The Portland daily press., 1868-02-05

XLsh o1NGREss-aecOn Session.


SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.--The Chair laid before
the Senate communication from the Secret
airy of War relative to the constitutionaljty of
the laws of Maryland in regard to the appren-
ticeship system. Referred.
Messrs. Cragin and HENDERSON presented
petitions from the citizens of New Hampshire,
IN regard TO the rights of American citizens
Mr.. Cragin presented petition from the
citizens of Colorado, asking for admission. Re-
ferred. -aa -J
Mr.. Henderson presented report of the
Special Committee of the Mississippi Conven-
ton on the subject of the destitution of the
State. Referred. tst
The bill OF Mr.. Freelinghuysen providing
for the protection ofpartiPs making disclosures
as parties or as witnesses; was taken up and
passed. s
son motion of Mr.. Howard, the vote by
which was passed the resolution requesting
the President to ommuncate any instructions
given TO Generals Pope and Meadr on taking
command of the 4th Military District under
the reconstruction act, with discussions and
votes IN the Cabinet on the same subject, was
reconsidered.
Mr.. Buckalew moved TO strike out the last
clause.
Mr.. Sherman asked Mr. Howard if calling
for such information was not unusual
Mr.. Howard replied that it was not entirely;
that 1t was not privileged question.
The amendment was agreed to aud tue reso.
luton adopted
The Senate then took up, on motion OF Mr.
Patterson OF New Hampshire, the Till legu-
lating the tenure of certain offices The o,ies-
ton was on Mr.. Summers motion to except
special agents of the State Department.
Mr. Sumner presented a letter from the Sec
rotary OF State, giving the names of % agents,
the whole number employed since March 4th,
1864, and setting forth the necessity of contin-
uing the system. -a-l s.-a
Mr.. Sumner said persons had been employed
during the last two years in Great Britain ard
Canada to defend persons charged with being
Fenians, the expense being betrayed from this
fund. During the war persons had been en-
ployed, among them Mr.. Everett, to look after
and prevent the issue of rebel rams from Brit
ish ports. In London, New York and else
where dispatch agents had been detailed 10
open dispatch bags and transmit dispatches to
their destination, whose names he read. He
argued that the bill be confined to home agents
of the department, without depriving ii of
agents that had been useful to the country.
Messrs. Buckalew, and Patterson of New
Hampshire, opposed the amendment, the lat
ter abiding to bill Of $4,000, presented by
one OF these agents, and contracted by the
Secretary of State, 54r4.. .e
Mr.. Fessenden had supposed that the ex.
| pense OF defending persons charged with crime
| in foreign countries was incurred by their
| friends. If 1t was the practice of the State
Department to do it, it was pernicious prac'
tiee.
The morniag hour having expired, the furth-
Ell consideration of the subject was postponed
until o'clock.
Mr.. Morgan offered a resolution asking the
Secretary of War to give an estimate of the
expenses of removing certain reefs in East
| river. Adopted.
| Mr.. Cattell Introduced joint resolution for
| the promotion Of certain Commodores on the
| retired list to Rear Admirals ON the retired
| list Referred.
The Senate then took up the special order
the supplemental Reconstruction bill. and Mr..
| Williams proceeded to address the Senate in
| favor Of it.
Mr. Morrill, OF Maine obtained the floor, when
| on his motion the further consideration of the
| Reconstruction bill was postponed until to
| morrow at one o'clock.
The tenure of certain offices was again taken
up, after debate Mr.. Buckalew moved to re-
commit the bill to the Committee for further
| consideration, which after further debate wal
| agreed to, and the Senate adjourned.
| House.
| Mr.. Blaine introduced bill to make st
George and Boothbay ports OF delivery. Re
| ferred.
Mr., Butler. from the Committee on Appro
priations, reported bill to regulate the custo
DIV and expenditures OF public monies. 1t wa
ordered to be printed and recommittcd.
Mr. Haight offered a resolution ins tructint
tho Committee on Commerce to inquire int
| the necessity of ppeniDg an inlet on the New
Jersey coast from the Atlantic ocean to pon
near the head of Barnegat Bay, below IN,
mouth of the river Adopted,
Mr.. Eggleson presented a resolution OF tn
Lincoln encampment OF the Grand Army o
the Republic Of the Department of Ohio, TO
the release Of Colonel Hanpip aud Lieutenan
James Smith from British prisons. Referred
Mr.. Ward presented large number CT pep
tons froER the State of New York, asking TO
the repeal of the tGFes on manufactures ant
Productions Referred to the Committee OF
Ways and Means ''
Mr.. Washburne Of Wis, offered q resolution
directing the Secretary OF tie Treasury to in
| form the House whether the Union Paeif,
? Railroad Company and other compan; e
named in the act Of July LIST, 1862. had com
piled with the a9th section OF that act an,
made the reports required, ane :: 90 TO furnish
copies of them.
The Speaker presented Executive commu
nications as fOllowsi
} From the 81 cretary of War with statemen
of the contracts and purchases made by tn
Ordnance Department and for the Quarter
masters Department; From the Secretary
the Treasury with an official copy Of the n
structions issued by President L,iEceln tQ tn
Tax Commissioners Of South Carolina, sep
10Th, 1861 From the Secretary Of War trans
hitting the correspondence between the Pres
ident and Gen Grant in reference 10 The Sec
rotary of War, as called for by the resoluiic
Of yesterday.
+ Mr.. Wilson Of iowa moved that the CORES
pondence be referred TO the Judiciary Cop
mittee
{ Mr.. Stevens of Pa moved as an ainendmen
that il be referred To the Committee on Re
construction
Mr; Wilson accepted the atn sndmant an
CALLED Tor the aiding Of the corresDondence.