Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-01-22

| NtateS or any state Government,
nor SHALL any religious test be re-
CURED AS qualification for office
in any State or the United States
1t also forbids the appropriation of
money for sectarian schools CT in
situations OF learning. Mr.. Whits
of Kentucky, moved a suspension
OF the rules to bring the House
to a vote on tie amnesty
bill introduced by him from the
benefits of which Jefferson Davis
is excluded, and also to vote on an
amendment striking out that ex-
clusion A discussion ensued On
the point ct order whether the bin
could re considered in that shape.
The Speaker decided that ii was
not competent for the Chair to eX-
clude any portion af the PROPOSE
ton from the consideration of the
Hou e. He overruIed the point Of
order. MIR. White asked TO be al
lowed to make II statement before
the vote was taken, but the Dedi-
ocratic members objected. The
resolution to suspend the rules was
last-yeas l65, nays 110-less. than
two-thirds voting in the affirma-
tive. This put an end toJthe Ri l..
Mr.. Holman. of Indiaha, moved a
suspension of the rules To adopt a
resolution declaring it ineXpedient
to fix a time at which the legal
tender notes should be paid, aui
that the act providing for a re-
sumption of specie payments h.
repealed, ins,ruciing the Commit
tee on Banking to report bill for
that purpose. The vote stood yeas
1l2, nays 15S, 50 that the rules
were not suspended. An amend
! ment to the rules was passed, gov
erninS the offering ofarnendments
to the general appropriation bills.
1t provides that no appropriation
shall be in order for any expendl-
ture not previously provided for,
except ia continuation of work al
ready in progress. and no amend
ment shall be in order except to re-
trench expenses. The House then
went into Committee on the Cen
tennial bill, and Mr.. Hardenberg,
of New Jersey, advocated its pas
sage. The Committee then rose
without any action. A resolution
was adopted calling upon the
President tor copies of all CORES
pondence with Spain in relation to
Cuba. Mr.. Wood offered resolu-
tian instructing the Committee on
Military Affairs TO inquire wheth-
er any army officer on the active
list has held a civil Office since the
close of the rebellion, either in the
Diplomatic or Consular service, or
as Clerk or Secretary of the Presi-
dent, and if so, under what au-
thOrity, and what legislation il
necessary TO prevent such assign
ments. Adopted, and the House
adjourned.
In the Senate. Tuesday, Mr..
Thurman presented the crediden-
tials of James 3. Eutis, claiming a
seat as Senator from Louisiana,
the credidentiaIs consisting of
lengthy extracts from the pro-
ceeding of the Louisiana Legisla-
ture. On motion,lthe papers were
ordered to be printed in the Con-
gressiOnal Record, and the matter
was laid over until to-day. A re-
solution was adopted calling on
the President for copies of any
correspondence he had with other
governments in regard to the cen
tennial exhibition. Mr.. BOutu eli
ad dressed the Senate on Mr.. Da-
vis's resolution to the finance Om-
mittee by Messrs Edmunds.Shear-
man and Morton, whilst Messrs.
Bayard, Eaton and Thurman con-
tended ii should be entrusted to
u select committee. Pending the
discussion the Senate adjourned.
In the House Mr.. Knott, from
the judiciary committee, reported
an amendm mt to the constitution
providing that no person who has
held, or may hereafter hold the
Office of president,shall ever again
be eligible to said Office, and the
proposed amendment was made
the special order for Tuesday
next. Mr.. Buckner reported II bill
to provide for an elective govern
ment for the Di trici OF Columbia.
The centennial appropriation bill
was taken up, and speeches made
in its favor by Messrs. Hopkins of
Pennsylvania, Waddell, of North
Carolinia,and Hewittand Chitten-
den, of New York, opposing the
passage of the bill on constitution
al grounds. Mr.. Ilis.introduced
a bill supplementary 10 Mr..
Biaine's proposed amendment to
the constitution prohibiting the
distribution of school funds by Sec
tartan schools, the design of the
supplementary amendment being
n a l. "a 4. 4. az