Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-01-20
FRiDAr, Jan. Is.
SENATE.

Mr.. Stewart from the Judiciary committee re-
ported the following constitutional amendment,
and asked 10 have the committee discharged from
further consideration Of petitions and memorials
praying for it.
Article Is, The right of citizens of the United
States to vote and hold Office shall not be denied
or abridged by the United States, or any State
on account Of race, color, or previous condition
of servitude
The President presented the credentials of VIM.
\. buckingham, Senator elect from Connecticut
which were read
Mr.; Yates introduced bill to enable the people
Of Colorado to form State government referred
to the committee on territories
Morning hour expired and the Senate resumed
the consideration OF the bill for the relief of Sue
Murphy, Of Decatur, Ala, Mr.. Howe resuming
his argument in favor of the bill
Mr. Robinson moved to recommit the bill that
the committee might further inquire whether
Mrs Murphy was loyal before the occupation of
Decatur by our troops, and whether she was own
er Of the property before that time and if so how
long.
Mr. Wilson wished the bill sent back for gen
erll investigation, because he did not think tho
claim was well founded. lie had information
whleh satisfied him that the claimant had been
disloyai woman. lie believed that the whole
question Of paying claims of Southern loyalists
should be taken up and settled 80 far as to require
no further attention from Congress
MI sumner moved as amendment 10 the motion
TO recoinmit a resolution instructing the commit
tee to consider the expediency of appointing n
commission TO inquire into the claims Of loyal
eitizens IN the South, to classify those claims and
specify the circumstances and the evidence in
such cases ~
FINALLY, on motion Of Mr.. Sumner, the bill with
an the pending amendments was recommitted In
the committee on claims, and at 4 10 o'clock the
senate adjourned until Monday at ~ O'Clock
HOUSE.
Mr.. Johnson reported the bill to allow credit
TO Luther Mcneil, late post master at lancaster
Erie county, New York, for Sl7s in money and
postage stamps, stolen from the post Office b
burglars passed.
The House then resumed the consideration of
the Niagara ship canal Mr. Judd addressed the
House in support Of the bill MIR. Butler deiiv.
cred an argument in favor OF the bill The debate
was continued by Mr.. Washburn, of illinois, Bal.
ley, Sypher, Spaulding, Mullins and Chandler
against the bill and Allison, Logan, Barnes and
lngersoll in favor of it. Finally Mr.. Delano
moved 70 lay the bill and amendments ON the tn
Die Negatiyed-yeas 70, nays SO.
Mr. Cook who reported the bill, from the select
committee on the Niagara ship canal, closed the
debate In the advocacy of the BILL He occupied
only small portion Of the hour to which he was
entitled, yielding portions Of his time 10 other
members. Mr.. Churchill advocated the bill as a
measure both Of military and of commercial neces.
slty, MIR. Ross advocated the bill as one of the
most important and proper measures ever before
Congress. lie always voted against unnecessary
appropriations, but he would economic by cut.
ting down the expenses Of the army, navy and
ireedmen's bureau. The question required on
motion by Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, 10 refey
the bill and amendments to the committee of the
whole on the state OF the Union. Agreed to-
yeas o., nays 90 50 the ball was referred to the
whole, which IL regarded as tantamount 10 its
defeat for the present Congress.
Adjourned till Monday next.