Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-17
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

FRIDAY, Dec 6th-In the Senate bill was
introduced for the establishment of naval life
insurance and referred to the Committee on
Naval Affairs A call on the Secretary of the
Treasury for information as to the appointment
of Edmund Cooper was adopted. A resolution
of inquiry into the expediency Of proposing q
new loan for the redemption of five twenty
bonds was adopted. A resolution suspending
the operation of the act which permits the re-
tirement and cancelling of United States notes
to the amount of four millions per month, vAs
referred to the Finance Committee The bill
pledglng the faith Of the country to pay the
national debt in coin and another providing
for the payment of portion in legal tenders
were also referred The Senate then adjourned
until Monday.
In the House Mr.. Boutwell,, who was en-
titled to the floor on the impeachment question,
gave way to permit Mr. Hooper to offer reso-
luton favoring reduction of the revenue col
lected by taxation to $300000,000 annually
The resolution was not received, however, and
Mr. Boutwell, concluded his speech in favor of
the impeachment report He was followed by
Mr. Wilson, chairman Of the Impeachment
Committee, in opposition to the majority re-
port. At the conclusion, Mr.. Wilson moved
to lay the whole subject on the table. A mo-
ton to adjourn was Immediately made by Mr..
Logan, an impeacher, but it was lost by . vote
of 81 to lO7, thus showing the relative strength
on both sides of the question. Messrs Schenck
and Logan then commenced a series of flank
movements intended to ward off vote upon
the question, by which two hours were con-
sumed mainly in calling the roll, and finally the
House adjourned.
MONDAY, Dec 9th-In the Senate Petitions
from Assistant Assessors in North Carolina
praying for compensation were presented. Mr..
Wilson gave notice that he would tomorrow
report bill removing political disabilities from
284 Alabamians recommended by Generals Pope
and Swayne The Secretary of the Treasury
was called upon for full details of the restora-
tion eof captured and abandoned property
The resolution declaring neutrality between
England and Abyssinia came up. After de-
bate suitable to the resolution the Senate went
into Executive session and adjourned.
In the House among the bills and resolutions
taxation manufactures yielding less than S., 900;
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to use
81, 100000 greenbacks in purchasing bonds
aboishing the Office of Assistant Treasurer; for
the more effectual government of the rebel
States. A resolution was introduced requiring
the Judiciary Committee to enquire into the
eXpediency of making members of State Con-
ventions take the test oath. After severe
contest certain portions of the Presidents mes
sage were referred to the Reconstruction Com
mittee, thus reviving that committee The bill
striking out the word white from the laws of
the District of Columbia, was passed-ayes 1O6,
nays 38. The President was called upon for
the record of the trial of Albert Lush, in New
Orleans, for the murder of a negro boy
Mr. Hooper moved to suspend the rules in
order to pass a resolution that the taxes shall
not exceed $780, 100000, and made speech in
favor Of the motion, but the House refused to
suspend.
Several new bills and resolutions on finance
were introduced
Adjourned.
Il L.