Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-01-11
Congress-.

In the Senate, yesterday, MIR. Howard made
personal explanation charging certain Wash
ipgton correspondents with having broken faith
with him in publishing the report of the Com
mittee on M ilitary Affairs, in relation to the
dismissal of Secretary Stanton, which he al
leges, they obtained from him, with the un-
Outstanding thatlit should not be furnished to
the press until after it had been made public
by him. Mr. Henderson introduced a resolu-
ton instructing the Committee on Finance to
inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill
to provide for tue consolidation CT the national
debt into long bonds bearing three and halt
per ceat interest, the principal and interest OF
said bonds to be paid.in gold; to repeal the
law limiting the amount OF national currency
to three hundred millions of dollars; aud for
The creation of a financial board to have con.
troll of the National Bank currency. The bill
to suspend any additional contraction Of the
currency was taken up and long discussion
ensued, but no action was taken in relation TO
it.. The Senate then went into executive SEES
sion, and at lis close adjourned until Monday.
To the House of Representatives, the bill
reported from the Committee on Ways and
Means ip relation to Whiskey meters, was taken
up, and several political speeches were made
in relation to appointments of officers &C., &c.
A vote was then taken and the bill was passed.
The House then took up the contested election
case of Simms VS.. Trimble from the first dis
trict of Kentucky. The Committee ON, E!ec-
tons reported in favor of Mr. Trimble being
admitted to his seat. After some discussion
the report was adopted, and Mr.. Trimble was
sworn in and took his seat. A resolution was
adopted declaring that in the present conditions
of the country, it is nexpedient to impose any
taxes on the people except such as are neces--
sary to raise sufficient revenue to pay the ex-
penses of the Government, including. the in
terest on the public debt. The House then
adjourned. 80 Grs10 (E.Z ~ /,
Va. INSTRUMENTATION Convention.
In the Convention, yesterday, the morning
hour was spent by the Conservative members
in reading from the former editorials of Mr.
Hunnicutt, to convict him of political inconsis-
tency. The bill of rights was discussed till the
adjournment .e '...z. -. - : +
RECONSTRUCTION AND SUPREME COURT =
There are at present three cases pending in
the. Supreme Court which involve, either d.
rectly Or indirectly, the power of Congress, ex-
ercised through the reconstruction laws over
the Southern States. a@a.ai
The one which has the most direct bearing
upon these laws was brought up by motion
filed by Judge Black, short time since, pray
ing for the release of man upon habeas cor
pus, who was arrested by the military authori-
ties, acting under the late acts of Congress
concerning the Southern States.
The second case involves the constitutional
ty of the law by, which Congress authorized
the. sale Of captured property, and directed the
proceeds to be, paid into the Treasury, at the
same time providing that the claimants might,
at the end of two years, bring suit for recovery
through the Court of Claims. The case comes
up through the action oftb owner Of a lot OF
cotton, who. brought suit directly against the
officer making the seizure. :Ht'ta5.
What is known as the Virginia case affects
the amode 10 which Congress can proceed in
| ratifying contracts between States. It comes
| into the court on motion Of parties represent
| ing Virginia, and claiming that the cession of
the counties of Berkley and Jefferson to West
Virginia is not valid, although ratified by Con.
| gress. " ~; Gs