The national Republican., 1867-12-18
alatiuual gepnblitam.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Fortieth Congrer.-second Session.
TUESDAY, December Il. 1867.

Mr.. fessonden offered joint resolution de-
elaratory Of the act Of March, 1917, relating TO
the prompt settlement Of accounts. Referred to
the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Patterson, Of N. H., introduced bill TO
incorporate the Evening Star Newspaper Com
pany. District of Colombia
Mr. Davis offered n resolution calling on the
President for statement Of the aggregate ex.
pensss Of the Freedmen's Bureau and relief 40.
corded to freedmen since June Is, 1865, exolud.
ing the expenses Of colored soldiers.
Mr.. Conkling suggested that portion Of tho
funds Of the Bureau had been devoted to the
support Of refugees, and the country might be
misled II the different items Of expenditure were
not given.
Some Senators suggested that II would be i'm.
possible to give the expenses for the different
items.
Mr.. Davis did not sec why such a statement
could not bo furnished.
The morning hour having expired, the bill ex.
empting manufactured cotton from internal
tax was taken up.
Mr.. Conkiing alluded to the arguments which
had been made in favor Of the bill. 1t had been
said that the tax was unconstitutional.
Mr.. Pomeroy. The President can decide that
Mr.. Conkling. He can, and have no doubt
his conclusions would be satisfactory to the SEN
ator from Kansas but other Senators might pre-.
fer the decision Of the COURT. Laughter.
Mr.. Conkling proceeded to say that helping
hand had been extended to these destitute com.
munities. The direct tax had been expended in
oil the insurreetioDary States; the tax had been
removed from sugar machinery and other arti.
cles which pertained to that community. He
would say now that It would have been much
better for these people II one Of tho parties Of
this country and the visible head Of the Govern.
ment had let them alone.
The Chair said the motion to postpone was
now In order.
Mr.. Conklug then moved to postpone until
the third Wednesday in February.
The subject was further debated by Messrs
Morton, Corbett, and Davis.
Mr. Davis said the Senator from mt had
yesterday compared Kentucky to the foolish
goose. lie did not sec what Kentucky had to do
with this question, as she did not raise cotton;
but he would tell tho Senator, keen, sagacious
and self'h NJ he was, that be was more goosey
than any goose be (Mr. d. had ever seen
Laughter The Senator wanted to kill cotton,
which is the goose that lays the golden egg
II Stanton had given to Mcclellan the assistance
that was so lavishly furnished Grant, the war
would have been closed in sixty days from tho
Bull Run defeat. Stanton, that Haynau Of
America, also repudiated the wise and states
manlike terms granted by Sherman to Johnston.
But for his policy, the debt would not have
been half so much as that now loading down the
people of this country.
Mr.. Davis then entered into a discussion Of
mics than of the majority here.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of VT, would not reply In the
temper CT the Senator from Kentucky, and say
that that Senator was scold, not only Of the
Senate, but Of the whole country.
Mr.. Stewart said there was no doubt that
there were many branches Of industry In the
Northern States that were eqsally depressed as
tho cotton interest, and as many reasons could
be adduced for their relief. The South should
bear some portion Of the burdens Of this Gov.
ernment, and wherever II Is fair they should pay
their share. He denied that these people were
oppressed. They, with their own hands, tore
down the fair fabrics Of the Constitution, and
now they refused reconstruction upon any terms
but their own.
Mr.. Hendricks said the excitement into which
the Senator from Nevada Mr.. Stewart lashed
himself whenever the subject Of reconstruction
was alluded to was proof that that Senator was
satisfied that 1t would have been better for the
happiness and prosperity Of this country II the
representatives Of tho Southern States had been
admitted at the opening of the Thirty Ninth
Congress in their then peaceful relations to the
General Government.
Mr.. Yates did net profess 10 be very we'll &C.
quainted with this subject but was convinced
that 1t was the general sentiment Of the country
last year that this tax should be taken of
Mr.. Ferry argued against the bill, because
ii was for the benefit Of tho lordly cotton plant
ers who had fomented this rebellion.
Without further action the Senate went into
executive session and then adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Mccormick member elect from the Third
district OF Missouri, appeared In his seat to-day,
and was sworn in
Mr.. Robinson, Of N. Y, said he rose to
question of privilege, and he desired to have
the Committee on Retrenchment discharged
from the consideration Of the communication
from the heads of departments in relation to
the amount paid out under the operation Of the
law granting an increased compensation of 20
per cent. to employees; and that these commu-
nications be referred to the proper committees
Mr.. B. called attention to tho forty ninth rule
upon this subject.
The Speaker said this was not a question Of
privilege, as the House could refer subjects to
any committee 1t chose.
Mr.. Ingersoll, Of Ill, from the Committee on
the District Of Columbia, reported back the
bill to provide for jurios in certain cases in the
District Of Columbia and asked that II be
printed and recommitted So ordered.
Mr.. Ingersoll introduced joint resolution to
construe certain acts In the District Of Columbia
In relation to the payment Of the Metropolitan
police force. Referred to Committee on the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Thomas, of Md, from the Committee on
Judiciary, reported q resolution authorizing the
Committee on Judiciary to continue its inyesti-
cations concerning public affairs in Maryland.
Mr.. Phelps, of Nd, moved to amend the reso'
luton by adding " and that the Representatives
Of the State of Maryland be privileged to at.
tend at the examination and cross-examination
Of witnesses"
Mr.. Thomas said he accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Phelps desired to say something upon the
subject.
Mr.. Thomas said be preferred to have all the
testimony in before debate was opened, but be
subsequently yielded to Mr. Phelps who ad.
dressed the House upon the subject and referred
to the various Investigations to which Maryland
had been subjected, and advocated his amend.
ment as q matter Of justice to his State.
Mr., Garfield, of Ohio, from the Committee on
Military Affairs reported back the bill in rela
tion to officers Of the army dismissed or cash
tered by court martial, and which prohibits the
President from reappointing them except by
consent Of the Senate, and 1t was passed by a
vote of l16 yeas to "a nays.
Mr.. Blaine, Of Me-, from the Committee on
Rules, reported q resolution transferring the
custody and management Of the restaurant un.
der the hall Of the House to the Committee on
Reyisals and Unfinished Business. Adopted
On motion Of Mr. Dawes, the House proceeded
to the consideration of business on the Speaker
table, and Senate joint resolution in relation to
the pay Of employees, a., was concurred in.
The Senate amendment to the House bill in
relation to additional bounty, was referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Senate amendment to House resolution In Te.
latiOn to printing of postal treaties and Post