Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-12-15
THE LXIst CONGRESS-.

ASHrNGTgN, December l4.-SsHGte.
Mr.. Thurman presented a Joint resolution
from the LEGISLATURE of Ohio, rejecting
Ibe proposed XVIII Amendment to the
Constitution OF the nited states.
Mr. Trumb1u offered resolution,
which was agreed TO, lnslrucLlnS the Coln-
mittee on Public Lands TO inquire Wheth-
ar the land offices i'm States where there
are no pu bile lands for sale, may not be
diSr05ea OF for the benefit Of the public
service
Mr.. Howard offered a resolution, which
was agreed 70. insTTuciIng the Committee
on Finance To inquire and report whether
80 is advisable to reduce the penalties
maintained in the Internal Revenue ACT
81 July ~, ls6S
Mr.. Cole submitted a resolution in
etructiu- the Finance Committee 10 iu-
auire into the CNpeGIency Of imposing q
tax of one dollar gallon on all distilled
spirits by taxing the capacity OF the
stills.
Mr.. Morrill,. of Maine, announced the
death of VIM. Pitt Fessenden, late Sena-
TOR from that state, aud delivered an
appropriate eul0gy, concluding by offer
ing the usual resolution Of respect to his
memory. and that the Senators wear
Grape on their left arm for thirty days.
Nessr-. Sumner, Tumbull, Anthony,
Williams, Morrill,, OF Vermont, Cattell,
Patterson. Davis, NIckers and Haml2
followed with tributes TO the memory OF
Mr. Fes.snden and the resolution offered
bv Mr.. Morrill, were adopted, and the
Senate adjourned.
JygHse-A resolution was introduced by
the Committee on WAYS and Means TO in-
uuire into the expedieDcy OF ab0hshing
the Offices Of Collectors, Assessors aud
other agents of the Internal Revenue De
,,grtrneut. and Of appointing the amount
Il IN Z. -
services among the several states IN pro,
portion 10 their population, was referred
tothe Wavs and Means Committee.
one declaring that the American people
learn with horror and indignation OF tb'
treatment OF American citizens, held "a
poIiticdl prisoners under the Engllsh GOV
ernr1ent: that nO language is adequate C
condemn, and urging upon the Natloh4
Executive the imperative duty GI an I'm
mediate intervention in their behalf, v A
referred 10 the Committee on Foreign Al
fairs.
The Secretary Of War was requested L
inform the House " hat progress had peer
made in improving and deepening th'
channel Of the passes Of the MISSISSIPPI
river 20 the GULF
Mr.. Prosser introduced q bill 10 defn
and extend the jurisdiction and duties o
luite,l States Commissioners, which wa
referred.
Mr. WARD obtained leave to have print
ID and re-coulmitted 10 the Reconstruc
lion Committee the bill admitting Var
ainia TO the Union, upon she condition
that she shall never deprive any ci1l1en Q
the right Of voting or sitting on Juries
and equal participation IA the schoo
fund and school privileges.
ar Kelly presented q memorial from
tha CoIored National Labor Convention
1,ravi1.- that the surveyed pubic land
fn the SoGthern States may De suDdlNlde
5nto tracs S o. forty acres each, ana thae an
freedman who shall settle on one oI -. 81
.,tbdivfded tracts. ana cultivate the sam
rTr one vsar. shall receive patent Tor u
serna ne title OF said land 10 vest IN sal
.,e+tisr and his heirs. and % he inai sha
FIa f,r the period Of ten years from th
Esfa of entry: aud further, that the gran
ofIauds made bv the Government 70 LH
road corporations Of the Southern o-asei
and forfeited bv reason or nOh-ceiii p-iall1
,-5+b .be conditions annexed 70 sue
.-l.a gbaT NOT be revived, but that tL
lands embraced ia such lapsed grants
brought within the operation OF the hoIh'
stead grant. -. -
The President sent a message TO u
freuse. announcing that be had approve
no bill for the removal OF The pollllc'
disabilities from large number oi pc
sons. -. 5,o,,,,,,itte
The House Lnel wen. nv ND-'
Of the Whole on the census bill; and a ol
.eussjon followed on the amendments
fered Yesterday by Judds and Copurl
uroviding for an apportionment OF Repir
-entatives next August. Coburn nnSii
withdrew bis, and Judds' was rejected
"a against 50. 4,
section "a. which proposes 70 fix Il
number Of Representatives, was strue
ont as was section 70, and section
was amended by requiring 81
tistics from bankers and prokei
and pending the consideration OF ON
ar,eqdments, a message was receiN'
from Ire Senate announcing lls pioeee
-. :, r.7ference to the death of SenaD
Hsssenden. and eulogies Of the late SCI
ator were pronounced by Lynch, Fetu
HAZE Brooks. of New YORK, ana Dave
--ffer which the House adjourned.