Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-02-18
CONGRESSIONAL.

importance was transacted during the morning
hour. At its expiration the discussion of the
new Reconstruction bill was resumed, and Mr..
Harlan made speech in favor of it. In the
course of his remarks, Mr.. Harlan referred to
Mr. Thomas of Maryland in the most offensive
manner OF his willingness to take the test
oath, he said Here was an applicant from
the State of Maryland knocking at our doors
for admission, and ready to go to that desk and
swear to that oath, when every one knows that
he was In sympathy with the Rebels all during
the war, and that he gave his son material as
slstance togo into the ranks Of the enemies of
his country" Mr.. Upton followed and also
argued in favor of the bill. The Senate then
went into executive session, and at its close adj
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, number
OF bills and resolutions for reference only were
introduced and disposed Of A resolution de :
clarlng that the seat Of government of the
United States ought to be removed to the Val
ley OF the Mississippi was rejected by vote Of
yeas 10, nays 81. The House then proceeded to
draw for seats for the Fortieth Congress, and
after the drawing recess Of ten minutes was
taken. On reassembling, number of COM
munications were received and referred to COM
mlttees A resolution was passed allowing the
Judiciary Committee on Reconstruction to re-
port at any time to the House the evidence
H..
of It's clauses provided for the printing of fifty
thousand extra copies of the testimony upon
the subject Of impeachment for distribution
among the people. A clause was also inserted
requesting General Grant to transmit to the
House, through the Secretary of War, the reply
OF President johnson to the last letter of Gen.
Grant upon the subject of Mr. Stanton removal
as Secretary of War Mr. Pile, of Missouri,
made speech in reply to that made by Mr..
johnson, of California, On Friday, last. The
Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropria-
ton bill was discussed in Committee of the
Whole, but no changes of importance were
made. The House then adjourned.
SENATE. Tuesday, Feb. 1.-THE Chair laid
before the Senate the resolutions of the Recon
structioD Convention of Georgia, asking a loan
OF $50, 900, 900 from the United States to the
planters OF the South. Referred to the Com
mlttee on Finance. Also, resolutions of the
Reconstruction Convention of Mississippi, reia-
tive to the distltution in that State, and asking
measures OF relief Referred to the Judiciary
Committee. The new Reconstruction bill was
then taken up and Mr.. Davis moved substitute
for the instructions to the judiciary Committee
proposed by Mr.. Doolitte, that the committee
be instructed to report that this bill do not pass,
and also to report bill repeating all the Re
construction acts. Mr.. Davis then delivered a
speech in favor Of this motion and in denuncia-
ton OF the revolutionary schemes of the Rad
lcal party. The members Of it, he said, were
more dlsloyal than any of the people of the
Southern States. Before the conclusion Of his
remarks, he gave way to MIR. Merrill, on whose
motion the Senate went into executive session.
and at its close adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, -The House
resumed the consideration of the bill from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs in relation to the
rights OF American citizens abroad, and the dis
cusslon OF 1t was kept up until the expiration of
the morning hour. A message was received
from the President enclosing his reply to the
last letter OF General Grant heretofore laid be-
fore the House, and also letters from members
otthe Cabinet In relation to certain conversations
between the President and General Grant. It
was ordered to be printed, and referred to the
Committee on Reconstruction. motion was
adopted requesting the President to transmit to
the House any additional correspondence ofthe
same subject The consideration Of the con-
tested election case from the Second Kentucky
district was postponed until Thursday next. A
letter was received from General Grant in reply
to the President. 1t was ordered to be printed
and referred to the Committee on Reconstruc-
ton. The Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Appropriation bill was considered in Committee
OF the F" hole, and several amendments adopted
The House soon after adjourned
SENATE. Wednesday, Feb 12.-Mr. Sherman
introduced bill to recognize the new Constitu
ton Of Alabama, and declaring that State
entitled to representation in Congress. Tt was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. A
bill was reported by Mr.. Yates providing for
the admission of Colorado, and notice was giveu
that 1t viii be called up next week. The reso-
luton for the admission of Hon. Philip Francis
Thomas, OF Maryland, was taken up, but was
laid aside by unanimous consent, and Mr..
Sumner resolution of inquiry as to the alleged
| outrage on negro woman, an employee Of the
Senate, by conductor of the Washington.
Alexandria and Georgetown Railroad Company,
was taken up. After long discussion, the
resolution was adopted. The Senate then went
into executive session. and at its close adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, bill for
the surrender Of certain persons charged with
crimes was introduced and referred to the Judi
ciary Committee. The House resumed the
consideration Of the bill in relation to the rights
of foreign citizens abroad Mr. Jehckes offered
a substitute for the bill. The discussion of the
bill was kept up until the expiration of the
morning hour when the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole and resumed the considera-
ton of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial
Appropriation bill. Several amendments were
then made, after which the committee rose and
the House adjourned.
SENATE. Thursday Feb. ia petition was
presented signed by one thousand citizens of
Alabama, protesting against being placed under
negro rule. 1t was referred to the Judiciary
COMMITTEE A bill was reported from the Judi
clary committee and passed to second read
ing providing for the temporary appointment
of officers to supply vacancies caused by the
death or absence Of Heads of Departments. 1t
allows the President to make these appoint
ments, but provides that no one vacancy shall
be supplied in this manner for longer period
than thirty days A bill was passed authoriz-
ing the Lighthouse Board to place warnings
over Instructions at the entrance of bays and
sounds. The resolution providing for the admis-
sion of Hon. p. E. Thomas, of MARYLAND. was
taken up, and Mr. Sumner offered a substitute
declaring that Mr.. Thomas has been guilty of
treason In furnishing money to his son to enable
him to serve as soldier in the Confederate
army, and should not be permitted to take the
oath OF office Mr. Sumner then made speech
in favor of his substitute. Mr.. Trumbull fol-
lowed in an able argument in reply to the state
ments OF Mr. Sumner, and in favor of Mr..
Thomas admission. Messrs. Edmunds and
Sherman made speeches opposing the admis-
sion of Mr.. Thomas. The Senate then adjourn
ed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The bill in
relation to the rights of United States citizens
abroad was taken up, and after some discussion
recommltted to the Committee on Foreign AT
fairs. The House resumed the consideration
OF the contested election case of Smith rs. Brown