The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL,

| y
day debated the bill providing for the
admission of Senator Thomas, of Mary
| land. a substitute was offered declar-
ing that Mr.. Thomas, in permitting q
minor son to Join the rebel arn1y, and
furnish him with 500 for his expenses
| hadgiven aid and comfort to the enemy,
and consequently was not eligible TO (,
seat in the Senate. Mr.. Sumner spoke
at length in opposition TO the bill, con
tending that the Constitution required
| that Senators and Representative in
Congress should be loyal men, and that
consequently the substitute was un,
necessary. Mr.. Trumbull replied, de.
nying that there was any evidence OF
disloyalty on the part Of Mr.. Thomas
| The discussion was continued at con.
siderable length, and the Senate
adjourned without disposing of the sub
ject.
The bill to secure the rights of Ameri,
can citizens in foreign States came up
for consideration in the House. The
Kentucky election case came up forcon-
sderation. The Committee on Elections
| having reported that Mr.. John y. Brown
was pot entitled to the seat for the reason
that he mad given aid and comfort To
| the rebels during the war, NJ Brown
| his own behalf AT the conclusion of the
debate the substitute was rejected and the
| report of the Committee adopted. A
| joint resolution was adopted directing
| the Secretary of War to take immediate
measures for the reduction of the army
| expenses at, and in the vicinityof, New
York City BY concen trating the bust
ness OF the various bureaus in the City.
| The House then adjourned.
FEBRUARY l5th.--In the Senate yes
terday the resolution to admit Philip
Il. Thomas, SenatOr-elect from Mary
| land, was discussed BY Messrs. Bucka-
lew, Sherman, Howard and others.
In the House the Kentucky elec-
tiOn case occupied the session, but with
out concluding the discussion the House
adjourned.
FEBRUARY 18th. There was no session
of the Senate Saturday. In the House
the consideration of the Kentucky con-
tested election case was resumed. Mr..
Samuel e. Smith, the contestant, adj
dressed the House at length in favor of
his claim to the seat. He contended
that as Mr.. Brown, who received a ma
jority of votes, had been declared in
eligible, the vote cast for him should
not have been considered in the count,
and that as he (Smith) received ma
jority of all others cast, he was entitled
to the seat.
FEBRUARY 1Sth.-The resolution pro-
viding for the admission of Mr.. Thomas,
Senator elect from Maryland, came up
for discussion in the Senate yesterday,
when the Chair announced that Mr..
johnson, who introduced the resolution
wGs i'll, and desired that the vote on the
question be postponed.
In the House Mr.. Bingham introduced
bill to restore the State of Alabama to
representation in Congress. 1t recites
that at the recent election in that State
4 majority Of votes were given for the
new Constitution, prepared in accord
ance with the Reconstruction laws, and
provides for the cOnvening of the Leg.
isature elected under that Consti utiOn;
| also, that upon the ratification of the
Constitutional Amendment by the Leg
stature, and the establishment by law
Ofimpartial suffrage within her borders,
Alabama shall he entitled TO rcpre-cn-
tation in Congress. The Diplomatic
and Consular Appropriation bill wa,
considered in Committee. Mr.. Will
iam5 offered an amendment striking
out the appropriations for the missions
in South and Central America. He
spoke in favor of his amendment, de-
claring that the business in those mis-
sions could be all transacted by one or
Two cOnSuls or commercial agencies.
Messrs. Washbune and Banks opposed
the amendment, and, after II lengthy
debate, II was rejected. An amend.
ment proposing an appropriation for Il
mission to Rome vas rcjected-yeas Is,
nays 90.
FEBRUARY 18th. THE Senate yester-
day passed the House bill providing for
the reduction of expenses in the War
Department. The bin providing for the
gradual reduction of the army was also
passed. The resolution providing for
the admission of Mr.. Thomas, Senator
elect from Maryland, was taken up,
Mr.. Trumbull spoke in favor of the
resolution. Mr.. johnson also spoke in
favor of the admission of Mr.. Thomas,
after which the Senate adjourned, with
the understanding that Mr.. johnson,
will close the debate to-day, and vote
be taken on the resolution.