Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-09
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE. -Thursday, Feb 1Sth.-The House
bill providing for an election in Virginia was
reported with amendments from the Commits
tee on the Judiciary A resolution was passed
to print the memorial of Mr.. Duff Green on the
finances, but the order was subsequently revok-
ed on the ground of Mr.. Green's disloyalty, and
the resolution was laid on the table The res
olution providing for the pay Of Senators from
the Southern States in the Fortleth Congress
was taken up and long discussion ensued.-
At the expiration of the morning hour the res
olution was laid aside, and the Indian Appro-
priation bill was taken up. A number OF amend
mcnts were made in the bill. Pending its dis
cussion the Senate went into executive session,
and at its close took recess until o'clock L.
NJ
Evening Session. The House bill restricting
the franking privilege was taken up and passed.
The Senate pill abolishing the franking privl-
ege was then taken up and after considerable
discussion was rejected-yeas Is, nays Is. The
Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, minority
report was made on the Louisiana contested
election case declaring Mr. Hunt entitled to a
seat in the House The Committee on Elections
made report declaring that Thomas A. Ham.
iton is not entitled to a seat in the House from
the State of Tennessee. A minority report was
Banking act was taken up, amended and pass
ed after long discussion. Mr.. Boutwell, an
nounced his intention to abandon the bill pro-
yiding for provisional government in Miss
issippi. The House soon after took a recess
until T. 80 o'clock 2. VI.
Eceniag Session. Army Appropriation
bill was taken up in Committee OF the Whole
and several amendments were made. The pre-
vious question on the bills and amendments was
called and seconded, after which the House adj
journed.
SENATE. Friday, Feb. 19th.-A bill was
passed allowing the Northern Pacific Railroad
to issue its bonds A number of bills were in
troduced and disposed Of temporarily. The
House bill awarding the sum of one hundred
and ninety thousand dollars to the officers and
crew Of the steamer Kearsarge, for the destruc
ton of the Alabama was taken up. The ap
preparation was reduced to fifty, thousand dol
lars and the bill passed. A bill to amend the
judicial system of the United States was taken
up and discussed until the expiration of the
morning hour, when the consideration of the
Indian Appropriation bill was resumed. After
short discussion the bill was passed The Tax
bill was received from the House, read twice
and referred to the Finance Committee The
Senate soon after adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The consid
Grafton of the Army Appropriation bill was re
sumed. A sharp discussion took place between
Mr. Phelps, OF Maryland, and Mr. Blaine, of
Name III relation to the appropriation of one
million of dollars for the Rock Island Army
Mr.. Phelps charged the Radical party with ex-
trayagant expenditure OF money, which Mr..
Blaine denied. The House adopted Mr..
Blalne's proposition in relation to the reduction
of the army The bill was then passed A res
olutlon was adopted ordering the arrests of
John Ii. Bell and David W. Reese of Orange
county, New York, charged with contempt Of
the House In refusing to testify before the COM
mittee on the New York election frauds. The
conference committee on the bill relating to the
navy and marine corps made a report, which
was adopted. The House then took recess
until 7.20 o'clock p NJ
SENATE. Saturday, Feb. Goth. After the
transaction OF some unimportant business, the
discussion of the bill TO repeal the Tenuro-of.
Office act was resumed. A number of speech~
es were made on the sbill but no vote was ia
ken. The Senate at 4. 80 P. NJ. adjourned.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES, The House
concurred in the report of the committee on
Elections upon the contested election case in
New Mexico, which gives the seat as delegate
from that Territory to Mr.. Chaves. in the place
OF Mr.. Clever, the sitting member, Mr.. Chaves
was then sworn In. At one o'clock 2. NJ a
number OF the members who were absent from
the House on Friday evening were brought to
the bar OF the House. A resolution was adop~
ted dispensing with any further proceedings in
the matter, and ordering the fines to paid out
OF the contingent funds Of the House The
constitutional amendment as passed by the
Senate was taken up and amended to read as
follows:
ARTICLE XIV.
THE right Of citizens of the United States to
vote and hold Office shall not be denied or
abridged by any States on account Of race, col
or, nativity, property, creed or previous condi-
ton of servltude
Section 2. The Congress shall have power
to enforce this amendment by appropriate leg
islation.
The amendment was then passed. The House
sooE after adjourned.
SENATE. Monday, Feb. 22nd The Senate
Immediately after prayer took recess until 7
o'clock Z. NJ, in honor Of Washington birth
day.
Evening Scssion.-A bill was passed abolish
ing the office of Superintendent of Exports. A
joint resolution was passed directing the Secre
tary Of the Interior not to LAY Dempsey & O.
Toole for certain stationery contracts The Sen
ate refused to concur in the House amendments
to the bill supplementary to the National Cur
rency act, and 1t was referred to a committee of
conference. The Constitutional amendment pro
vldlng for universal suffrage was taken up, and
a motion was made that the Senate should not
agree to the House amendments, and to ask
committee circumference. Without taking vote
the amendment was laid aside, and the bill fix
ing the routes by which the Baltimore and Pos
tomac Railroad may enter Washington city was
taken up and passed. The Senate soon after
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE "A number
of bills and resolutions were introduced and re,
ferred to the different committees. A Joint res
olutlon was passed granting the right of way
over the public lands to the Memphis, El Paso
and Pacific Railway. The Copper Tariff bill
was received with the veto of the President.
The bill to lega!ize gold contracts was taken up.
and Mr.. Schenck made speech in favor of it.
The Postoflice Appropriation bill was taken up,
amended, and passed One OF the amend
ments adopted prohibits the payment of papers
in the District of Columbia for advertising mail
routes in Virginia and Maryland. The House
then took a recess until T. 80 o'clock p. M.
EUeaaag SeSsion.-The Naval Appropriation
bill was taken up, and, after short discussion,
was laid aside. The Legislative Appropriation
bill was then taken up and discussed in Com
mlttee of the Whole. An amendment was of
tered by Dir. Archer, raising the salaries of the
President TO fifty thousand dollars, but was re
jected by decisive vote. Without taking any
vote on the bill, the House, at 10 10 z. NJ. adj.
journed.
The Effect of Negro Suffrage.
We have frequently expressed the opinion
Il