any civil office of profit under the commonwealth, which has been created, or the emoluments of which have been increased during such term, except offices filled by election by the people.

And insert, in lieu thereof the following:

Sec. 2. The house of delegates shall be elected biennially by the voters of the several cities and counties, on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, and shall, from and after the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, consist of not more than one hundred, and not _c-ss than ninety members.

Sec. 3. From and after the same date, the senate shall consist of not less than thirty-three nor more than forty members. They shall be elected for the term of four years—for the election of whom, the counties, cities, and towns shall be divided into districts. Each county, city, and town of the respective districts shall, at the time of the first election of its delegate or delegates under this amendment, vote for one or more senators. The senators first elected under this amendment, in districts bearing odd numbers, shall vacate their offices at the end of two years; and those elected in districts bearing even numbers, at the end of four years: and vacancies occurring by expiration of term shall be filled by the election of senators for the full term.

Sec. 4. An apportionment of Senators and members of the House of Delegates shall be made at the regular session of the General Assembly next preceding the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, or sooner. A reapportionment shall be made in the year eighteen hundred and ninetyone, and every tenth year thereafter.

QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS AND DELEGATES.

Sec. 5. Any person maybe elected senator who, at the time of election, is actually a resident within the district, and qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly according to this Constitution; and any person may be elected a member of the House of Delegates who, at the time of election, is actually a resident within the county, city, town, or election district, qualified to vote for members of the General Assembly according to this Constitution. But no person holding a salaried office under the State Government shall be capable of being elected a member of either

House of the General Assembly. The removal of any person elected to either branch of the General Assembly, from the city, county, town, or district for which he was elected, shall vacate his office.

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Sec. 6. The General Assembly shall meet once in two years, and not oftener, unless convened by the Governor in the manner prescribed in this Constitution. No session of the General Assembly, after the first under this amendment, Khali continue longer than ninety days, without the concurrence of three-fifths of the members elected to each House; in which case the session may be extended for a further period, not exceeding thirty days. Neither house during the session of the General Assembly, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. A majority ot the members elected to each house shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and shall have power to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalty as each house may prescribe.

Sec. 8. The members of the General Assembly shall receive for their services a salary, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the public treasury; but no act increasing such salary shall take effect until after the end of the term for which the members of the House of Delegates voting thereon were elected; and no senator or delegate, during the term for which he shall have been elected, shall be appointed to any civil office of profit under the commonwealth, which has been created, or the emoluments of which have been increased during such term, except offices filled by election by the people.

Add the following sections at the end of the article:

Sec. 23. The Legislature shall have power to provide for the government of cities and towns, and to establish such courts therein as may be necessary for the administration of justice.

Sec. 24. The General Assembly shall have power, by two-thirds vote, to remove disabilities incurred under clause third, section one, article third of this Constitution, with reference to duelling.

The "Public Credit Bill" of the Fortieth

Congress.

Fortieth Congress—Third Session.

In House. 1869, January 20—Mr. Schenck introduced, by unanimous consent, the following bill (H. R. 1744):

An act to strengthen the public credit and re lating to contracts for the payment of coin.

Be it enacted, &>c, That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the Government to discharge all just obligations to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of the law, by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared, that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin, or its equivalent, of all the interest-bearing obligations of the United States, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligation has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money, or other currency than gold or silver; Provided, however, That before any of said interest-bearing obligator not already due shall mature, or be paid before maturity, the obligations not bearing interest, known as United States notes, shall be made convertible into coin at the option of the holder.

Sec. 2. That any contract hereafter made specifically payable in coin, and the consideration of which may be a loan of coin, or a sale of property, or the rendering of labor or service of any kind, the price of which, as carried into the contract, may have been adjusted on the basis of the coin value thereof at the time of such sale, or the rendering of such service or labor, shall be legal and valid, and may be enforced according to its terms; and on the trial of a suit brought for the enforcement of any such contract, proof of the real consideration may be given.

February 23—The previous question demanded and the main question ordered—yeas 101, nays 43, not voting 78.

February 24—Mr. Shanks moved that the bill be laid on the table, which was disagreed to— yeas 54, nays 133, not voting 35.

