And then, On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, at 5 o'clock and 23 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. MONDAY, APRIL 11, 1864. On motion of Mr. Holman, Ordered, That the journal of Saturday last be corrected by the insertion, in its recital of the words spoken in debate by Mr. Benjamin G. Harris, of the word "subjugation" in lieu of the word "subjection." Mr. James S. Brown moved that the journal of Saturday last be corrected by inserting, as a part of his motion to be excused from voting on the resolution of Mr. Schenck, the reasons given by him at the time for making said motion; which motion was disagreed to. The following memorials, petitions, and other papers were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Thomas T. Davis: The memorial of citizens of the State of New York, praying for a duty on imported wool; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. William B. Washburn: The petition of William Eddy, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. John D. Baldwin: The petition of Mrs. Fanny B. Newell, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. McKenney: The petition of invalid discharged soldiers of the State of Ohio, praying for a bounty; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Upson: The petition of citizens of the State of Michigan, praying for a duty on foreign wool; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne: The memorial of citizens of the State of Illinois, praying a tax on the issue of State banks; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Scofield: The memorial of James 'Flemming, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. McIndoe: Resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce, Milwaukie, relative to a bankrupt law; which was referred to the select committee on that subject. By Mr. Sloan: Three memorials of citizens of the State of Wisconsin, praying for the construction of a ship canal around the Falls of Niagara. By Mr. McIndoe: The memorial of citizens of the State of Wisconsin, praying aid in the construction of the Southern Minnesota railway. Ordered, That the said memorials be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. By Mr. Sloan: The petition of citizens of the State of Wisconsin, praying that a duty may be levied on foreign wool; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Alexander H. Rice: The memorial of the American Steamship Company, praying aid from the United States government; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Charles O'Neill: The memorial of citizens of Philadelphia, relative to mail transportation between that city and New York. By Mr. Leonard Myers: The petition of citizens of the same city, relative to the same subject. By Mr. McIndoe: The memorial of the legislature of the State of Wisconsin, praying an increase of pay to soldiers and sailors. Ordered, That the said petition and memorials be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in compliance with a resolution of the House of the 18th ultimo, copies of the report of Major General U. S. Grant of the battle of Chattanooga, and also the reports of sub-commanders of said battle; which were laid on the table and ordered to be printed. The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports for commitment, &c., Mr. Stevens, from the Committee of Ways and Means, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 40) making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th of June 1865, with the amendments of the Senate thereto, reported the same, recommending concurrence in some, non-concurrence in others, and concurrence with an amendment in another, of the said amendments. Ordered, That the said bill and pending amendments be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and printed. On motion of Mr. Price, Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Claims be discharged. from the further consideration of the petition of Amasa Holden, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Mr. Whaley, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 389. A bill for the relief of Mary Shircliff; H. R. 390. A bill for the relief of Emily A. Lyon; H. R. 394. A bill for the relief of Mary Scales Accardi; accompanied by reports in writing in each case; which bills were severally read a first and second time, committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and the bills and reports ordered to be printed. All the committees having been called, The Speaker next proceeded to call the States and Territories for resolutions, viz: Mr. Hooper, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 395) to provide a national currency, secured by a pledge of United States bonds, and to provide for the circulation and redemption thereof; which was read a first and second time, ordered to be printed, and its further consideration postponed until Saturday next, after the morning hour. Mr. Eliot submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire what legislation, if any, is expedient to secure for the mercantile marine service of the United States educated and competent officers and seamen, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Broomall submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be requested to report a bill for locating and building a navy yard and naval depot on the Delaware river, in Pennsylvania. The same having been read, Mr. Alexander H. Rice moved that it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Pending which, Debate arising thereon, it was laid on the table under the rule. On motion of Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That when the House adjourns on Tuesday next, it adjourn until Thursday next. Mr. H. Winter Davis, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 396) to establish a board of naval administration; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Schenck submitted the following resolution; which was read, and, debate arising thereon, it was laid over, under the rule, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Rules be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the 31st rule of this house by adding thereto the following: And if any member, present within the bar of the House when a vote by yeas and nays is taken, shall neglect or refuse to answer to his name when called, he not having been previously excused by the House, and that fact shall be brought to the notice of the Speaker by any member immediately after the reading of the vote by the Clerk, the Speaker shall then direct the name of the member not voting to be called again by the Clerk, and if said member still declines to answer, the Speaker shall thereupon submit to the House for its consideration and action, as a question of privilege, what order shall be taken in the case of such recusant member, and no other motion or business shall be entertained until the case is disposed of; And that the committee report at as early a day as practicable, by rule or otherwise. Mr. Cravens submitted the following resolutions, viz: Resolved, That in the present condition of the country, when the passions of the people are inflamed and their prejudices are excited, it is unwise and dangerous to attempt to alter or amend the Constitution of the United States; that ample power is contained within its limits as it now exists to protect and defend the national life, and the exercise of power not warranted by its provisions