The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-14

Mr.. Howard moved to go into executive ses-
sion, which motion prevailed after opposition
by Messrs. Sherman and Morton, by u vote of
% TO 49, and accordingly went into executive
session. sgAdjonnsd AssS49AA isJU
Several bills and resolutions were offered
and referred, among which were the following:
by Mr.. Elliot, to continue the Bureau for the
relief of freedmen and refugees, referred to
the Committee on freedmen; by Mr.. Wood, a
joint resolution to limit the time and circurl-
stances relating to the actions of the United
States with reference to the recognition of bel
lgerent rights OF hostile nations, referred to
the Foreign Committee; by Mr. Blaine, in ret
erence to king shares in national banks, re-
ierred; by Mr. Humphrey, to further regulate
the registering of vessels referred; by MIR.
Miller, requiring the concurrence of1two-thirds
OF the Judges of the Supreme Court OF the
q nited States to declare law OF Congress
unconstitutional, referred to the Judiciary
Committee; also, for the passage OF tariff
law affording adequate protection to the in
dustrial interests of the country, referred to
the WAYS and Means Committee; by Mr.. Hun
ter, Tor the funding of the national debt and
other purposes, referred to the Ways and
Means Committee; by Mr.. O'Neil relating to
mailable matter sent to certain societies and
public libraries, providing that the postage
thereof shall be reduced and shall be payable
on delivery, referred to the Post Office Com
mit'ee; by Mr.. Boutwell,, to promote agricul-
lion and TO secure homesteads for freedmen,
referred to the Freedmens Committee. The
nrst section declares the title to all abandoned
lands in the States recently in rebellion to be
IN the United States, and forbids the Presi-
dent or any other officer of the Government
from surrendering it or doing any act to i'm
pair or affect the title of the United States
The second section authorizes 1the Commits
si0ners OF the Freedmen's Bureau to contract
for the sale to the freedmen of such abandoned
mn xna adit tav,- "a
person, at a fair valuation on three years
credit. The third section authorizes the Com
missioner OF the Freedmens Bureau to deliv-
er to farmers and planters articles of subsist-
ence, and to advance them money on certain
defined conditions; by Mr.. Cullum in relation
to additional bounty, referred to the Military
Committee; it provides for payment of bolin-
ties to soldiers in the late war discharged from
service on account of disability before they
had served two years; by Mr.. Burr, pledging
pr9tectlon TO all citizens, natural born natu-
rallied, in the enjoyment Of all rights of citi-
zenship under the Consultation and laws of
the United States, referred to the Committee
ON Foreign Affairs; by Mr.. Bingham, decar-l
ing the amendment TO the Constitution of the
United States, known as the 14th article, duly
ratified, referred to the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Blaine, on behalf Of the chairman of the
select committee of the last session on the
treatment.of prisoners of war and Union citi
gems, offered a resolution that the committee
lutions of July 10, 1867 Adopted. g
MIR. Wilson, of Iowa, asked leave to report
back from the Judiciary Committee, with an
amendment by way of an additional section,
the Senate bill declaring what shall constitute
a quorum of the Supreme Court. 90.
~ Mr. Ross objected. fanTF& NN}WE ii
:. Mr. Wilson moved to suspend the rules, stat
ing that he did not propose to call up the bill
far q week or until the gentleman from Penn
sylvania, MIR. Williams, who had lust intro
dllcad the auhiaaf in tha
The House refused to suspend the rules, yeas
~, NAYS So. F. naftaa2 gag a11 81 "a
Mr.. Wilson said he interpreted the vote as an
expression Of the will of the Houie to have the
bill acted on Immediately. He would, there
fore, modify his motion, and move tossuspend
the rules to allow him to report back the bill
for immediate consideration, and that when
the House shall order the main question the
vote shall be taken without dilatory motion.
W The question was taken by yeas and nays,
and resulted yeas lib, nays 81; 50 the rules
were suspended, and Mr.. Wilson, from the Ju
dietary Committee, reported back the Senate
bill declaring what shall constitute q quorum
OF the Supreme Conrt, with an amendment.
The bill declares that any number OF Justices
of the Supreme Court not less than five being
asmaiority thereof, shall constitute quorum
The amendment declares that no case pending
before the Supreme Courtinvolving the action
or effect Of any law of the United States shall
be decided adversely to the validity of such law
without the concurrence of tw0-thirds of ali
the members of the court ni
Mr.. Williams, of Pennsylvania, offered an
amendment, requiring the decision of the
courts in such cases to be unanimous. He ex-
planned and advocated his amendment
Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa, moved the previous
question, stating that he would not do so ex-
cepts for the order of the House making a
special order for Tomorrow of the bin report
ed from the Reconstruction Committee.
The previous question was seconded and the
main question ordered. = =
AT the close of Mr.. Wilson's remarks the
House proceeded to vote on the bill and pend
ing amendments. .r.sr
Mr.. Ross moved that the House adjourn.
The Speaker declined to entertain the mo-
ton, on the ground that the House was acting
under an order made on the suspension of
the rules that the vote should be taken with
out any dilatory motions.
Mr. Robinson appealed from the decision of
the CHAR. The decision OF the Chair was sus-
tained-yeas 1876 nays Is. -.
MI. Eldridge moved to lay the bill and
amendments on the table. Negatived-yeas
80, nays 113. s.r.A
The question was taken on Mr. Wilson's
amendment, requiring the unanimous decis-
ion OF all the Judges, and it was rejected, yeas
20, nays 124. :, yrrgss-fe 81 r1sas4s
Mr.. Williams amendment adding proyiso
to the amendment reported from the judiciary
Committee, was ad0pted-yeas Ill, nays 49,
and the amendment as amended was agreed to-
The bill was then passed-yeas ZIG, nays 80.
Mr.. Garfield moved to suspend the rules that
he might Introduce bill to reduce and i'm
prove the military establishment by the dis
charge OF one Major General, the one who was
last commissioned in that grade before the Let
: of January, 1858, Gen. Hancock.
Very decided indications being given of O
resort to filibustering to prevent the lin pass
ing, Mr.. Garfield Withdrew his motion, giving
notice that he would renew it next Monday.
At 6 1-2 O'clock the House adjourned.