Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-01-29
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

SENATE, Saturday. Jan. l9.-Ihe Engineer
Department report for 1866 was submitted
Petitions for an increased tariff, and for con-
stitutional amendment securing suffrage to all,
regardless Of sex, was presented. A protest
against the reduction Of currency was read
A bill was reported in favor of establishing
depot at League Island for iron-cads.
The Committee on the District of Columbia,
was instructed to report whether due proper
ton of the school fund was set apart for colored
schools
The bankrupt bill of last session was taken
up and amended so as to give the District
Judges the authority to appoint registers of
bankruptcy on the recommendation of the Chief
Justice.
Pending the discussion of other amendments,
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
A mass of papers about the New Orleans riots,
including four hundred pages Of evidence, were
received. The investigating board reports that
it is by no means their opinion that hostility to
Northern Union men in the community, to an
extent endangering life and property exists pro-
vided they refrain from claiming freedom of
speech on certain subjects The party which
elected Mayor Monroe and through him con
troll the municipal authorities, the board consid-
ers thoroughly imbued with spirit of HOSTILE
ty The board predicts that the lapse of time
ces will give confidence in the security of North
ern life and property. The board exculpates
General Baird, and says the negro procession
was i'll timed and unfortunate, but it fails to see
| any evidence of an armed organization. The
| beseiged party were totally unarmed. The
board aludes to the brutal treatment of the
wounded and prisoners and thinks, but for mil
| itary measures, unparalleled outrages would
| have occurred.
A bill relieving Paymaster R. P Spalding for
responsibility for $4,000 stolen from Mound
City Bank, where he had deposited, was passed.
The consideration of the Stevens enabling act
| was resumed.
| Mr.. Stevens accepted an amendment to the
effect that after the passage of the act, and un-
til the States are allowed representation: h0beds
corpus shall be suspended and martial law rule
those States during the whole time.
After elaborate speeches, the House adjourn
ed.
SENATE, Monday, Jan. 21.--Four petitions
from Ohio, asking the passage OF the House
tariff-one from Pennsylvania, asking consti-
tutional amendment abolishing the distinction
of color in suffrage-one from photographers,
asking for the repeal of the tax on gross photo
graphic receipts. were received.
! The Military Committee reported the House
| bill for National Soldiers and Sailors Home,
and joint resolution transferring the public
| land at Point Lookout to be used as a Disabled
Volunteers Asylum. Both were passed
| Mr.. Brown introduced bill granting land for
railroad and telegraph from Arkansas to the
| Pacific
! The President was called upon for the cores
pondence relative to Motley resignation of the
| Austrian mission.
District of Columbia affairs, including the Sc
curity of the blacks in voting, and similar mat
| ters occupied couple of hours
| The tariff bill was taken up, read and discuss
ed till adjournment.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
A bill was introduced increasing the pay Of
the tipstaffs and criers of the various United
| States Courts.
Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee, introduced bill
providing for the printing of the laws and judi
cial proceedings Of the States lately in rebellion.
Referred.
Mr.. Baker, of Illinois, introduced joint res
olution declaring the rebel State Governments
invalid until Congressionally recognized. Re-
ferred
| Mr.. Bronnell introduced joint resolution
declaring the rebel States disqualified from vo-
| ting on pending and future Constitutional A
mendments until formally restored and in the
meantime three fourths of the represented States
| are competent to amend the Constitution. Re
ferred.
The bill suspending further cancelling or re-
firing of legal tenders during the ensuing two
| years was referred.
A bill regulating the Supreme Court, requi-
ring full bench and unanimous decisions on
appeals involving State, National and Constitu-
tional questions, was referred.
/ The Committee on Ways and Means reported
/ gold bill requiring four days advertisement
| in Washington and New York, designating the
amount and inviting proposals for the whole or
part of the amount to be sold. Bids shall be
opened in public in New York. All bills may
be rejected. but, if accepted, must be awarded
| to the highest bidder The bill passed.
| The Committee on Elections was instructed
| to inquire into the Maryland elections, and re-
port whether the laws DISTINGUISHING rebels was
| properly enforced.
| The enabling act was taken up. The House
is arguing it tonight. A vote will be had to-
| morrow.
SENATE, Tuesday, JAM PA petition was
| received from the Chamber of Commerce, of
Memphis asking aid for the Southern Pacific
| railroad Referred
A Maryland petition against the bankrupt
| bill was tabled
The tariff bill was discussed, and, after short
executive session, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| Leave of absence was granted to Mr. Wash
lttOiS, lOF tllt VI Tic SCSSlOfi
A bill to punish persons obstructing railroads
carrying the mail, was referred, as was bill to
sell the Hot Springs, Arkansas reservation.
| The judiciary Committee reported bill
shielding all United States officers from prose-
| cution for acts committed in discharge of their
duty, and declares that they shall be presumed
to have acted under orders.
The same Committee reported bill declaring
| it rule of all United States Courts that per-
sons guilty Of treason, murder, bribery and other
| felonies, or who had given aid comfort or coun-
sci to the enemies of the United States or had
engaged in the rebellion, shall not be allowed to
| practice in said courts.
Mr. Boutwell, spoke in favor of the bill, say
ing that if five Judges of the Supreme Court
did not have sufficient selfrespect to adopt rules
to exclude rebel traitors, it was time for Con-
gress to step in and make rules for them.
A regular fielding then ensued-every device
being used by the minority to stave off the vote.
The House is still in session at II clock.
SENATE Wednesday, JAN 23.-Various pc
titions were presented including one for the re-
endorsement Of money taken by the St Adams
raiders.
A bill (Boutwell's s. passed by the House to-
day prescribing rules for the qualification of
lawyers practicing in the United States Courts
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill for the relief Of John A. Bouligny, for
merry a member of Congress from Louisiana,
was passed 1t confirms to his heirs the title
of Is, 900 acres of land in that State.
The tariff hill f.. ION mn ord ftor cox,orol