Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-02-25
NUMBER XIV.
CONGRESSIONAL.

| CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE. Saturday, Feb. 15th.-The Senate
was not In session to-day Up
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CORE
spOndence between Generals Grant and Hancock
in relation to the removal of the New Orleans
Councilmen was laid before the House The
House resumed the consideration of the contest
ed election case from the Second District of
Kentucky, the question being upon the resolu-
ton declaring Mr. Samuel E. Smith not entitled
to his seat in the House. Mr.. Smith addressed
| the House in favor of his claim A number of
| other gentlemen also made speeches upon the
| resolution. A substitute to the pending resolu-
| tlon was offered by Mr.. Coburn declaring that
MIR. Smith, having received majority of the
votes cast in conformity with the law, is entitled
to the seat. After some discussion this amend
ment was rejected, and the resolutions of the
Committee on Elections declaring the seat
vacant and directing that the Governor of
Kentucky be notified Of the decision, was adopt.
ed. MIR. Paine rose to a personal explanation,
and denied the truth of the reported conversa-
ton between Mr.. Stevens and himself in the
Impeachment Committee, as telegraphed to the
New York Tribune The House then went into
Committee of the Whole, and took up the
Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation BILL
After short discussion, the Committee rose
and the House adjourned -
SENATE. Monday, Feb l7th.-Senator Thorn
as s case was postponed In consequence of the
sickness of Senator johnson
The petition of 100 New Jersey negroes ask
Ing for SlOO each to carry them to Liberia, and
a similar petition from Massachusetts negroes.
was also received and referred and so was a
petition from the South Carolina railroad asking
aid for the Port Royal railroad
The Judiciary Committee reported bill that
majority of the voters shall decide all elections
under the reconstruction acts, and in voting on
the adoption OF the Constitutions duly register
ed persons may vote in any part of the State
upon presentation of a certificate.
Ihe bill recovering into the Treasury the pro-
ceeds OF captured and abandoned property was
discussed till adjournment
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. s.-Mr Bine-
ham introduced the following; which was re-
terred to the Committee on Reconstruction:
"Wh hereas large majority of the votes given
at an election held on the-day of February,
1868, We're for the Constitution presented by
the Convention of the people of the State of
Alabama whereas certain combinations of cti-
zens within said State refused to vote, with
intent thereby to defeat the efforts of the friends
OF the Union to restore said State to its proper
relations to the Union therefore,
BE at enacted, de-, That the Legislature
elect under the new Constitution of Alabama be
convened at the capital of said State as soon as
practicable, by order of the United States mill
tary commander within said State of Alabama
and upon the ratification by the said Legislature
OF the fourteenth article of amendment to the
Constitution OF the United States, proposed by
the Thirty ninth Congress, and the establish
ment by law of impartial suffrage within said
State, as authorized by said Constitution of
Alabama, the said State shall be admitted to
representation in the Congress of the United
States, in accordance with the laws of the United
States"
Nothing else important was presented under
the regular Mondays call.
The appropriation bill was resumed. An eff
fort to strike out the appropriations for several
South American missions failed, and the bill
finally passed.
SENATE. Tuesday, Feb. 1Sth.-The House
bill to facilitate the collection of the direct tax
In the State Of Delaware was taken up and pass
ed. "A joint resolution was passed authorizing
the Adjutant Generals of any of the States to
transmit through the mails, free of postage,
under such regulations as may be prescribed
by the Postmaster General, certificates of merit
awarded by the Legislature of any State The
House joint resolution to reduce the expenses
OF the War Department was agreed to. The
Committee on Finance reported adversely on
the House bill to regulate the custody of public
moneys The bill to provide for the gradual
reduction of the army, and to abolish unneces-
sary grades therein, was taken up, and certain
amendments reported by the committee were
agreed to, and the bill passed. The case of
Hon. p F. Thomas, of Maryland, was then
taken up. Mr. Trumbull spoke in favor of the
admission Of MIR. Thomas Mr.. johnson de-
livered an able argument in behalf of his col
leagues claim to the seat. Mr. Stewart op-
posed the admission of Mr.. Thomas A mum.
Der of motions were then made by different
members to prevent the taking of vote, and
after some time spent in this manner the Sem
ate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, "A bill was
passed authorizing the Comptroller of the Cur
rency, with the approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury, to revoke the order appointing re-
celver Tor the Farmers and Citizens Bank of
Williamsburg, New York. and that that insti-
tuition be turned over to the directors A bill was
introduced by Mr.. Starkweather and passed
after briet discussion, appropriating $50, 900,
to be placed-in the hands of the Secretary of
State, to be used by him for the relief of the
wants OF destitute American citizens abroad, and
to bring them back to the United States; the
relief to be for such citizens as have been ar
rested, imprisoned and discharged after trial,
but who have not means to return to the United
States. The House resumed the consideration
of the bill reported on Thursday last from the
Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, granting
Incl eased pensions to surviving soldiers of the
Revolution and OF the war of 1872 The bill
appropriates about two million dollars. 1t was
passed after long discussion without division.
The House went into Committee of the Whole
and resumed the consideration of the Legisla-
tive. Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill.
number of changes of no general interest were
made, and the Committee rose and reported the
bill to the House. After some discussion the
further consideration of the bill was postponed.
The House soon after adjourned.
Virginia Politics--Prospects.
The New York Times publishes a private
letter from Virginia, which thus speaks of po-
ltical affairs: