Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-07
FORTIETH CONGRESS,
This Afternoons PROCEEDINGS,
MONDAY, December :.

l
noon by the Hon. B. F. Wade, President prc
ten, quorum Of Senators being present.
| The Chaplain, Rev. DIR. Grey, offere d ND an
| appropriate prayer.
| The Chair presented the credentials of Mr.
/ Edmunds, of Vermont elected as a Senator
from Vermont for q term of six years from
| March 4, 1862
| Mr.. Sherman presented the credentials of
| Hon. Joshua Hill, elected as Senator from
| Georgia, for the term ending March 4, 1872
Mr.. Sherman asked that Mr.. Hill be sworn in
| Mr.. Drake objected. He would never, by his
| vote, allow representatives from any Of the
| reconstructed States TO be sworn in which had
! oyerthrown the supremacy Of loyal men. He
! had no objection to Mr.. Hill personally, but be
conteL ded for the pow er Of Congress to see that
| the recon Instruction laws We're permanently
| enforced and loyal supremacy made perpetual.
! The Georgia Legislature had, in utter defiance
| of law, expelled all the colored members.
Mr.. Sherman said Mr. Hill condemned this
| gross outrage as much as any Of them, but he
| was not responsible for il, and hoped when he
got his seat here to be able to help right the
| wrong. Mr. Hill had been elected by ma
| 1orlty OF all the members OF the Legislature,
| and before the expulsion OF the colored men,
| bers Mr.. Hill was one Of the few loyal men
from that section.
| Mr.. Thayer said the real ground of objection
was that the Legislature of Georgia was an A..
| legal body, many OF its members being dis
quallhed by the recor struction laws and the
constitutional amendment, and asked for the
reading OF a communication from Governor
statement.
Mr.. Sherman said no one could deny that
MIR. HIlls election had taken place under the
usual forms, and 1t was not for this Senate to
consider whether certain members of the Geor-
gia Legislature had committed perjury in false
ly taking the oath.
MIR. Wilson asked for the reading of a com.
munication from colored men of Georgia
setting forth certain wrongs which have been
inflicted upon them by the whites.
On motion Of Mr.. Dixon, committee of
Two, consisting of Messrs. Dixon and Hen.
bricks, was appointed to wait on the Presi-
dent i'll conjunction with q committee OF the
House, TO receive any communication he may
have to report.
Mr.. Sherman thought that the paper sent by
tion reason why Mr.. Hill should be admitted
TO his seat, to redress their wrongs. He asked
for the reading OF the report of General Meade,
stating that he (Gen. NJ had been Instru ted
Alter further discussion. the Credentials Were
temporarily laid upon the table.
Mr. Sumner offered a JOINT resolution tender
ing the best wishes and thanks of the United
States TO the people Of SPAIN also, bill to pro.
VIDE for the resumption OF specie payments on
July ith, 1862 also, bill to guarantee the several
provisions of the Constitution abolishing
slavery, and 10 confer manhood suffrage; ais o,
resolution IN favor Of cheap ocean postage-all
OF which We're ordered to be printed.
Mr. Yates introduced a bill to establish a uni.
form system Of naturalization, and TO repeal
certain acts on the subject. Ordered to be
printed.
Mr. Cragin offered joint resolution pro.
Stale shall have the power to deprive any of
its citizens under 2l years of age of the elective
franchise.
Mr.. Pomeroy offered a constitutional amend
Llent on the same subject.
MIR. Rice introduced a bill to provide for the
issue OF arms to certain States lately in rebel
lion.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Maine, introduced a bill to
am end the navigation act
Mr. Drake introduced a bill in relation TO
grade OF General and Lieutenent General in the
rrnv dprt tral nd A,,,,r
Navy.
Mr.. FrelInghuysen introduced a bill to reeu-
late proceedings for the naturalization of aliens
AT 1.3O p. m. the Senate took a recess of thirty
minutes.
