Mr. Stevens moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 66) to increase the compensation of inspectors of customs in certain ports, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and printed. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union was discharged from the further consideration of the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 31) making appropriation for the payment of taxes on certain lands owned by the United States, and the House proceeded to consider the same. Pending the question on its engrossment, Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne submitted an amendment thereto. Mr. Stevens moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and, under the operation thereof, the said amendment was agreed to and the joint resolution ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Stevens moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said joint resolution. Mr. Odell, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a joint resolution (H. Res. 36) declaratory of the intent and meaning of a certain act therein named; which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Odell moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, the title of the said joint resolution was amended so as to read "A joint resolution to construe the 3d section of the act, approved July 17, 1862, entitled 'An act to amend the act calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrection, and repel invasion, approved February 28, 1795, and the act amendatory thereof, and for other purposes,' so as to provide for the payment of bounties to all classes of troops called out under the provisions of that section." Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said joint resolution. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Forney, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a joint resolution of the following title, viz: S. Res. 27. Joint resolution relative to the transfer of persons in the military service to the naval service; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house. Mr. Samuel F. Miller gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to move for leave to introduce a bill authorizing commissioners to select a site for a national armory, and for other purposes. The House resumed, as the regular order of business, the consideration of the bill of the House (H R. 51) to establish a bureau of emancipation, heretofore reported from the select committee on that subject; the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Cox to commit the same to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. After debate, Mr. Donnelly, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 252) making a grant of lands to the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad Company, in the State of Minnesota, to aid in the construction of the railroad of said company from Saint Paul to Lake Superior; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Grinnell, by unanimous consent, presented joint resolutions of the legislature of the State of Iowa, as follows, viz: I. In relation to pensions to widows of deceased chaplains and surgeons in the army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. II. Relative to the construction of a ship canal from the lakes to the Mississippi river by a general western route, and the improvement of the upper and lower rapids of said river; which were referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals and ordered to be printed. Mr. A. W. Hubbard, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire into the expediency of constructing a wagon-road from the Missouri river, by the way of the Niobrara valley, to Virginia City, in the Territory of Idaho. On motion of Mr. Higby, by unanimous consent, the joint resolution of the Senate (S. Res. 27) relative to the transfer of persons in the military service to the naval service was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, with leave to report at any time. Mr. Pendleton, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be directed to inquire whether any further legislation is necessary to prevent substitute and recruiting brokers from purchasing substitutes and recruits from one township, ward, or district, to be accredited on the quota of another, and to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Samuel J. Randall, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 253) to change the name of the American-built schooner "Starlight" to that of "Joseph Brady;" which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. And then, On motion of Mr. Eldridge, at 4 o'clock and 45 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1864. The following memorials and petitions were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Schenck: The memorial of Benjamin Vreeland, praying for difference of compensation between that of an assistant surgeon in the navy and passed assistant in the same service; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Longyear: The memorial of citizens of the State of Michigan, praying that Calhoun county may be annexed to the eastern judicial district of that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Grider: The memorial of Martha Skaggs, of the State of Kentucky, praying for a pension on account of the military service of her late husband; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Colfax: The petition of citizens of the State of Indiana, praying the emancipation of all persons of African descent held to service or labor in the United States; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Donnelly: Three memorials from citizens of the State of Minnesota praying the establishment of mail routes in that State; which were referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Also, the memorial of the legislature of Minnesota, praying a grant of land to aid the construction of the Lake Superior and Mississippi railroad; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Wadsworth: The petition of Henry Metcalfe, postmaster at Flemingsburg, in the State of Kentucky, praying to be reimbursed in the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars taken from him by armed rebels; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Also, the petition of J. M. Stockton, postmaster at Maysville, in the State of Kentucky, praying for a credit of one hundred dollars taken from his office by armed guerillas; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Windom: The memorial of the legislature of the State of Minnesota, praying the establishment of a mail route from Faxon to Hutchinson, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Also, the memorial of the legislature of the State of Minnesota, praying indemnification to the sufferers in the Sioux war of 1862; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Stebbins: The memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of New York city, in relation to ocean steam navigation; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Kelley: