Page images
PDF
EPUB

in regular standing with their proper ecclesiastical authorities, in any church or religious society, who, by the laws or canons of such church or society, in force prior to the commencement of the existing civil war, are forbidden to shed human blood, or to take human life in war; and for the like exemption of all other persons who have sincere religious convictions or scruples of conscience against taking part in war: Provided, That the facts upon which such exemption shall be claimed by any person shall be verified in such manner as the amendment may prescribe; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Holman submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz:

Whereas this house has been officially informed that a large number of officers of the army, including a number of major and brigadier generals, have been, for a long period of time, relieved from active service, while still receiving the full pay pertaining to their rank; and whereas such policy, while embarrassing to the officers so relieved, is manifestly unjust to the country, and interferes with just and proper promotions in the army: Therefore,

Resolved, That, in the judgment of this house, the policy of retaining in the pay of the government officers who have been indefinitely relieved from active service, not physically disabled by wounds, and who have not been placed on the retired list, ought to be discontinued; and that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire what legislation, if any, is necessary to effect a remedy in the premises, and reduce the number of general officers not employed in active service, and report by bill or otherwise.

On motion of Mr. King, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That an amendment proposed to be submitted by him, when in order, to the bill of the House No. 63, be printed.

Mr. Orth submitted the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That a select committee of five members be appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the facts connected with the "special detail" and absence from his department of Dr. C. M. Wetherill, the chemist of the Department of Agriculture, with power to send for persons and papers, and to report by bill or otherwise.

The same having been read,

Mr. Orth moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered and put, viz., Will the House agree to the resolution? And no quorum voted.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Ancona, at 3 o'clock and 48 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1864.

The following memorials, petitions, and other papers were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House:

By Mr. Grinnell: The memorial of members of the bar of Johnson county, in the State of Iowa, praying a change in the place for holding the United States circuit court, from Des Moines to Davenport, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Price: The memorial of R. Ludewan and other citizens of the State of Iowa, praying a change in the place for holding the United States circuit court, from Des Moines to Davenport, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. James S. Rollins: The memorial and papers of Jonathan L. Jones, civil engineer; which were referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

By Mr. James S. Brown: The memorial of the Chamber of Commerce in the city of Milwaukie, State of Wisconsin, in relation to the reciprocity treaty between the United States and Great Britain; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Moorhead: The petition of Mary Bennett-heretofore referred February 28, 1860; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Le Blond: The petition of William Sawyer and others-heretofore referred December 4, 1861; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

By Mr. Donnelly: The memorial of Joseph Ford, praying that he be allowed to enter, under the homestead act, a certain tract of land in the State of Minnesota; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

By Mr. Garfield: The memorial of the "German Radicals," of the city of Newark, in the State of New Jersey, praying certain amendments to the act for enrolling and calling out the national forces; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Bennet: The petition of members of the territorial legislature of the Territory of Colorado, praying a State organization; which was referred to the Committee on the Territories.

The Speaker having announced, as the business first in order, the following resolution submitted by Mr. Orth, and pending when the House adjourned yesterday, viz:

Resolved, That a select committee of five members be appointed for the purpose of inquiring into the facts connected with the "special detail" and absence from his department, of Dr. C. M. Wetherill, the chemist of the Department of Agriculture, with power. to send for persons and papers, and to report by bill or otherwise :

The question was put, Will the House agree thereto ?

And it was decided in the affirmative.

So the resolution was agreed to.

Mr. Cobb, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled bills of the following titles,

viz:

S. 50. An act to authorize the President to appoint a Second Assistant Secretary of War; and

H. R. 35. An act to provide for the deficiency in the appropriations for the pay of officers and men actually employed in the western department, or department of Missouri;

When

The Speaker signed the same.

On motion of Mr. Hale, by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the bills and reports from the Court of Claims, undisposed of at the last Congress, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hickey, their chief clerk:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed joint resolutions and a bill of the following titles, viz:

S. Res. 18. Joint resolution in relation to the public printing;

S. Res. 2. Joint resolution expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Nathaniel P. Banks and the officers and soldiers under his command at Port Hudson;

S. Res. 3. Joint resolution expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Joseph Hooker, Major General George G. Meade, and Major Gen

eral Oliver O. Howard, and the officers and soldiers of the army of the Potomac ;

S. Res. 5. Joint resolution of thanks to Major General Ambrose E. Burnside and the officers and men who have fought under his command;

S. Res. 14. Joint resolution presenting the thanks of Congress to Cornelius Vanderbilt for a gift of the steamship Vanderbilt; and

S 36. An act to amend an act entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1863; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house.

The President of the United States has notified the Senate that he did, on the 16th instant, approve and sign a joint resolution and bill of the following titles, viz:

S. Res. 15. Joint resolution amendatory of the joint resolution "to supply in part deficiencies in the appropriations for the public printing, and to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for bounties to volunteers ;" and

S. 57. An act declaring the assent of Congress to an act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, therein named.

Mr. Stevens, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill (H. R. 151) making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending 30th of June, 1865; which was read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, made a special order for Thursday next, the 21st instant, after the expiration of the morning hour, and ordered to be printed.

