The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-01-14
Che >2>eStern Democrat, Charlotte, 21&.
Congress.


JANUARY Gin the Senate memorial was
presented by Mr. Sumner, from the freedmen Of
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, stating that land
owners were driving them from the land that
their industry had purchased, and asking redress
The Authorization bill came up, but was
postponed with the understanding that it shall
come up Immediately after the disposition of the
cotton tax.
Mr. Norton of Indiana introduced a bill COM
pelling full prosecutions for violations of the rev.
enue laws, and forbidding compromise.
In the House, Mr. Epson OF Michigan intro
duced resolution, directing the Committee on
Reconstruction to enquire into the expediency of
authorizing the several Constitution Conventions
elected under the Reconstruction acts, in the
States lately in rebellion, to appoint all civil off,
GERS, whether State or county. in said States to
act temporarily, and until the State Constitutions
shall be adopted therein, and officers shall be
chosen and qualified to fill said offices, and that
for this purpose, said Conv entions may remove all
civil officers now acting in said States.
Mr. Boutwell, moved to amend the resolution
to instruct the Reconstruction Committee to en-
quire into the expediency of authorizing the
General of the Army to detail officers for service
in said States. Also to enquire into the expe-
diency of constituting each of said States in a
separate Military District, under the command
Of the General of the Army; and also as to the
expediency of providing additional legislation to
secure the elective franchise to ALL and also, to
declare, by Act of Congress, that the Provisional
Governments set up in said States by order of
the acting President are not Republican forms
of Government. Mr. Epson accepted the amend
ment-
Mr. Chandler, of New York. moved to lay the
,rbnln c,Iioct ba t.h1a Mt arrnoI To
yeas %, nays &C. The resolution was then
adopted.
Mr. Eldrdge offered resolution of thanks to
Gen Hancock in accordance with the Presidents
message. The resolution was laid on the table
by vote Of IS to %.
Mr. Washburne, of Wisconsin, offered a reso-
luton, that the House utterly condemns the
! course of Andrew johnson, acting President Of
the United States, for his action in removing the
gallant soldier, Gen. Sheridan from the command
of the Fifth Military District. and that the thanks
| of the House are due Gen Grant, for his letter,
| in August last, condcming the act of the said
acting President for his removal of Secretary
! Stanton as well as his endorsement of General
Sheridan i'll relation to affairs in the State Of
Texas Adopted-ycas 50, nays %.
a bill making eight hours a days work was
passed.
JAN. Tn the Senate. Mr. Wilson intro
duced bill, vacatng the Offices Of Governor,
Secretary Of State, Treasurer, Comptroller, and
| Surveyor General of Georgia, and authorizing
| the Convention to fill them Ordered to beprir-
| ted.
! An unsatisfactory discussion as to whether
the bill passed before the recess, abolishing the
color distinction in the District was law, arose.
| The matter was referred to the Judiciary Com
| mittee.
The cotton tax question was resumed. and, at
ter a long argument and numerous amendments,
A. LII r-----I ~ fIion iIis3 ofoot TAT Is
suspended during the year 1868, on cotton grown
during that year This suspension is not to be
construed to prevent the regular levy of tax after
1868. The duty on new cotton imported into
| the L. S. from April 18th. 1868, to April 18th,
1869, is suspended. The bill goes to the House
for concurrence.
In the House, The bill expcdting the pay
ment Of bounties was resumed An amendment
referring the claims of negro soldiers to the
Freedmcn's Bureau fer examination, was adop-
ted, and the bill passed. A bill preventing wills
key tax frauds was introduced. 1t forbids the
Withdrawal from bond, under any circumstances
until the full tax is paid The House went into
Committee of the WHOLE when Cary spoke in
favor of paying the national debt in legal tenders
JAN. Sin the Senate, the resolution in
structing the Judiciary Committee to report
bill to vacate the present Illegal and unauthorized
governments in the Southern States and provide
provisional governments until reconstructed, was
laid over. The President was called Oh for in
formation whether the bill for abolishing white
in the District laws and ordinances Was con-
sidercd as law by the Executive.
In the House, the Committee on Foreign At
fairs rcDOrted a resolution reuucstino the prosi
dent to inercede with Queen Victoria for Father
McMahan's release. The report maintains the
innocence Of McMahan
The cotton tax bill from the Senate was re-
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means.