The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-25
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CONGRESSIONAL.


amendment providing that the Legislature
of the State shall be provisional until it has
ratified the Fourteenth and the Fifteenth
Amendment. Mr.. Carpenter opposed the
amendment on account Of it being better
that the State should voluntarily adopt the
amendments, and the debate was continued
at various times, without any action being
had upon the amendment. Mr.. Trumbulr s
bill to prevent the Supreme Court from
jurisdiction on political questions was taken
up, and Mr.. Trumbull spoke in the favor
of the bill, denying that it was intended to
encroachupon the proper sphere of the jul
dietary. No vote was reached on the bill.
In the House of Representatives the Cen
sus bill was adopted. A resolution was
referred to a committee, approprating $3.50
coo for new statuary at the Capitol. The
on the Presidents Message, and Mr.. Mum
gen, u Democratic member from Ohio, spoke
in favor of the reputation of the National
debt. Upon this long and somewhat
Brooks, Potter, Randall Slecunl, Kerr and
Cox, all Democrats, denounced reputation
with immense emphasis, and answered for
the Democratic party that it was utterly
opposed to it. A resolution was then of
fered declaring reputation unworthy of
the nation, and that tho House, without
distinction of party, set its seal of condem-
nation upon all such propositions. The
resolution was adopted by a vote of one
hundred and thirty-three to one, the only
negative being from Mr. JONES' a Kentucky
Democrat Mr.. Fitch, of Nevada, spoke
in favor of the recognition of Cuban bel
ligsrancy, and was loudly applauded. The
House adjourned until Monday.
In the Senate, on Friday, Mr.. Spencer
introduced a bill to abolish the Office Of
Naval Officer and impose its duties upon
to the Committee on Commerce. Mr..
Schurz introduced bill to prevent persons
who have been officers or employees in the
Treasury Department from prosecuting
Government during their term of Office
Mr.. Sherman called up the joint resolution
providing equal rights for our Government
in all telegraph cables landed upon our
the reconstruction of Georgia was taken
up, the question being on Mr.. Mortons
amendment-that the Legislature shall be
provisional only until it ratifes the fifteenth
Amendment. The amendment was debated
until the Senate adjourned, to meet again
in the evening. At the evening session,
debate upon the Georgia bill was passed
substantially as it came from the Judiciary
Committee, with the addition of Senator
Morton's amendment requiring the assent
Of the Legislature to the Fifteenth Amend
ment. There were but nine votes against
the measure to forty-tive in its favor
The United States Senate had short
session on Monday, and little business was
transacted. Mr.. Trumbull, from the Ju-
dietary Committee, reported a bill for the
admission Of Virginia. Messrs. Conkling
and Fenton presented petitions for the abo-
ltion of the duties on coal. Mr.. Pomeroy
introduced bill to charter company for
the construction of an Atlantic telegraph
cable between the United States and Hol-
land, which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations. Mr.. Schurz intro
duced bill to reform the civil service of
the United States, providing for a Presi-
dental term Of five years, that Department
employees shall hold office for five years,
and that Civil Service Board be created
10 determine upon the applications of can
didates. The House Census bill was refer
red to the Committee on the Revision of
the Laws.
In the House Of Representations on Mon
day, Mr.. Getz offered resolution directing
the Committee Oh Postoffices and Post
Roads 10 incorporate i'll any bill for the
abolition of the franking privilege a pro-
vision that all newspapers published in the
United States be carried by mail free to
bona tide subscribers, according to the rec
concentrations of Postmaster General Cres-
well An appropriation of $500, was
made for continuing the improvement of
the navigation Of the Mississippi river at
admission of Virginia were introduced, and
an effort made TO consider them, but the
House voted to lay them aside, and take up
the Georgia BILL as passed by the Senate,
on, az
an argument in favor of the bill, instancing
the murders and outrages that are now and
have been taking place in the State as addi-
tional reasons, besides justices to the col
ored members who were illegally expelled
from the Legislature, for its adoption at
once without any postfonement until the
House reassembles after the holidays He
spoke strongly in opposition to trusting to
the Legislature to reseat the expelled men,
bers. Mr.. Beck, Kentucky, spoke against
the bill. and the House took recess until
evening. Upon reassembling, the bill was
again debated until a late hour, but no vote
taken.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, the bill for
the suppression of polygamy in Utah Ter
litory was favorably reported. Mr.. Warner
introduced bill to increase the National
Bank circulation $40, 900, 600, for distribu-
tion in the South and West, and providing
that no further interest shall be paid on
the three per cent. certificates, which was
referred to the Finance Committee. The
Virginia bill was laid aside on the state
ments of several Senators that they desired
further time to examine into the matter,
and the Census bill was recommittcd to the
Committee on the Revision of the Laws, a
resolution being passed to suspend the
present Census law until February. SO that
tie pending bill may be acted upon after
the recess. The bill for the regulation of
the landing of telegraph cables on the
shores of the United States was briefly dis.
cussed, and sent back to the Committee on
Foreign Relations. bill was passed to
reimburse the owners of steamboats, and
other vessels in the loyal States, taken by
the Government during the war.