Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-21
Congress-.

| OOASEcSSs
In the Senate, yesterday, bills were introduc-
ed for reducing the army. A bill to extend
the jurisdiction of the Court OF Claims to
claims of loyal citizens against the Y. ). Tor
the appropriation or destruction of their prop
erty by the army during the late war, was re"
ferred The Air Liue Railroad bill, providing
for the construction of railroad between
! Washington and New York, was taken up
Mr.. Whyte addressed the Senate against the
measure, which he regarded as most unwar-
ranted assumption Of power by Congress. He
said that MARYLAND may have erred In some OF
her railroad legislation, but the good tar out
weighed the evil La regard to the eapltation
tax on the Washington branchot the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, whether constitutional or
not Mr. Whyte regarded 1t as unwlse, ool-
Gus and burdensome, not only to the people
OF other States, but to cluzens OF Maryland
and did not now receive the popular SANCTION
and he had strong hopes that it would be abol-
isbed at the next session OF the Legislature
Referring to the failure Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company to check baggage
through Baltimore, he said that he regretted
it very much, and would be willing to do every
thing in his power to remedy it. On the con-
clusion of his remarks the Senate went into
executive session, and shortly after adjourned.
In the House of Representatives yesterday,
Mr.. Farnsworth bill restricting and regulating
the franking privilege was passed Itprovides
that the use of fac Sin,ile stamps shall be dis
continued in Thanking documents and letters.
Mr.. Schenck Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, introduced bill declaring
that the faith of the U. S. is pledged to the
payment in coin, or its equivalent, OF all the
interest bearing obligations of the u. S., ex-
cept in cases where the law authorizing the
issue of any such obligations has expressly pro,
! yided that The same may be paid In lawful
money, or other currency than gold and silver;
provided that, before any OF said interest bear
Ing obligations, not already due, shall mature
or be paid before maturity, the obligations not
bearing interest, known as u. S. notes, shall
be made convertible into coin, at the option OF
the holder. 1t also enacts that any contract
hereafter made specifically payable IN coin, and
the consideration of which may be loan OF
coin, or sale of property, or the rendering
OF labor or service of any kind, the price OF
which as carried into the contract may have
been adjusted on the basis OF the coin value
thereof at the time OF such sale, or oil the rem
dcrng Of such service or labor, shall be legal
and valid; and many be enforced according to
its terms and in the trial of suits brought for
the enforcement of any such contract proof OF
the real consideration emay be gwen. Mr..
Scheuck gave notice that he would shortly call
up the bill for consideration. The bill concern
ing the Denver Pacific Railroad was again dis
cussed to the time OF adjournment. a-
The annual meeting of the Board Of Directors
Of the American Colonization Society was held
at their rooms in Washington yesterday. After
| the annual report had been read, the board OIL
| officers OF last year was unanimously re elected.
The annual report shows the death OF five
| Vice Presidents and two OF the directory tor
the past year.
The balance in the treasury January LIST,
1868, was $S,425 81; the total receipts last
year We're $59,71l 30; $3l, lGG AZ has been
expended for transportation OF emlgrants,
| SIS, coo 90 for repairs and sailing the ship
Go!cOnda, and SIT, G57 Is for other purposes,
making total expenditure Of $65, 033 Co.
The report says the financial prospects cannot
be looked forward TO but with great solictude.
| The total emigration last year was 452, or l5S
less than in 1867. The total emigration since
the organization of the society has been l2,-
$685. All the emigrants are reported as hav
ing secured good locations, and as doing we'll
after their arrival in Liberia. In closing the
report the following reasons are submitted as
exciting interest at this time:
"FirSt- Concading the right of the colored
people to remain here, yet is it not their prlVl-
lege aud for their interest TO migrate to their
ancestral continent, where they can hope TO
attain to their full manhood ard the vigor of
an independent nationallife, to land apparent
ly reserved for them, and particularly adapted
to their capabilities and wants?
Second not the dispensatons of Prov
| idence seem toindlcate that Africa IS to be res
cued from heather darkness and blessed with
the light Of civilization, mainly by her own ex-
| lied children, returning with the arts OF civil
zatOn and the ordinances OF religion?
| THE NEW MOVEMENT The Washington
correspondent of the Baltimore Gazette says:
''The Judiciary Committee of the Senate held
| quite protracted session this morning, and
| debated the political status OF Virginia and the
| two opposing propositions now pending before
| them. The minority Of the committee urged
| that according to the propos itlon contained in
Bingham bill for the admission OF Mississippi,
| Congress could with great propriety require
| the Objectionable provisions OF the Underwood
| Constitution to be stricken out before submit
| ting them to a vote of the people of Virginia.
In other words, Congress could provide for he
admission OF Virginia conditioned upon the
| adoption Of the Constitution without the 0hJec-
tionabe clauses. Two of the more violent Radi-
Gals contended that the committee could not
consistently favor the Virginia programme in
the face OF their conclusions with regard to
Georgia; but without coming to any conclusion
the committee adjourned until to morrow morn
ing The Virginia delegation still express a
confidence that some solution of the difficulty
will be found before the adjournment of Con-
gress, and that their efforts in this behalf will
not prove unavaling. Several members of the
delegation, who had gone home for few days,
have returned and the case is now being vigor-
ousy prosecuted. Mr.. Fayette McNlullen, who
is also here, but not member Of the deega
ton, reports having discussed the Virginia
programme with about sixty members of Con-
gress, and that of all this number he had found
only four positively hostile to Congress requir
ing The Constitution to be amended as desired
Ga.,:a laloc.a Nolorn 81 Rald.