Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.

SENATE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.-The Senate was call
ed to order at II clock, by Hon. Mr. Foster.
On motion, committee was appointed to in
form the House that the Senate was organized
Mr.. Sumner, of Massachusetts, moved to pro-
coed to the consideration of bill to regulate
the elective franchise of the District of Column
bia It had been introduced the first day of
the last session and extensively discussed. 1t
had been referred to committee, however, and
had not been acted on He hoped that it will
be acted on now.
Mr.. McDougal objected to the motion as out
| of order The President sustained the objec-
| ton.
A message was received from the House of
Representatives announcing that it had organ
led and that committee of three had been
appointed to act with a similar committee of
the Senate informing the President of the Uni
ted States that they were organized and ready
to proceed to business
On motion of Mr. Trumbull, the Senate then
took recess until half past one o'clock.
When the Senate was again called to order,
Mr.. Anthony, from the committee appointed to
wait on the President, announced that they had
attended to that duty, and that the President
had informed them that he would communicate
with them in writing.
A message was received from the House, an
nounclng that they had passed bill entitled
supplement- to IAN act to prevent instruction
and suppress rebellion
Mr. Chandler moved to proceed to the consi-
deration Of the BILL
Mr. salisbury Directing, it was laid over
The Presidents Message was then received
and read.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Precisely at II clock, Speaker Colfax called
the House to order.
Mr.: Washburne, of Illinois, offered resolu-
ton that the Speaker appoint a committee to
wait upon the Senate and announce that a
quorum Of the House had assembled. Also,
| that committee be appointed to join the Sen
ate committee and to wait upon the President
and announce that Congress was ready to re-
| celve any communication that he might be
| pleased to make.
The resolution was adopted, and the Speaker
! appointed as such committee, Messrs. Wash
| burne, Morrill, and Brigham.
Mr.. Elliott, Of Massachusetts,, offered reso-
| luton that committee be appointed to be call
| ed the Committee On Freedmen, to consist of
| nine members, and to have charge of all matters
concerning the freedmen that may be commit
| ted to them by the House. The resolution was
ordered to be referred to the appropriate COM
| mittee
| Mr.. Elliott introduced bill to repeal the 18th
section of the act entitled an act to punish re-
bellion and for other purposes being the Sec
ton which conters upon the President the pow
er OF granting amnesty and pardon to rebels.
On motion of Mr. Boutwell,, of Mass, res
olution was adopted, directing the Secretary of
State to lay before the House all correspondence
had by the State Department relative to the
discovery and arrest of John FL. Surratt
MIR. Boutwell, introduced, for reference, bill
to provide for the sale of gold by directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to sell 100000 ev-
cry Monday morning, in New York, in parcels
not to exceed $4,000 each, and providing that
no sale of gold be made in any other way, and
that no such sale shall be made when the amount
| of gold in the Treasury does not exceed $780,
| 600, 900. Also, that public notice Of the time
and place of such sale shall be given in one
newspaper in each of the twelve principal cities
of the United States.
Also, providing that the Secretary may allow
a commission to the person making such sales,
not to exceed one fifth of one per cent Of the
amount sold. Also, that the Secretary shall,
| from time to time, invest the proceeds of such
sales in interest-b bearing bonds of the United
States, and that the bonds so purchased shall
| be marked negotiable and the interest thereon
shall be invested in other bonds to be held and
| treated In the same manner.
| The fourth section provides that no Collector
of Internal Revenue Or other public officer shall
deposit the funds of the United States in any
| banking institution whenever his Office or place
Of business is within two hundred miles of the
Treasury of the United States, or of any Assis-
tant Treasury, or of any designated depository
of the public money.
The bill was referred to the Committee on
| Ways and Means.
Mr. Schenck, of Ohio, introduced bill to fix
the times for the regular meetings of Congress
at II clock, noon, on the day on which the
term begins-the first Monday in January and
on the second Monday in November next, pre-
ceding the end of the term for which the Con-
| gress is elected.
The second section of the bill provides for the
amendment of the act Of July Goth, 1866, ma
| king appropriations for sundry civil expenses,
&c, so that no member shall receive mileage
for travelling to the place Of the meeting of the
| Congress to which he is elected
| Mr.. Kelley, OF Pa, introduced bill to create
and organize department to be called 1.-THE
! Department of Internal Revenue" Referred
| to the Committee of Ways and Means.
| Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, introduced a
! bill to regulate removals from Office.
| Mr.. Warren, Of Connecticut, offered resolu-
ton enquiring of the President whether any
postmasters still held Office by virtue of the act
for the organization of the Postoffice Depart
ment
! Mr. Farnsworth and Mr. Stevens both moved
III DuCCCSSlOH tiidl tliC lAOuoC duJUuiu, UuU ULC
motions we're both lost, and the House remain
| ed in session until the reception of the Presi-
| dent message, which the Clerk proceeded to
| read.
Mr.. Stevens moved to suspend the further
reading until tomorrow. The motion was lost
SENATE
| WASHINGTON, Dec 4.-The Senate was call
ed to order at y clock. Prayer was offered
| by the Chaplain. The journal of yesterday was
| read and approved
Mr.. Sumner gave notice that On some future
day he would introduce joint resolution in re-
gard to reconstruction declaring the jurisdiction
of Congress over that whole subject as we'll as
over the representation Of the lately rebellious
States in Congress.
The resolution calling on the President for in
| formation relative to the occupation of Mexico,
came up in order, and was, On motion of Mr.
Sumner, referred back to the committee
| A supplement to the bill in regard to sup
pressing the rebellion and preventing insurrec-
| ton, was then debated at some length The
Senate, by vote of yeas 81, nays 81, refused to
proceed to its consideration After which, on
motion, the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at II o'clock PRAYER by
Rev. DIR. Boynton.
After the reading Of the Journal, Mr. Wash
burne, Of Illinois, from the Committee on Rules,
reported an additional rule that there shall be