Evening star., 1869-12-08
FORTY-FlRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
WEDNESDAY, December 8.

WEDNESDAY, December 8.
SENATE.-On motion OF Mr.. Anthony the
Senate proceeded to the election of the standing
committees which was agreed to, and the list as
agreed upon at the caucus Of yesterday was
adopted.
well, of Texas, that he has been a rebel and has
got sick of it, and wants to be relieved OF his dis
abilities. Referred to the Committee on Disa-
bilities.
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial of VIM. Cor
nell Jewett praying Congress to suspend the
operations of the French cable on American
soil until France grants the privilege to Ameri-
can companies to enter its territory.
MIR. Sumner remarked that a bill answering
part of this prayer was now upon the table and
he should call it up at an early day.
Mr.. Hamlin presented a memorial of sundry
officers of the Navy, stating that gross injustice
has been done them BY promotions under the
act OF July, 1866.
Mr.. Hamlin said he had no doubt some re-
.markable transactions had taken place at the
Navy Department under this law, and its revi-
sion, in the name Of justice, by Congress was
demanded.
Mr.. Williams introduced a joint resolution
relative to amendments to the Constitution, pro-
viding that no State having once ratified an
amendment to the Constitution shall have power
to rescind that ratification.
Mr.. Williams hoped that the Judiciary Com
mlttee, for obvious reasons, would report this
resolution at an early dav.
Mr.. Sherman introduced a bill to promote i'm
mittee.
Mr.. Ferry introduced bill to repeal the test
oath and all acts amendatOry of the act i'm
posing that oath. Referred to Judiciary Com
mittee.
Mr.. Ferry expressed the hope that some time
during the present session the several disability
bills heretofore introduced would be passed,
and he saw no further necessity for test Oaths.
The policy of repeating all these laws seemed to
be gene rally acquiesced i'm throughout the coun-
try, and he hoped the Republican party, Which
enacted these laws, would now repeal them.
Mr.. Cattell introduced a bill to authorize the
construction of bridge over the Delaware, be-
tween Philadelphia and Camden.
On motion Of Mr.. Cameron, the President was
requested to communicate any information rela
tive TO the purposes of the revolution i'm Cuba,
and the state Of civil and political affairs in that
island.
Mr.. thurman offered a resolution requesting
the Prt sident to communicate whether any cor
respO, dence has taken place between the Uni
ted States and Great Britain relative to
reciprocity treaty between the United States
and the Dominion of Canada, and to transmit
such correspondence. Adopted.
Mr.. Carpenter introduced a bill to protect the
rights of members of Congress.
on Friday, the matter. of the eight-hour law for
Government, which, he said, as construed by
the heads of some departments, was of no value
to the workingmen.
Mr.. Sumner offered a resolution requesting
the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire
whether any further legislation is necessary to
secure to colOred citizens who have served i'm
the armies of the United States equal rights
with white citizens. Adopted. Mr.. Sumner
commended this resolution to his colleague, (Mr
Wilson,) the chairman of the Committee on
Military Affairs: His object was to have re-
pealed laws which, he understood, prohibited
slaves who served in the armies from receiving
bOunties.
Mr. Ramsey called up his resolution request
ing the President to communicate any infOrma-
ton he may have relative to the attempted
assumption of the government of the Red River
settlement by the Hon. Mr.. Mcdonald; which,
after discussion, was adopted.
Mr.. Stewart called up his resolution instruct
any States are denying to any persons within
stipulatons or by the l4th amendment to the
Constitution. Adopted.
Mr.. brakes resolution to clear the floor of tlfe
senate OF all persons not entitled 20 the privi-
lege thereof, ten minutes before the opening of
the session, was adopted.
Mr.. Stewart called up his joint resolution to
remove all political disabilities upon the ratiti-
cation of the 10Th amendment.
Mr.. Stewart thought the time had arrived for
declaration of this nature. There is nothing
to be gained by a continuance OF these disabili-
ties, and there is nothing in the cry that it will
increase the rebel vote.
The unfinished business being the bill to re-
move political disabilities from sundry citizens
of the Southern States, therein named
The passage of the bin was urged by Messrs.
Robertson and McCreery.
Mr.. Sumner inquired If this bill had been re-
ltIEtu 10 tne proper CO1nmlJtee.
Mr.. Robertson stated that the bill itself had
not been referred, but the names had all been
Considered by the Committee on Disabilities.
Mr.. COnkling was not one of those anxious for
the removal of political disabilities. This was
the only punishment on men who had originated
the most guilty rebellion the world ever saw.
After some further discussion the bill was
passed.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and then adjourned.
HOIrSE-Mr Norral, fpo , ;r+ro5,oaa n I'm
to provide for funding the debt of the United
States at a lower rate of interest, and to make
national banking free. Referred to Committee
of Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr.. Paine, (Wis. y the Secretary
of State was directed to inform the House how
many States have ratified the 18th amendment
to the Constitution.
Mr.. Cobb IN. c. offered resolution declaring
that this House participated with the people Of
the United States in sympathy for the struggling
people of Cuba, and will give all constitutional
support to the President of the United States
when he will recognize the independence OF
Cuba.
Mr.. Cobb asked that the resolution be made
the special order for Tuesday next, but obiec-
ton was made, and it was not entertained.
Mr.. Poland (Vt.) offered a resolution author
izing the Committee on the Revision of the
Laws to employ a clerk. Referred to Commit
tee on Accounts.
Mr.. Lawrence (Ohio) offered a resolution di-
recting the Committee on Public Lands to in
quire into the expedi ency of so amending the
homestead laws as to authorize all persons who
served in the army or navy during the late war
to secure, as homesteads, one hundred and sxty
acres of land each, instead OF eighty acres as
now allowed by law.
Mr.. Davis (N. W introduced a bill to abolish
the duties on coal. Referred to Ways and
Means Committee.
Mr.. Buffinton (Mass.) offered a resolution,
which was adopted, calling upon the Secretary
of War for information in relation to the i'm
proyement OF the harhor Of Plymouth, Mass.
A numhpr n hills were infrOducad for no
moval Of political disabilities.
corning duties on imports. Referred to Ways
and Means Committee.
Mr.. Ferriss (N. W offered bill authorizing
the Committee on Mining to employ clerk.
Referred to Committee on Accounts.
Mr. IngersOll (Ill.) introduced a bill to amend
the pension laws Of July q, 1868. Referred to
Committee on Pensions.
MIR. Cavanaugh (MOntana) introduced bill
to provide for the election Of all Territorial Off
GERS by the people. Referred to Committee on
Territories.
Mr.. Mungen (Ohio) offered bin declaring
that the property Of soldiers and sailors who
fought for the Union in the late war Of the re-
bellion ought to be exempt from taxation the
same as the bonds Of the bondholders are exempt.
Referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
to the fact that the committees for the 4lst Con-
gress had been appointed in March last, and as
large number Of members had since been ad-
mitted, they were not represented on the COM
mittees, and could have no voice In shaping the
legislation of the House. If the House did not
object he would appoint an additional member
on some Of the more important committees, thus