Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-26
CONGRESS.

WEDNESDAY, Dec 18-rhe resolution
 calling upon the President for information
 relative to the joint occupation of San Jua1
 to the United States and Great Britain gave
 rlse to considerable debate in the Senate
 after which the resolution was adopted
 The blll to exempt cotton from taxation
 was taken up. Mir. Doolittle having the
 floor. Tho subject was discussed at lengtl
 Senators generally participating. The de
 bate was interrupted by the reception of {
 message from the President, recommend ing that Congress recognize in proper ] manner the eminent services of Gen. Han cock, as commander of the Fifth Militar,
 District. Adjourned without having dis l posed of elther the message or the cotton
 tax bill
 ln the House q resolution, reciting that american vessels had recently been driven 1 off the coast of Russian America by Rus. { sian war vessels, and directing the Score.
 tary of State to furnish information regar. ding such transactions, was adopted A discussion arose upon bill providing that all persons relieved from the charge of de-
 sertion shall be furnished with certificates of honorable discharge. In Committee of the whola Mr. Spalding addressed the Committee claiming that, under certain circumst tances, the House had 8 right to lnterpose in regard to treaty making. Mr. Stevens, from the Reconstruction Commit tee, offered as substitute bill modifying the Reconstruction acts so that $ simple majority for or against the Constitution of the Southern States shall affirm or reject them Considerable debate followed which was closed by Mr, Stevens moving the pre- vious question, which was seconded by the House, and the substitute was passed.
 THURSDAY, Dec. 19.-Mr. Conness ar- gued that the President was now clothed with sufficient power to secure to Amerl- can citizens in foreign lands all the rights to which they were entitled at home, and hoped the matter would receive strict att tention. Mir. Sherman cited instances where naturalized American citizens re- turning to the German provinces had been seized and compelled to do military duty, and cited Prussia particularly as having re- fused to resign her claims on our natural ized citizens. The House Deficiency bill was reported and numerous amendments were suggested. A proposition that no newspapers, periodicals or stationery for the use of members should be paid for by any oficerof either House was agreed to, and the bill passed
 Mir. Boyer attempted to introduce in the House 8 resolution thanking Maior-Gen. Hancock for the patriotic discharge of his duty, but it was not received. A lengthy debate followed upon the bill reported from the Military Committee, relative to deserters from the army and na- " from the penalties they incurred. The bill was erecommitted to the Committee. l The House went into Committee of the l Whole to consider tho Deficiency Appro- priation bill Mir. Butler took the floor for 1 the purpose of explaining some of the l items of the bill, and spoke at considera- ble length relative to the condition of the South. After some debate the bill was re- l ported back to the House and there pass ed, yeas 97; nays 35. It appropriates $12, 667, 900 to cover deficiencies arising from the execution of the Reconstruction laws. | in the Quartermaster's Department, etc. | The Committee on Elections reported that 1 Mr. Cleaver was entitled to the seat as del- egate from New Mexico. After some de- bate the report was agreed to, and Mir. Cleaver was sworn in.
 FRIDAY, Dec. 2O.-The Senate yesterday l resumed debate on the bill repeating the | tax on cotton, the question being on the l proposition to postpone it's further con- sideration until February. After conside- rable debate the postponement was agreed to. A number of bills were introduced md referred, and resolutions calling for in- iormation relative to matters in the State snd War Departments were adopted. The senate then went into Executive Session :, md soon after adjourned to Jan. 6.
 In the House yesterday, resolution rel tive to tie rights of naturalized citizens ] Fas referred to Committee on Foreign A. |,