Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-19
CONGRESS.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. II In the Senate, a bill was taken up directing that cer- tain money in the hands of Mr Spinner, United States Treasurer, as special agent, received from tho sale of captured and abandoned property, shall be deposited by warrant in the Treasury, and net drawn therefrom except ny authority of law. Con- siderable debate followed. when, on mo- tlon, the subject was postponed until to- day. MT. Morrill's bill to raise the value Of legal tender notes to par was next taken up. The bill directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay all the interest-bearing le- gal-tenders in coin after July 4, 1869, and authorizes him to sell any surplus gold Ill the Treasury up to the January preceding. Mir. Merrill addressed the Senate at length Ill favor of his bill, after which it's further consideration was postponed until Friday next.
 In the House, MT. Julian rose to ques- tion of privilege, and with the consent oi the House proceeded to certain newspaper reports regarding the vote of the Indiana delegation on the question of impeach- ment. He denounced the President in se- were terms, and said the vote of Indiana was cast in favor Of Impeachment because the members conscentio,,sly believed the President had been guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors. A bill prohibiting the giving of brevet commissions to army off. cers, except in time of war; and then only for gallantry in the presence of the enemy, was adopted. In Committee of the Whole Mir. Washburne of Wisconsin, addressed the Committee against the recent purchas- es of territory by our Gosernment.
 THURSDAY, Dec. 12.-The Senate took up the bill previously introduced, relative to the proceeds of sales of captured and abandoned property. Mr. Drake, as a question of privilege, replied to attacks made upon him in the newspapers Mr. Drakes resolution censuring the President for opinions expressed in his recent mes sage was taken up, and Mr. Johnson pro- ceeded to discuss it at length, sustaining the Presidents views. The President sub- mitted lengthy document giving his rea- sons for suspending Secretary Stanton. A large number of memorials and communi- cations were presented in the House and referred to committees. The Committee on Commerce was instructed to inquire in- to the cause of the present depression of the shipping interests. MT. Maynard of fered a resolution instructing the Commit 1 T expediency of selecting diplomatic and consular representatives to Hayti, Liberia and other parts of Africa, from colored American citizen. MT. Chandler moved to lay the resolution on the table, but the House refused-yeas 63, nays "A. The resolution was then referred. In the Com mittee of the Whole, MT. Maynard defend ed the present Government of the State of | Tennessee. a FRIDAY, Dec. 13-In the Senate peti- tions and memorials were presented and l referred to appropriate committees The Committee on Territories reported bill relative to affairs in Utah, providing that marriages shall only be solemnized by reg ularly ordained ministers of the Gospel. Polygamy is positively prohibited. The bill exempting cotton from taxes, after brief debate, was postponed until Monday. The House bill giving to the families of deceased soldiers the bounty to which such soldiers were entitled at the time of their death, was passed. The House resolution providing for the adjournment of both Houses from the 20th inst. to Jan. 6, was passed after some debate. After a short Executive Session the Senate adjourned.
 In the House, several bills and resolu- tions were presented and referred, after which the House went into Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union. De- bate upon the late impeachment project occupied the time until the House ad- journed.
 MONDAY, Dec. GA bill was introduced in the Senate to reorganize the Depart ment of State. It provides for Secretary and Assistant Secretary of State, clerks and other officers, and is calculated to re- duce the expenses of the office It was or dered printed. A bill providing for the reorganization of the Foreign Service, was introduced and referred. The Senate took up the bill to repeal the tax on cotton grown after 1867.
 In the House large number of bills and joint resolutions were introduced and re- ferred to committees. A resolution reel ting that the President had, in his recent message, recommended the repeal of the Reconstruction acts, and declaring that the House would never take retrograde step from it's position in regard to equal rights, was passed by strictly party vote yeas Ill, nays B. After a lengthy de- bate the bill was passed Mir. Butler asked to have the rules suspended to enable him to introduce bill providing that all gov ernment indebtedness shall be paid in cur !eAcJ uil1eSS expressly provided to be pald 1 ln gold. The House refused, by vote of yeas 56, nays o3, to suspend the rules. The House went into Committee of the Whole on the Deficiency Appropriation bill. It was taken up, the amendment increasing [ salaries stricken out, and the bill passed.
 TUESDAY. Dec. 17.-In the Senate the Financial Committee reported bill for funding the public debt, and the repeal of the cotton tax was debated. | j In the House, MT. Stevens introduced a bill allotng Congressmen in the South ern States and making a simple majority of votes cast sufficient to adopta eonstitu- lion.