Mr. Niblack moved to strike out the first section, which was disagreed to—yeas 54, nays 130 (not voting 38), as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Archer, Jehu Baker, Barnes, Beatty, Beck, C. C. Bowen, Burr, R. R. Butler, A. Cobb, Coburn, Deweese, Donnelly, Eggleston, Ela, Eldredge, Farnsworth, Fox, Getz, J. S. Golladay, Goss, Gravely, Grover, Haighl, Hawkins, Holman, B. F. Hopkins, Humphrey, Hunter, Ingersoll, J. A. Johnson, T. L. Jones, Kerr, Knott, Loan, Marshall, McCormick, Mungen, Niblack, Orth, F. A. Pike, Pruyn, L. W. Ross, Shanks, A. F. Stevens, Stokes, F. Stone, Taffe, Tift, Van Auken, Van Trump, H. D. Washburn, J. T. Wilson, F. Wood, P. M. B. Young

—54

Nays—Messrs. Allison, Ames, G. W. Anderson, Arnell, D. R. Ashley, J. M. Ashley, Axtell, Baldwin, Banks, Barnum, Beaman, Benjamin, Benton, Bingham, W. J. Blackburn, Blaine, A. Blair, Boutwell, Boyden, Boyer, Bromwell, Brooks, Broomall, Buckley, Cake, Chanler, Churchill, R. W. Clarke, S. Clarke, Clift, Corley, Cornell, Covode, Cullom, Delano, Dickey, N. F. Dixon, Dockery, G. M. Dodge, Driggs, Eckley, T. D. Eliot, J. T. Elliott, Ferriss, T. W. Ferry, W. C. Fields, Glossbrenner, Gove, J. A. Griswold, Halsey, Harding, Heaton, Higby, J. Hill, Hooper, J. Hotchkiss, CD. Hubbard, R. £>. Hubbard, Hulburd, Jenckes, A. H. Jones, Judd, Julian, Kelley, Kellogg, Kelsey, J. H. Ketcham, Kitchen, Koontz, Laflin, Lash, G. V. . Lawrence, W. Lawrence, Logan, J. Lynch, Mallory, Marvin, Maynard, McKee, Mercur, G. F. Miller, W. Moore, Moorhead, Mullins, Myers, Newsham, Norris, O'Neill, H. E. Paine, Perham, Peters, Pettis, C. E. Phelps, C. W. Pierce, Pile, Plants, Poland, Pomeroy, H. Price, Prince, Raum, Robertson, Roots, P. Sawyer, Schenck,

Scofteld, Shellabarger, W. C. Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, T. E. Stewart, Stover, Taber, C. N. Taylor, F. Thomas, J. Trimble, Trowbridge, Twichell, C. Upson, Van Aernam, B. Van Horn, H. Ward, C. C. Washburn, W. B. Washburn, Welker, Whittemore, T. Williams, W. Williams, J. F. Wilson, Windom—130.

Mr. Allison moved to strike out the second section, which was lost—yeas 72, nays 100 (net voting 50), as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Allison, Jehu Baker, Beatty, Beck, Benton, C. C. Bowen, Bromwell, B. F. Butler, Cake, Clift, A. Cobb, Coburn, B. C. Cook, Cornell, Cullom, Deweese, Dickey, Donnelly, Eckley, Ela, Eldredge, Farnsworth, Ferriss, T.W. Ferry, Fox, J. S. Golladay, Goss, Gravely, Hawkins, Holman, Hooper, B. F. Hopkins, Hunter, Ingersoll, Kelley, Kelsey, Knott, Koontz, W. Lawrence, Loan, Loughridge, J. Lynch, Maynard, G. F. Miller, W. Moore, Morrell, Mullins, Mungen, Myers, Niblack, Nunn, O'Neill, Orth, Peters, Robertson, L. W. Ross, P. Sawyer, Shanks, Shellabarger, W. C. Smith, A. F. Stevens, Stokes, Taffe, F. Thomas, Tift, C. Upson, Van Trump, H. D. Washburn, T. Williams, W. Williams, J. T. Wilson, P. M. B. Young—72.