would be to enter the field of revolution, and dangerous to the liberties of the people, tending to the establishment of military despotism and the final overthrow of free government in America. Resolved, That any attempt by Congress to reduce States to the condition of Territories is as odious and as revolutionary in its character and tendency as secession itself. Resolved, That it is the duty of the government to listen to and consider any proposition for reconciliation that may be offered by the insurgents which does not involve the question of separation. Resolved, That the thanks of the nation are due and are hereby tendered to the officers, soldiers, and seamen who have so gallantly borne our flag in this hour of peril to our country. The same having been read, Mr. Cravens moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same. Debate then arising on the resolutions, they were laid over under the rule. Mr. Morrison submitted the following resolution; which was read and laid over one day under the rule, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, requested to furnish to the House at as early a day as possible information showing: First. The amount received into the treasury of the United States from the two per cent. fund arising from the net proceeds of the sales of public lands made in the State of Illinois since January 1, 1819, and reserved in her enabling act for road purposes, giving the dates from time to time when so received, and the respective amount of each payment opposite such dates. Secondly. Whether anything is charged in the Treasury Department against any fund, or any offsets exist against it there; and if so, when and how did such charges occur or were such offsets made, and upon what basis, stating particularly the amounts and dates of said charges or offsets, and the respective times, mode, or manner in which such two per cent. fund was expended, and where, if at all, and the evidence of such expenditure, and the authority therefor. Mr. Farnsworth submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Clerk of this house be, and he is hereby, instructed to communicate to the President of the United States a copy of a resolution which was passed by the House on the twenty-ninth day of January last, requesting him (if not incompatible with the public service) to give certain information as to the conferring of brevet rank upon officers of volunteers, and to respectfully call the attention of the President to the fact that no answer has yet been made to that resolution. Mr. Driggs submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and, by unanimous consent, agreed to, viz: Whereas Saturday last was, by unanimous consent, set apart for reports from the Committee on Public Lands; and whereas the day was entirely consumed by other business: Therefore, Resolved, That Thursday next be set apart, after the morning hour, for the consideration of bills from the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Kasson submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be instructed to inquire whether a pension ought not to be allowed to the widow of Alfred M. Lyon, of Des Moines, Iowa, late a sutler in the army of the United States, who joined his regiment as a soldier in the campaign against Vicksburg, in the spring of 1863, and was killed while fighting with the regiment at Black river, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Wilson, on leave, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 397. A bill concerning the courts and judicial districts of the Territory of Washington; and H. R. 398. A bill to regulate commerce among the several States; which were severally read a first and second time and referred as follows, viz: H. R. 397, to the Committee on the Judiciary; and H. R. 398, to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. A. W. Hubbard, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 399) to abolish the northern Indian superintendency; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. James S. Brown submitted the following resolution; which was read and, under the operation of the previous question, referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, viz: Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint a commission of three competent officers of the engineer corps, whose duty it shall be to examine the different harbors on the northwestern lakes, with a view to select a proper site for a naval depot, and that said commissioners report at the earliest convenient time. Mr. McIndoe, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 400) regulating the appointment of Paymaster General; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Cornelius Cole submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing a mail route from San Buenaventura, in California, via Revena City and Big Meadows, on the Mohave river, to the Sink of the Mohave River; and thence to Fort Mohave, on the Colorado river; and thence to Fort Whipple and Santa Fé, New Mexico. Mr. Perea, by unanimous consent, presented memorials of the legislative assembly of the Territory of New Mexico, viz: I. In favor of the completion of the capitol and penitentiary of said Territory; which was referred to the Committee on the Territories. II. Asking an appropriation to pay the expenses of the militia called out by the governor of the said Territory to resist invasions, &c.; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. III. In regard to a geological survey of said Territory; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. IV. In regard to a wagon road from Santa Fé to the Granary of the North; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. V. In regard to the boundary line between said Territory and the Territory of Colorado; which was referred to the Committee on the Territories; and VI. In regard to a survey of the public lands and the encouragement of emigration to said Territory; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Ordered, That the said memorials be printed. Mr. George E. Cole, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 401) amendatory of the organic act of Washington Territory; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Territories. All the States and Territories having been called for resolutions, The resolution submitted by Mr. Scofield on the 7th of January last, and laid over under the rule, calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for information as to the 7-30 treasury notes, was taken up and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. The resolution submitted by Mr. Cox on the 18th of January last, and laid over under the rule, calling on the Secretary of War for a copy of a communication from General G. W. Morgan to Adjutant General Thomas, dated June 6, 1863, having been taken up, Mr. Cox withdrew the same. Mr. Deming also withdrew the resolution submitted by him on the 14th of December last, and laid over under the rule, in regard to "a dictionary of the United States Congress." The resolution submitted by Mr. Finck on the 14th of December last, and laid over under the rule, in regard to the feelings and purposes with which the present war should be waged, having been taken up, Mr. Cox moved the previous question. Pending which, Mr. Wilson moved that the said resolution be laid on the table. It was decided in the affirmative, Yeas. Nays..... The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are 81 64 |