Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
% FORTY FIRST CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION

a. F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION.
SENATE. Monday, Dec 6th.-The Senate
was called to order at II H., and the President
and House OF Representatives were notified that
a quorum was present. The credentials of the
members elect from Virginia were received and
laid on the table. A memorial was presented,
asking the recognition Of Cuba. A number of
bills were introduced. Among them was IS one
prohibiting the Supreme Court of the United
States from exercising jurisdiction over the acts
of Congress; also, bill by Mr.. Sumner, relat-
ing to the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court IN certain cases, which provides that all
acts authorizing appellate cases now before the
Supreme Court, brought there on writs of
hGbeds corpus, be repealed also, bill provid-
ing for the reconstruction Of the State of Geor-
gia; also, general bill providing for the re-
moval Of all political disabilities upon the rati-
fcation of the Fifteenth Amendment After
short recess, the Presidents Message was re-
ceived and read. The Senate then went into
executive session, and at its close adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE the House
was called to order at II NJ, aud committee
was appointed to notify the President of the
meeting Of Congress. A number of credentials
ofnew members were presented, and they were
sworn in, except Messrs. Sherrard and Dox, Of
Alabama, who were objected to, and their
credentials referred to the Committee On Eec-
TONS The Presidents Message was received
and read to the House. A bill providing for
the admission Of the State of Virginia was Of
fered as g question of privilege, but was not
received The credentials of members elect
from Virginia and Mississippi we're referred to
the Committee on Elections. A number of
bills were introduced and referred to commit
tees The House then adjourned
SENATE Tuesday, Dec 7th Senator Car
penter introduced a bill for the benefit of travel
ing Ccngressmen, which, he said was Ito Sc
cure and protect the freedom of transit within
the United States It provides, among other
things. that no citizen Of the United States, in
passing from one place to another within the
same, shall be subject to any process, Of what
ever nature, in a civil action, in any State Ter
ritory or district through which he may be pass
ing, and of which he Is not a citizen, unless he
shall voluntarily tarry therein for the space of
more than twenty-lour hours. Bills we're in
troduced to encourage and promote National
Industrial Exhibition to be held at Washington,
In 1871 to amend the National Banking act,
and to promote return to specie payments );
and to declare the State of Virginia restored to
its normal condition In the Union, and entitled
to representation in Congress. A bill was in
troduced by Mr.. Irumbull to relieve members
of Congress from importantly, and TO preserve
the independence Of the several Departments of
the Government 1t provides that any member
of Congress who recommends any person to of
fee, unless requested in writing by the Presi-
dent, or heads Of Departments, shall be guilty
of misdemeanor, and ired 81 900, unless by
a member of the Senate IN his constitutional
capacity. After short discussion, without
taking action upon the bill, the Senate adjourn
cd.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. The Presi-
olo Sc
various portions referred to the different com
mittees for consideration. The subject of specie
payments caused slight squabble for precedence
between the Ways and Means and Baking and
Currency Committees, which they were advised
to settle in private between themselves A
number of bills were introduced and referred to
various committees. Among them was a bill
removing all political disabilities on the adop-
ton of the Fifteenth Amendment; bill to re-
peal the Tenure-of Office act bill providing
for National Exhibition, to be held in Wash
ington in 1871 ; a bill to establish an uniform
system of naturalization, and a bill to prohibit
sales of coin on behalf of the United States, and
to provide for the redemption Of United States
legal tender notes 10 coin at par. The commit
tee on Elections reported back the credentials
of Messrs. Dox, Helm, Hays and Sberrard, of
Alabama, with favorable recommendation,
and they were sevcrally sworn In. The Com
mittee on Patents called up the bill to extend
the patent of r. NJ. Hoe for his printing press
This bill was pending last session at tie ad-
journment, and is now taken up from the table
The proposition is to extend it seven years
longer. 1t was referred to the Committee of
the Whole The House soon after adjourned.
N SENATE. w ednesday, &C. Sth.-A cleo
ton for standing committees was held Bills
were introduced and referred to committees to
promote international coinage, repeal the test
oath, and to allow members Of Congress to
practice as lawyers. A joint resolution Was in
troduced relative to amendments TO the Con
stitution, providing that no State having once
ratified an amendment to the Constitution shall
have power to reseind that ratification. The
President was called ca for information in rela-
tion to the Cuban revolution; the reciprocity
treaty with Canada, and the Red river insurrec-
ton. The Committee On Military Affairs was
directed to revise the laws In relation to boun-
ties to negro soldiers. The question Of remov-
ing all political disabilities was briefly discussed,
without action A bill was passed removing the
disabilities from sundry citizens. The Senate
then went into executive session. and soon after
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, A resolution
expressing sympathy with the Cubaus was in
troduced, but was denied special consideration.
the Ways and Means Committee. Several her
bills Of no general Importance were temporarily
disposed of. The Secretary of State was direct
ed to inform the House how many States have
ratified the Fifteenth Amendment to the Con-
stitution. The Census bill was called UP and
read. 1t was then considered by ecions in
Committee Of the Whole, and several sections
were passed Pending its consideration, the
committee rose, and the House soon after ad-
journed
SENATE. Thursday, Dec 9th.-A number
OF bills and resolutions were introduced and dis
posed Of temporarily. Among them was a bill
increasing the salary of the Chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court of the United States to $l2. 600
per annum, and the salary of the Associate
Justice to $4,000 The present salaries are
SIS, 600 for the Chief Justice and Sc, 900 for the
Associate Justices Mr.. Drake introduced a
bill to prescribe uniform time for the holding
of election Tor Electors of President and Vice
President and of Representatives in Congress-
1t provides that the election for these officers
shall be on the second Tuesday in October of
the year in which they serve. 4 resolution
was adopted, instructing the Committee on the
District of Columbia toinGuire into the proprlety
of repeating the charter Of the Medical Society
of the District CT Columbia, and Of such other
legislation as may be Necessary to secure medical
practitioners in the District of Columbia equal
rights, without distinction of color. 4 resolu-
ton was agreed to, providing that the floor of
the Senate shall be cleared five minutes before
the opening Of the session The Judiciary
Committee reported bill limiting the jurisdic-
ton Of the United States Courts upon po!it cal
questions The Senate then went into execu-
tive session, and at its close adjourned until