The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-19
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHIn

SENATE-The Chair submitted
memorial of citizens of Arkansas,
addressed to the Governor, setting
forth that, in consequence of the des-
titution in some of the counties, fears
existed Of an outbreak, and asking
additional military force. Referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Drake introduced a bill supple
mental to several acts in relation to
the Constitutions of rebel States.
Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Howe called up the House resolu-
ton to prevent the forfeiture Of GER
tain lands granted railroads in Mich
igaR and Wisconsin, which was passed.
johnson, from the judiciary Com
mittee, reported in favor Of admitting
Hon. P. J. Thomas, Senator elect
from Maryland, to his seat. The re-
port is accompanied by the evidence
taken on the subject, and a resolution
was offered by johnson to admit
Thomas to his seat, on his taking the
prescribed oath. The report and
resolution were, on motion of John
son, laid on the table and ordered to
be printed. t--
A bill to exempt manufactured cot
ton from Internal Tax was taken up.
The question, being on a motion of
COnkling to postpone until the third
Monday in February, was the general
subject of debate at some length,
until a motion to adjourn, by Ramsey,
stopped the discussion.
Ramsey, however, yielded to the
suggestion of the Chair to allow the
reading of the message from the Pres
ident relative to General Hancock,
after which Wilson said that the Mil
tary Committee had referred to them
resolutions of thanks to Generals
Sherman, Sickles and Schofield for
their administration Of the law in the
South, and he moved to refer the
communication to that Committee.
Doollittle-"And printed" "
Several Senators-'Nol mol"
Doolittle said that, of course. it
should be printed.
Conkling-"Why?
DoolittIe-"We never saw a Presi-
dents Message that was not printed"
Conkling said in, the history of the
Government there had never, to his
knowledge, been a message like that
one showing such a spirit as that
showed; he did not know that the
proper disposition was to refer it to
the Committee on Military Affairs,
bus he thought it would strike ma
iority of the Senate, when they read
and reflected upon it, that something,
more or less than that, should be
done. He therefore moved to lay it
on the table for the present.
Doolittle made an effort to get the
floor, but Ramsey insisted upon his
motion to adjourn, which was agreed
to.
HOUSE.-Kelley introduced a bill
to amend the Bankruptcy Law. Re
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
Garfield, from the Committee on
Military Affairs. reported bill pro-
viding that all persons relieved from
the charge of desertion or absence
without leave from the army or navy,
by the Act of July 10Th, 1867. shall
be furnished certificates of honorable
discharge under the limitations and
regulations of that Act. The second
section repeals the twenty first section
| of the Act Of March Sd, 1865, which
| disfranchises deserters, except that it
| is not to affect the decisions of the
| court martial, and not entitle any per-
sons to bounty, pension, pay or emol-
uments of any kind. The bill was
discussed by Garfield. Harding,
Bromwell, of Illinois, Washburne, of
Indiana, Logan and other members.
/ The morning hour having expired,
! the bill went over.
Butler, from the Committee on APP
preparations, reported an appropria-
ton bill to supply deiciencies in the
execution of the reconstruction laws,
and for service Of Quartermasters.
The whole bill amounts to S12. .665,
600.
The House went into Committee OF
the Whole on the state OF the Union,
Dawes In the Chair.