Resolved-That the committee on the Judi
ciary be directed to inquire if any further leg
islation is needed to prevent the kidnapping
of freedmen and the renewal OF the slave
trade ON the southern coast.
A letter was read from gentleman in Ala
bama, setting forth that the facts stated in the
above preamble, actually existed, and Federal
officers were among the guilty persons.
Mr.. Johnson-I call for the name of the au-
thor of that letter.
Mr.. Sumner have been requested not to
give the name Of the writer. He is well
known in the other House.
Mr.. Sumner then read letter Of similar
purport from the U. S. District Judge of Flor
ida.
Mr.. Davis had no doubt the Yankees were
endeavoring to reopen the slave trade. He
knew they would do so if they thought they
could make any. money out of it. He was in
favor of the resolution.
The resolution was adopted.
The bill to give the consent of Congress to
the annexation of the counties of Berkeley and
Jefferson, of the late State of Virginia, to the
State of West Virginia, was passed.
Mr.. Wilson gave notice that he would to-
morrow introduce bill to increase and fix the
number of men in the regular army. %
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion, after which adjourned. o-A
HOUSE.
The Speaker appointed the following as a
select committee on the military and postal
railway between Warrington and New York !:
Messrs. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, Garfield, of
Ohio, Francis Thomas, of Maryland, Brande-
gee, of Connecticut, Starr, of New Jersey,
Grinnell, of Iowa, and Radford, of New York
Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois, brought to the
attention of the House Washington letter
written by Mr.. Baldwin, of Massachusetts,, to
the latter's paper, the Worcester Spy, saying
that the purpose Of passing the bill to facili-
tate commerce between the States, was to re-
lease the Illinois Central Railroad from its OBJ
legations to carry the mails, &c, free from
charge, in consideration for land grants.
Explanations followed from several gentle
men. II FL -
Mr.. Baldwin maintained that such was the
legal construction of the bill, while Mr.. Wash
burn disclaimed any such intention.
Finally the Senate was requested to return
the bill as it was passed under a mlsapprehen-
sion. -
Mr.. VOORHEES, made speech in support of
the restoration policy of President johnson,
combating the proposition of Mr.. Stevens.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, replied to Mr.. Voor-
hees, advocating equal justice to all of what
ever color or race, and offered a substitute for
the resolution of Mr. Voorhees,, declaring the
House has an abiding confidence in the Presi-
dent, and that in the future, as in the past, he
will cooperate with Congress in restoring to
equal positions and rights with other States in
the Union all the States lately in rebellion.
Mr.. Stevens, of Penn, suggested that MIR.
Bingham refer his resolution to the select
committee Oh Reconstruction. This was
agreed to-107 against 32-thus carrying Mr..
Voorhees, resolution sustaining the President,
to the same committee.
A resolution was adopted instructing the
Military Committee to inquire into the expe-
diency of converting the property known as
Arlington Heights iuto home for disabled
and wounded soldiers of the war, with view
to establishing an invalid corps for the pur-
pose of manufacturing such stores, &C., as
may be required by the army and navy.
The House then adjourned.
Gas ErplOsion-GoU. Coc's Message.
r CINCINNATI, Jan. 1.
The fruit house of Cauldwell Brothers 6
Smalley at Covington, KY, was partially de-
stroyed by the explosion Of gas. Loss on the
building and contents about $4,000.
The inaugural address of Gov. Cox is limit
ed to declaration of the general principles
thof oovarn affairs and IN n statement of tho