Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-07-01
F0RFIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
WEDNESDAY, Julv

f,Dnmi,Ssa Ao Ao"sc. neierreo 10 tlnance
Mr.. Harlem, from the Committee on the Dis.
Iict OF columbia, reported the House bill for
tne re,lef Of VIM. ID. Judd.
MI. Tnayer presented memorials against the
rauncauon Of tue Usage treaty, both from
whites and Indians. Referred to COMMITTEES
ON Indian Affairs.
Mr. Conness offered a resolution requesting
tne Pres ident to direct the Heads Of Depart.
meats TO Promulgate the recent eigbt.hour
law passed by Congress, with such regulations
On motion Of MI Hsrian, Friday, att one
O'CLOCK, was set apart for the consideration of
'ne Distr,ct OF Columbia business.
MI. Edrnunds desired to take up the bill to
regulate me electoral vote of the States lately
II rebellion. He stated tAe object of the bill To
provide, that in the counting OF the electoral
Congress should have the couating of the yoSs
ana noS the governments recognized by the
PTcsiae OF the United States.
The oil was taken up and read.
MI. Trumeull did not approve of this bill
Athoogh be thought some action should be
oxe1 In reference to the counting ef the elec-
tcrai votes OF the Southern States. He did not
ttEns that any discretion should be left to the
resident of the Senate or the Speaker of the
House III this matter 1t might be that the re-
SUE OF the election would depend on the
Ncie OF the Southern States, and If il
was made to turn our according 10 the
pHIusan views of those who had the
count tn.s country might once more be in.
yoIved In disastrous civil war. In the South
american states almost all their civil WARS re-
suited from the choice Of a President. He was
utterly opposed to putting II in the power of
CONGRESS TO receive orexclude the woes OF the
rSouthern States, and here was loint resolu.
.ioh proposing 10 do just this very thing
Congress had no more right to exclude the votes
OF Arkansas and Florida than of Vermsnt and
Massachusetts. Arkansas and Florida had
been admitted, their State organizations had
been recognized. and that settled the matter
congress had nothing more TO do with it.
This bill was direct invitation to
their States, so that everything which
had beer done under the reconstruction acts
wouid ee overthrown, and the States would be
remanded back to their former position The
Whole thing Is settled, and there is no occasion
lor passing upon II again. 1t Will be observed
that the constitution of State has nothing to
do with fhe election OF President the Legisla-
ture alone is authorized TO prescribe the mode
In which electors shall be chosen. Mr. J. here
reao from the Constitution OF the United States
IN reference 20 the matter, and asked what had
the Congress 10 do , Simply to open the pack.
ages and count the votes of the electors chosen
under the regulations prescribed by the Legls-
lature. This Is all that Congress or the Presi.
dent OF the Senate has to do. The I,apisIatures
could select the electors without Submitting
the ques tion TO the people at all, and the State
of South Carolina had done il mn To
the time OF the breaking out OF the
rebellion. Now, why should the vote
of Arkansas 10 be excluded, or If it was to he
1xcluoed' why not also exclude the vote Of
Vermont and Illinois. Arkansas was as much
a State IN the Union as any of them, and he
wanted no its or auds about n He was vii
ing TO provide that the votes of Virginia,
iexas and mississippi should be excluded, be.
cause they had not any State government COM
petent or recognized by Congress: but this hill
looked like vesting some discretion in Congress
whether 20 count or not count the votes of these
States He moved to strike from the b,Il Flor
ada and Arkansas '
The morning hour here expiring. Mr. Ed
bill A0 pe"uins
Mr.. Morrill,. OF Ne, spoke of the necessity of
proceeding with the appropriation bill
Mr.. Edmund. said there was danaar NJ tho
president vetcing the appropriation bill, but
II certainly would take ten days to 60 with this
The motion OF Mr. Edmunds was disaoraad
to, ayes. 10; nays, 10.
