The national Republican., 1867-12-20

ne does not propose 10 resume the CONTRACTION OF
the currency, or take any action In the matter,
until fully advised Of the sense of Congress.on
the subject. .H '.. a.t.T-
without further action, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Stevens, Of Pa, from the committes on
Appropriations, reported back the Senate joint
resolution to provide means for the prosecution
Of the work upon the distributing reservoir Of
the Washington squsduet, and upon his motion
Il was laid upon the table. "
Mr.. Boyer, Of Pa, asked leave to offer o reso-
luton, reciting that II had been officially an.
nounced TO Congress BY the President Of the
United State, that an order had been Issued by
General wm- s. Hancock, (here portions Of the
order to which the message Of the President
yesterday referred 10 are given,) and resolving
the Senate conourrins, that the thanks Of oos.
srsss are due and are rendered to Gen. Hancock
for his support Of civil law, 10.
The Clerk was not permitted to conclude the
reading Of the resolution, but objections were
mado by Mr.. Farnsworth, Mr.. Spaiding, Mr..
Z. b. Washburne, aud others, and tho regular
order Of business was at once demanded and
insisted upon.
Tho House resumed the confederation Of the
bill reported yesterday from the Military Com.
mittee, granting honorable discharges 70 certain
soldiers, and repeating tho law which disfran-
chises deserters.
Mr.. Boyer. of Pa, addressed the House In
advocacy Of the bill
Mr.. Benjamin, Of Mo, offered 40 amendment,
In the shape Of q proviso, that the repeal
who deserted the army and went over to the
enemy. .r
Mr.. Garfield accepted Mr.. Bepjamin's amend.
ment. r,....
Mr.. Pile, Of Mo-, proceeded to show the
Glasses Of persons who had lsserted, and said
that but q small number comparatively had de-
serted and gone over to the enemy.
Mr.. Hawkins, Of Tenn, advocated the repeal
Of the Law, as It was a penalty Of entirely too
much sevsrity-of greater severity, In fact,
than had been inflicted upon the rebel soldiers
who had actually borne arms against the oOun
try. -.---9. .Zr....
Mr.. Garfield, Of Ohio, said, according to the
Adjutant Generais report, there were quarter
Of . million Of cur fellow .oitixvns who were
found upon the rolls as deserters, aod the quss-
tion was, what should be done with this quarter
Of million Of oitiIensf ..
Mr.. Logan asked Mr. Garfield to read the re.
port Of the AdjutAnt General. "
Mr.. Garfield did 90, when
Mr.. Logan intimatsd that he had just read
what suited his own purpose, and asked him to
read another clause.
Amer some further discussion, the bill was 70.
committed, on motion of Mr.. Pile, q demand
for the previous question not having been Sec
onded.
Mr.. FArnswortb, from the Committee on Post
0fiess and Post Roads, reported a bill establish.
ing certain post routes. Passed.
Mr.. Hooper, Of Massach husetts, reported, from
the Committee on Banking and Currency, q bill
providing that national bank notes may bs taxed
for State purposes. Referred to tho Committee
Of the Whole House.
Mr.. Cullom, Of Illinois, introduosd q bill to
amend the Law relating to pensions. Referred
to the Coumittes on Pensions.
Mr.. coburn, Of Indiana, introduced a bill re-
lstins TO the pay Of jurors in the circuit and
district courts the United States Referred to
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Ross, Of Illinois, offered q resolution d.
rscting the Secretary Of War to inform the House
what officers Of the army are employed in the
civil departments OF Washington, and how en-.
pioysd, DC. Referred to COMMITTEES on Mill
tary Affairs.
The House went into Committee of the Whole
appropriations, &e., Mr.. Maynard in the chair.
Tho bill was read.
Mr.. Boyer, Of Penn, rising to q question Of
order, asked II 1t would be now In order, in
view Of the expense Of sustaining military gov
ernmsnts In tho South, to move the vote Of
thanks to Con. Hancock, who is doing all In his
power to abrogate military government and
thus reduce the expenses Of the Government.
The Chair ruled It would not be in order.
Mr.. Butler, Of Mass, explained the bib, and
said II would appear that Gen. Ord, without ap.
parent csuse therefor, had expended more thar
asnsrals Candy, Pope, and schohsld togsthsr In
| their districts.
Mr.. Phelps, Of Md, asked how Gen. Ord
expenditures compared with Gen. Sheridans.
| Mr.. Butler stated 1t showsds y balance In fsvo
Of Sheridan.
Mr.. Farusworth, Of H., asked Mr.. Butler |
IL was possible 10 enact . Law to compel al
officers to sxpend only the amount apProPriate'
and no moro.
Mr. Butler replied that that very subject ha
been before tho committee, and been referred
. sub-committse.
Mr.. Brooks, Of N. Y, addressed the Hous
upon the bill. and In the course Of his remark
he said that all this expense was desired for tn
purpose Of elevating the negro above the whit
man.
Mr.. Butler said he had hoped that these OF
traneous matters would not have come into thi
debate. He could not help laughing at th
threats that were made upon this floor that th
ballot would yet be taken from the negroes Of th
South. 1t wosld be impossible to take the ba
lot from eight millions Of people who had taste
Of its sweets. It never would and never can b
, taken away. He had heard enough upon thu
subject, and he hoped the gentlemen who pro
posed to take the ballot away would lead th
army Of subjugation and they would be We
coined as they should be and as they deserved.
} Mr.. Getz, Of Pa, asked II thoy would be we
. coined with bloody hands to hospitable graves
Mr.. Butler replied negatively that the negi
was . kind. hearted creature. The negro ha
. fought for rs, and he would fight for himse
D whom attacked. and not till then.
Mr.. Randall, Of Pa, said ho understood NJ
T Butler had plan matured to force negro su
, frage upon Pennsylvania and other States, an
) he would like to be informed what that pls
0 was.
Mr.. Washburne, Of H., insisted that gentl
i. men should eonane themselves strictly to Il
r question at issue.
1 Mr.. Butler said In reply to Mr.. Randall tn,
he never forced anything upon q people thl
did not desire thing to be forced upon them.
Mr.. Randall retortsd that Mr.. Butler new
. forced anything upon the rebels even.
Mr.. Butler demanded the reading Of the bill
and after 1t was read,
, Mr.. Wood, of N. Y, addressed the Chair.
D Mr.. Butler claimed the floor, but the Cha
. said he had forfeited II when he demanded Il
reading and resumed his seat, and the floor WI
, accordingly assigned to Mr.. Wood.
Mr.. Wood said be had no doubt Mr.. Butt
knew all about the want Of New Orleans, for
|, was for long time military governor there, Al
. he could we'll say how much money II requir
i to oppress and keep down an unprotected pc
pie.
Tho committee subsequently, rose, and the
was reported to the House without amen