The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-01-25

Congress.
At the opening of the Senate, Monday,
IL considerable quantity of new business
was presented The House bill of last
session prohibiting the assignment of re-
tired officers to duty on full pay, was
passed. Mr.. Summer introduced a SUBJ
stitute for the bill in regard to interna-
tional telegraphic communication Not
much prog ess was made with the Vir-
GINA bill The Senate bill after debate
was tabled by vote of 25 to 90, and the
House bill was taken up. Pending a dis
cussion on an amendment offered by Mr..
Edmunds, to insert the proposition prev
iOusly incorporated in the Senate bill, in
regard to the imposition Of a test oath.
In the House among the bills introduce
ed were the following: For the promo
ton of American commerce by repeating
the tonnage tax on American vessels: for
an adjournment Of COM gross on the second
Tuesday in April; Tor the payment of a
years salary of an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court to the family Of Ed
win NJ. Stanton, deceased, and to abolish
the franking privilege from July l, 1870.
A resolution making eight hours days
work for Government employees was refer
red. Mr.. Judd addressed the House at
length in support of his bill to regulate
Congressional apportionment for the For
ty-second Congress, and was followed by
Messrs. Hale, Clark and McCrary. when
the matter went over for a day The
sum of $4,000 was appropriated for the
expenses of the Committee engaged in in
vcstigating the gold conspiracy.
The Senate on Wednesday made some
slight progress with the Virginia BILL
Mr.. Edmunds' amendment, to require the
imposition of an oath of the State officers
that they are eligible under the Fourteenth
Amendment, was adopted by vote Of
So nays to l6 yeas; and an additional
amendment, offered by the same gentle.
man, providing that the first clause of the
bill shall take effect on the lst of March
and the residue on its passage, was de-
bated. Among the new papers petition
from the citizens of New York against the
proposed enlargement Of the Military
Academy at West Point; and several
petitions for the abolition of the franking
privilege. The Judiciary Committee re.
ported against the passage of the bill
allowing States to determine the qualii.
cation of witnesses in United States
Courts.
In the House the concurrent resolution
for the adjournment of Congress ON the
second Tuesdny in April was rejected "a
to 81. Bills were introduced providing
for Niagara ship canal, and donating
cannon for monument at West Point
and petitions were presented for the aboli-
tion of the franking privilege. and for the
repeal of the tax on shipbuilding interests
During the morning hour the bill for the
removal of the Philadelphia Navy Yard
to League Island was debated, Messrs
Kelly and Dickey replying to Mr.. Dawes
speech. The Committee on Ways and
Means reported II resolution declaring
that incomes of 1870 are to be taxed
under the law.
At the opening Of the Senate on Thurs
day the statue Of General Nathaniel
Greene, Of Revolutionary fame, was for
mally presented to Congress by Senator
Anthony, in the name of the State OF
Rhode Island, and he took occasion to ad-
dress the Senate on the life and character
Of the old hero. Messrs. Sumner, Sawyer
and Morrill, followed Mr.. Anthony. Con
current resolutions were adopted accept
ing tho statue and thanking the Governor
Of the State and the people for the valua-
Bile gill The Virginia bill was taken up
aud lon5 debate ensued but without fin
al action upon it.
Ia the House petition was presented
signed by 22,OO0 citizens of Utah,praying
for admission as State. A bill was of.
tered by Mr.. Bingham, making it penal
offence for any person to propose to re-
peal the action of Il State Legislature in
ratiiying any proposed constitutional
amendment A resolution reported from
the Printing Committee in regard to print.
ing large number OF the reports of the
Special Commissioner of Revenue, led tc
a long discussion on the subject of tariff
r,vus free trade, in which general inter
change Of views took place. Tho HOUSE
refused to table the resolution by vot.
of 81 to 1913, and under the previou,
question it was adopted without divi
sion
In the Senate, Friday, a memorial was
presented signed by 1000 army officers
asking for increased pay Bills we're in
troduced by Mr. Patterson to abolish
the Freedmen's Bureau and to provid,
for Bureau of Education and by Mr.
Pomeroy proposing a Sixteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution providing fol
) universal suffrage The discussion of tn,
: Virginia bin was ended and the vote
taken. Mr. brakes amendment wal
adopted, by vote of 81 to 2e. 1t af
J fixes fundamental conditions to the ad
mission of the State, and prohibits an,
change or amendment to the State Con
stituton to deprive citizens of the RICH
of franchise who are now entitled to vote
, except az punishment for crime. A
, further amendment by Mr.. Drake impos
; ing further conditions that the Stat
should never deprive any citizens, on &C
count of race, color or previous condition
of servitude, from holding Office wa
adopted--yeas 80, nays 20. Anothe
4 amendment by Mr. Wilson in regard [,