Nays—Messrs. Ames, G. W. Anderson, Archer, Arnell, D. R. Ashley, J. M. Ashley, Axtell, Baldwin, Banks, Barnes, Barnum, Beaman, Benjamin, W. J. Blackburn, A. Blair, Boyden, Boyer, Brooks\ Broomall, Buckley, R. R. Butler, Callis, Chanler, Churchill, R. W. Clarke, Corley, Covode, Dawes, Delano, N. F. Dixon, G. M. Dodge, Driggs, Edwards, T. D. Eliot, J. T. Elliott, W. C. Fields, Getz, Glossbrenner, Gove, J. A. Griswold, Grover, Haight, Halsey. A. C. Harding, Heaton, J, Hotchkiss, C. D. Hubbard, R. D. Hubbard, Hulburd, Jenckes, J, A. Johnson, A. H. Jones, T. L. Jones, Judd, Julian, Kerr, Ketcham, Kitchen, Laflin, Lash, G. V. Lawrence, Mallory, Marvin, J. R. McCormick, McKee, Mercur, Moorhead, Newsham, Norris, H. E. Paine, Perham, C. E. Phelps, C. W. Pierce, F. A. Pike, Plants, Poland, Pomeroy, H. Price, Pruyn, Raum, Schenck, Scofield, Spalding, Starkweather, T. E. Stewart, F. Stone, Stover, Taber, C. N. Taylor, Trowbridge, Twichell, Van Aernarn, Van Auken, B. Van Horn, H. Ward, W. B. Washburn, Welker, Whittemore, J. F. Wilson, F. Wood—100.

The bill was ordered engrossed and read a third time, and passed finally—yeas 121, nays 60 (not voting 41), as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Allison, Ames, G. W. Anderson, Arnell, D. R. Ashley, J. M. Ashley, Axtell, Baldwin, Banks, Barnum, Beaman, Benjamin, Benton, W. J. Blackburn, Blaine, A. Blair, Boyden, Boyer, Brooks, Broomall, Buckley, Callis Chanler, Churchill, R. W. Clarke, S. Clarke', Clift, Corley, Cornell, Cullom, Dawes, Delano, N. F. Dixon, G. M. Dodge, Driggs, Eckley, T. D. Eliot, J: T. Elliott, Ferriss, T. W. Ferry, W. C. Fields, Garfield, Getz, Glossbrenner, Gove, J. A. Griswold, Halsey, A. C. Harding, Heaton, Higby, J. Hill, Hooper, J. Hotchkiss, C. D. Hubbard, R. £>. Hubbard, Hulburd, Jenckes, A. H. Jones, Judd, Julian, F. W. Kellogg, Kelsey, Ketcham, Kitchen, Koontz, Laflin, Lash, G* V. Lawrence, J. Lynch, Marvin, Maynard, McKee, Mercur, G. F. Miller, W. Moore, Moorhead, Morrell, Mullins, Myers, Newcomb, Newsham. Norris, O'Neill, H. E. Paine, Perham, Peters, Pettis, C. E. Phelps, Plants, Poland, Pomeroy,H. Price, Raum, Robertson, Robinson, Roots, P. Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shellabarger, W. C. Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, T. E. Stewart, Stover, Taber, C. N. Taylor, Trowbridge, Twichell, C. Upson, Van Aernam, B. Van Horn, R. T. Van Horn, H. Ward, C. C. Washburn, W. B. Washburn, Welker, Whittemore, T. Williams, J. F. Wilson, Windom—121.

Nays—Messrs. Archer, Jehu Baker, Beatty, Beck, C. C. Bowen, Bromwell, Burr, B. F. Butler, R. R. Butler, Cake, A. Cobb, Coburn, B. C. Cook, Covode, Deweese, Donnelly, Eggleston, Ela, Eldredge, Farnsworth, Fox, French, J. S. Golladay, Goss, Grover, Haight, Hawkins, Holman, B. F. Hopkins, Humphrey, Hunter, Ingersoll, J. A. Johnson, T. Z. Jones, Kelley, Kerr, Knott, W. Lawrence, Loughridge, Marshall, McCormick, Mungen, Niblack, Nunn, Orth, F. A. Pike, L. W. Ross, Shanks, A. F. Stevens, Stokes, F. Stone, Taffe, F. Thomas, Tift, Van Trump, H. D. Washburn, W. Williams, J. T.-Wilson, F. Wood, P. M. B. Young—-6o. In Senate.

February 26—The bill was reported back from the Committee on Finance, amended so as to read as follows:

An Act relating to the public debt.