Another message from the Senate, by Mr. Hickey, their chief clerk:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of the following titles, viz: S. 34. An act in favor of the legal representatives of Israel C. Wait; and S. 49. An act relating to the admission of patients to the hospital for the insane in the District of Columbia;

in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.

The House having resumed the consideration of the joint resolution (H. Res. 18) to amend a joint resolution explanatory of "an act to suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," approved July 17, 1862, heretofore reported from the Committee on the Judiciary-the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Wilson to recommit the same to the said committee

After debate, and pending the question on the motion to recommit,

On motion of Mr. Stevens, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cox reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz., H. R. 122. A bill to increase the internal revenue, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

Mr. Morrison gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to move for leave to introduce a bill to provide for the payment to volunteers who enlisted before the date of the last call for troops-October 17, A. D. 1863—the same bounties paid to those who enlist subsequent thereto.

On motion of Mr. Stevens,

Resolved, That general debate in the Committee of the Whole House cn the state of the Union on the bill of the House No. 122 shall cease in one minute after its consideration is resumed; and the committee shall then (after the five minutes' debate) proceed to vote on such amendments as may be pending or offered to the same, and shall then report it to the House, with such amendments as may have been agreed to by the committee.

On motion of Mr. Stevens, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time

spent therein the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cox reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz., H. R. 122. A bill to increase the internal revenue, and for other purposes, had come to no resolution thereon.

By unanimous consent, bills and a joint resolution were introduced and severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz :

By Mr. Fernando Wood: A bill (H. R. 152) to reimburse the city of New York for expenses incurred in the outfit of troops to aid in suppressing the present insurrection; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Stebbins: Joint resolution (H. Res. 26) to remit and refund certain duties on arms imported and purchased by the State of New York; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Grinnell: A bill (H. R. 153) to amend section 9 of the act of Congress of July 17, 1862, relative to the pay of chaplains; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

On motion of Mr. Chanler, by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the petition of the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company in respect to funds taken by military order at New Orleans, and forwarded to the United States treasury, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Lovejoy, at 4 o'clock p. m., the House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1864.

The following memorials, petitions, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House:

By Mr. Dawson: The memorial of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying the establishment of a mail route from New Geneva, in that State, to Morgantown, in the State of Virginia; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads;

Also, the memorial of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying the establishment of a mail route from Elderton to Plumville, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

By Mr. Stevens: The petition of officers of the engineer corps of the army, praying an increase of pay; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Bennet: The memorial of B. D. Williams, praying compensation as delegate from Colorado Territory to the 36th Congress; which was referred to the Committee of Elections.

By Mr. Spalding: Three (3) memorials of citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, praying the passage of an act to construct a ship canal around the Falls of Niagara; which were referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

By Mr. Spalding: The memorial of citizens of Toledo, in the State of Ohio, praying the passage of an act to improve the harbor at Grand river, on Lake Erie; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Upson: Resolutions of the supervisors of Branch county, in the State of Michigan, in favor of annexing that county to the eastern judicial district of Michigan; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Blow: Two (2) memorials of the Evangelical Lutheran Society of Missouri, praying that ministers of the gospel may be exempt from military duty; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Thomas T. Davis: The petition of Mary K. Smith, praying a special pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Higby: The petition of Captain D. O. Selfridge, United States navy, praying to be allowed an opportunity to refute the charges of the

advisory board of the navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

By Mr. Boutwell: The petition of L. Neufeldt and others, citizens of the State of Massachusetts, in relation to the amnesty proclamation of the Presi dent; which was referred to the select committee on the rebellious States.

By Mr. Deming: The petition of the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad Company; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Charles O'Neill: Two (2) petitions of ship carpenters employed in the Philadelphia navy yard, praying an increase of wages; which were referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs;

Also, the memorial of military storekeepers of the army, praying the passage of an act to define their rank; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Morrison: The memorial of Valentine Wehrheim, praying an increase of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Cobb: The memorial of H. R. Crosbie, praying compensation for expenses incurred in furnishing information to the government in relation to the boundary line between the United States and Mexico; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the 11th annual report of the Superintendent of Public Printing; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed.

The Speaker announced that he had appointed the following members as the select committee on the chemist of the Department of Agriculture, under the resolution of the House of yesterday, viz: Mr. Orth, Mr. Clay, Mr. Knapp, Mr. Dawson, and Mr. Woodbridge.

Mr. Allison, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 154) making a grant of lands to the State of Iowa to aid in the construction of the McGregor, Western and Cedar Falls and Minnesota railroads in said State; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 155) to amend the act entitled An act to establish and equalize the grades of line officers of the United States navy," approved July 16, 1862; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

A message in writing was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Nicolay, his private secretary; which was handed in at the Speaker's table.

Mr. Kalbfleisch, under the authority heretofore granted, submitted the views of a minority of the select committee on emancipation relative to the estab lishment of a bureau of Freedmen's Affairs; which were ordered to be printed. On motion of Mr. Thomas, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That an amendment proposed to be submitted by him, when in order, to the bill of the House No. 63, be printed and referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Lovejoy, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing a bounty to all soldiers honorably discharged on account of sickness contracted while in the line of their duty, and that they be authorized to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Chanler, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of compiling and printing the laws of the United States relating to pilots and pilotage, and to report the same to this house.

« PreviousContinue »