Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-02-13
CONGRE. E.SSTONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL. Il.
TUESDAY Feb. 4. SENATE.--A petition
from citizens of Colorado asking for ad
mission to the Union. Mr.. Frelinghuy.
sens bill, for the protection of persons
making disclosures as parties or witness.
es, was passed. Mr.. Summers amend.
ment to The supplementary Tenure OF
Office bill was rejected. Mr.. Williams,
of Oregon, made q speech on the sub
Elementary Reconstruction bill.
HoUsE.-Mr. Butler, from the commit
tee on appropriations, reported bill for
regulating the custody and expenditure
of public money. Mr.. Eggleston present.
ed petition from the Lincoln Encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie for the release of American citizens
in English prisons. The Committee on
the Freemen'sd Bureau was instructed
to investigate the outrages committed
in Tennessee by the Kuklux- -Klan.
Mr.. Banks bill on citizenship Rights
was taken up and discussed. Mr.. Jenckes,
of Rhode Island, and Mr.. Butler OF
Mass, proposed substitutes. Mr.. Hilbay,
of California, and Mr.. Judd, of Illinois,
made speeches, favoring the objects, but
criticising the details of the bill before
the House. The bill regarding land
grants to Southern railroads was discuss
GU db SOhlS iChStH NY nTs IiuTluR0, OI
Wisconsin, in opposition, and Mr.. Hop
kins, of the same State, i'm its favor.
The Secretary of War sent to the House
the correspondence called for by the res
olution of the day before, between the
President and Gen. Grant, (which will
be found in full elsewhere in this paper.)
1t was read and referred. The Commit
tee on Public Lands was directed to in
4uire into the propriety of connecting
the Ohio river with Lake Erie by ship
canal. The Southern Railroad Land
Grant bill was again taken up, and ad-
vocatey by Mr.. Holman and Mr.. Julian,
of Indiana, and it was voted to reconsid-
er the vote recommitting the bill. With
out finally disposing Of the bill, the
House adorned.
"WEDNESDAY, Feb. s. SENATE-A reso
luton was introduced by Mr.. Howard
of Michigan, authorizing the Secretary
of War to employ counsel to defend
General Meade and Ruger, in any suits
brought against them by Gov. Jenkins,
of Georgia, the Attorney General hav-
Ing declined to defend cases under the
Reconstruction law, on the ground that
he has given an opinion that the law is
unconstitutional. After some debate on
the propriety of the Attorney Generals
action, the bill passed. The Supple
mentary Reconstruction bill was ta ken
up, and Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, made
speech in its favor.
HOUsE.-The bill declaring forfeited
to the United States certain land grants
to Southern railroads was passed, with
an amendment eXempting the lands of
the Nashville Il Decatur Railroad from
forfeiture, by So yeas to ~ nays. Mr..
Judd, of Illinois, Republican, made q
speech on the citizenship question.
Mr.. Beatty, the new member from the
Eighth Ohio District, appeared and took
the oath. Mr.. Logan, OF Illinois, called
attention to the fact that the report in the
Congressional Globe of few remarks
recently made in the House by his col
laegue (Mr. Marshall)had been expanded
into an elaborate speech, four and
quarter columnsin length, and protested
against such proceeding. Mr.. Marshall
expressed amazement, adm mitted that
he had modified and expanded the re-
port somewhat, but ciai med that he
had done no more than was sanctioned
by common usage. The Senate resoIu-
tion authorizing the Secretary of War
10 employ cOunselto defend Gems. Meade
and Ruger, was carried 10y vote of 115
to 81. The House went into Commit
tee of the Whole, aud soon after ad.
jcrncd.
THURSDAY. Feb. G. SE;' E;'ATE--Several
hnauclal schemes were brought forward,
among them the Finance Committees
substitute for Mr.. Sheiman's bill. 1t
authorizes the Issue OF five per cent for
ty year gold bonds (rtdecnah!c, how
ever, in ten years. to an amount cover
ing all Gnvernment obligations except
the five per cents, and to be exchanged
for such Obligations at not less than par.
The new bonds, and the interest and in
come thereirom, are to be exempt from
taxation, save the ordinary income tax.
HOUSE The first business was the
bill for the protection of American citi-
zens abroad, which was discussed by
Messrs. Chanler, Boyer, and Woodward
until the expiration of the morning
hour. The Army Appropriation bill
was reported. 1t foots up S33, 600, 200,
anu provides for such reduction as to
briug .he army to 25 regiments,ofinfant-
ry. 7 cava.'"v, and . artillery. 1t was
stated that the old army of 10 regiments
under Buchanan cost about 81, 600, 900
in gold for each regime ntannuaiiy, while
the present bill puts the expense ut about
one-half the figure lii currency. Inc
bill was made the special order 10" the
18th inst. In Committee, the House
took up the Military Academy Appro-
priation bill, Mr.. Eldridge moved mat
only white cadets should share i'm the
benefits ofthe Academy, but his reso-
lutions was defeated-Ycas2S; mays, 20.
The bill was briefly discussed and adopt
ed. Then came up the Legislative, Ex-
ecutive, and judicial Appropriation bill,
which originally asked for nearly $24,-
600, O0o, hut has been cnt down to $l7,-
2l7, 4So. There was long discussion,
but no real action upon the bill.
FRIDAY, Feb. I. SENATE.-Mr. Sher-
man, of Ohio, introduced bill to allow
persons now occupying land on the is
lands in the Great Miami river, pre- emp
tion of the same on taking the proper
steps and paying two dollars and fifty
cents an ncre. The Supplementary
Tenure of Office bill was then taken up,
debated, and after some amendments,
passed by vote of 81 to 8. Ii puts an
end to the unrestricted employment of
special agents by the President and
heads of Departments, which has be-
eomeea great abuse. tt -.
= HoUsE,-The speaker appointed Mr..
Beatty, of Ohio, a member of the COM