The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-12-27
ongrcsS.

fund Among the bills introduced was
one to enable Colorado to frame Con-
stitution aud apply for admission as
state. Mr.. Shuiz's amnesty resolution
was referred to the Committee on Disa-
bilitics, but Il motion was entered for a
reconsideration of the reference, ns several
Senators desired to speak on the reso-
luton. The latter pant of the day was
spent in discussing the proposition to
make compensation for property destroyed
in the late war by order of Federal
officers. The case under consideration is
regarded as test case. 1t is contcnlcd
on the one hand that the property was
destroyed to prevent its use by the enemy,
and to aid the range of the guns from Fed
eral forts, and was therefore private
property taken for public uses, for which
compensation is guaranteed by the Con-
stitution On the other hand it was
claimed that the destruction of the house
in question was one Of the inevitable
consequences Of the battle, and no more
to be paid for by the Government than
i
In the House, large number of bills
were introduced, including one to prevent
and punish bribery in Congressional cleo
tons, and to enforce the rights of citizens
in the several States; one authorizing the
issue Of one cent correspondence cards,a
one providing for commission to settle
claims for damage done in the late war
An act was passed giving soldiers Of the
War of 1912, and the Mexican War,
the same benefits under the Soldiers
Homestead act as are granted to those
who fought in the rebellion. Among the
resolutions offered was one to inquire
into the charges of bribery in the Rhode
Island election. Mr.. Jsenes. of kentucky,
offered a resolution for the removal of all
I political disabilities, with a preamble
which declared that the Government Of
the United States was established as a
confederacy of so equal States, and the
right Of secession had from the first been
debatable question that the citizens OF
certain States had seeded with honest
convictions that their experiment was
settled by force of arms, and since that
time they had CONFIRMED to all the re-
quirments of the Government The pre-
amble and resolution were rejected by a
vote of II to 142 4 bill was passed
appropriating $4,000 for the removal
Of the Apache Indians to reservations,
and providing for their subsistence there.
In the Senate, Tuesday, several new
bills ofmnor Importance were introduced,
and Mr.. Sherman reported bill from
the Finance Committee, authorizing the
issue of 100000 more Of five per
cent, bonds. After some further prelim-
mary business the San Domingo question
came up, on the motion Of Mr.. Morton,
for the consideration Of his re. olution in
favor Of an investigating committee.
The subject was debated at considerable
length, by Messrs. Morton, Sumner, How
ard, Schurz, and other Senators. Mr.
Schurz said the work required Of the
proposed committee would require several
years. Opposition to the resolution was
founded mainly on the ground that it
would commit the Senators beforehand on
the annexation project.
In the House, after some preliminary
business, the discussion of Mr. Butler
Amnesty bill was resumed. The prin.
cipal speakers were Messrs. Bingham
Fitch, Degener and Mercur The South.
F ern members were mostly in favor Of
general amnesty. Mr.. Bingham advo.
Gated his own amendment. The debate
r was finally cut off by the previous ques
ton which was moved by Mr.. Butler.
At the opening of the Senate, on We'd
nesday, Mr.. Sumner, Of Massachusetts
, made personal explanation with regard
, to his relations with the President, deny.
ing certain statements attributed to him
rejecting on President Grant \ few
!. bills were then introduced, and the resi-
of the time until after = o'clock was con
: sumed in attempts to stave off the Sar
q Domingo question. Mr.. Norton resolu
ton was finally brought up, aud after ;
! few remarks by Mr.. Bayard, Of Delaware
, Mr.. Sumner made long speech, going
y over the history and the merits Of tn,
9 whole annexation scheme. The Senate
. then took a recess until evening, wheI
! Mr.. Morton, of Indiana, made a reply
a and the discussion was kept mp until ;
late hour
a In the House several petitions an,
, memorials were presented, including on
j form Victoria c. Woodruff, claiming tn
!, right Of suffrage, under the Fourteentl
. and Fifteenth Amendments, and askin
), for legislation to guarantee its exercise
h Mr.. Butler moved the postponement q
q the Amnesty bill to the second Wednes
c day of January. The proposition wa
r. vigorously opposed by Mr. Farnswortl
q MIR. Wood, and other members, but wa
i finally adopted, by vote Of l02 to s.
> FrancO-Prussiun War.
p ANOTHER GERMAN VICTORY.
r. AMIENs, Dee. ~.
e, The German victory is reported {
o, Halena, Southeast of this city, over IL
III Army Of the North 60, 900 strong.
k The Germans carried several village
fe by storm and took 1000 prisoners.
s. ANOTHER VICTORY.
st LONDON, Dec. u.