The national Republican., 1867-12-12
Aatioual gspnbIitau.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
Fortieth Congress-seoona Session.
SENATK.

Referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Also, a memorial signed BY an i'm mense num-
Der Of naturalired citiIons, setting forth at
great length thoir grievances, and asking that
the rights Of naturaiizsd citizens be defined BY
law. Referred to Committee on Foreign Rola-
tions.
Mr. johnson presented the petition Of VIM.
Mortarn, a citizen Of Pennsylyania, who was
awarded a claim against the United States BY
the mixed commission sitting for the two Gov
ernmcnts, and who states thai tho Secretary Of
State refuses to pay but In the appreciated cur.
rency Of the United States, and asking that he
be paid In coin. Referred 10 the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Anthony introduced q bill declaring null
and void all acts Of eonfscation and forfeiture
passed BY the rebel authorities. Referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Wiley introduced q bill authorising the
sale Of the lands, tenements, and water power
belonging to the United States At Harper's
Forry. Referred TO the Committee on Military
Affairs.
Mr. Fessenden offered 4 concurrent resolution
providing for joint COMMITTEES TO revise and
fS tho pay Of officers Of the two Houses.
Adopted,
Mr.. Howard introduced a bill amending the
net granting land to aid In tho construction Of
railway from Lake Superior to Puget's Sound.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill providing that
all balances received from the sale Of captured
and abandoned property remaining In the hands
of Mr.. Spinner as special agent bs covered BY
his warrant as treasurer, and be not thereafter
drawn from the Treasury unless BY authority Of
law.
Mr. Sherman, in explaining the bill, said that
the sum from the sources named reached SOW.
eral millions, and 1t was in the power Of the
Secretary to apply 1t towards paying claims
from the former owners Of said property, and
tho object Of the bill was to prevent any use
Of this money unless BY authority Of Congress.
Mr.. Edmunds said this bill did not cover the
necessity Of the case 1t was understood that
there was now several hundred Thousands Of
this fund in the hands of parties In New York
He had IN amendment providing for the re-
ceiving into tho Treasury Of all these sums and
prescribing penalties for any unlawful appropra-
tions Of Il.
M. Trumbuq objected to the resolution as
recognizing the right up to this time Of the 500.
rotary Of the Treasury to Appropriate this
money Tho Secretary never had any right to
use this money. The Secretary had applied to
the Attorney General for his opinion, and that
officer gave as his opinion that the proceeds Of
this property must be paid into the Treasury,
and there await the action Of the Board Of
Claims. This opinion was given two Year, ago,
and yet, in the face Of that opinion the Secretary
had since paid out on his own authority, several
hundred thousand dollars.
Mr.. Edmunds agreed with the Senator (Mr. T J
as to his construction Of tho Law, but thought
he was rather unjust TO the Secretary. Preced.
ing Secretaries had also, under the advice Of the
Solicitors Of the Department, assumed to decide
what was captured and abandoned property; and
the opinion Of the Attorney General had no,
touched upon this point.
lie (Mr. E thought this action Of the secre.
tary was entirely wrongi but stated this much
in justice to him.
Mr. Fessenden expressed his desire TO say
something on this subject, and asked that
the bill lay over until tomorrow which wss
agreed to.
Mr Crngin called up the resolution to pay
the salaries Of clerks Of committees now due,
and Of special messengers and pages during the
recess. Passed.
The bill changing the name Of Samuel Chase
Barney to Samuel Chase de Kraft, was taken up
as returned by the House, with amendments
providing that all persons in the District Of Co.
lumbia who desire to change their names shall
file a bill in the Supreme Court Of tho District
stating their reasons The amendments were
agreed to, and the bill now goes to the Presi
dent.
Tho House concurrent resolution providing
for an adjournment from December 20 TO Janu
Gry was read,
Mr. Sumner objected to Its present oonsidera.
tion, and II went over under the rules
Mr., Sumner presented memorial from Gene
raj James S. Brisbin and thirty thousand col
ored men Of Kentucky, asking Congress to be-
that ifthis is done they believe that the murder
arson, and rape now so prevalent In Kentuch,
will be put an end to.
Mr. Davis. Mr. President I pronounce tha
q foul and mendacious libel upon the State o
Kentucky.
The petition was then referred.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vt, called up his bill to rails
the value Of legal al-tender notes to par.
Mr.. Morrill, then took the floor and read ai
elaborate argument In favor Of the adoption o
his bill. Its passage would establish such conf
deuce that fr ON the day Of Its passage the Inc
quality between coin aud legal tenders woul,
begin to diminish, and by the time specified 70
the redemption oflegal tenders in coin, July 4
1862 tho legal tenders would be at par, an
equal to coin,
Tho greatest danger might be apprshsnds
from foreign exchanges, but you had q millio
and half Of solvent men just released froI
tho war who are added to the producers. Thes'
with the immense accessions from foreign INN
grafton, will add immensely to tho producers
the country, and be saw no reason why, even
the coming year, our exports could not largel
exceed cur imports. 1t Is the apprehension thu
We have become demoraliIed by our paper cul
rency that causes our securities to be at such
discount abroad; but If the holders are satishe
that our efforts will soon restore our currency
par the securities will rise In the same propo
tion. He maintained that the time fixed for th
resumption of specie payments was not too nea
q period. He believes now that there was
least $500, 900, 900 Of specie boarded up whic
the passage Of this measure would bring from u
inglOrious retreat and difuse through all th
channels Of commerce. There could be no healt
for American manufactures with the contini
ance Of redundant paper currency. Mr.,
adverted In teTmA OF condemnation 10 the maj
Rgement Of the national banks, but considers
it twOud be a stuPsndous blunder to abolish th
system.
At the conclusion Of Mr. Morrill's remark
which occupied nearly two hours, he moved
refer the bill to the Committee on Finance.
Tho further consideration OF the bill was the
postponed until Friday
Mr.. Conness called up the joint resoluti'
authorizing Rear Admiral II. r. Thatcher
accept donation from the King Of the Hawaiii
Islandsi which was passed.
fhe Senate then went into executive sessio
and at its conclusion, adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Speaker laid before the House Q comm
ncotiou from the Commissioner Of Pensiol
asking an appropriation to meet the dehcienoi
in the last appropriation for that branch Of Il
public service Referred to the Committee {
Appropriations
Mr.. Carey, Of Ohio, introduced 4 bill to q
tend the provisions Of the act granting compe
sation to criers and bailiffs Of the Supren
naurt nf the District ,f CnInmhta psfarrad