Be it enacted, &*c, That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the Government to discharge all just obligations to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of the laws by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared, that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin, or its equivalent, of all the obligations of the United States, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligation has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money or other currency than gold and silver.

Sec. 2. That any contract hereafter made specifically payable in coin, and the consideration of which may be a loan of coin, or a sale of property, or the rendering of labor or service of any kind, the price of which, as carried into the contract, may have been adjusted on the basis of the coin value thereof at the time of such sale or the rendering of such service or labor, shall be legal and valid, and may be enforced according to its terms.

February 27—Mr. Henderson moved to amend the first clause of the second section by making it read as follows:

That any contract hereafter made specifically payable in coin shall be legal and valid, and may be enforced according to its terms.

Which was not agreed to—yeas 10, nays 35, as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Cole, Conkling, Corbett, Dixon, Fessenden, Henderson, Pomeroy, Ross, Stewart, Trumbull—10.

Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Anthony, Cameron, Cattell, Chandler, Conness, Cragin, Davis, Doolittle, Drake, Edmunds, Ferry, Frelinghuysen, Harlan, Howe, Kellogg, McCreery, McDonald,

Morgan, Morrill of Vermont, Morton, Nye, Osborn, Patterson of New Hampshire, Ramsey, Rice, Sawyer, Sherman, Sumner, Thayer, Wade, Welch, Willey, Williams, Wilson—35.

Mr. Bayard moved to strike out the second section, which was not agreed to—yeas 7, nays 36, as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Chandler, Cole, Davis, Doolittle, Fowler, Howe, Wade—7.

Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Anthony, Cameron, Cattell, Conkling, Conness, Corbett, Cragin, Dixon, Drake, Edmunds, Ferry, Fessenden, Frelinghuysen, Harlan, Kellogg, McCreery, McDonald, Morgan, Morrill' of Vermont, Morton, Nye, Osborn, Patterson of New Hampshire, Pomeroy, Ramsey, Ross, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Thayer, Trumbull, Welch, Willey, Williams, Wilson—36.

Mr. Henderson moved to amend the first section so as to make it read as follows:

That it is hereby provided and declared that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to an early resumption of specie payment by the Government, in order that conflicting questions touching the mode of discharging the public indebtedness may be settled and that the same may be paid in gold.

Which was not agreed to—yeas 8, nays 34, as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Cole, Davis, Henderson, Morton, Pomeroy, Robertson, Ross, Spencer—8.

Nays—Messrs. Anthony, Cattell, Conkling, Conness, Corbett, Cragin, Dixon, Edmunds, Ferry, Fessenden, Frelinghuysen, Grimes, Harlan, Harris, Howard, McDonald, Morgan, Morrill of Maine, Morrill of Vt., Nye, Osborn, Patterson of New Hampshire, Sawyer, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Thayer, Tipton, Wade, Warner, Welch, Willey, Williams, Wilson—30.

The bill as amended by the report of the Committee on Finance, was then passed—yeas 30, nays 16, as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Abbott, Cattell, Conkling, Conness, Corbett, Cragin, Dixon, Edmunds, Feriy, Fessenden, Frelinghuysen, Grimes, Harlan, Harris, Howard, Morgan, Morrill of Maine, Morrill of Vermont, Nye, Patterson of New Hampshire, Robertson, Sawyer, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Thayer, Tipton, Willey, Williams, Wilson—30.

Nays—Messrs. Cole, Davis, Doolittle, Fowler, Henderson, Hendricks, McCreery, McDonald, Morton, Osborn, Patterson of Tennessee, Pomeroy, Ross, Spencer, Wade, Welch—16.

The title was amended so as to read " An act in relation to the public debt."

March 2—The House non-concurred in the amendments of the Senate, and a committee of conference (Messrs. Schenck, Allison, and Niblack) appointed.

Same day—The Senate insisted on its amendments, and appointed Messrs. Sherman, WilLiams, and Morton a conference committee.

March 3—The committee reported the following bill:

An Act to strengthen the public credit, and relating to contracts for the payment of coin.

