The Portland daily press., 1867-01-04
xxx 0ONGREss..-sE0oND SESSION.
wAsHnaToN, Jan. 3.

! WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.
! SENATE.
The Chair laid before the Senate a commu-
nication from the Secretary of the Treasury,
tranmitting bill and report prepared by Com
missioner Welles
port were referred to the Finance Committee.
and 1000 copies of the report and 500 COPIES OF
the bill ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Chandler presented a protest against
! any curtailment of the National currencv-
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Morgan presented circumstances of the
New York merchants against any change in
the duty on sugar; also remonstrance against
increased duty on inseed also aremonstrance
against increased duty on steel. Referred to
the Finance Committee.
MI. Trumbull presented a protest against
the curtailment of the National CURRENCY
| Referred. t
| Mr.. Sumner introduced a resolution direct
ing the Judiciary Committee to inquire if leg
| islatlon on the Constitutional amendment was
necessary to prevent the sale of persons into
slavery for a term of years as punishment for
| crime. 20 -t
MIR; Sumner, on presenting the above, called
attention to cases which had come under his
observation, in which colored persons have
been sold by order Of the Criminal Courts in
Maryland: 1t seemed to him that Congress
ought to have the opinion of the judiciary
Committee as to the right of the State to inflict
| such punishment,
| After debate the resolution was adopted
Several memorials and petitions were pre-
| sented.
Mr.. Summer introduced resolution to in
quire what legislation was necessary to sup
press peonage Modified and passed by COM
| mon consent
Mr.. Howard offered resolution instr ucting
the Committee on Public Lands to inquire
what legislation was necessary to protect the
interest of the United States in lands granted
for railroad purposes before the completion Of
railroads, and in homestead lands before the
issue OF patents Adopted.
The unfinished business of the last day of
the session, which was the bill to admit Ne
braska, was taken up.
Mr.. Wade objected and the bill was postpon-
ed until Monday.
morrow call up the bill to regulate the tenure
of office. a
Mr.. Howard gave notice OF his intention to
offer amendments IT, the laws against Polyga-
my in Utah, rendering their provisions more
| effective and their penalties more severe.
| The bill to repeal that section of the confis-
| cation act giving the President power to grant
general amnesty, was called up by Mr.. Trum-
bull, but its consideration was postponed until
tomorrow.
Mr.. Summer called up the bill to prevent and
punish persons fraudulently inducing negroes
to emigrate, and pending its consideration the
Senate adjourned.
The House met at noon.
The Speaker presented a communication
from the Secretary OF the Treasury, transmit
ting report of David A. Wells, Commissioner
OF Revenue, with tariff bill prepared by him
as substitute for Customs laws now in force
stating that the opinion and conclusions of Mr..
Wells, with very slight exceptions, met with
ms lthe Sccretarys) hearty approval, and COM
sideration of Congress. Referred to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means
Mr. Stevens, from the Committee EN- Appro-
priations, reported the military academy ap-
the committee of the whole, and made the
special order for Monday.
On motion of Mr.. Washburne of Illinois, the
Secretary of the Treasury was directed to COM
municate to the House the results of the inves-
tigation made by his Department, into the loss
of the Evening Star, and was also directed to
institute inquiry into the loss of the steamer
Commodore, in Long Island Sound, and report
what further legislation is necessary for the
protection OF passengers on steam vessels.
Mr.. Wentworth begged leave to offer the
following:
ResolUed, That the Judiciary Committee be
instructed to report what measures if any, can
be taken to prevent the Supreme Court from
releasing and discharging the assassins of Mr..
Lincoln, and conspirators to release the rebel
prisoners at Camp Douglas, in Chicago, under
color and pretence of the law OF 1863 and also
to inquire into the expedency of repeating
said law
Mr. Eldridge objected
Mr. Hubbard, Of Connecticut, offered a reso-
luton declaring that the House will not con-
sent to the appropriation of the first dollar for
property destroyed by the Uniou army, while
engaged in putting down the rebellion Re-
| ierred to the Appropriation Committee.
Mr.. Maynard asked leave to offer a resolu-
ton instructing the Committee on Ways and
Means to inquire into the expediency of re-
doeming compound interestTreasury notes and
ive-twenty bonds with Treasury notes bear
ing interest at not less than three or more
| than five per cent
Mr.. Eldridge objected.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
the bill reported by Mr.. Stevens on the Both of
April, from the join select Committee ON Re-
construction, to provide for restoring to the
States lately in instruction, their full polti-
! cal rights; the question being on a substitute
proposed therefor by Mr.. Stevens on the 18th
of December
The substitute having been read, Mr.. Brig
ton provided for the admission of rebel States
on compliance with the conditions prescribed
the substitute must be referred to the Commit
tee on Reconstruction.
The Speaker overruled the point of order as
that bill had been reported from the committee
and was before the House subject to amend
ment
Mr.. Stevens made long and powerful
speech in support of the bill.
Without disposing of the question the House
went into committee of the whole.
Mr.. Kelley addressed the House on the
questions OF finance and tariff.
The committee was afterwards addressed by
Mr.. Holmes
The committee then rose.
Mr.. Eldridee sent up resolution declaring
the conduct of Mr.. Stevens in reporting the
bill in reference to the seeded States a crime,
deserving of the reprobatiOn of the House.
Mr.. Ashley objected, and the resolution went
over. The House then adjourned.