The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-01-23
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.

l.
from the Boston Board of Trade asking
for the passage of law to exempt North.
ern creditors from the operations of the
Southern statues of limitation, which
was referred to the Judiciary commit
| tee
Mr.. Clarke called up the bill in relation
to qualifications for jurors, providing
that no person shall be disqualified from
acting on grand or petit jury by reason
of his having formed or expressed an
opinion upon the matter to be submitted
to such jury founded upon public rumor
or newspaper statements, &c, The bill
vas made the special order for Thurs
day.
The bill for the enlargement of the
treedmens Bureau was taken up, pend
ing which, action was taken upon Mr..
Cowen's amen dmeRt to limit the juris-
diction of the Bureau to the States
lately in rebellion.
Mr.. FessendeH, from the special com
mittee on Reconstruction, reported
joint resolution to amend the constitu-
tion by providing that representations
and direct tax shall be apportioned
among the several tates which may be
included within this Union according to
their respective number, counting the
whole number of persons in each State,
excluding indians not taxed, provided
that whenever the election franchise
shall be denied or abridged in any State
on account of race or color
AFTER debate Mr. Cowan's amendment
was rejected-l1 against %
Mr.. Davis moved to strike out the pro-
vision extending military jurisdiction
and protection to agents and employees
of bureau. Rejected-8 against 81.
An amendment was adopted restrict
ing military jurisdiction to exercise of
officers pertaining to bureau.
Several other amendments we're offered
and rejected
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial of
the Boston Board of Trade setting forth
that at the outbreak of the rebellion the
Boston merchants had large claims
on the rebel States. 1t stated that by
the operation ofthe statute of limitations
in those States, proceedings for the col
lection Of these claims are made out
lawed and they pray for the passage of
law exempting suitors from the opera
ton of the Southern stay law for pc
rod long enough to enable them TO
enforce their demands.
Section I'd That any question of law
arising upon the trial Of any person in
any district or circuit court OF the
United States or in the Supreme Ceurt of
the District Of Columbia. for any offenses
that punishment whereof may be death,
may be removed to the Supreme Court OF
the United States by writ of Error to
be issued ont within sixty days of final
judgment lin snch case in the courts be-
low, and thereupon proceedings shall he
stayed in said coutrs, and the questions of
law heard and determined in the Su-
preme Court of the United States, and
such order sent TO the court below, af-
frming or reverting the judgment as
the determination of such question ef
law may require.
Mr., Clark called up the bill III Tela.
tion to the qualification ofjurors in rela-
tion to writs of error Ill certain cases,
which provides as follows:
Section lst. That no person shall be
disqualified to act upon any grand and
petit jury by reason of having formed
or expressed an opinion Of the matter or
cause to be submitted to such jury found
ed upon public rumor, statements in
public journals or common notoriety
provided, that he be otherwise compe-
tent, and it shall appear to the satisfac.
tion of the Conrt upon his declaration
under oath, or otherwise, that he can and
will, Notwithstanding such an opinion,
act impartially and fairly upon the mat
ter to be submitted to him
HOUSE MIR Finck introduced bill
prescribing an oath of Office and repeal
ing the test oath of 1862. Referred to
the committee on the Judiciary.
Messrs. Jenk aud Myers severally in
troduced q bill regulating suffrage in
the District of Columbia Referred
Mr.. Bradfort introduced bill proyi
ding for the admission Of the State of
Colorado into the Union
Several resolutions were introduced
instructing the committee on Ways and
Means to enquire into the expediency of
taxing tobacco in the leaf, and into the
expediency OF reducing the tax on COM
mon leaf.
Mr. Stevens introduced a resolution.
which was adopted, instructing the com
mittee on Judiciary to inquire whether
further legislation is necessary to compel
compliance with the law requiring all
officers to take the test oath
Mr. Williams introduced a resolution,
which was referred to the committee on
reconstruction, declaring that the lead
ers of the rebellion ought to be tried BY
court martial or military commission,
and that it would be inexpedient to try
them by civil court when Jurors in the
South would be the equals OF those ac-
cused of crimes.
Mr. Stevens, from the committee on
Reconstruction, reported an amendment
to the constitution, providing that rep
resentation shall be based upon the
whole number Of persons in the States.
and where the elective franchise is &C.
MED or abridged on account of race or
color all such persons shall be excluded
from the basis of representation
MI Rodgers, ofNew jersey, from the
Reconstruction committee, opposed the
amendment arguing that it is contrary
to the principles on which the govern
ment is founded, viz: Representation and
taxation must 60 together it was de-
signed to degrade the white man