Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-13
CONGRESSIONAL.


luton instructing the judiciary Committee to
report bill clearly defining the meaning ofthe
law making eight hours days work for me-
chanics and laborers in the Government service
was adopted Several bills and resolutions were
offered but not acted on. A bill to extend the
time for the completion of railroad from the
St. Croix Lake to Bayfield,. on Lake Superior,
was taken up and passed with amendments,
after which the Senate proceeded to discuss the
House resolution of adjournment. Amend
ment providing for adjournment on the 18th
and 18th instants respectively were offered, but
were not agreed to. An amendment fixing the
10th instant as the day for adjournment was
finally agreed to, and the resolution was then
passed by vote of 50 yeas to 10 nays. A per-
sonal explanation was made by Senator Sprague
| in regard to newspaper comments on his recent
speeches The joint resolution to protect the
| interests of the United States in the Union Pa
cifc Railroad was then taken up, but without
acting upon it the Senate went into executive
session, and soon after adjourned.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, bill was
reported from the Judiciary Committee allow
ing parties charged in criminal cases in the
! United States Courts to be witnesses at their
own request, and not otherwise, and also allow
ing wives and husbands to be witnesses for or
against each other, except as to private CONVEX
sations between themselves and was recommit-
ted. The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole on the Miscellaneous Deficiency BILL
| Various amendments In reference to the COM
pensation and appointment Of Government
clerks were offered and agreed to. An amend
ment appropriating $3.50, 900 for printing the
Congressional debates at the Government Office
was offered, but was ruled out of order. The
committee then rose and reported the bill to the
| House. The amendments made in committee
| were agreed to and the bill was passed The
concurrent resolution for final adjournment was
taken from the Speaker table, and the Senate
amendment fixing Saturday, the 10th inst, as
| the day, was concurred in. A bill for taking
the ninth and subsequent censuses was repor-
! ted, but without taking action thereon the
House adjourned.
SENATE.-Monday, A pril 5th--A bill was
introduced to prevent the United States Courts
from enforcing contracts relative to slaves
The bill authorizing the New York and London
cables on the shores Of the United States was
taken up and discussed until the expiration of
the morning hour, when it was laid aside with
out action. The Judiciary Committee reported
a bill prescribing the oath of office for those
who took part with the Confederacy In the late
war, but who are not disqualified by the four
teenth amendment. The House joint resolu-
ton to protect the interest Of the United States
in the Union Pacific Railroad was taken up
A long discussion ensued, but no vote was ia
ken On the bill The Senate, pending debate,
went into executive session, and at its close ad-
| journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. "A number
of bills and resolutions were introduced and re-
ferred to the different committees Among
them was bill making eight hours legal day S
work in the Government work shops. The SEN
ate bill to carry into effect the convention for
the settlement of claims of American citizens
with Mexico was taken from the Speakers ia
BILE and passed The Senate bill extending the
charter Of the city Of Washington was also
passed. A message was received from the Pres
ident at ten minutes past two, announcing his
approval Of the TeDure-ot- Office bill. A num-
Der Of miscellaneous bills were taken up and dis
posed of. The Indian Appropriation bill was
made the special order for to-day A Joint res
olution to submit the Constitution of Virginia
to vote of the people was referred to the Com
mittee On Reconstruction. The House then
took recess until 100 o'clock P. NJ.
Erening Session.-The session was devoted
to general debate
Letter Wells was charged with stealing.
The following is copy Of the letter which
Gov. Wells and others were charged with steal
ing This historic epistle, it will be remem-
bered, was written by Samuel to Allan and de-
posted by Burwell, colored man, in the Post
Office. Allan never received it, and Governor
Wells got hold Of it and made copy. You
ask how? That's the question yet to be ans
wered
RICHMOND, December Is, 1868.
Hon. Edgar Allan, Farmville, Prince Edward
county, Virginia:
DEAR SIR-Received your letter in due
time. but having been engaged in writing out
the argument in the Davis case, finishing yes
terday, have been unable to find time to reply
To-day will simply give you the status of af-
fairs briefly, and will write you at length In a
day or two. Wells, Bond, milford, Poor,
&c.-a glorious and precious set, isn't it?-are
determined to rule the State, to do it by igno-
ring the workers Of the party and the people,
and the appointment Of their menials, Poor,
Parker, &C., ct al oDane breed, and of quasi and
quiescent rebels to office Before the election
new State nominating convention will be call
ed, and change Ia the Gubernatorial nonliBa
ton is almost universally spoken of, and I
might say determined upon. Clements and Rye
are spoken of if the change is made Means are
being taken to pay ali the expenses of the con-
vention, and the decision will be known upon
the return OF Stoneman from the Chicago re-
union. If favorable, [ will come down to
Farmvllle to see you personally before you come
| " DlCunIOEO
Let all things work quietly Write carefully
and guardedly. If you can throw quiet but
firm influence against Wells 10 the first matter
and upon the ground that he is selling out to
the rebels, as we all here sincerely believe, do
so. Dudley has sold himself out for bureau
posltion-$l00 per month. The game is for
Wells to fill every position made vacant in any
way with the men recommended by Bond,
Brown and Muiord. That done, they think
they will bid defiance to all opposition Wells
and Brown, United States Senators, Bond Uni
ted District Attorney, Sc, &c. Big thing on
ice. From every section Of the State see and
hear from men camoring for change 1t must
| be done, or we are all done for Not single
man who assisted Wells will Wells assist
Amusing and comical logic, if it were not so
personally depraved disgraceful and dishonora-
BILE. Be prepared for the work. I shall return
to Baltimore on Friday and return Tuesday or
Wednesday. Don't write antI then. Destroy
this letter.
Truly your friend, Wa. H. SAMUEL.
L. S.-When you write send the names of
persons upon whom we can rely for that work.
W. H S.