Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-12-09
CONGRESS-

The second session Of the Forty-Sccond Con-
gress commenced Monday at Washington, with
quorum in both houses. In the Senate, JAS.
L. Acorn, late governor of Mississippi, took
his seat as Senator from that State. The Gre
dentiaIs Of Thomas NJ. Norwood Senator-eect
from Georgia, whose seat is contested by Fos-
Ter Blodgett, were laid on the table TO await
reference to committee. A till providing for
civil service reform was introduced. Dir. Sum-
ner urged that bis civil rights bill should he
taken up and passed at an early day. Mr..
Blair intoduced n resolution that the President
he requested to inform the Senate under what
law lie suspended the writ Of habeas corpus in
South Carolina, and especially that lie lay be-
fore the Senate all the :" acts Of instruction,
resistance ar opposition to the laws OF the eni-
ted States upon which his proclamation sus-
pending the habeas corpus was based, and also
that he report in detail the military arrests, laid
over. The Presidents message was read, aud
the Senate ajourned.
The House of Representatives met with POI
members present resolution similar to that
introduced in the Senate, inquiring Of the Pre-
sident by what law lie suspended the wit Of
babeas corpus in South Carolina, was referred
to tie committee on insurrectionary States
A bill was introduced for the repeal Of the III
come tax. The House adopted a resolution
that government mechanics aud laborers, whose
pay had been docked after the passage of
the eisht-hour law, be paid the full amount
which would have accrued to them had they
worked ten hours. The Presidents message
was then received and read, and the House ad-
journed.
Tuesday.
In the Senate Mr.. Blair made an effort to
get up lis resolution calling upon the Presi-
dent TO name tie acts Of rebellion, &C.. upon
which lie based his proclamation for the sus-
pension of the writ of labeas corpus in certain
counties of South Carolina. The motion to
take up the resolution was defeated yeas !,
nays A; Mr.. Upton voting with the demo-
Gratis. f Ooh
In the House bill authorizing onc-cent
post cards was introduced On motion to re-
fer that portion Of the Presidents message
which recommends that the government shall
acquire the telegraph lines throughout the
country, lively debate sprang up, which en-
gagged several of the more prominent members
Of the House, among them Messrs Dawes,
FaTnsworsh, Garfield, and others and a strong
opposition to the measure was developed Ii
~
once % 600 new government employees. who
would he appointed like the postmasters, from
partisan considerations, and that it would
place the whole private business of the country
subject to the scrutiny Of she government.
Wednesday.
In the Senate. Mr.. Anthrny introduced two
bills amending the suffrage enforcement, act of
Congress prohibiting bribery, force, menace,
signs, writings or devices calculated TO proven.
free exercise Of suffrage. Two recusant wit
nesses were reported by Senator Scott in
South Carolina and one in North Carolina,
who refused to testify before tho Ku-KIux
committee, and they will probably be'brought
to the capitol The general amnesty bill was
taken up by unanimous consent, notwitbstand-
ing adverse ruling by the Vice-P President.
Nothing was done with it, however, and it
will be called up again next Monday.
In the House the superintendent bill was
considered, pending, which the House adjourn
ed