At the expiration of the recess, the committee
appointed TO wait upon the President reported
that the duty had been performed, and tie
President would communicate with the two
Hon rs on Wednesday next.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF RFPRRsRSTATIvKs.--Sp Col
fax called the House to order promptly at -
O'Clock, when Chaplain Bovnton delivered a
prayer, thanking God for the preservation OF
the lives OF members since the last session.
The Speaker then announced the opening of
the third session Of the Fortieth Congress, and
directed the Clerk TO call the roll of members
by States and Territories.
After the call of the roll. the Speaker said a
quorum was within the hall, whereupon-
Mr.. L. b. Washburne lll.) offered the fol-
lowing, which were adopted
ReS0lccd, That the Clerk of the House in form
the Senate that quorum of the House Of Re-
presentatiyes is in attendance and ready 10
proceed to business.
ResOlred, That a committee of three he an
pointed on the part of the House to ioIu such a
committee as may be appointed by the Senate
10 wait upon the President of the United STATES
and inform him that Congress is now in
session, and ready to receive any communica-
ton he may have to make.
The Speaker announced as the committee to
wait on the President: Messrs. Washburne,
III, Schenck, and Brooks.
Mr. Schenck asked to be excused from serv-
Ing ON the committee, and MIR. Garfield was
The Speaker laid before the House the ere.
dentals Of the member, elected to serve out the
uneXpired terms OF Messrs. Stevens and Fin
ney, OF Pa, and Mr.. McCIurg, of Mo.
Messrs. Dickey and s. Newton Pettis-,be
members elect-from Pa, and Mr.. -, from
Mo-, adyanced to the Clerks desk and were
duly qualified.
Message was received from the Senate An
nouncng the appointment of a committee on
the part Of that body 70 wait upon the President
The Speaker announced the commencement
OF the morning hour, and
MI Maynard Il enn) presented the creden.
hals Of MIR. Hamilton, member at large for
Tennessee.
Pending discussion on the disposition of
these papers, the morning hour expired, and
The Speaker proceeded to call the States for
bills ana resolutions.
MIR. Lynch (Maine) offered bill ALLOWING
drawbacks upon articles used in the destr ctio1
OF, acids. Referred to the Conn nttee of Ways
ana means.
BY Mr.. Boutwell-Bill declaring who nav
vote for electors for President and Vice Presi.
dent of the United States.
Mr.. Dawes, (Mass.(-Resolution making the
eight-hOur law uniform In all Government
workshops in the United States. Passed
MIR. Boutwell,, (Mass.)-Resolution directing
the Committee on Reconstruction to examine
into the condition OF affairs in VIrginia
Mississippi, and Texas, and to report xhaf
legislation is necessary tor the protection of
life, liberty, and property.
Mr.. Pike, maine. .)-Resolution declaring
that justice to public creditors demands and
sound policy directs that that there shall be no .
further delay 10 paying gold for United states
notes or greenbacks. Referred to Commjtfaa on /
Ways and Means.
Mr. Eliot, Mass. IA bill continunp tho
Freedmen's Bureau in Virginia, Nississ,nn,
and Texas. Referred 10 Committee on Frsed
mems Affairs. .r..
Mr. Wood, IN. Y.)-Resolution calling n,on
the President to communicate to the Ho1sa n |
not Incompatible with the public Interest ,ha
Instructions of the State Department to Rsr
erdy johnson, Minister to England. and anv
correspondence ce relating TO the settlement .,
the Alabama claims. Passed. vi
Mr.. Kelley, (Pa. Joint resolution pronosirn
an amendment to the Constitution of tha ITn'
ted States relative to Impartial suffrage DE-
ferred to the judiciary Committee A'e-
Mr. Broomall, Pa.eJoint resolptior .;r.;
lar to that offered by Mr.. Kelly ~
Mr., Morrill,, (Pa.SResoutiOn declariro tho,
the conduct of Reverdy johnson, Minisssr to
England, is prejudicial to the intere.t. .rT
dignity OfIthe nation he represents a n a 49,