Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL.

ner presented q memorial OF some German
citizens, praying for the abolition OF the
Office Of President.
Mr.. Trumbul, from the Judiciary Com
mi,tee, reported bill providing that in
failure elections in the Southern States, a
majority Of all votes cast on any question
shall decide il. This bill is modfca-
Ition Of one passed by tic House 10 De-
eember. - rgsf
Mr.. Trumbull also reported bill,
which was referred 20 the Judiciary Com
mitiee, declarative Of the jurisdiction Of
the Courts Of tho United States, affirming
chat il does not embrace matters purely
political and that in such matters the
Courts are bound by the decisions Of the
political departments of tho Government.
llt also declares that Congress has the right
20 decide what Government in State is
the established one; that In the late rebel
States there are no civil State Govern.
menls, republican 10 foru; that tho Re.
copstruction acts arc political in their
character, and no Court has the right to
question their validity, and the Supreme
Court of the United States is prohibited
from taking jurisdiction Of any case grow
4 ipg Out OF the execution of said acts in
either OF said Statos, until such States
shall be represented in Congress-. or until
Congress shall recognize tho State Gov.
eminent as republican In form All such
cases pending in said Court shall be dis !.
missed.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill for the
gradual reduction Of the army. aN
Mr. Edmuuds, from tho Committee on
the judiciary, introduced bin for defn.
ing the limits of tho term during which
the President may retain n bill before mp.
proving IL or rejecting it, which provides
that temporary adjournment Of the Sen.
ate 70 dag certain. shall not be consii.
cred such an adjournment as to prevent
the approval or return Of bills in the
Presidents hands. -
The Senate concurrcd in the House
amendment to the act for tho payment Of
bonnlies. ff
Mr.. Fesse nden spoke on the bill direct.
Ing The Secretary Of the Treasury to pay In.
TO the Treasury money received for the sale
Of abandoned aud condscated property,
On Monday, in tho House, Mr.. Bling.
ham introduced bill for tho restoration
Of Alabama. After reciting that large
majority Of the votes given at tho late
election wero.in favor Of tho Constitution,
aud that il was defeated by combination
Of citizens whose intent was 10 prevent The
restoration Of tho State, the bill provides
that the State Legislature just elected
shall DO convened as soon "a practicable,
and upon the ratification by il Of the
Fourteenth Article Of tho Constitution Of
tho United States, proposed by the Thirty
ninth Congress, and the establishment,
by law, Of impartial suffrage within the
State, as authorized by the Constitution
of Alabama, the State shall be admitted
to representation in Congress, in accord.
ance with the laws OF tho United States.
The bill was referred to the Committee
on Reconstruction.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Payne, OF
Wisconsin, TO pay some defeated contest.
ants for seats in Congress $1,000 apiece
was promptly voted down.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs was
authorized to report back the bill on Cit.
izenship's Rights at any time.
Mr.. Myers, of Pa, gave notice that he
should make another attempt 10 get the
Wooden Screw patent extended.
Tie House went into Committee Of the
Whole on the Consular aud Diplomatic
Appropriation bill. A Minister to Greece
was provided for. A motion to cut OF
several Of the South American miss sons
was defeated. An appropriation for n
mission TO Rome was rejected. II was
agreed that fees OF consular agents and
vice consuls, when exceeding 81 900, shall
be paid into the Treasury. The bill was
then reported TO tho House and passed.
On Tuesday, 10 tho Senate, Mr. vii.
sons bill, for a gradual reduction Of the
army, was passed. 1t provides that no
more Second Lieutenants shall be APP
pointed except from West Point, aud cuts
down the number Of regimental warrant
officers considerably, besides discharging
feurteeh.bspas. IL will reduce expenses
about So, 900, 900 per year.
A bill was also passed to prohibit any
further paying Of bounties to deseriers,
unless it be certified that the charge Of
deser,ion was false
In the Honse, bin passed placing fir.
ty thousand dollars in the hands Of the
Secretary Of State to relieve the wants and
defraying the expenses OF the return to
the Uuitcd States Of destitute citizens i'm.
prisoned in foreign countries without
justice, aud discharged without trial, or
acquitted.
Tho I'LL c,;v;no nensiona N enrvivors &c