Be it enacted &c, That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the Government to discharge all just obligations to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and intepretations of the laws by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared, that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin, or its equivalent, of all the obligations of the United States not bearing interest, known as United States notes, and of all the interest-bearing obligations of the United States, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligation has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money or other currency than gold and silver. But none of said interest-bearing obligations not already due shall be redeemed or paid before maturity, unless at such time United States notes shall be convertible into coin at the option of the holder, or unless at such time bonds of the United States bearing a lower rate of interest than the bonds to be redeemed qan be sold at par in coin. And the United States also solemnly pledges its faith to make provision at the earliest practicable period for the redemption of the United States notes in coin.

Sec. 2. That any contract hereafter made specifically payable in coin, and the consideration of which may be a loan of coin, or a sale of property, or the rendering of labor or service of any kind, the price of which, as carried into the contract, may have been adjusted on the basis of the coin value thereof at the time of such sale or the rendering of such service or labor, shall be legal and valid, and may be enforced according to its terms; and on tjie trial of a suit brought for the enforcement of any such contract, proof of the real consideration may be given.

Same day—The Senate agreed to the report— yeas 31, nays 24, as follows:

Yeas—Messrs. Abbott, Anthony, Cameron, Cattell, Chandler, Conkling, Conness, Corbett, Cragin, Dixon, Drake, Edmunds, Ferry, Fessenden, Frelinghuysen, Harris, Howard, Morgan, Morrill of Maine, Morrill of Vermont, Nye, Patterson of New Hampshire, Ramsey, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Trumbull, Van Winkle, Warner, Willey, Williams—31.

Nays—Messrs. Bayard, Buckalew, Cole, Davis, Doolittle, Fowler, Hendricks, Kellogg, McCreery, McDonald, Morton, Norton, Osborn, Patterson of Tennessee, Robertson, Ross, Sawyer, Spencer, Sprague, Thayer, Tipton, Vickers, Wade, Whyte—24.

Same day—The House adopted the report— yeas 117, nays 59 (not voting 48), as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Allison, Ames, Arnell, D. R. Ashley, J. M. Ashley, Axtell, A. H. Bailey, Barnes, Barnwn, Beaman, Benjamin, Benton, Bingham, A. Blair, Boutwell, C. C. Bowen, Boyden, Brooks, Broomall, Buckley, Cake, Callis, Chanter, Churchill, R. W. Clarke, S. Clarke, Clift, Corley, Cornell, Cullom, Dawes, Dickey, N. F. Dixon, G. M. Dodge, Eckley, T. D. Eliot, J. T. Elliott, Ferriss, T. W. Ferry, W. C. Fields, Garfield, Gove, Griswold, Halsey, Haughey, Heaton, Higby, J. Hill, Hooper, y. Hotchkiss, R. D. Hubbard, Hulburd, Jenckes, A. H. Jones, Judd, Julian, F. W. Kellogg, Kelsey, Ketcham, Laflin, Lash, G. V. Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, J. Lynch, R. Mallory, Marvin, Maynard, McCarthy, McKee, Mercur, G. F. Miller, W. Moore, Moorhead, Morrell, Mullins, Myers, Newsham, Norris, O'Neill, H. E. Paine,

Perham, Peters, C. E. Phelps, Pile, Plants, Poland, H. Price, Prince, Raum, Robertson, Robinson, Roots, P. Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shellabarger, W. C. Smith, Starkweather, A. F. Stevens, T. E. Stewart, Stover, Syphcr, Taber, C. N. Taylor, Trowbridge, Twichell, Upson, B. Van Horn, Van WTyck, H. Ward, C. C. Washburn, W. B. Washburn, Welker, Whittemore, J, F. Wilson, Woodbridge—117.

Nays—Messrs. G. M. Adams, Archer, Jehu Baker, Beatty, Beck, Boyer, Bromwell, Burr, B. F.Butler, R. R. Butler, Cary, Cobb, Coburn, B. C. Cook, Deweese, Dockery, Donnelly, Eggleston, Eldredge, Farnsworth, Getz, y. S. Golladay, Goss, Haight, A. C. Harding, Hawkins, Holman, B. F. Hopkins, Hunter, Ingersoll, J. A, yohnson, T. L. yones, Kerr, Knott, W. Lawrence, Marshall, McCormick, McCullough, Mungen, Niblack, Orth, Pruyn, Randall, Ross, Shanks, Sitgreaves, F, Stone, F. Thomas, Tift, L. S. Trimble, Van Aernam, Van Auken, Van Trump, H. D. Washburn, W. Williams, S. F. Wilson, F. Wood, Woodward, P. M. B. Young—59.

