The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-01-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January 10.
SENATE.

Several petitions for the abolition OF
the ranking privilege were presented
creating considerable discussion. in
which Messrs. Drake, CoRkling, Ramsey
apd Howe favored the object of the Pc
titions and Mr.. Thayer expressed the
belief that it was improper for the Post
Office Department to undertake to bring
about legislation by circulating TIE
Vrossest Misrepresentation of the fact
in the shape of circulars to Postmasters
looking to the purpose of the petitions
The petitions were referred.
Mr.. Patterson presented q memorial
intended to call the attention of Con.
gress to violations of the revenue laws,
whereby large quantities of merchan.
States by q class of swindleIs and horse
thieves, who infested the ports of the
territories, which included the City
of Matamoras known as the free belt.
The loss of revenue to the United States
by this unlawful traffic was estimated
at S150,O0 to 100000 annually. An
official correspondence had resulted in
refusal by the Mexican Government
to abolish the free belt, aud some
remedy for the evil was now imperative,
In view of its Importance, he moved
the memorial be tabled and printed,
which was agreed to.
- Mr.. Wiley offered resolution, which
was agreed to, setting apart Friday,
after the expiration of the morning
hour, for the consideration of business
from the committees on the District OF
Columbia, Pensions, Patents and Pri-
vate Land Claims.
The Virginia bill was then taken mp.
Mr.. Norton continued his remarks
commenced yesterday, in favor of the
bill.
MIR. Wilson said various memorials
had been il troduced during the present
discussion which the Judiciary commit
tee had no opportunity of considering;
that the House bill had never been be-
fore that committee, and be therefore
moved to refer the bill to that commit
tee.
Mr.. Trunbull appealed to the Senate
to dispose of the bill upon its merits in
order to take up other important meas
ures of legislation requiring prompt
action.
Mr.. Sumner said he was not in favor
of the action proposed by the Senator
from Illinois, who would admit to the
Union a State still smoking with rebel
lion. He asserted that the late election
in Virginia was a huge fraud. That
people had voted for Governor Walker
for the purpose of embittering the State
and through him nullify the new Con
stitution and trample out the proposed
system of free schools.
On motion of Mr.. Ferry, the commit
tee on Pensions were instructed to con-
alder the propriety of providing by law
that no invalid pensiouer shall be de-
prived of his pension during the time
he may have been employed in the civil
service of the United States between
the Sd of March, 1865, and the 9th of
June, 1866.
Mr.. Stiles introduced concurrent
resolution providing for. the adjourn
ment of Congress on the second Tues
day in April.
Mr.. Benjamin, of Missouri, moved to
lay it on the table. Negatived.
Mr.. Stiles moved the previous ques-
ton on the passage of the resolution.
The motion was seconded.
The concurrent resolution was then
rejected by yeas "a; nays 81.
Mr.. Peters introduced bill to amend
the bankrupt act by exempting from
its provisions certain interests in life
kns1rance policies. Referred.
: After further discussion Mr.. Morton
ofsred aRs amendment declaring spe.
officially that the adoption of her con-
stitution as whole in good faith was
condition of Virginia's admission. Such
o provision weuld be preferable to Mr..
Edmund's amendment because of its
more general character, for it would
prevent notification of any material
part of the constitution, particularly
common school provisions and those
relating to school funds.
The Senate voted on the amendment
OF Mr.. Edmunds, to require the imposi-
ton of the oath upoa State officers that
they are eligible under the Fourteenth
Amendment, which was agreed to.
Adjourned, on motion Of Mr.. Howard,
ct 4:40.