The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-12-18
COSGRESSEO EAE.

WAsHINGToN, Dec. S. the third ses-
sion Of The Fortieth Congress com
menced at Washington Yesterday. with
a fun attendance in both houses. IN
the Senate the credentials Of the Hon.
Joshna Hill, one of the Senators elect
from Georgia, were presented and OBJ
jected to by some Of the extreme rad
icals, and were finally laid upon the
table. a number of bills and resolu-
tions were then introduced and order
ed to be printed, among them two or
three providing for universal suffrage
in all the States.
In the House, Mr.. Menard, the COL
ored member elect from Louisiana, APP
peared on the floor, but his credentials
were not presented. 4 resolution was
adopted directing the committee on
the Judiciary to inquire into the state
OF political affairs in Virginia, Missis-
sippi and Texas. Mr.. Eliot introduc-
ed a bill continuing the freedmen :
bureau in Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas. Mr.. Kelley introduced bill
proposing an amendment to the con
stitution providing that no State
shall deny the elective franchise to
any citizen on account Of race or color.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Pennsylvania, offered
a resolution declaring that Beverdy
Johnson's conduct in England was pre-
judicial to the interests and dignity of
the United States, and requesting the
President to order his recall at once
This gave rise to some debate, but it
was finally referred to the committee
on foreign affairs. The resolution
seemed to meet with very little favor
among the members. A resolution
was adopted instructing the commit
tee ON ways and means to inquire into
the eXpediency of providing by law
for the resumption Of specie payments.
Several other bills and resolutions re-
lative to the currency, specie payments,
the elective franchise, etc, were intro
duced and referred. 4 joint commit
tee having been appointed to wait on
the President, reported that he would
send i'll his annual message tomorrow.
WAsHINGToN, Dee. 8.
The Senate had a brief session, yes
terday, an transacted no business Of
general interest. The House passed
a bill toGucrease the tariff on copper
yeas I07, nays 81. A bill was introduc-
ed and referred to repeal the tenure-of
office act, and bill passed to restore
the bureau of Indian affairs to the
War Department. After a long speech
by Mr. Robinson, Of New York, in
relation to theimprisonment of Amcri-
can citizens in Ireland, the House ad-
journed.
WAsHINGTON, Dec. 10.
The Senate yesterday, after number
Of bills and resolutions had been in
troduced and referred, passed bill TO
relieve the political disabilities of Chief
Justice Moses, Of South Carolina. 4
similar bill also passed the House.
The Presidents annual message hav-
ing been received and partly read, OBJ
lection was made to its further reading
by several extreme radical Senator's
Pending the motion to suspend the
reading, the Senate adjourned.
In the House 4 bill was passed pro-
viding for an election in Virginia on
the fonrth Thursday Of May next, on
the question Of the ratification or re-
lection Of the State constitution adopt
ed in 1867, and also at the same time
to choose members of Congress, State
officers and members Of the LegisIa-
ture-the Legislature to assemble in
September next The Presidents mes
sage was received and read. After
some debate it was laid on the table.
WASHINGTON. Dee. II.
In the Senate yesterday, after choos-
ing the regular standing committees,
an interesting debate took place on the
bill from the House to transfer the
Indian bureau to the War Department,
after which it was referred to the com
mittee on Indian affairs. Several bills
were then introduced and REFEREED
The unfinished business pending on
Wednesday, being the motion to sus-
pend the reading of the Presidents
was then resumed. After
some discussion the message was read,
laid on the table and ordered to be
printed
In the House, the bill which passed
the Senate at the last session for the
sale of the government property at
Harper'S Ferry was passed, as were
also several others Of less interest. A
bill was introduced, to regulate the
issue Of iegal-tender notes and to pro-
vide for their redemption. Both hous-
es adjourned until Monday next. The
House, previous to adjourning, adopt
ed a resolution to take a recess from
the Dist instant until the 9TH of Jan
uary. The Senate have yet to concur
in this resolution. The object of the
recess is to enable the several commit
tees to prepare business for final ac-
ton.
On Wednesday, in the House, Mr..
Broomall offered a resolution denounc-
ing the financial sentiment of the mes
sage, and declaring against all forms
ard degrees of population. Mr..
Schenck, Of Ohio, proposed that the
message be simply laid on the table,
without reference and without print
ing, and desired tosubmit motion to
that effect. Mr.. Washburne modified
his motion so as to have no extra cop