The memorial of certain military storekeepers, praying for a definite rank; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Ganson: Two memorials from citizens of the State of New York, praying for the establishment of a properly organized ambulance and hospital corps for the army; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Alexander H. Rice: The memorial of citizens of the State of Massachusetts, praying for the establishment of an improved ambulance system for the army. By Mr. Ward: The memorial of citizens of the State of New York, praying for the establishment of a uniform ambulance and hospital system; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, presented a communication and accompanying papers, relating to the exaction of discriminating duty on gold, from Calvin Durand, consignee of the Nicaraguan schooner "Frances," upon merchandise imported in that vessel into the port of New York; which were referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. On motion of Mr. Eldridge, That we may do honor to the 22d day of February, the birth-day of Washington, Ordered, That when the House adjourns to-day, it shall stand adjourned to Thursday next at 12 o'clock, meridian. Mr. Cox moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Hulburd, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Expenditures, in their investigation of alleged frauds in the New York custom-house, be authorized to take testimony in the city of New York by such members of the said committee as they may designate, not, however, to exceed three in number. The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports of a private nature, Mr. Windom, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported a joint resolution (H. Res. 38) directing the Secretary of the Interior to pay to the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomie Indians, residing in Michigan, the sum of one hundred and ninety thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars, accompanied by a report in writing thereon; which joint resolution was read a first and second time and committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and the joint resolution and report ordered to be printed. Mr. Windom, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 194) for the benefit of half-breeds and mixed-bloods of the Winnebago tribe of Indians, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House and printed. On motion of Mr. Alexander H. Rice, Ordered, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 29) to provide for the payment of the officers and crew of the United States steam transport Union, wrecked November 3, 1861, off the coast of North Carolina, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. H. Winter Davis, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 94) for the relief of Isaac R. Diller, reported the same without amendment, accompanied by a report in writing thereon. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and that the bill and report be printed. Mr. Hale, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of R. L. B. Clarke, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill (H. R. 256) for his relief; which bill was read a first and second time, committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and the bill and report ordered to be printed. Mr. Windom, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 130) to authorize the Secretary of the Interiro to adjust and settle the accounts of ex-Governor Brigham Young, as ex-officio superintendent of Indian affairs for the Territory of Utah, reported the same without amendment, accompanied by a report in writing thereon. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and that the bill and report be printed. Mr. Blow, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 254) to provide for the renting of abandoned plantations, tenements, and houses in insurrectionary States, and for the care and employment of persons therein set free by proclamation of the President; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Select Committee on the Rebellious States. Mr. John H. Rice, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, reported a bill (H. R. 255) granting certain privileges to the "Guardian Society" of the District of Columbia; which was read a first and second time, recommitted to the said committee, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Ambrose W. Clark, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was re ferred the resolution providing for the purchase of one thousand copies of Disturnell's United States Register for 1864, reported the same with a recommendation that it do not pass. On motion of Mr. Ambrose W. Clark, Ordered, That the said resolution be laid on the table. Mr. Hale, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 92) for the relief of Albert Brown, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to the Committee of the Whole House and printed. Mr. Holman, from the Committee of Claims, reported a joint resolution (H. Res. 39) for the relief of Alexander Cross; which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That the said joint resolution be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Holman moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said joint resolution. Mr. Donnelly, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 203) for the relief of Jacob Weber, reported the same without amendment, accompanied by a report in writing thereon. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and that the bill and report be printed. Mr. Wadsworth, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 257. A bill for the benefit of Montgomery county, Kentucky; and H. R. 258. A bill for the benefit of the citizens of Montgomery county, Kentucky; which were severally read a first and second time, and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Dumont, by unanimous consent, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 167) to provide for the improvement of the Potomac river opposite the city of Washington, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be printed and recommitted to the said com mittee. On motion of Mr. Dumont, by unanimous consent, leave was granted to the Committee for the District of Columbia to sit during the sittings of the House. On motion of Mr. Wilson, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of George Pierpont and others for increase of pay as assistant assessors, and that the same be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Wilson, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to send for persons and examine witnesses upon oath or affirmation touching the allega tions against the Hon. Andrew G. Miller, judge of the district court of the United States for the district of Wisconsin as contained in the memorials heretofore referred to said committee by the House as a subject of inquiry. On motion of Mr. Schenck, Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the |