Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-12-19
CONGRESS.

Wednesday in the Senate ile'"1i' "i,
LARGELY sisned was presented from n''U'S ',1su
a,l.;r,, that their rights be dehnel oy
Sa,r 1 I'm was introduced by MI whey
-. the sale Of the lands, teh'nlehts
I,,o,yar belonging to the United States
anu I 49, Ferry. A memorial was presented
Al 10" -. ,b,usand colorei men Of Kentucky
~, ~, f,r the right Of suffrage. After trans
$50 thor business the Senate took up the
S;II ~ raise the value Of legal-tender notes to
n,r Mr.. Morrill,. Of Vermont. its author, adj
! yocated its passage in speech of much length,
after which the subject was postponed until
/ tomorrow.
A number Of bills were introduced in the
House, and referred. An adverse report was
made on the Hill to pay the army once a week,
and the military committee was discharged
from the further consideration of the subject
| The House having gone into committee Of the
whole. the subjects of the purchase of Russian
/ America and the Island Of st. Thomas and the
/ financial situation of the country were discussed
mp to the hour Of adjournment.
/ Thursday.-In the Senate the finance COM
mittee reported, without amendment the
/ House bill exemptng raw cotton from inter-
/ nal revenue tax Laid over After the trans
action Of other unimportant business, the con-
current resolution of Mr.. Drake. Of Missouri,
! censuring the President for the language used
/ in his message respecting the reconstruction
/ legislation Of Congress, was taken mp. Mr..
( johnson. Of Maryland, being entitled to the
floor. proceeded t. address the Senate and
made one Of his usual able arguments. When
Mr.. johnson concluded the resolution was land
over until to-day. The House resolution tn
adjourn from December goth until January
9Th was rciected-yelS IS, nays 20.
A large number Of bills aud resolutions were
introduced i'm the House, aud referred The
committee ON commerce was directed to IN
Gurr into the causes of the present depressed
condition Of the shipping interest, and whether
that interest dres not require remission OF
internal duties on material entering into build
ing material for vessels. \ resolution was
offered and referred to the committee of ways
aud means. declaring that in the opinion OF
the House. the Secretary of the Treasury
should not provide for Immediate payment oil
the bonds nf February. 1Sf7, now due or the
bonds of 1918. due after July, 1868. but that
the payment Of the same should be postponed
until the currency and lega-teudef notes are
Of the same commercial value.
Frdav-A large number Of petitions were
presented In the Senate. after which the bill
cxemptiug raw cotton from the internal reve-
nue. tax was called up. A debate eusued when
Mr.. johnson, If Maryland, gave notice that he
intended o offer an amendment that the bill
should apply TO the crop Of the present year
The subject was then postponed. The bill S.
curing 10 the families of soldiers the bountias
to which they are entitled was then taken M
amended 50 as to apply 20 only the wife aud
children Of deceased soldiers. II was then
passed. After debate. the vote rejecting the
House resolution that Congress adjourn from
December goth In the 9th of january was re-
considered The resolution was then adopted
yeas 81. NAYS 10. The bill to raise the
value Of legal-tcndcr notes to par was then dis
cusSed hv Mr.. C,rhett. of Oregon, in opposi-
ton to any further expansion of the currency.
After an executive session the Senate adjourned
until Monday.
The day in the House was principally de-
voted 20 debate In committee OF the whole
Mr. Van Trump. of Ohio, advocated the policy
Of President johnson. Mr.. Woodward, OF
Pennsylvania spoke in condemnation of the
late project Of impeachment. Mr.. Lawrence,
Of Ohio. followed, and denounced the policy Of
the President. After other speeches had been
made. the House adjourned until Monday.
Mouday.-lu the Senate Mr.. Elmunds in
trpduced a BILL which was referred t. the COM
mjttee on finance, providing that the national
banks I'm the several States and Territories. and
the shareholders therein. shall be subject tc
State. Territorial and municipal taxation in
such form and places as shall be- provided inI
the taxation of State or Territorial banks OF
moucycd corporations or the shareholder,
thereof. hy the laws Of said States &c. 4
mong other bills introduced was one providing
for enrolling the national militia. The bill &c
exempt cotton from tax after the present year
was then taken mp spirited debate eusucd
which continued up to the hour of adjourn.
mcut.
4 large number of bills were introduced in
the House and referred among them one o. fS
q certain day FOR the election of members Of til.
II ws' Of Representatives In all the State, and
u abolish the bonded warehouse system. \
resolution declaring that in the Judgment oil
the House there i, mo- necessity Tor the rcpra
of the congressional reconstruction acts. Wi,
aloptcl-yclS III. NAYS So Strc; party
vote I'm committee uf the whole the def len
| CIV appropriation bin WAS considered Al
amendment was adopted giving an increase al
twenty per cent. ON the salaries of all govern
mcut employees In the District of Columbia
The amendment. however, was subsequently
reconsjdcrci and the bill passed without amend