Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-01-08
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

SENATE Thursday, Jan. 3.-Mr. Sumner
introduced resolution of inquiry as to whether
legislation on constitutional amendment is
necessary to prevent the sale of negroes into
slavery. After some deliberation the resolution
was adopted. A bill was introduced vesting
the appointment of United States Marshal for
the District of Columbia in the Supreme Court.
A resolution instructing the Judiciary Commit
tee to inquire what legislation is necessary to
prevent the enslavement of Indians in New
Mexico on system Of peonage was introduced
by Mr.. Sumner, who said that officers of the
United States Army had captured Indians in
slavery. The resolution, changed so as to make
the inquiry by the Military Committee, was a.
dopted. The bill to admit Nebraska was taken
up as unfinished business and Immediately post
poned until Monday. Mr.. Howard gave notice
OF his intention to propose amendments to the
bills relative to the regulation of the selection
of grand and petit jurors in the Territory OF
Utah and for other purposes. The proposed
amendments treated mainly of the marriage
ceremony, and make it a crime to consecrate a
marriage in Utah which is not legal elsewhere,
punishable with fine or imprisonment. The
bill to prevent fraudulent representations to in
duce negroes or others to emigrate from this
country was called up, and pending its conside-
ration the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Wentworth offered a resolution directing
inquiry by the judiciary Committee into the
measures necessary to prevent the Supreme
Court from releasing the assassination conspira-
tors, and also into the expediency Of repeating
the law Of 1868, under which the Supreme
Court is presumed to have acted in the instance
referred to. Mr.. Bundy introduced a joint res
olution for establishing four territorial govern
monte for ha so.ooilod Stoto IF Tovac which
was read twice and referred to the Committee
ON Territories. The House then proceeded to
the consideration of Mr. Stevens bill to provide
for restoring the States lately in rebellion to
their full political rights, and the question being
on the amendment offered by Mr.. Stevens on
the 10Th of December last, that gentleman pro-
ceeded to address the House. In the course of
his remarks he said THE late decision of the
Supreme Court, though perhaps not so infa-
nous as the bred Scott decision, was far more
dangerous in its operation on the lives and lib
critics Of the loyal men Of the country. Altho'
the President was Commander-in-C Chief of the
army and navy, Congress was his commander,
and he should be made to obey" Mr.. Ashley
moved an amendment to Mr.. Stevens substi-
tute. 1t declares the State governments in the
rebelious districts to be null and void, and Or
ganizes constitutional State governments, with
impartial suffrage It then provides for State
conventions, to be composed Of loyal men, who
shall elect Provisional Governor who is au-
thorized to proclaim martial law and suspend
the writ OF habeas corpus whenever he may
deem it necessary. After speech from Mr..
Pike on the relation of Congress to the seeded
States the House went into Committee of the
Whole without disposing of the amendment or
the substitute. Mr., Eldridge asked leave to
offer resolution declaring the conviction and
sense Of the House to be expressed in the reso-
luton introduced by Mr.. Stevens in 1862, which
declares that if any one shall make peace Or
propose any plan tor peace except upon the ba-
sis Of the integrity Of the Union he shall be
guilty of a high crime, and that Mr.. Stevens, in
proposing his plan expressed in the bill which
had few moments ago been before the House,
was manifestly disloyal to the constitution and
Union Of the States, was guilty of high crime
and deserving Of the reprobation of the House.
MIR. Ashley objected, and the resolution could
not be introduced. The House soon after ad-
journed.
SENATE Friday, JAM A memorial frcm
the Legislature of Montana, asking the estab-
lishment of Surveyor Generals office, was re-
ferred to the Committee on Public Lands.
A petition from the Wool Growers Society,
asking increased protection, was referred to the
Finance Committee.
Seventy artists presented memorial asking
specific duty Of 800 on oil paintings, which
was referred to the Finance Committee
Six petitions were presented from railroad
presidents asking reduction of the tariff on
iron,
The Committee on Foreign Relations was in
France and Mexico and the probability of Max
imilian maintaining himself
The bill repeating the 3Oth section of the bill
to suppress rebellion, &C., was taken UP, the
question being on the amend ment to repeal the
entire act. Mr. Reverdy johnson spoke elabo-
rately. He had urged the Executive to issue a
general amnesty proclamation Some Of the
first jurists of the country-many Of them Re
publicans-and some of the best English jurists,
had expressed opinions that the moment bellig-
erent rights were granted the commission OF
treason was impossible. Speaking Of MIR. Da-
Wis trial, he said that no matter whose fault it
was, it was blot on American civilization that
the prisoner should be retained should he die
the nation would be responsible.
The amendment was lost and the bill repeal
ing the Both section passed by vote of q to I.
Messrs. Dixon, Doolittle, Hendricks, johnson,
Norton, Patterson and Salisbury voting in the
negative.
The bill regulating the tenure of Office was
taken up and the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
House appropriations for the post-ofhce and
frontier defence were presented.
Mr.. Hubbard introduced resolution that IN
view of the present prosperity of the country,
no additional tax be levied with view to re-
ducing the debt. Referred to Committee OF
Ways and Means.
The Committee of Ways and Means was in
structed to inquire into the expediency Of mod
ifcation of the tariff to discriminate against
slave grown products.
Mr. Clark introduced bill for the punish
ment of bribery in congressional elections.
After other unlmportant business, the House
went into Committee Of the Whole and ad-
jOurned.
The MASSACRE AT Fort PHIL. KEARNEY -
The Commissioner of Indian Affairs has receiv-
ed the following telegram:
Fort LARAMIE, December 80, 1S66.-Hon
Lewis Bogy, Commissioner of Indian Affairs
An Indian arrived from Tongue river reports
Ogallallae, Crows, Unkaphaphas, Blackfeet and
Sausarecs, left Tongue river on the 10Th instant
for Fort Phil Kearney, and on the ed were
discovered near the fort. Brevet Lieutenant
Colonel Fetterman, Captain Brown and Lieu
left the fort to give battle. Nothing more was
heard from them until party sent out from
the fort found them at distance of four miles
lying dead, Colonel Fctterman and his entire
command having been massacred by the Indians
NJ T. PATRICK.
Upper Platte Agent
The decision Of the Supreme Court of the