The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-20
Congressional.

WASHINGTON, December 19.-The bill passed yes
terday by the House, supplementary to the Recon
struction acts was read twice and referred to the
Judiciary Committee.
Several memorials regarding the rights of Amer
lean citizens abroad were presented; speeches
we're made, urging immediate and vigorous action
to which Mr.. Sumner, Chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations, replied that the committee
could not be driven into party action by temporary
pressure. The memorials were referred.
The Deficiency bill from the House came up
and was debated at length, with calls for the ayes
and nays on minor amendments, evidently with the
view of staving off the cotton tax and anti-con.
traction bills until after the holidays. Three
amendments are pending on the cotton tax, and
action tomorrow is hopeless. Doubts are ex
pressed whether quorum will be present to-mor.
row.
A letter was read from the Secretary of the Treas
ury, stating that the public eMgencies would pre-
vent contraction during this and the next month
and assuring the Senate that no further contrac
tion would be made until Congress expressed its
views. The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House, after unmportant business, Mr.
Bayez offered joint resolution thanking General
Hancock for his support of civil law. The Clerk
was not permitted to conclude reading, when q
storm Of objections arose from the Republican side,
and the regular order of business was insisted on
The bill for the relefof deserters came up, when
an amendment was offered depriving deserters to
the enemy Of its benefits. The discussion devel-
oped the fact that 25O, 900 dessrters were on the
rolls The call for the previous question failed and
the bill was recommitted.
Mr. Stokes presented a resolution guaranteeing
the claims Of loyalsts for losses incurred during
the war. 1t was referred to The Committee on
Claims.
resolution was adopted directing further de-
lay in selling the government interest in the Dis
NAL Swamp Canal.
The House went into the committee of the
whole on the Deficiency and Reconstruction acts.
Mr.. Boyer asked if it was now in order TO move
thanks to General Hancock for doing all in his
power to abrogate military governments and thus
reduce expenses. The chair ruled it out of order.
Mr. Butler said that General Ord had expended
more than Pope, Candy and Schofeld together.
The negro character was discussed at length,
General Butler maintaining that he was a kind,
amiable person, who would protect himself when
he had the ballot.
Mr. Laurence moved an amendment that the
conventions South do levy taxes to refund the re-
construction expenses, which the Chairman ruled
out of order. The committee rose, and the bill
passed by vote OF ninety-seven to thirty-fve,
when the House adjourned.
The President sent message to the House
covering report Of q. J. Sharp sent t. Europe
last January to investigate whether the citizens Of
the United States implicated in Lincolns assassina
ton were in Europe. Sharp reports that there are
no legal or reasonable proof to warrant the action
of government against any persons now in Eu-
rope.