The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-04
BY TELEGRAPH.
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MEETING OF CONGRESS.
PROCEEDINGS IN BOTH BRANCHES.
Appointment of Committees.
Mr.. Sumner Introduces the First Bill.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
&c. &c. &c. &c. &c
ESPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.l
Senate,


Washington, Dec. 4th, lsH.-Senate met
at noon to-day. Mr.. Sumner introduced a
bill to substitute compound interest notes
for legal tenders. Resolutions were also
introduced to rebuild the public buildings
of Chicago, recently destroyed by fire.
House Of Representatives.
The galleries crowded. Two hundred
and one members answered to their names.
Garfield, Blair and Cox were appointed
committee to inform the President that the
House was ready for business.
All the new members were sworn in ex-
cept the Texas delegation, of whom only
Connor and Hancock were admitted.
The standing committees were announced.
The following are the chairman of the inn
portant committees: Ways and Means.
Dawes; Elections, McCreery Appropria-
tions, Garfield; Banking and Currency,
Hooper, of Mass. Commerce, Shellabar-
ger Claims, Blair, Of Michigan; Affairs,
Shanks; Military, Cobuin; Naval, Scho-
field; Foreign, Banks; Railways and Ca
nails, Packer, Pa. Education and Labor,
Pierce, Miss. Freedrnan's Affairs, Cobb,
N. G. Patents, Myers.
Butler, of Mass. was made chairman Of
revision of laws.
Several bills were introduced and refer
red, and at / O'Clock the House took re-
cess of half an hour, when the Presidents
message will be received.
Presidents Message.
The Presidents Message was transmitted
to Congress to-day, and is very brief. Its
features are unimportant except in relation
to general amnesty in the South. Upon
this subject, he says:
''Nlore than six years having elapsed since
the last hostile gun was fired between the
armies then arraycd against each other, one
for the protection, the other for the de-
struction of the Union, it may well be con-
sidered whether it is not now time that the
disabilities imposed by the fourteenth
amendment should be removed.
"That amendment does not exclude the
ballot, but imposes the disability to hold
office upon certain classes, when the pur-
pose of the ballot is secure.
81 do not see the advantage or propriety
of excluding men from office merely be-
cause they were, before the rebellion, of
standing and character sufficient to be
elected to positions requiring them to take
oaths to support the constitution, and
admitting to eligibility those entertaining
precisely the same views, but of less stand
ing in their communities.
"It may be said that the former violated
an oath, while the latter did not. The
latter did not have it in their power to do
so. If they had taken this oath, it cannot
be doubted they would have broken it, as
did the former class. If there are any
great criminals distinguished above all others
for the part they took in opposition to the
government, they might, in the judgment
of Congress, be excluded from such
amnesty.
This subject is submitted for your
careful consideration. The condition of the
Southern States is unhappily not such as
all trne patriotic citizens would like to see.
Social ostracism for opinions sake; perso-
nal malice or threats toward persons enter
tanning views opposed to those of the old
citizens prevents immigration, and the
flow of much needed capital into those
States.
SIT will be a happy condition of the
country when the old citizens of these
States will take an interest in public affairs,
promulgate ideas honestly entertained, vote
for men representing their views, and tole-
rate the same freedom of expression and
ballot in others as is accorded to Them"
He resumed a liberal appropriation to
carry out the Indian Peace policy; also
recommend that the public lands be regard.
ed as heritage to our children to be dis
posed of only as regained for occupation
and to actual settlers.
| With regard to Utah, he says. ''In
Utah, there still remains aIemnant Of bar
barism, repugnant to civilization, to decen.
/ cy and to the laws of the United States.--
Territorial officers, however, have
been found who are willing to per-
form their duty in spirit of equity and
with due sense of the necessity of sustain
ing the majority of the law.
"Neither polygamy nor any other viola
ton Of existing States will be permitted
within the territory of the United States.
SIT is not with the religion of the self
styled saints that we are now dealing, bu
with their practices. They will be pro
tected in the worship of God according tt
the dictates of their conscience, but they
will not be permitted to violate the Law
under the cloak of religion.
sit may be advisable for Congress to con
slider what, in the executive Of the law
against polygamy, is to be the status 0
plural wives and their offsprings.
M"The propriety Of Congress passing al
enabling act authorizing the territorial legs
lature of Utah, to legitimize all childrel
born prior to time fixed in the act, nigh
be justified by its humanity to those limo
cent children.
This is suggestion only, and not re
CON mendaton.o
The Cuban question is disposed of, a
follows:
4 SIT is TO be regretted that the disturbe
condition of Cuba continues to be SQUIRE
of annoyance and anxiety.
''The existence of prcstrated struggl
in such close proximity to our own terr
tory, without apparent prospect of a
early termination cannot be othe
than an object of concern to people wht
while abstaining from interference in tt
affairs OF other powers, naturally d.