Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE -Tuesday, Feb. 16th.-The Chair
was authorized to appoint committee of three
to make the necessary arrangements for the in
auguration of General Grant The House bill
to prevent the loaning Of money on United
States notes was passed. The bill providing
a pension to be given Mrs. Lincoln was called
up and Mr.. Sumner moved that the amountibe
fixed at five thousand dollars per annum. At
ter considerable discussion the bill was laid
aside without action. A motion was made to
take up the bill to, repeal the Tenure of Office
act. Pending its discussion the Senate went
into executive session and at it's close took re-
cess until o'clock p. nj.
I, Euening Session. "A number of pension bills
were taken up and disposed Of The House
bill removing political disabilities from certain
persons in the Southern States was taken up
and passed. The Senate then adjourned. 50
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. "A bill was
introduced providing that upon the expiration
of the present contract for printing the debates
Of Congress, the debates shall be reported and
printed under the direction OF the Public Prns
ter. 1t was referred to the Committee on Print
ing. The bill to remove the disabilities from a
number of citizens of the Southern States was
taken up and passed, after long discussion. :
The Senate bill supplementary to the National
Currency act was taken up, and after conside~
rable discussion Mr.. Pomeroy, moved the pre-
vious question on the bill and amendments
Without taking vote on the motion, the House
took recess until $50 o'clock P. NJ.
Erening Session. The House of the Whole
resumed the consideration of the Tax bill. A
number of amendments were adopted, after
which the bill was reported to the House. The
bill as amended by the committee was passed
by the House The House then adjourned
| SENATE. " Wednesday, Feb. l7th.-The Ju-
dietary Committee reported adversely on Sum-
ner.s bill to strike out from the naturalization
laws the word white" wherever it occurs. The
same committee reported resolution declaring
that in the opinion of the Senate, the procla
nation of the President of the United States,
of the Goth of December, 1868, purporting to
grant general pardon and amnesty to all per-
sons guilty Of treason and acts of hostility to the
United States during the late rebellion, with
restoration Of rights, &c, : was not authorized
| by the Constitution or laws. Mr.. Hendricks
stated that he did not agree with the views of
| the majority Of the committee. The Senate
concurred in the report OF the committee of
conference upon the bill amending certain acts
relating to the navy. The message from the
House asking committee of conference upon
the constitutional amendment providing for
universal suffrage was taken up and the Senate,
| after long discussion, receded from its amend
ments to the amendment as passed by the
| HOUSE. LIE QuGStlOu WIS tIlGu upon Tile dQOp>
| ton of tie amendment After long debate a
vote was taken and resulted yeas 81, nays IL
! The Chair announced that two. thirds. not HAYS
| ing voted in the affirmative, the proposition Of
| the House was not cencurred in. The original
proposition of the Senate Judiciary Committee
was taken up and several amendments were
| proposed and rejected. Aga as0a
| At LAO A. NJ. a vote was reached on the
main question, which was that reported by the
Judiciary Committee report, and it was carried
by the requisite two-thirds vote. aq. an5
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The Com
mittee on Elections reported resolutions setting
forth that neither Messrs. Jones, Menard nor
Hunt is entitled to a seat in the House from
the second Congressional District of Louisiana.
The resolutions were ordered to be printed. and
laid upon the table The Committee on Cons
merce reported Senate joint resolution to regu-
late the carrying Of passengers in steamships
and other vessels, with substitute, which was
passed. The Senate bill supplementary to the
National Currency act was taken up and seve-
raj amendments were offered. After long
discussion the bill and amendments were laid
on the table The House took a recess until
7. 80 o'clock P M.
Evening Session The consideration of the
Army Appropriation bill was resumed and sew
eral speeches were made Without taking any
action on 1t the House adjourned.