The President, Andrew Johnson, " pocketed" the bill, it having been presented to him for his approval March 3, 1869, the day of the adjournment of Congress.

The "Public Credit Act" of the FortyFirst Congress,

Forty-First Congress—First Session,

This bill became a law March 18, 1869, being the first act approved by President Grant:

Be it enacted, &c., That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the Government to discharge all just obligations to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of the law by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared, that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin or its equivalent of all the obligations of the United States not bearing interest, known as United States notes, and of all the interest bearing obligations of the United States, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligation has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money or other currency than gold and silver. But none of said interest-bearing obligations not already due shall be redeemed or paid before maturity unless at such time United States notes shall be convertible into coin at the option of the holder, or unless at such time bonds of the United States bearing a lower rate of interest than the bonds to be redeemed can be sold at par in coin. And the United States also solemnly pledges its faith to make provision at the earliest practicable period for the redemption of the United States notes in coin.

In House.

1869, March 12—Mr. Schenck introduced the bill passed at third session of Fortieth Congress, and "pocketed" by President Johnson (for which see proceedings above).

Mr. Burr moved that it be laid on the table; which was disagreed to—yeas 54, nays 85, not voting 54.

Mr. Allison moved to strike out the second section as printed before, which was agreed to— yeas 87, nays 56 (not voting 50), as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Allison, Ames, Archer, A. H. Bailey, Beaman, Beatty, Beck, Biggs, Bingham, Bird, C. C. Bowen, Burr, B. F. Butler, Cake, Cessna, A. Cobb, Coburn, Cullom, N. Davis, Deweese, Dickinson, Dyer, Eldredge, Farnsworth, Ferriss, T. W. Ferry, Fitch, Getz, Golladay, Haldeman, E. Hale, Hamill, Hawkins, Hay, Hoag, Holman, Hooper, B. F. Hopkins, Ingersoll, Jenckes, T. L. Jones, Kelsey, Kerr, Knapp, Knott, W. Lawrence, Loughridge, J. Lynch, Marshall, Mayham, McCormick, McNeely, Moffet, J. H. Moore, S. P. Morrillj Mungen, Niblack, O'Neill, Orth, Reading, P. Sawyer, Scofield, Shanks, W. C. Smith, J. E. Stevenson, Stiles, R Stone, Stoughton, Strader, Stvann, Sweeney, Taffe, Z. S. Trimble, Tyner, R. T. Van Horn, W. B. Washburn, Welker, £. Wells, Wilkinson, C. W. Willard, W. Williams, E. M. Wilson, J. T. Wilson, Winans, Winchester, Witcher, Woodward— 87.

Nays—Messrs. Armstrong, Asper, Axtell, Banks, Benjamin, Bennett, A. Blair, Boles, Boyd, Buffinton, Burdett, R. R. Butler, Churchill, C. L. Cobb, Conger, Cowles, Dawes, Dockery, Donley, Finkelnburg, Fisher, Garfield, Gilfillan, Heaton, G. F. Hoar, J. A. Johnson, A. H. Jones, Judd, Julian, Ketcham, Laflin, Lash, Logan, McGrew, Mercur, W. Moore, Packard, H. E. Paine, Palmer, Poland, Pomeroy, Prosser, Roots, Sanford, Sargent, Schenck, P. Sheldon, John A. Smith, Stokes, Strickland, Tanner, Twichell, H. Ward, C. C. Washburn, W. A. Wheeler, Whittemore—56.

