The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-12-24
CONGRESSIONAL.

was received. The CLERK read 10
that portion which says that large
sums of money have been cxpend-
ed upon the military service in en-
forcing unnecessary and uncorsti.
tutional laws, when Mr.. Conness
moved to dispense with the further
A long debate ensued
and Mr.. CONFESS withdrew his
motion, which was Immediately re-
newed by Mr.. Cameron. After
some further discussion q motion
TO adjourn prevailed, by vote OF
yeas 20, nays %, and the message
was not disposed of.
In tho House, Mr.. Washburne,
of Illinois, stated that the Commit.
tec on Appropriations would not
bo ready TO report any business for
the action of tho House before the
holiday recess, but said that if n re.
cess wero taken on the 2lst instant
for two weeks, the committee would
remain in Washington and prepare
business.
Mr. Bingham, from the Commit.
tee on Reconstruction, reported a
bill providing for an election to be
held in Virginia on the 20th OF
January, at which tho citizens OF
that state shall voto upon the ques
ton of adopting the Constitution
agreed upon by the State Constitu-
tional Convention. A lengthy dis.
cussion arose regarding tho time
for holding the election, it being
contcnded that a fair election could
not bo obtained under the present
administration. An amendment
offered by General Butler, fixing
tho time as the fourth Thursday in
May, was agreed to, and thus
amended the bill passed.
Tho Presidents annual message
was received and read, an hour
and ten minutes being consumed
in. its reading. Mr.. Washburne,
of Illinois, criticised that portion Of
the message which refers to the
payment Of the national debt, do
claring that the plan proposed by
tho President was undisguised re
pudiation, and donouncipg il as {
disgrace to tho country. Mr.
Broomal offered q resolution rccit
ing that such sentiments going
forth to tho world without immedi
ate protest might be accepted al
the sentiment of tho people, anc
declaring thai under no circuln
stances will Congress offer the pub
lie creditor n less sum than th,
government contracted TO pay
Mr.. Schenck, chairman of tn
Committee on Ways and Means
denounced tho Reputation propo
sition of the President as the mos
gross, shameless and infamou
one ho had ever seen. Alter ful
Ihor debate n resolution was Il
doptcd laying the message on tn
table, and ordering it printed.
On tho 10th, in tho Senate, tn
list ol bills on the table was reat
and the bills referred to tho SOY
cral committees. The one passe
by tho House, transferring th
control of the Indian Bureau fror
the Department of tho Interior {
AS -
the War Department, gavo rise
somc discussion, after which il WI
referred to the Committee on Ir
dian Affairs.
An amendment TO tho Constitl
tion TO tho effect that no perso
shall hereafter bo deprived of h
political rights on account OF rae
or color was submitted, and relCl
ed TO tho Judiciary Committc,
Tho conclusion OF tho President
Message was read, after which thu
document was laid on the table an
ordered printed, Mr.. Edmund
stated that in Wow of tho Pres
dents extraordinary financial pre-
position, ho would, on Tucsda
next, call for tho consideration
tho resolution offered by him
November last, which declares III,
the faith Of the United States
pledged TO the payment of tho nj
tionol debt. Mr.. FrcIinghuysc
denounced tho message, and W,
loudly applauded. Tho Sena
then adjourned until tho llth,
, IL o'clock.
In tho House tho military con
mitteo reported a bill providing I,
n national system of military cd,
, cation, authorizing tho nppoin
ment OF army oillcors as inslruclo
, to one or moro colleges in enc
state, 1t WAS laid on the tabl
, Mr. WashbOrnc offered a joint re
clution providing for n recess
both Houses IRON December 2l
January ., Tho resolution was