Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-10
Congress-.

10 the Senate yesterday, Mr.. Beverly ohm
son presented petition from citizens OF Wash
ington for an act Of incorporation tor compa-
ny proposing to build railroad from Wash
ineton, through Mary land, t connect with the
Northern Central railroad, MIR WIs2n gave
notice that he would on Tuesday Intro luce a
bill to remove political disabilities II m two
hundred and eighty four citizens of Alabama,
who had aided Reconstruction, recommended
by Gens~Pope and =Swayne.- On motion OF
Mr.. Trumbull, resolution was adopted calling
on the Secretary of the Treasury, Tor full j, and
complete information as to the restoration OF
all captured and abandoned property, the names
Of those to whom returned, the evidence upon
which it was SO returned, whether the parties
gave satisfactory proof OF loyalty, and by what
authority The property was SO returned &c
Mr.. Ramsey introduced a resolution lnstructlng
the Committee on Foreign Relations to inquire
into the expediency of the u. s. concluding 4
treaty with the United Dominion OF the British
North American Provinces, including provi-
sions that duty of five per Ct shall be impos-
ed on expectations exclusively the productions
of each country, from one to the other; the
river St. Lawrence to he free to Americans
the u. S. to assume ST. 000, 900 Of the debt OF
British Columbia, and the Northwestern Terri
tory to be annexed to the u. S. He said the
people Of this Northwestern Territory dc
sired to be annexed to the u. 5. Mr.. Grimes
said the resolution looked to another reclprocl-
ty treaty, and objected to its consideration, and
it accordingly went over. MIR. Chandler called
up his resolution declaring neutrality on the
part of The D. s. between the contcndlDg for
ces, of England and Abyssinia, which, after de-
bate, was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and the Senate adjourned. a.I,
In the House of Represent, a:ives bill de-
claring that persons of foreign birth who have
been naturalized under the Constitution and
laws are thereby absolVed from all foreign
allegiance, and that the u. 5. Government
shall afford them the same protection that IS
accorded to native born citizens, Was roterred.
Mr.. Lynch, of Maine, introduced bill to pro-
vide for the resumption OF specie payments,
which was referred. The bill provides that
from the lst of March, 1863, y. S. notes, when
new notes issued, payable in coin, in one year
from date, on demand, at the Treasury; that
such notes shall be- before their maturity, legal
tender for all purposes, including tho redemption
of National bank notes, except Tor the payment Of
import duty and for coin interest on Govern
ment bonds; and after maturity, shall be legal
tender for all purposes, except ny the Govern
ment, and that the Secretary OF the Treasury
may, alter specie payment has been commenced,
issue notes payable in coin in less than one
year, but not less than three months, and may
also purchase cnin to enable him to redeem
bonds, not exceeding fifty millions. A bill to
amend the Reconstruction act OF March 2, 1867,
and to facilitate restoration, providing that
Constitutions in the Southern States may be
ratified by majority Of The votes of the regis
tered qualified voters cast at such election, was
referred On motion Of Mr. Boutwell,, the
judiciary Committee was directed to consider
the expediency of so amending the laws as to
require members OF Constitutional Conventions
in the unrcconstrlctcd States to take the test
oath. The question of referring the Prcsl-
dents Message to appropriate committees
coming up, it was debated at length, especially
that portion relative to an appropriation to full
fill the treaty stipulation Tor the purchase or
the Territory Of Alaska. 1t met with strong
opposition on both sides OF the House,
and the proposition to refer it to the
COMMITTEES on Appropriations was disagreed
to, and it was finally referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs. Mr.. Thaddeus
Stevens resolution authorizing the appoint
ment Of select committee OF nine members on
Reconstruction was adopted--ycas II, nays
49, The Senate bill striking the word white
from all laws and charters 0: the District OF
Columbiu so as to make all coored men com
peteut to hold Office and to sit on juries, was
passed-yeas JOG, nays So. This is the same
bill that President Johnson refused to sign after
the adjournment Of last session. Mr.. Hooper,
OF Massachusetts, addressed the House 10 favor
of reducing the taxes, and moved to suspend
the rules to offer resolution declaring that,
in the opinion of the House. the amount OF
revenue annually collected by taxation shall
not exceed $500, 900, that the Committee
on Ways and Means be instructed to report a
bill SO modifying internal taxation as to reduce
the revenue from internal taxes and tariff duties
to $500 10000 and that the Committee on
Appropriations be instructed not to exceed
debt, in the appropriations reported to the
House. y The rules were not suspended and
the House adjourned