The bill was engrossed and read a third time— yeas 93, nays 48, not voting 52; and was passed —yeas 97, nays 47 (not voting 49), as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Allison, Ambler, Ames, Armstrong, Arnell, Asper, Axtell, A. H. Bailey, Banks, Beaman, Benjamin, Bennett, Bingham, A. Blair, Boles, Boyd, Buffinton, Burdett, Cessna, Churchill, C. L. Cobb, B. C. Cook, Conger, Cowles, Cullom, Dawes, Donley, Puval, Dyer, Farnsworth, Ferriss, T. W. Ferry, Finkelnburg, Fisher, Fitch, Gilfillan, E. Hale, J. B. Hawley, Heaton, G. F. Hoar, Hooper, G. W. Hotchkiss, Jenckes, A. H. Jones, Judd, Julian, Kelsey, Ketcham, Knapp, Laflin, Lash, W. Lawrence, J. Lynch, Maynard, McCrary, McGrew, Mercur, J...H. Moore, W. Moore, S. P. Morrill, Negley, O'Neill, Packard, H. E. Paine, Palmer, D. Phelps, Poland, Pomeroy, Prosser, Roots, Sanford, Sargent,, P. Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, P. Sheldon, John A. Smith, W. C. Smith, W. Smyth, Stokes, Stoughton, Strickland, Tanner, Tillman, Twichell, W. H. Upson, R. T. Van Horn, H. Ward, C. C. Washburn, W. B. Washburn, Welker, W. A. Wheeler, Whittemore Wilkinson, C. W. Willard, W. Williams, Winans—97.

Nays—Messrs. Archer, Beatty, Beck, Biggs, Bird, Burr, B. F. Butler, R. R. Butler, A. Cobb, Coburn, Crebs, Deweese, Dickinson, Eldredge, Getz, J. S. Golladay, Hawkins, Holman, B. F. Hopkins, J. A. Johnson, T. L. Jones, Kerr, Knott, Marshall, . Mayham, McCormick, McNeely, Moffet, Mungen, Niblack, Orth, Reading, Reeves, Rice, Shanks, J. S. Smith, Stiles, F. Stone, Straderi Sweeney, Taffe, L, S. Trimble,

Tyner, Van Trump,]. T. Wilson, Winchestery Woodward—47.

In Senate.

March 9—The following bill was reported from the Committee on Finance (S. 56): A Bill to strengthen the public credit, and relating to contracts for the payment of coin.

Be it enacted, drc, That in order to remove any doubt as to the purpose of the Government to discharge all just obligations to the public creditors, and to settle conflicting questions and interpretations of the laws by virtue of which such obligations have been contracted, it is hereby provided and declared, that the faith of the United States is solemnly pledged to the payment in coin, or its equivalent, of all the interest-bearing obligations of the United States, except in cases where the law authorizing the issue of any such obligation has expressly provided that the same may be paid in lawful money or other currency than gold and silver: Provided, however, That before any of said interest-bearing obligations not already due shall mature or be paid before maturity, the obligations not bearing interest, known as United States notes, shall be made convertible into coin at the option of the holder.

Sec. 2. That any contract hereafter made specifically payable in coin, and the consideration of which may be a loan of coin, or a sale of property, or the rendering of labor or service of any kind, the price of which, as carried into the contract, may have been adjusted on the basis of the coin value thereof at the time of such sale or the rendering of such service or labor, shall be legal and valid, and may be enforced according to its terms.

March 11—Mr. Howard moved to insert the word "written" before "contract" in the 2d section where it first occurs; which was agreed to.

Mr. Sumner moved to strike out the 2d section; which was agreed to—yeas 28, nays 15, as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Bayard, Boreman, Carpenter, Casserly, Conkling, Corbett, Cragin, Ferry, Fessenden, Gilbert, Harris, Kellogg, McDonald, Norton, Nye, Pratt, Robertson, Sawyer, Schurz, Scott, Sprague, Stewart, Stockton, Sumner, Thurman, Trumbull, Vickers, Wilson—28.

Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Anthony, Brownlow, Drake, Grimes, Hamlin, Morrill, Morton', Osborn, Patterson, Ramsey, Ross, Sherman, Warner, Williams—15.

Mr. Thurman moved to add to the 1st section the following proviso:

Provided, That nothing herein contained shall apply to the obligations commonly called fivetwenty bonds.

Which was not agreed to—yeas 12, nays 31, as follow:

Yeas—Messrs. Bayard, Boreman, Casserly, Morton, Norton, Osborn, Pratt, Ross, Sprague, Stockton, Thurman, Vickers—12.

Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Anthony, Brownlow, Carpenter, Conkling, Corbett, Cragin, Drake, Fenton, Ferry, Gilbert, Grimes, Hamlin, Harris, Kellogg, McDonald, Morrill, Nye, Patterson, of N. H., Ramsey, Sawyer, Schurz, Scott, Sher