The unfinished business being the civil an.
preparation bill il was taken up.
Mr. Sherman withdrew the funding hill
hich he had offered as an amendmedt
MIR. Hendricks then moved to appropria;s
Sla,otO ~ meet expenses incurred in the prose.
S. Su.,on ana collection Of claims due the United
MIR. Morgan offered an amendment from the
Librsry Committee to pay Mrs. Sarah J. Ames
President Lincoln. Adopted
Nr Pomeroy offered an amendment appro.
priating S20.00O for the survey of the pubIic
lands IN the State of Florida
House OF REpRrsEnrArIvEs.-M Wash.
5uIh ilndl present ted petition OF fifteen nun.
ashington, asking extra compensation for the
fiscal year ending June 30. IS6s Mr. Wasnbnrn
requested to have the petition read
Mr.. Trowbridge mich asked il the petition
snonid net nave been handed to the Journal
clerk under the rule
The Speaker replied affirmatively.
NJ. Trowbridge insisted il should take the
regular course, and II was handed 10 the clerE
ana referred 10 the Committee on Appropr,a
tions.
Mr.. Blaine (Maine) asked leave To offer +,
directing hQ Va "A q
mittee 10 inquire into the expediency of renort.
Ing without unnecessary delay a funding biu
70 provide for the consolidation of the bonded
debt Of the United States into five per cent
four and one-half per cent, and four per cent
bonds. &c. r. o
Mr. Pomeroy IN. " objected.
Mr.. Scofield (Pa.) from Committee on Flee.
lions, reported back the credentials of G. w
Hamilton, Representative elect from the STATE
OF FLORIDA, with reolution that he be sworn
IN. The resolution was adopted and Mr.. Ham
ilton advanced to the Speakers desk and tnok
the oath Of office. ''oA
The regular order OF business was demand.
the bill reporoted yesterday from the Judicis.
ry Ctmmlttee by Mr.. Boutwell, TO regulate
proceedings IN certain cases for the protection
y. .h ol.eeIs Q! lne Government, and 10 prevent
the payment OF unlawful claims, and il was
forthwith considered and passed
The House then proceeded To the copsidera-
tion OF reports from the committee on Private
Land and Claims, and Mr.. Orth (Ind.) report
"a adversely upon a number of private piiIs
Messrs Bailey IN. H.,) Loughbridge (lowa)
Stone ND. )from same Committee, all reported
private bills relaing 10 lands in the West
MI. Moorhead, PAL from Ways and Means
Committed reported back the Tariff bill and
a. ked that IL be printed and made the SPECIAL
order for Friday next
MT Marshall (Ill.) objected TO the latter mart
u the mouon, and the bill was ordered TO be
printed. "
Mr.. Cook, (Ill,) from Committee ON Roads
ana canals, reported a resolution authorizing
the Secretary OF the Navy to appoint 2 naval
ofheers, and the Secretary of War to appoint a
competent officer OF Engineers TO examine the
narDor OF Boston, and report whether the COM
merce OF Boston, and OF the country will be in.
Iured by the construction of a bridge over the
channel from Boston 10 East Boston as pro.
vlded by existing law.
The House resolved itself into Committee of
ihe Whole and resumed the consideration Of
the Alaska bill.
Before debate was commenced an under.
Standing was agreed upon that The vote should
be taken on Thursday of next week after the |
morning hour. W
Mr.. Washburne (Wis addressed the House |
u opposition to the appropriation of money TO |
larry the treaty into effect. He said he had /
carefully listened to all Of Mr. Banks speech /
yesterday, and he could not see that MANY good /
reasons mad been advanced why the treaty /
should De approved by the House. His speech |
was largely on the spread eagle order, and he l
would not enter into the eagle business with the
Gentleman; but would show that many of Mr.
Banks statements were incorrect and uusus.
aiued by proof.
Mr.. washbnrne was still speaking in oppo.