Litchfield enquirer., 1867-02-21
Congress.


 In tho Senate Feb. 19 the bill providing for the purchase of League Island for Q naval depot came up, and gave rise to . lengthy debate,
 In the House the bill providing for military gov ernmsnt for the Southern States came up for dis cussion. Messrs. Van Horn Schenck and Boutwell, spoke in favor of the bill and, Mr. EIdrdge and others n opposition to it. Mr. Stevens, at o'clock moved the previous question, but the House refus- ing to sustain him, the debate continued Mr. Bing- ham having the floor. Mfr. Spalding moved to lay the bill and all the amendments offered on the ta- bic which was disagreed to by vote of 39 yeas to 115 nays. The question thon recurred on refer ring to the Judiciary Comm. when Mir Stevens being entitled to close the debate took that opportunity to do So, making an impressive appeal for the pas sage of the bill The proposition to refer includes proviso instructing the Committee to report an amendment offered by Mr. Blame, and was lost The bill was then passed by vote of 109 yeas to 5 nays.
 In tns Senate, Feb II, the credentials of Messrs. Ross and Poneroy. of Kansas, were presented, and i the former was sworn in Ali prior orders were postponed, and the League Island Bill was taken | up. Various amendments were offered and reject. cd and the bill was finally passed 27 to IT, eight | members not voting. On the Tenure of Office Bill g Committee of Conference was appointed. The Louisiana Bill was taken up and discussed.
 In the House the bill to reimburse the loyal States for war expenses was taken up, and Mr. Blaine stated that tho bill provided for the issue of five per cent bonds, not negotiable for twenty years, to the amount of s1l5 QUO OOO In the Senate, Feb. 15, the House bill nrov;d;np military government for the Southern States was taken up Mir Stewart spoke ill favor of Mir. Blaine 8 l amendment, which provides that whenever a State snau accept the Constitutional Amendment and permit impartial suffrage, military restraint shall | be removed.
 l The House after disposing Of large numbar n, private claims, proceeded to the consideration of
 Dili, reported from the Military Committee, provid- ing for the equalization of bouutles The bill nro- poses to pay all soldiers who did not receive lar
 ger bounty, sum equal to Sl00 for each years ser
 vice. Mr. Schenck, Chairman of the Committee, | GF FYsi4 AI ls llo%1 vn~kI ,knk require from s75 900 to $l0O O00 900 to pay the sum proposed. Several amendments were then ot- ferred and acted upon, after which the bill was passed Dy vote Of 95 yeas to 6S nays. After the por.ance, the House took recess until ' o'clock At the evening session the House. in Committee of the Whole, discussed the bill to amend the Intern. l al Revenue Laws.
 The evening session of the Senate on Friday was continued until 3:3O Saturday morning, when an 1 adjournment was agreed upon. The subject of de. bate throughout the night was the House bill pro. l vldllg military government for the Southern States. Several amendments proposed and 1 the Louisiana bill offered as g. substitute but no action taken. At the regular hour Saturday the Senate again convened, and after the transaction | of some unimportant business, the discussion 0; | the Reconstruction Bill was resumed. Mr. Doolit- tie made lengthy speech in opposition to the bill and at the same time denounced the La. bill. At the evening session Messrs. Saulsbury and Davis consumed tue time until nearly midnight when Mr. Sherman offered 3 substitute for the bil lncorpo- rating it's essential features with the Blaine ameid- inent, proposed and rejected in the House. This offered and rejected and the bill was finally passed by vote of 29 to TO- The Senate then, at halfpas six o'clock on Sunday morning adjourned.
 In the House Saturday, Mr. Wentworth introduc- ed preamble and resolution in reference to allep- 1 ed corrupt bargaining concerning the impeaci- l ment question. The resolution gave rise to some debate, but eventually referred to select com
 nittee of three The motion to reconsider the vote WA tot tha 1yl;o the bill declaring how the offices of President and Vice-Presdent should be filled in caso of vacancy l occurring, was called up and was agreed to. This brought the bill once more before the House. when | It was passed without division. It provides for new election for President and designates what of
 icers shall be eligible to act as President while the vacancy exists. An evening sesson was held, which was devoted to general debate on the state of the Union.
 In the Senate Feb. IS the bill providing for the election, by the Senate, of Printer was taken LID and passed: The Diplomatic and Consular Appro- priation Bill was taken up. An appropriation was made to pay our Minister to Portugal and the bill was finally passed. The Conference Committee appointed to consider the bill to regulate the ten ure Of office made report The House amend ment to strike out the exception of Cabinet officers rom those who cannot be removed without the consent of the Senate, accepted after some do- bate.
 In the House the bill providing for military gov ernment in the Southern States was received from the Senate with amendments Mir. Stevens moved snd M sak e against them. Messrs. Bingham, Farnsworth and Schenck addressed the House in favor of the bill amend ed. The main question was then ordered by a vote of 1O3 yeas to 60 nays At the evening session the debate was renewed, an agreement having been made that vote on the bill should not be taken until Tuesday morning.
 In the Senate, Feb. 1e, the proposition to ap- point committee of conference with the House on the Military Bill was rejected and former action insisted on. In the House the Senate's amend ments to that bill were not concurred in and com mttee of conference demanded. The Senate re- fusing to confer the bill has not yet received the final action of the House. It is very evident how ever that neither the Military Bill nor the Lousi ana Bill will become laws, this session.