Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-04-05
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
FoRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION.


March Goth 1870.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
FORTY FIRST CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION.
SENATE-Monday, March 2Sth.-Mr. Drake
enquired the reason of the delay on the part OF
the Judiciary Committee in reporting the Texas
bill.
Mr.. Trumbull replied that it would be useless
while the Georgia and Ames questions we're
still undisposed of; besides there were provisions
In the Texas Constitution and IN the House bill
requiring careful consideration.
A petition was received from blacks in South
Carolina asking an appropriation for Wllber-
force College, in Ohio.
Resolutions of sympathy for the CubaDs a.
dopted by the Iowa Legislature, were present
ed.
Senator ReyeIs introduced bill granting the
right Of way to the New Orleans and North
eastern Railroad Company.
The Senate then went into executive session
on the San Domingo treaty, but, without com-
| ing to vote, adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE Els. MIR. Nc
| Kenzie introduced a bill to incorporate the
| Southern Trans Continental railroad.
| Bills were introduced to improve the harbor
at the mouth of the Cape Fear river; to pre-
vent the collection of illegal fees from passen-
gers through States; by Mr.. Mckenzie of Vir-
| ginia. Incorporating and granting lands of the
| Trans-Continental railroad company and grant
ing lands to the Selma and Gulf railroad.
| The House refused to second a bill taxing in
terest on Federal bonds, and resolution in
favor of reading the bible in schools
SENATE. Tuesday, March 29th.-After con-
siderable discussion the Texas bill was taken
from the hands of the Judiciary Committee and
rushed through the Senate. In order, as Mr..
| Sherman said, that the Fifteenth Amendment
should be officially proclaimed The fnalpro-
viso of the House bill was stricken out, and the
bill as passed was similar tc the Virginia and
Mississippi bills The final vote on its passage
was: Yeas A. nays IL. A short executive SEES
sion was held, after which the doors were re-
opened. The deficiency Appropriation bill wa.
reported, with amendments, from the Commit
tee on Appropriations. The bill authorizing the
city of Washington to endorse the bonds OF the
Southern Maryland Railroad was taken up, and
after short discussion, motion was made te
| lay the bill on the table. Pending action on
| this motion, the Senate adjourned.
| H0UsE.-Ihe Committee on Elections re-
ported upon the case Of Mr.. Joseph Segar, Re
preventative at large from the State Of Virgin
| ia. and the report was laid on the table to be
called up at any time. Mr.. Logan made per
senal explanation, in which he commented Sc
verely upon General Sherman 5 letter in opposi
ton to the Army bill. He said that the lettel
should never have been written at ali, aud ever
if letter was written the words put in it shoule
not have been such as were used by Gel. Sher
man The House ordered that general debat.
on the Tariff bill shall close in one hour and 6
half after the morning hour tomorrow. Iht
discussion of the bill In Committee of the Whole
was then resumed. During it the Texas bill
as amended and passed by the Senate, was re
ceived and referred to the Committee on Recon
struction.
SENATE-W ednesday March 80 -Severa
new bills were introduced and referred to com
mlttees, and some other business of no genera
interest was transacted.
HOUSE. The death Of General George Fl
Thomas was announced, and resolutions expires
ing the sympathy of Congress were adopted
Mr. Butler stated that as soon as the Tariff bill
has been disposed OF, he will call up his genera
bill for the relief of political disabilities The
Senate amendment to the bill for the admission
OF Texas was agreed to, and the bill was passed
as amended A bill was reported from ths
Committee on Education and Labor providing
for general system Of education. Its considera
ton was postponed until December next.
petition, signed by number of citizens of Balti
more, asking that nitrate Of soda, sulphate q
ammonia and sulphate and muriate of potash
be placed on the free list Of imported articles
was referred to the Committee of Ways auo
Means. A message was received from the
| President announcing his approval Of the bill
for the admission of Texas. and enclosing the
proclamation Of the ratification of the Fifteenth
| Amendment. After some discussion in relation
to the reference of the message, the matter was
laid over The debate on the Tariff BILL in
Committee Of the Whole was resumed, and
several speeches we're made. The committee
then rose, aud the House soon after adjourned.
Morgan G. Hamilton and J. W. Flanagan,
Senators elect from Texas, were sworn 10 and
| took their seats. The House joint resolutions
| of respect TO the memory of Gen. Geo Fl.
/ Thomas were unanimously adopted The Com-
mlttee on Commerce was directed to inquire in
| to the eXpedieney of causing a survey to be
made of the country between the James and
| Ohio rivers, to determine the praeticabity of
constructing a canal to connect said rivers. The
question Of the eligibility of Gen. Amee to a
seat in the Senate from Mississippi was then
| taken up. A number of speeches were made
| by different members. Dir. Viekers, of Mary
land, argued ably against the admission of Gen
Ames. The discussion was kept up until 4:50
7. NJ, when the Senate adjourned
HOUSE.-The bill providing for the transfer
OF certain funds OF the Freedmen's Bureau to
the Office of Education was discussed until the
| expiration OF the morning hour. The Commit
tee on Election reported resolution providing
| for the admission Of Messrs Whitmore, Conner,
Clarke and Durgan, Representatives elect from
Texas. Elr. Shanks, of Indiana offered an
amendment referring the credentials of Dir.
Conner to the Committee on Elections, and
| stated that expressions of disloyalty had been
used by Connor. Mr.. Butler followed with
string of charges of cruelty to soldiers in the
Federal army, of which Mr. Conner was former
ly an officer &c, &c. A long and bitter dis
cussion eDsued, in which Messrs Stevenson and
aud Orth, of Indiana, declared that the charges
had been trumped up by Butler and others on
y because Mr.. Conner was a Democrat Mr.
Conner was finally admitted By a viva voce vote.
and made speech in denial of the charges pre-
ferred against him. The other members elect
were also sworn in, and took their seats
petition signed by number of shipping firms
OF Baltimore city, asking that positive rank be
given to staff officers in the navy, was referred
to the Committee on Naval Affairs The dis
cusslon CT the Tariff bill was resumed in Com
mlttee Of the Whole, and Mr.. Schenck made
speech IN favor of it, The committee thea rose,
and the House soon after adjourned.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA
SENATE-Tuesday. March 29th.-Two more
circuit judges were elected to-day, viz Robert
Il. Turner Of the twelfth, and William Nc
Laughn of the thirteenth circuits.
La the Senate a bill was reported fixing the
salaries Of judges. The Senate bill to incorpo
rofQ hn Hon. Il