Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-12-23
Proceedings Of Congress.

the negroes, was presented and referred
to the Committee on Public Lands
The bill providing for an inte.nasiona
exhibition, to be held at Washington in
1871, was reported from the COMMITTEE
on the District with the clause recommen
ding an appropriation stricken out. A
joint resolution allowing rewards to be
offered for the apprehension Of persons
numbering revenue officials in the dis
charge of their duties, was referred to the
judiciary Committee. A joint resolution
to establish a lighthouse on the Choptanb
river, in Maryland, was referred to the
Committee on Commerce. Mr.. Brownlow
made a personal explanation, denouncine
the condlct of the Stokes party at {
tennessee election; endorsing Senter'
action denying that the State is to be
surrendered to 'rebel" control, regulating
any alliance with Andrew johnson ex-
pressing contempt for Bohemial and
newspaper lies" concerning him, and
declaring that he hoped and expected t.
retain his seat In the Senate for some
years to come. The House resolutions
declaring the meaning of the eight hour
law, was taken up. Ptuding its discus
sion, the Senate went into executive SEES
sion, at its close adjourned
House OF REPRESENTATIVE. Resolu-
tions expressing the sympathy of Congress
in the death OF Mr. Peabody, and prov
ldiDg for appropriate honor to his memory
were introduced, and viii e called up for
discussion en- Moaday The usual num-
Der of new bills aud resolutions were in
troduced and referred to committees.
Among them were bills to provide for
specie payments removal OF ali political
disabilities increasing TAX On the circu-
lation ami deposits Of National banks, &c
&c. resolution declaring all lands
dlsencumbered Of Indian titles open to iln-
mediate entry was referred to the Com
mitlee On Indian. Affairs Resolutions
were adopted requiring Information as to
the disposition OF the indemnity paid by
japan for injuries inflicted upon American
Commerce; asking for Information con
corning Government bonds loaned to
railroad companies. and the amount re
ceived from National bal ks, aud ordering
an Investigation iuto cause of.the accident
at the Avohdale mines in Pennsylvania
\ bill to apporton the representation Of
States in the iForty-second Congress was
ordered TO be printed. The consideration
Of the Census bin in Committee of the
WhoIe Was concluded, and the bill! was
reported 10 the House. Pending its dis
cussion, the House adjourned.
In the Senate, Thursday, the bill to
''parfect the reconstruction" OF the State
of Georgia was taken up, when motion
was made providing that the Legislature
shall be- provisional until it has ratified the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. =
This proposition led to an interesting de-
bate, but no result Was arrived at The
bill in relation to the appellate jur.sdic-
ton OF the United States Supreme Court
was also discussed at considerable length.
A resol luton was adopted requesting the
judiciary committee to enquire whether
any further legislation is necessary to pro-
tect public meetings i'll the District OF
Columbia.
In the House several bills were intro
duced and referred, among them one by
Mr.. Stone, OF Maryland, to repeal the tax
Of ten per cent. on notes Of State banks
The census bill was then called up, and
the amendment in relation to the franking
privilege was rejected. The amendment
provided that accurate accounts should be
kept OF money expended for postage, and
that the money should be refunded, and
this to be in lien Of the exercise of the
franking privilege. After disposing OF
other amendments the bill was passed.
The House then went Into committee OF
the whole on the Presidents message,
and protracted debate ensued on the
question of repudiatiug the national debt.
Finally, by vote Of 1873 yeas to | nay,
resolution was adopted declaring any
proposition. direct or Indirect, to repudl-
ate any portion Of the United States debt
unworthy Of the House and unworthy OF
the honor and good name of the nation,
and that the House, without distinction 0!
party. sets the seal of its condemnation
upon any and all such propositions. The
House then adjourned until Monday.
In the Senate on Friday. several new
bills were introduced aud temporarily
disposed Of Among them were bills tc
prevent persons, who have been employed
in the Treasury Department, from prosecu-
ton claims against the Government, and to
provide for reduction of officers OF the
United States Army The Postmaster Gen
erail was requested to communicate copies oil
all correspondence with france relating to
reduction of postage between that country
and the United States. the joint res
outou relating to cable telegraphs was
discussed briefly, but no action taken
The Georgia Reconstruction bill was taken
up and long debate ensued, during
which number of speeches were made on
the bill Mr.. Morton III odified his amend
ment so as to provide that the State shall
not be admitted until it has ratified the
Fifteenth Amendment Pending the de-
bate, the Senate took recess until I 80
2. NJ
EVENING SESSION The Senate met at
7: 80 ?. NJ and resumed the discussion
eff the Georgia Reconstruction bill. A
number of members made speeches in
opposition to it, A vote was taken at |
O'Clock on Senator Morton's amendment.
and it was-yeas 38, nays 10. At [ :3t
A. N. the bill was passed substantially a.
reported, with Senator Morton's amend
meat. by a vote of IS TO 8.
House OF Representative The House
was hot in session yesterday.
Zeph Turner and His Tail.
| Wv = 1870 a.