Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-02-23

Wade presented the resolution OF the ONO.
Legislature against the assumption OF the
war debts of the several States by the Gen
errl Government Mr.. Sumner presented
memorial from the colored delegates who
recently waited upon the President, protes-
| ting arainst the constitutional amendment
relative to representation. A petition from
military officers for an increase of pay was
also presented The Committee on Post
Roads reported bill for the erection Of "a
bridge across the Mississippi at st. Louis.
/ A discussion then ensued as to whether the
Colorado bill or the act to fix the military
establishment should be- taken up. The
/ military bill was finally read but no action
was taken. The constitutional amendment
relative to representation was then consider
ed Mr. Williams Of Oregon, spoke on the
subject, and then Mr.. Hendricks took the
| Aoor, then the bill was postponed. The bill
to prevent and punish kidnapping was pas
sed.
HoUsE.-The Committee on Appropria-
tions reported bill making appropriations
! for the Post Office Department for the year
ending June 25, 1867. Mr. Raymond pre-
sented petition from the citizens OF New
| York for the protection of American indus
! try. The bill authorizing the deposit of
postage stamps for sale under the direction
| Of the Postmaster general was then taken
up and discussed A motion to lay the bill
/ on the table was disagreed to, and it was
postponed for two weeks. The Miscellan-
/ eous Appropriation bill was then considered
| in Committee of the Whole. An amend
ment, providing that in future purchases of
of carpets for government uses SHALL be of
American manufacture, was agreed to-. A
recess was then taken until evening, when
a session was hell for speech making.
FRIDAY February l6.
SENATE. The bill appropriating Sc, 775,-
600 to reimburse the State of Missouri for
war expenses was reported. A remonstrance
of the Ohio Legislature against the assump-
ton ty the General Government of the war
debts of the several States was presented
| and referred Several petitions and memo
rials were presented. Some discussion en-
sued upon proposition TO take up the bill
| for the reorganization of the army, it being
| claimed that the Colorado admission bill was
of more importance, but the morning hour
expiring, the representation amendment
was taken up Mr.. Williams, of Oregon,
spoke at length. Adjourned.
HOUSE The Post Office appropriation
bill was made the special order for Thursday
Petitions for protective tariffs were presen-
u.
on credit was debated and postponed for two
weeks The bill to authorize the sale of
stamped envelopes at the cost of the stamp
impressed thereon was postponed for two
| weeks The miscellaneous appropriation
| bin was taken up; an amendment prescrib-
| ing that carpets bought by the Government
| for public buildings, &e., should be Amer
rican manufacture, was agreed to. An
evening SESSION FIR speech making was held
| but no business was done. Adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. II.
SENATE. "A bill to prevent the fraudu-
| lent and illegal use of the mails was presen-
| ted and referred 1t is intended to check
the practice of mailing handbills or circu-
| lars to induce people to invest their money
| in gift enterprises or lotteries Postmasters
are authorized not to deliver such letters to
| the address when they are satisfied that it is
| fictitious but to send all such to the dead
letter Office, that they may be returned to
the writer's. A petition was presented by
| citizens of Virginia, asking for a territorial
government to be established there. The
bill to grant the benefits of the pension law
! to artifcers, not regularly enlisted soldiers,
was passed The bill allowing cases to be
appealed from the Court of Claims to the
! Supreme Court was passed A bill to estab-
lish telegraph line between New York and
the West India Islands was called up, but
the morning hour having expired the consti-
tutional amendment was taken up. Mr..
Hendricks opposed the measure in lengthy
speech. Adjourned.
HOUSE "A bill was reported to reimburse
the loyal States for expenses incurred by
them in suppressing the rebellion. A reso-
luton to print twenty thousand copies of the
1 90 go L., H. Eon-no IL
/ death of Mr.. Lincoln, was referred The
Coffroth Koontz contested election was taken
up and postponedr Leave was asked, but
objection was mAHe, to introduce PROPOSE
tion for an amendment to the Constitution,
that no one who has held a civil or military
position under the rebel government shall
be eligible to dice under the United States
Government. Adjourned
MONDAY, Feb. 20.
SENATE. "A memorial from colored men
of Florida was presented, asking a remedy
for the refusal of landholders to lease lands
to them. Petitions for the enactment of an
international copyright law, for reduction
of the tax on petroleum and agricultural i'm
plements were presented. A bill to increase
the capital of the national banks twenty one
million dollars to provide circulation for the
Pacific States and Territories, was present.
ed. A joint resolution to disband the mill
tary forces of the rebellious States was pre-
sented by Mr.. Wilson He read letters
from Generals Thomas, Swayne, Hartsuff
and others, in charge of the freedmen in
the Gulf States, which represented that
there was danger of the extinction of the
negro race and the expulsion of Northern
men, if the militia should not be superseded
by United States forces. The representa-
J ton amendment was debated A mes age
from the President, vetoing the freeemen S
bureau bill, was received. 1t was moved to
reconsider the bill, and an order was made
that it be taken up at one o clock to-day.
Adjourned.
HoUsE.-Bills were presented to pay
bounties to the soldiers of 1861 and 1862,
equal to the highest bounties of 1863 and
1864 making eight hours a legal day' 5
! work for all workmen employed by the
United States Government, and to repeal
acts exempting United States bonds from
taxation. Joint resolutions were introdu-
eed to amend the Constitution of the Uni
ted States SO as to exclude from all offices
OF the Government those who have or who
may hereafter engage in rebellion or conspi-
racy against the Government, and another
declaring that the loyal States, or those
who resisted rebellion, are sufficient to
adopt amendments to the Constitution.
They were referred Mr.. Longyear, of
Michigan, offered a series of resolutions.
declaring that the organized rebellion and