Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-12-21
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

SENATE.-Monday, Dec. 13th.-A memorial
from Thomas Jefferson Randolph, executor of
Thomas Jefferson, asking the return OF certain
papers belonging to Mr.. Jefferson, now held by
the State Department, was referred to the
Library Committee. A bill to abolish the frank
ing privilege was referred to the Committee on
Postofiees. A number of new bills were in
troduced and disposed of temporarily. The
Judiciary Committee reported back Morton S
bill to overthrow and radicalize the State Gov
ernment of Georgia, with amendments. Mr..
Wilson introduced a bill prohibiting contracts
with foreigners emigrating to this country, by
which they are pledged to labor for specified
time after their arrival Mr.. lirake's bill re-
stricting the jurisdiction of United States courts
over political questions, was taken up, and Mr..
Drake made an imhammatory speech in favor
of it. Messrs. Edmunds and Salisbury replied
In opposition to the bill. Pending discussion,
short executive session was held, and at it's
conclusion the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, "A great
number of bills and resolutions Of no general In
terest we're introduced and referred to various
committees. A resolution was adopted declar-
ing that the reciprocity treat with the British
Colonies should not be considered at the present
time. A joint resolution was passed providing
for the adjournment of Congress from the 22d
inst. to the 5th day of January next The Com
mittee on Banking and Currency was directed
to inquire into the cause Of the late gold excite
ment in New York city. A petition, signed by
$4,000 citizens Of New York, asking the re-
cognition of Cuban independence, was read and
referred tothe Committee on Foreign Relations
A resolution directing the Committee on the
Judiciary to inquire whether the retrocession of
Alexandria county to the State of Virginia was
constitutional, and whether the Representative
(Lewis Mckenzie elected to Congress from
said district. is competent to serve as "a member
of the House, caused considerable debate, but
was finally laid on the table, A message was
received from the President stating that the
Fifteenth Amendment has been fully ratified
by nineteen States and that two others have
reported its ratification but the legality of their
action is doubtful A Senate bill to remove
political disabilities of certain citizens named in
it was passed. The consideration of the Census
bill was resumed in Committee of the Whole,
and several amendments were adopted. A long
discussion took place on the question Of repre-,
sentation to be allowed to States under the new
BILL Pending debate, the House adjourned.
SENATE.-Tuesday, Dec 14th.-Joint reso-
lutions of the Ohio Legislature, rejecting the
Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, were
presented and laid on the table A resolution
fixing the tax on distilled spirits at one dollar
gallon, and taxing the capacity of the still, was
introduced and laid on the table for the present.
A number Of bills relating to the Pacific Rail-
road, we're introduced and referred Mr. Nor
rill, of Maine, formally announced to the Sen
ate the death of Senator Fessenden, and offered
the customary resolutions of coincidence after an
euiogy upon the deceased. Addresses were
also delivered by Messrs Sumner, Trumbull,
Anthony and others, upon the life and char
acter of Mr.. Fessanden, after which the resolu-
tions were adopted and the Senate adjourned
House OF REPRESENTATIVES. number
of resolutions were introduced and referred to
committees The Secretary of the Navy was
directed to furnish the House with copy Of
the report Of the commission to fix the rank of
Naval officers. A modest petition from the
Negro Labor Convention, asking that the pub
lie lands in Southern States be sub-divided into
parcels of forty acres for convenient settlement
by negroes, and that all land grants to railroads
In the South be forfeited for the use of the said
negroes, was referred to the Committc on Pub
lie Lands. A memorial, reciting the wrongs
Of the medical staff officers of the Navy, was
referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs
The Census bill was taken up in Committee Of
the Whole and several amendments adopted
Pending its discussion, the death of Senator
Fessenden was announced with the action of
the Senate thereon. The Committee at once
arose and the Senate resolutions were adopted.
Eulogies upon the deceased were delivered by
several members and, as token of respect for
his memory, the House adjourned.