The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-12-20

In the Senate, Wednesday, Mr. Fentol
offered resolutions, which were adopted
instituting searching investigations into
the cost of collecting the Customs revenue
of the country, and the amount of money
received and paid out at the several GUS
tom-houses. A call for information was
also made respecting the collection Of the
tax on the scrip dividends of the New
York Central Railroad. The expense o.
carrying mails and freight to the Pacific
Coast prior to 1864 is likewise to be in.
quired into, as well as the expediency Of
certain improvements at the mouth Of the
Mississippi River. The question of as.
sessing Government clciks,io the purpose
of raising a fund for their benefit, was the
subject of an extended debate, and was
finally laid aside to allow for the consider
alton Of the bill providing plan for sccur-
ing efficient seamen in the navy. This
was introduced last session, and authorizes
the receiving of boys into the navy as ap-
prentices, to be trained for "Union sea-
men," With some slight amendment the
bill was passed. The calendar ofgeneral
and special orders was then taken up,and
the question of paying a Union surgeon
for property destroyed during the late
war by order of Federal officers was dis
cussed during the rest Of the day and
finally left undisposed Of. The House
resolutions to adjourn from Dec % to
Jan. 4 was concurrcd III.
In the House the greater part Of the
day was spent in discussing the question
of holding great international exhibition
of the one hundredth anniversary oil our
national independence, and in considering
the general Amnesty bill. The former
was introduced by Mr.. Morrel, of
Pennsylvania, and provided for holding
the exhibition at Philadelphia. The
provision allowing mileage to the Commits
sioners was struck out and their actual
travelling exposes allowed instead, and the
lumber of Commissioners was reduced to
one from each State and Territory.
In the Senate Thursday several new
bills were introduced and some old ones
disposed Of The proposition to establish
Department of Indian Affairs was in
definitely postponed as was that to con-
stitute Jersey City port Of entry. A.
mong the bills reported but cot disposed
of was that introduced by Mr. Chandler.
authorizing the President to suspend the
privilege of bonded transportation and
the right of navigating American waters
hitherto conceded to Canada. The rest
Of the day was taken mp by a speech Of
Mr.. Schurz, of Missouri. His resolution
in favor of the removal Of political disa-
bilities, in which he gave an account OF
the recent canvass in Missouri, and de.
Tended the action of himself and his asso.
ciates in dividing the Republican Party
there. He declared himself still an ad.
herent of that party and a supporter Of
the Administration, and expressed the
hope that the Republicans would yet
form the party Of the future. Mr.. Drake
rose to reply, but gave way to allow fol
adjournment.
In the House, the debate on Mr.. But
ler's Amnesty bill was continued. The
speeches were mostly in opposition to the
bill, and the leading speakers were Messrs
Farnsworth of Illinois, Lawrence of Ohio
Cox of Newly York, and Sargent Of Cali.
fornia. Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee, and
some others, opposed the removal of dis
abilities at present. The debate was in
terupted only by the hour Of adjournment,
and the bill then went over till Tuesday.
In the Senate, Friday, communca-
ton from Mr.. Drake was laid before the
House, in which he announced that, on
the 18th inst, he had transmitted to the
Governor of Missouri his resignation as a
Senator, to take effect on the 18th. A
memorial from merchants of Boston adj
verse to the annexation Of San Domingo,
was presented by Mr.. Sumner. The va
rious bills for the abolition Of the Income
tax were reported adversely from the FL
nance Committee, and placed on the
calendar. Among the bills introduced
was cAe for the relief Of Rear-Admiral
Henry Ward. The bill to incorporate
the Southern Express Company, after de-
bate and and amendment, was passed
The resolution of Mr.. Schurz, on the gen.
eral amnesty, was then taken up, and the
floor was given to Mr.. Drake to reply to
the speech of Mr.. Schurz. AT the con-
clusion, Mr. Drake took a formal fare.
well to Of the Senate preparatory to en-
tering upon his new office as Chief Jus.
tice of the Court Of Claims. Mr.. Schur2
made brief reply, and the Senate, after
an Executive Session, adjourned till Mon
day.
In the House bill was introduced and
referred to the Committee on Commerce
to encourage ship-owning and ship build.
ing, by admitting to American registry
ships over 1000 tons burden, wherever
built, and to admit, free of duty, ship.
building and engine materials for ships o.
over 1000 tons, the latter to be admitted
to the coasting trade, but not to the for
mer The Reconstruction Committee re-
ported a bill to relieve from political dis
abilities twenty-five persons, mainly citi
zens Of Virginia, and including W. X
Turner, of Nashville, Tenn, Judge o.
the Davidson County Court, which wa,
passed. The bill reported on Thursday
by Mr.. Hooper, regulating the duties OIL
sugar, and which changes the existing
law by striking out the words "Raw OF
Muscovado," permitting classification
solely by numbers, was passed. 1t leaves
to the Secretary of the Treasury the duty
of prescribing the mode of taking sam
nles The Cherokee lands In Kansas