The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-02-22
CONGRESS-.

on steamships was reported from the
/ Committee on Commerce. Mr.. Poland
! asked leave to introduce resolution
| instructing the Committee on the Ju-
dietary to inquire into the expediency
of proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution, first, to restrict the Office of
| the President to one term, and extend
| the term to six years; second, to abolish
The Office of Vice President, and third,
to provide for the election of the PreSi-
dent directly by the vote of the people,
without the Intervention of electoral
colleges. The bill providing for the
temporary increase of the pay Of army
officers was reported, with hamendments,
| from the Committee on Military AZ
| fairs. Its provisions will be found else
where. Mr.. Wilson introduced joint
| resolution providing for commission,
consisting of army officers for each of
| the Southern States. to examine into
all claims of loyal citizens for quarter
masters stores and subsistence supplies
| furnished to the United States army
during the late war. The commission
| for Maryland is to consist of Major
/ General Francis FeSsenden, Of Maine;
| Lieutenant Colonel Charles II. Tomp-
kins, @. NJ. d., and Major General
James B. Negley, of Pennsylvania.
/ The resolution was referred to the
| Committee on Military Affairs. The
| Bankrupt bill was then taken up. Mr..
| Sumner made an effort to have test
oath provision incorporated in the bill,
| but failed. The bill was finally passed
| by a vote of--yeas %, nays 20. A COM
munication was received from the
! President enclosing the correspondence
! between the Secretary of State and Mr..
/ Campbell, United States Minister to
| Stockholm, in reference to his transfer
| to BOgota. The bill providing for the
selection of League Island as a fresh
water basin for iron-clads was taken up
and discussed until 4.40 p. NJ, when
| the Senate took recess until 7 Z. NJ.
| HOUSE.-The Senate bill changing
certain collection districts in Maryland
and Virginia was taken from the Speak
er's table and referred to the Commit
! ee on Commerce. The Committee Of
! Ways and Means was instructed to in
quire into the propriety of amending
the tariff so as to provide that all goods
| imported in American bottoms shall be
allowed a drawback at the time Of the
passage of the bill. The House resumed
the consideration of the bill to provide
a government for the State of LOuisi-
ana, which was offered by Mr.. EliotOn
Monday. Mr.. Eliot withdrew his de-
| mand for the previous question on the
passage of the bill, and offered an
amendment, which was agreed to,
striking out the section providing fora
delegate in Congress. After a long
discussion in relation to the time to be
allowed for debate on the bill, amotion
was made to postpone the further con-
Iteration Of it until to-day, but it was
voted dOWn-yeas 4, nays 80. Messrs.
Boyer of Pennsylvania, Harding Of
Kentucky, and Finck and LeBlond Of
Ohio, then spoke in opposition to the
bill. A synopsis of their speeches will
be found elsewhere. A vote was then
taken and the bill was passed-yeas 113,
nays 48-more than tWo-thirds ma
jOrity. The credentials of VIM. Aiken,
Senator elect from the State of South
Carolina, were presented and referred
to the Committee on Reconstruction.
The House then took a recess until 7.30
P. NJ.
EUening SeSsiOn.-The Committee on
Banking and Currency was directed to
inquire into the eXpediency of prOhibi-
ting the sale Of gold by the Secretary of
the Treasury, and of eXempting from
| taxation so much Ofthe capital Of ma
tional banks as is invested in United
States securities. The Committee on
Territories was instructed to inquire
into the expediency of changing the
name of the Territory of New Mexico
to Lincoln. Mr.. Stevens bill for the
establishment Of military governments
in the Southern States was then taken
up, and a long diScuS SSiOn enSued.
SENATE.-The Committee on the
District Of Columbia reported favOra-
bly, on number Of bills in relation to
affairs in that District. The bill pun
ishing larcenieS of Government proper
| ty by fine and Imprisonment was taken
up and passed. The bill passed by the
House on Tuesday providing for a civil
government for LOuisiapa was received
and read to the Seuate. The Committee
on Military Affairs reported favorably
on the bill authorizing the payment Of
| the rewards offered for the capture of
Mr.. Davis. The same Committee re-
| ported adversely to the joint resolution
! rendering the thanks of Congress to
| Secretary Stanton, General Mei9S and
ment for debt was reported from the
Committee on the Judiciary with
amendments. The Secretary of the
| Treasury was instructed to cOmmuni
cate to the Senate statement of the
amounts received from eSand salaries
during the last four years by COnsuls
and commercial agents Of the United
States. The billeXtending the time for
the cOdifcatiOn of the laws relating to
customs was taken up and passed.
HOUSE.-A communication was re-
ceived from the Secretary of the Treas
ury, transmitting. in answer to reSO-
luton of the I'd instant, the amount of
revenue collected in Baltimore city,
and in the cDunties of Maryland from
| all sources, Except duties on imports.
| 1t was referred to the Committee Of
| WAYS and Means and ordered to be
printed. Mr.. Stevens bill to establish
| military governments in the Southern
! States was then taken up. a long dis
eussOn ensrnd, in which number of
members participated. A demand
was then male aad seconded for the
| previous question, and the main qUe5-
| tiOn on the passage of the bill was or
| deied by a vGeOf yeas Sc, nays 20. Mr..
| Stevens closed the debate on the bill.
He demanded the passage of the bill
without amendment of any kind, and
said that "aS for the Constitutional
amendment he had no respect whatev-
er for it." Heended by violent de-
nunciatiOn of I'll so ntlemen who are
this day palliating and excusing the
conduct OF thcRebeis." The bill was
! II ,t,,1 h.r