Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE. Monday, Dec. 7th.-The Senate
met at y NJ, and was called to order by Hon.
B. Z. Wade, President pro tenn. The creden-
tials of Hon. Joshua Hill, Senator elect from
Georgia, were presented. Mr.. Drake made
speech against the admission OF Mr.. Hill at
this time, because Of the expulsion of negro
members from the State Legislature, and after
considerable discussion the credentials were laid
on the table temporarily Mr. Sumner offered
bill providing for the resumption of specie
payments on the 4th of July, 1869. A COM
mittee was appointed to notify the President Of
the meeting of Congress. Messrs. Cragin and
Pomeroy offered constitutional amendments,
imposing universal suffrage on all the States
Mr. Sumner offered bill having the same OBJ
ject in view. Messrs. Frelinghuysen and Yates
offered bills amending the naturalization laws.
At l. 80 P. NJ the Senate took recess Of thir-
ty minutes At the expiration of the recess,
Mr. Dixon, of the committee appointed to wait
on the President, reported that the message
would not be sent in until Wednesday. The
Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, hum
dred and sixty-seyen members were present and
sworn in After the proceedings reported at
noon, Mr. Hamilton, Congressman at large
from Tennessee, presented his credentials,
which were referred to the committee on priv
iIeges and elections The floor was refused to
Hamilton pending the decision of the commit
tee.
Some halt dozen bills and amendments to
the constitution for regulating voting and nat
uralization in all the States, were presented and
referred.
The Judiciary Committee was directed to
inquire what legislation is required to secure
uniformity of compensation under the eight
hour law
A half dozen financial bills were presented
and referred.
The correspondence with Minister johnson
referring to the Alabama claims, was called for
A resolution concerning Reverdy johnson
and demanding his recall, was referred to the
committee on Foreign Affairs.
The committee to wait on the President re-
ported that his message would be transmitted
to Congress at l clock on Wednesday,
The Committee on Reconstruction was di>
rected to inquire into Georgia affairs, with pow
er to send for persons and papers.
Mr. Mullens introduced bill to suppress the
Ku>Klux by National authority and declaring
members of it outlaws Referred to the Judi
ciary committee.
Mr. Cliff presented memorial from the
Georgia Legislature asking the removal of po-
litical disabilities from all citizens Referred
to the reconstruction committee.
Mr.. Kellogg, of Alabama, introduced a bill
to improve Mobile harbOr
A bill was introduced providing for holding
an election in Virginia in January. Referred to
the reconstruction committee.
A preamble and resolutions repeating the
| tenure.of-ofice bill were tabled.
The reconstruction committee was instructed
| to inquire into the condition of Virginia, Texas
and Mississippi, and report what legislation is
necessary to protect life, liberty and property.
SENATE.-Tuei day, Dec. Sth.-Bis were
introduced for electing President and Vice
President directly by the people; removing
political disabilities abolishing the funding
| privilege continuing the Freedmen's Bureau
in certain States
Mr. Pomeroy offered resolution calling on
the President for information regarding our re-
lation with certain South American Republics
and Brazil.
A bill was introduced extending the jurisdic,
ton Of the Court of Claims over Louisiana and
Arkansas. Adjourned
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, bill max
ing the tariff on copper three to five cents was
passed
Several department communications were pre-
sented.
The Oregon legislative resolutions declaring
that Senators Williams and Corbett have be
trayed and misrepresented the people of thai
State In voting for impeachment, thereconstruc
ton acts, &C., were taken up, and the HOUSE
adopted (l20 to So the following resolution:
Resolved, That the paper be returned to thu
presiding officers of both houses of the Oregon
Legislature, the same being soandalous, i'm
pertinent and indecorous
Mr.. Butler introduced bill restoring thu
control of Indian affairs to the War Depart
ment, which was passed-l16 to 3d.
! Mr.. Robinson spoke in favor of active meas
ures to relieve the Fenians imprisoned in Grea
Britain for words and deeds uttered and don,
| in America.
In the passage Of the Oregon resolution Their,
were cries from the Democratic side that Oregon
was sovereign State, but they were disregard
ed.
| Adjourned