Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

communicated message relative TO the appoint
ment OF persons rejected by the Senate. Order
ed to be printed and laid on the table.
petition was received from Adams Express
Company asking for reissue ofthe legal-tenders
burned In their hands.
The letter that led to the Motley correspon-
dence was demanded.
The bankrupt bill was resumed, and the
1900 homestead exemption was rejected, after
elaborate discussion.
The death of Hon. Philip johnson, of Penn.
| sylVanla, was announced, and after the usual
ceremonies the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.-The tenure-ofofice bill was taken
up, and the amendment to include Cabinet of
| Ulcers was adopted, 80 to 60, and the bill pass
ed-111 to So.
The bill paying the Kentucky militia called
| to protect Cumberland Gap was passed.
| The House adjourned out of respect to the
memory of Hon. Philip johnson.
| SENATE, Monday, Feb THE House resolu-
ton paying the Kentucky militia was concurr-
ed IN. 1t goes to the President.
| The Secretary of War was called on for the
correspondence concerning Burnslde's commits
sion paying loyal Tennesseeans.
The Judiciary Committee reported bill pro-
vldlng that the act authorizing payment for
stores taken by quartermasters shall not be con-
structed to include claims originating In States
declared in instruction by the proclamation OF
July l, 1862, except to loyal citizens OF West
| Virginia and Tennessee.
A bill was introduced placing the southern
States under military officers not lower than
brlgadier-generals, who shall maintain orders
and establish military tribunals. The United
petition is endorsed by commissioned officer
Sentences affecting life shall not be enforced
until approved by the commanding general OF
| the district The bill was referred
| The tenure-of- office bill, as amended by the
House, came up, but was postponed.
The bankrupt bill was discussed until adjourn
ment.
HoUsE-The bill forbidding Secretary Nc
Culloch to sell gold was referred to the Banking
and Currency Committee.
! Bill empowering district judge to hear and
| determine appeals from their own decisions and
DEGREES was referred.
Bill repeating the tax on State bank circula-
ton was referred.
! A Joint resolution for establishing govern
ments in, and resuming former relations with,
the unrepresented States was referred to the
| Committee on Reconstruction.
| A bill introduced by J. NJ Ashley guarantee
ing republican form of government to the
late rebelious States was referred Ashley stat
ed that the bill was drawn up by the Southern
| LOYAL Association of which Durant is presi
dent.
Mr. kelso's impeachment resolutions were
referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The resolution forbiding the reduction of the
amount Of outstanding notes known as green
backs during the current year was passed.
The resolution instructing the Naval Com
mittee to inquire into the expediency OF reno
wing the Naval Academy from Annapolis, Md !,
where the pupils are exposed to disloyal In
fuences, to loyal State, was passed-l08 to
30. Adorned.
SENATE, Tuesday, Feb. 5.-The Secretary of
| War was called upon to state what measures
had been taken to protect trains crossing the
plains.
The bill to pay war claims was so amend
ed as to exclude claims from southern States,
and passed.
The Secretary of the Treasury was called on
i for information relative to the cotton seized
during the rebellion, its disposition, and the
names of the parties interested in it.
The Bankrupt bill was resumed. An amend
ment excluding from its benefits persons unable
to take the test cath was lost-ayes 10, nays
4 3O-and the bill itself was defeated by vote Of
20 to %
| Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| General Sheridan was formally introduced.
A majority Of the Committee on Indian AT
fairs reported favorably On Lewis V. BOgg S
contract
The Post-ofice Committee was instructed to
inquire into the expediency of building post
Office, &C., at Nashville.
After the passage OF variety of private and
army bills, the House went into committee OF
the whole on the President message, and ad-
journed.
SENATE, Wednesday, Feb 6.-Mr. Sumner
presented the petitions Of citizens Of South
Carolina and Arkansas asking for the establish
ment of loyal governments. Referred.
The tenure Of office bill came up, and the
Senate disagreed to the House amendment, in
Guiding Cabinet officers.
After an Executive session, adjourned.
| HOUsE-A communication from the Secre-
tary of State was received, saying he had been
automatically informed of the adoption of the
constitutional amendment by five States.
/ The bill instructing the clerk, in calling the
ROLL to call only the States now represented was
passed.
The Civil Service bill providing three COM
missioners to examine candidates for Office was
laid on the table by vote of II to 81.
Mr.. Stevens, from the Reconstruction Com
mittee, reported bill for the more efficient
government of the insurrectionary States. The
preamble recites the old story of the nullity of
the present governments, and the necessity of
new ones for the protection of loyalists.
The bill divides the southern States into
military districts, of which Virginia is the LIST,
North Carolina I'd, Georgia, Alabama and
Florida Sd, Mississippi and Arkansas 4th Lou
isiana and Texas 5th. An officer, not under
f! the rank of brigadier-general, appointed by the
general of the United States army, shall COM
mand each district. Each district commander
shall, when in his judgment necessary, organize
a military commission. An United States court
may issue writ of habeas corpus on certain
endorsements of the petition by a commissioned
officer Sentences affecting life Or liberty are
to be approved by the commander of the dis
trict There are indications that Stevens will
press the bill to vote tomorrow
SENATE, Thursday, Feb. THE clerk
read dispatch from Nashville announcing the
adoption OF universal suffrage by the Tennessee
Legislature.
The Judiciary Committee reported bills for
enrolling and calling out the militia and pre-
venting corporal punishment in the army.
The appropriation bill was discussed till re-
cess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
After some unimportant business: the bill Of
the Reconstruction Committee was taken up.
! Mr. Stevens said he had not made up his
mind about it, except that desiring vote on
it as early as possible, he would not to agree
postponing it till Monday.
MIR. LIE Blond said the bill struck down the
civil government in the South, ignored State
| laws, and broke down the judiciary.
Mr.. Raymond proposeds>in view OF its I'M
|