Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-03-28
NUMBER XVII.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
ETpSp SrccToy ON AO,rr> Co.,~,r--c,

| SENATE-Friday. March 17th.-Hon. John
w. johnson was admitted to seat as Senator
from Virginia. for the term of six years from
March 4th, 1871. A bill was passed creating
Potomac, Virginia, port of delivery The
bill removing the disabilities of Hon. Zebulon
b. Vance, Senator elect from North Carolina,
was placed on the calendar after short dis
cusslon. concurrent resolution was passed
providing for joint committee of seven on the
part OF the Senate, and an equal number on
| the part OF the House, to investigate affairs in
the South, and to sit during the recess of Con-
| gress.
HOUSE. Several bills of no special interest
were discussed, and Mr. Butler made a futile
effort to get his Ku-Klux bill printed.
,SENATE--Saturday, March 1S.-A number
of memorials, petitions and bills of no general
interest were introduced and referred.
Mr.. Sherman delivered speech in favor of
his resolution, directing the judiciary Commit
tee to report remedial legislation for the sup
preston of disorders in the South, in which
ne charged that the Ku-Klux was a body Or
ganized for political objects, and gave an exag-
gerated picture of the disorders in that section.
Messrs. Stevenson, Davis, Johnston and Lew
Is denied the assertions put forth by Mr. Sher-
man. The resolution limiting the business to
be transacted during the present session was
discussed, but no action taken. The Senate
soon after adjourned.
HOUsE.-rhe House was not in session.
SENATE.-Monday, March 2Oth.-Mr. Ham,
llton, OF Texas, took the oath of office. and
was admitted to seat. A bill was passed di-
y7ldlng the State of Virginia into two judicial
districts.
Mr.; Anthony S resolution prescribing the Or
der OF business during the present session was
taken up, and Mr.. Bayard delivered an address
In reply to the viliication of the Southern peo-
pie by Senator Sherman in his speech on Sat-
urday, denying that the disorders in that Sec
ton have been due to political causes, expo
sing the unlawful acts Of the Radical rulers,
and opposing any additional legislation by Con-
gress upon the subject. The Committee on
ih fhrlVileges and Elections submitted report in
the cases OF Mr.. Goldthwaite, of Alabama,
and MIR. Blodgett, of Georgia, declaring them
entitled to seats In the case of Mr.. BIodgett,
Messrs. Thurman and Hill dissenttd. The i.
Senate, at 4:3O Z. M, went into executive ses-
sion, and at its close adjourned
HOUSE.-A telegram was read from Cover
nor Aleorn to the Mississippi delegation in Con-
gress, declaring that the liot at Meridian was
promptly suppressed, and civil obedience and
order prevails throughout that State. The
Senate resolution providing for joint commit
tee an affairs in the South, was taken up and
amended, so as to make the committee consist
OF seven members from the Senate, and fourteen
on the part of the House. The immediate
passage of the resolution was opposed by Mes
srs. Bingham, Butler and Shelabarger, but
the previous question was demanded by Mr.
Dawes, and seconded. The resolution was
then passed as amended-yeas l2S, nays 60.
The House refused to suspend the rules to
allow the Introduction of General Amnesty
bill, with Shellabarger Ku-Klux bill tackled
on as an amendment. A resolution was then
passed providing for the final adjournment of
Congress on Thursday, the 23d inst-ye l21,
nays 81. The House then adjourned.