Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1868-07-31
CONGRESSIONAL

Congress u ljournod on Monday, DIST inst,
till Sept. 2lst, with the understanding that
IL reassemble at that time should the state
of public affairs make IL necessary. A great
deal of important business was transacted
during the last few days of the session,
though all was not done that was desirable.
The measures that failed for want of time
to perfect them, were the tariff bill, the bill
for the reduction of the army, the bill pro-
viding provisional governments for the
States of Virginia. Mississippi and Texas,
and the Sandwich Island treaty.
Senator Edmunds's bill for the exclusion
of unreconstructed States from voice and
vote in the electoral college, as passed over
the veto of the President is as follows:
Resolvcd, That none of the States whose
inhabitants were lately in rebellion, shall
be entitled to representation in the electoral
college for the choice of President and Vice
President of the United States, nor shall
any electoral votes be received or counted
from any of such States, unless at the time
prescribed by law for the choice of such
electors, the people of such States, pursuant
to the acts of Congress i'm that behalf shall
have since the 4th of March, 1867, adopted
Constitution of State government, under
organized and shall be in operation, and
unless such election of electors has been
held under the authority of such Constitu-
ton and government, and such State shall
have also become entitled to the representa-
ton i'll Congress, pursuant to the acts of
Congress in that behalf.
Speaker Colfax has appointed Gen. But
Ter, Judge Poland of this State, and Mr..
Beck of Kentucky, commissioners under
resolution of the House, to visit Prince Ed
wards Island this summer in revenue
cutter They are TO mako inquiry into the
exports and imports Of the island and the
views and position, as well as the authority
of the Colonial government to enter into
special arrangements with the government
of the United States.
The following is the bill for the protection
of American citizens in foreign countries,
as amended and passed by the Senate on
Saturday, the 25th inst. =
Whereas the right of repatriation Is a
natural and inherent right of all people and
Indispensable to the enjoyment of the rights
of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
and whereas, in the recognition of this prin-
ciple this government has freely received
emigrants from all nations and vested them
with the rights of citizenship; and whereas,
with their descendants, are subjects of for
eign States, owing allegiance to the govern
inents thereof; and whereas, it is necessary
to the maintenance of the public peace that
the claim of foreign allegiance shall be
promptly and finally disavowed; there
fore
BE It enacted, &C., That any declaration,
instruction, opinion, order, or decision OF
any officers of this government which de-
MES, restricts impairs, or questions the
right of expatriation, is hereby declared to
be inconsistent with the fundamental prin-
ciples of the government.
Sec. .. And be it further enacted, that all
naturalized citizens of the United States
while in foreign States shall be entitled 10
and shall receive from this government the
same protection of person and property that
is accorded to native born citizens in like
situations and circumstances.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, that
whenever it shall be made known to the
President that any citizen of the United
States has been unjustly deprived of his
liberty, by or under the authority of for
eign government, it shall be the duty of the
President forthwith to demand from that
government the reason for such imprisOn-
ment, and if it appears to be wrongful and
in violation of the rights of American cti-
zenship, the President shall forthwith de-
mand the release of such citizen, and if the
release so demanded is unreasonably de-
layed or refused, it shall be the duty of the
President to use such means, not amount
ing to acts of war, as he may think neces-
sary and proper to obtain or effect such re-
lease, and all the facts and proceedings rel
alive thereto shall, as soon as practicable,
be communicated by the President TO Con-
gress.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, chairman of
the House Committee on Appropriations,
has announced that the appropriations have
all been made, and that there have been
expenses for the fiscal year 1sGS-G9 were
1872 zoo, 900, but the whole amount appro-
priated has only been S29O,OOO,OOO. The
amount appropriated for the fiscal year
1859, exclusive of the appropriations for
the public debt, pensions and bountios, is
not quite SlG2, 00O, 900, while the same classes
of appropriations for the last fiscal wear
were Sill, $50, 7S9. Sothe appropriations are
almost ten millions less than they were Il
year ago, a reduction of nearly per cent in
single year. Notwithstanding which,
there is still room for economy in these ex-
penditures, as there is in all our public and
private housekeeping.
The President, on the 25th inst, informed
the House that he had signed the deficiency
appropriation bill, which appropriate over
$780, 900 for reconstruction purposes.
The joint resolution which has passed both
Houses, authorizing Gen. Sherman TO re-
store to the Navajoe Indians 1000 of their
women and children, now held in New
Mexico, in peonage, will break up the last
vestige of that form of slavery ON the con-
tiuput