Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-02-13
Congress.

Fer. 4.-In the Senate petition was
received from citizens of Colorado ask
ing for admission to the Union. Mr..
Williams, of Oregon, made a speech on
the supplementary Reconstruction bill.
In the House Mr.. Banks bill on Citi-
zenship Rights was taken up and dis
cussed. Mr.. Jenckes, of Rhode Island,
and Mr.. Butler, of Mass, proposed sub
stitutes. Mr.. Higbee, Of California,
and Mr.. Judd, of Illinois, made speech
es, fayoring the objects, but criticising
the details of the bill before the House.
The Secretary of War sent to the
House the correspondence called for by
the resolution of the day before, be-
tween the President and Gen. G{ant,
(which will be found in fpll elsd9Fhers
in this paper.) 1t wasfead and re-
ferred to the Committe on Reconstruc
ton. The Committee on Public Lands
was directed to inquireSfnto the pro-
priety of connectings Ohio river
with Lake Erie by - canal. ~
FEB. 5.-In the Senate resolution
was introduced by Mr.. Howard, of
Michigan, Republican, authorizingFhe
Secretary of War to employ counsel to
defend Generals Meade and Ringer, in
any suits brought against them by Gov.
jenkins, of Georgia, the Attorney Gen
eral having declined to defend cases
49,. -. A.. Doaonetr,ot,on 1o,v -. 81, -
ground that he has given an opinion
that the law is unconstitutional After
some debate on the propriety of the
Attorney Generals action, the bill
passed. The Supplementary Recon
struction bill was taken<p and Mr..
Morrill,, of Maine, made peech in its
favor. In the House Mr.. Judd, of
Illinois. Republican, made speech on
the citizenship question, which be con-
cluded by submitting tbGplan of dec
laration for adoptiof by Congress,
which, he thought. would meet the diff
ficulty. Mr.. Beatty, the new member
from the Eighth Ohio District, appeared
and took the oath. The Senate resolu-
ton authorizing the Secretary of War
to employ counsel to defend Generals
Meade and Ruger, was carried by a
vote of 115 to 81. The House went
into Committee of the Whole, and soon
after adjourned.
FEB. 6.-In the Senate the bills of
Senator Sherman and Senator Hender-
son, regarding the financial question,
were both reported from the Financial
! Committee. The Reconstruction bill
came up, and Mr.. Drake, of Missouri,
made speech on the subject, good
part of which was devoted to showing
up the heresy of State rights, as part
of the Democratic party creed. In the
House Mr.. Chanler, of New York, made
speech on citizenship rights, and was
severely critical on Mr.. Banks bill.
The Army Appropriation bill, amount
ing to S33,OO0,0OO, was reported by
Mr.. Blaine. 1t contains a provision
for the reduction of the army, as
speedily as possible, to 25 regiments
infantry, regiments cavalry and 5
regiments artillery. 1t was referred to
Committee of the Whole.
FEB. Tn the Senate the Supple
mentery Tenure of Office bill was
taken up, debated, and after some
amendments, passed by vote of 80 to
8. 1t puts an end to the unrestricted
employment of special agents by the
President and heads of Departments,
which has become great abuse. In
the House a large number of bills
granting pensions to soldiers widows
and orphans passed. Most of the day
was spent in Committee of the Whole,
discussing the Legislative, Judiciary,
and Executive Appropriation bill.
FEB. 8.-The Senate was not in ses-
sion, and the time of the House was
occupied in speech making-the sub
jects discussed being the finances, re-
construction, banking, DC.