Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-02-08
Thirty-Nlnth Congressional Session


In the Senate, Jan. 81, resolution was
adopted calling on the President for copies Of
the correspondence between the State Depart
ment and foreign ministers, on the policy Of the
administration toward the rsbellious States
Mr.. Conness' resolution relative to the pro-
posed Reciprocity Treaty with the Hawaiian
Islands was called up and passed.
Mr.. Summers resolution relative to Mr. Mot
ley, calling upon the President for q copy Of the
letter upon which the Secretary Of State pre-
dlcated his letter Of inquiry to Mr.. Motley; also
the name Of the writer came up.
Mr.. Doolittle said he understood Mr.. Sumner
to state that he had received letter Of similar
purport to the one referred to by Mr.. Seward.
de would like to inquire of Mr.. Sumner who
that letter was from.
Mr.. Simmer said it was from a person 90 ut
terry obscure that he regarded it as practically
Al anonymous letter. II was from . person sb-
sOlutely obscure, whose name be had forgotten,
and yet on such letter the Secretary OF State
had based accusations against Mr. Motley.
The Tariff bill was taken up, and q number
Of amendments offered, among them one offered
By Mr.. Edmunds was adopted putting duty OF
10 cents per bufhel on oais. The tariff bill
was psssed-Ayes q, noes 10.
In the House the Senate bill to prevent snug
Cling was passed, after which the House pre-
ceeded to the consideration Of the Consular and
Diplomatic Appropriation bill The amend
ment adding an appropriation for the Mission
to Portugal was rejected
An amendment striking out tho apprepriation
for mission to Rome was agreed to.
Other amendments were agreed to, and the
bill passed.
The House then took up the Military Academy
Appropriation bill. The amendments adopted
yesterday in committee were agreed to ard the
bill passed.
In the House on Friday IN interesting ques-
ton was raised by Mr.. Trowbridgs Of Michigan.
who reported from the Committee on Enrolled
Bills resolution setting forth that the sction 10
repeal section 13 Of the - Act to suppress insur-
rection," &C.. approved July II, 1862, the am
nssty law, and the bill to regulate the elective
franchise in the Territories Of the United States.
had been passed by both houses Of Congress,
duly enrolled and submitted by the COMMITTEES
on Enrolled Bills to the President Of the United
States on the 9th and 18th days Of January, res
pectively. and the President had failed to notify
the House whether he had approved or rejected
the same, and that, under the Constitution, they
had therefore become laws BY lapse Of time. and
as thew had not been published, the Secretary Of
State is directed to inform the House whether
the laws indicated have been fled In bis depart
ment.
Mr.. Trowbridge said this was the first time in
the history Of the country when bills submitted
to the President had not been returned with or
without his approval, but hsi become laws BY
the lapse Of time, and the resolution wss simply
to ascertain their whereabouts. II was adopted.
Feb. 2.
SEyArR-Mr Summers resolution calling for
a copy Of the letters on which Mr.. Seward
founded his inquiries Of Mr. Motley, and to fur
nish the name Of the writer, was passed
The Bankrupt bill came up, the question
being upon the amendment Of the Judiciary
Committee to strike out the proposition Of the
House bill eIempting from sale under the oper-
atoms Of law so much Of the debtors property
as is exempted by the exemption laws Of the
State ia which the debtor resides.
This was debated by Messrs Stewart. Foster.
Poland and Doolittle, after which the vote was
taken on Mr. Wilson's amendment to insert in
lev Of the above, the provision that an amount
may be exempted not to exceed two thousand
dollars.
This was disagreed to. and the question then
recurred on striking out the clause. Yeas, IA;
nays, 20. So the clause was not stricken out.
The bill to regulate the tenure Of office was
received from the House with amendment.
House. The bill to regulate the tenure Of
certain civil officers was taken mp. The vote
rejecting Mr. Williams amendment was recon
sidered, and the amendment was then adopted
50 to 63.
The effect Of this smepdment Is to strike out
the exception Of Cabinet officers from the opera
tons Of the bill
The bill then passed III to 8s
The Ssnate's amendments to the Tariff bill
we're referred to the committee on Ways and
Means, and ordered printed.
Mr. Ancona announced the death Of his col
league. Mr. johnson. Of the llth Psnnsylvanis
District. and oSrsd the ususl resolutions Of res
psst