The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-06

and making the government of the State pro-
vlslonal and subject to the act of March 2,
1867. All officers elected under the present
proposed constitution Of said State, who are
not distinguished by the 14th amendment or
any OF the acts above mentioned, except mem
berS of the Legislature, shall continue in office
till the State be fully restored.
It further provides that such members of the
convention elected under the laws of Congress
to form State constitution as are not dis
franchised, shall assemble ON the first Monday
of March next, with full power to alter or
amend said constitution in any matter not in
contact with the laws of Congress and the
constitution. Said State constitution as
amended shall be submitted to the people at
such time as the constitution may appoint, and
on the ratification or rejection of said amenoed
constitution, such persons and no others shall
vote as shall be prescribed in said amended
constitution, provided that no person shall be
excluded from voting on account OF race or
color. When said amended constitution shall
have been ratified by a majority of the votes,
It may be submitted for the consideration OF
Congress.
Mr.. Sumner introduced bill providing that
accessories to violation of the 55th section of
the national currency act shall receive the
same punishment as the principal of the ass0-
citation.
Also, bill declaring that the words trial at
common law" in the first section of the act OF
July, 1862, relating to the competency of wit
nesses, shall be held to include criminal trials
and proceedings.
Also, Judges to impose sentences of impris-
onment, with hard labor, in cases where the
law merely provides for nprisonment.
Also, bill to regulate prosecutions under
the laws of the United States for embezzling
and kindred offences, making a general allega-
lion OF embezzlement, &c, sufficient in the IN
dctment and making no restriction as to the
amount embezzed. All of which were referr-
ed to the Committee on judiciary.
Mr. Sum n iptroduoa6 a hill fO nrOyIlH
for the execution in the District OF Columbia
of commissions issued by the courts of the
States and Territories, and for foreign nations,
and for taking dispositions to be used in such
courts. Referred to the Committee on the
District of Columbia.
Also bill to provide for the punishment of
accessories in criminal offences against the
United States. Referred to the Committee on
Judiciary.
On motion of Mr.. Howard the Secretary of
the Treasury was directed to transmit copies
of the last annual report of the Pacific Rail-
road Company.
The bill for the relief of Sue Davis of Deca-
tur, Ala, was discussed without actiol.
The Senate took an executive session and
soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House the re-
port OF Special Commissioner of Revenue,
Wells. The resolution to print extra copies
was referred to the Committee on Printing.
Mr.. Washburne OF Illinois reported from the
COMMITTEES on Appropriations the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill. Also, off-r-
ed resolution inquiring into the overland
mail contract under Wells, Fargo & Co. OBJ
lection was made.
Mr. Eliot Introduced bill, which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce, to ex-
tend the laws relative to the register of ves-
seis..
On motion of Mr. Washburne of Illinois the
Secretary of the Treasury was directed to IN
form the House whether any consular officers
OF the United States have demanded and re-
ceived for verifcation OF invoices fees greater
than those prescribed by law, etc.
Mr.. Ella asked leave to offer resolution pro-
vidIng for committee of five to investigate
certain newspaper charges against the Post
master General in connection with the Arizo-
ma mail service.
Mr.. Mckee objected.
Mr. Barnes offered resolution that it is the
duty. of the government to develope its resour-
ces, increase its revenue and retain its surplus
gold, with view to the speedy return to specie
payment as possible. That it will retard this
purpose, disturb values and interfere with the
revenue to contract the currency in any re-
spect or TO undertake to fix the time by law
when specie payments shall commence until
gold and legal tender notes have more nearly
Appropriated in value through the operation
OF natural causes.
Objection was made.
Mr.. Miller OF Pennsylvania introduced bill
appropriating a tract of land on Meridian hill,
Washington, for new executive mansion
Referred to the Committee on Public Build
ings.
Mr.. Lynch as question of privilege made
statement as 10 certain charges made in the
Cincinnati Gazette and Worcester Spy that he
had sold the use of his frank. He had simply
franked the Mercantile journal containing his
speech, which was in conformity to law, and
one OF the purposes for which the privleg,
was conferred.
Mr.. Baldwin of Massachusetts, proprietor of
the Worcester Spy, disclaimed any response.
bility for the article in question, which was
published during his absence from Worcester,
and said his investigation showed that the gen.
tleman had acted entirely within the law.
Mr.. Cary of Ohio said the Cincinnati Ga
zette had made false charges against him. He
would not have cared Tor the article had it not
been copied into respectable papers. He did
not consider the Gazette capable of slandering
him.
Mr.. Price introduced bill compelling all
railroads accepting grants of land from the
United States or any State to use only Amer
lean iron, under penalty that said grants be
null and void. Referred to the Pacific Rail-
road Committee
ID, An Intellectual attempt was made to take up
the bill appropriating $4,000 for the relief Of
the poor of the District of Columbia.s
The bill relative to the claims of the State of
Iowa on account of the late war was referred
instructions.
Mr.. Jones of Kentucky offered resolution
that the resolutions passed in both houses of
Congress severely criticizing the Presidents
annual message, are an infringing upon the
rights of the Executive, and providing for the
prinGing of hundred thousand copies of said
message for the benefit of the people of the
United States.
Objection was made to its consideration.
Mr.. Butler introduced bill to secure and
protect the freedom of transit in the United
States. Referred to the Committee ON Ju-
dietary.
Mr.. Kelley reported bill that civilian may
he appointed as Chief of the Bureau of Steam
Engineering. Passed.
The House then resolved itself into commit
tee of the whole on the state of the Union on
the Presidents MASSAGE of 1867.
Mr.. Windon made speech in favor of the
construction of the Northern Pacific railroad
The committee rose and House adjourned.