Mr. Cobb, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, on the 26th instant, present to the President of the United States bills of the following titles, viz:

S. 130. An act for a charter of Masonic Hall Association, in Washington city, District of Columbia; and

S. 249. An act to authorize the issuing of a register to the steam vessel "John Martin."

On motion of Mr. Morrill,

Ordered, That the bill (H. R. 405) be considered at the evening session of to-day.

Mr. Garfield, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 69) for the payment of volunteers called out for not less than one hundred days; which was read a first and second time.

The House having, by unanimous consent, proceeded to its consideration, Pending the question on its engrossment,

The House having, by unanimous consent, postponed the hour for a recess until 4 o'clock and 35 minutes p. m.,

Mr. Garfield moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time.

The question then being on its passage,

Mr. Garfield moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the joint resolution was passed.

Mr. Garfield 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.

The hour of 4 o'clock and 35 minutes p. m. having arrived, the House took a recess until 7 o'clock p. m.

After the recess,

Mr. Fenton, 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.

Pending the question on its third reading,

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne submitted an amendment to the said bill; which was agreed to.

Ordered, That the bill be read a third time.

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. Fenton 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 amendment.

On motion of Mr. Leonard Myers, by unanimous consent, leave of absence for ten days was granted to Mr. Tracy.

On motion of Mr. Morrill, 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. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 405. A bill to provide internal revenue to support the government and pay interest on the public debt, had come to no resolution thereon.

On motion of Mr. Morrill,

Ordered, That all debate on section 93 of said bill (H. R. 405) shall cease whenever its consideration is resumed in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

On motion of Mr. Morrill, 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. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 405. A bill to provide internal revenue to support the gov ernment and pay interest on the public debt, had come to no resolution thereon.

Mr. Stevens moved that the five-minutes debate on the proviso to section 101 of said bill (H. R. 405) shall cease in five minutes after its consideration is resumed.

Pending which,

Mr. James C. Allen moved, at 10 o'clock p. m, that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to.

The question then recurred on the motion of Mr. Stevens;

And being put, it was decided in the affirmative.

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. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 405. A bill to provide internal revenue to support the gov ernment and pay interest on the public debt, had found itself without a quorum, and that he had caused the roll to be called, when it appeared that the following named members were absent, viz:

William J. Allen, Lucien Anderson, James M. Ashley, Joseph Baily, James C. Blaine, Francis P. Blair, jr., Jacob B. Blair, George Bliss, Henry T. Blow, Sempronius H. Boyd, John M. Broomall, James S. Brown, William G. Brown, Ambrose W. Clark, Freeman Clarke, Brutus J. Clay, Amasa Cobb, Alexander H. Coffroth, James A. Cravens, Henry Winter Davis, Thomas T. Davis, Henry C. Deming, Charles Denison, Ignatius Donnelly, Ebenezer Dumont, Joseph K. Edgerton, Charles A. Eldridge, Reuben E. Fenton, William E. Finck, Augustus Frank, James A. Garfield, Daniel W. Gooch, Henry Grider, James T. Hale, William A. Hall, Aaron Harding, Henry W. Harrington, Benjamin G. Harris, Charles M. Harris, William Higby, Samuel Hooper, Calvin T. Hulburd, Wells A. Hutchins, William Johnson, Martin Kalbfleisch, Austin A. King, Anthony L. Knapp, John Law, Francis C. Le Blond, DeWitt C. LittleJohn, Robert Mallory, Daniel Marcy, Archibald McAllister, Joseph W. McClurg, James F. McDowell, John F. McKinney, George Middleton, William H. Miller, Daniel Morris, William R. Morrison, Warren P. Noble, James W. Patterson, Frederick A. Pike, John V. L. Pruyn, James C. Robinson, Andrew J. Rogers, Robert C. Schenck, John G. Scott, Green Clay Smith, Nathaniel B. Smithers, Rufus P. Spalding, John F. Starr, Henry G. Stebbins, L. D. M. Sweat, Francis Thomas, Henry W. Tracy, Rob't B. Van Valkenburgh, Daniel W. Voorhees, William H. Wadsworth, Kellian V. Whaley, Ezra Wheeler, Joseph W. White, Benjamin Wood, Frederick E. Woodbridge, George H. Yeaman.

A quorum having appeared,

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. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 405. A bill to

provide internal revenue to support the government and pay interest on the public debt, had come to no resolution thereon.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Morrill, at 10 o'clock and 35 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1864.

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

By Mr. Garfield: Three memorials of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for the abolition of slavery in the United States; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Alexander H. Rice: The memorial of Joanna Leaky for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

By Mr. John H. Hubbard: The petition of Mrs. H. O. Reed, executrix of the will of the late Colonel Fanning, praying a pension for his family; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Pensions.

By Mr. Eckley: The petition of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for the abolition of slavery in the United States; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Speaker: Two petitions from citizens of the Territory of Colorado, praying that gold and silver mines may not be taxed.

By Mr. Longyear: The petition of citizens of the State of Michigan, praying for a duty on imported wool.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Kasson: The petition of citizens of the State of Iowa, relative to swamp lands; which was referred to the Committee on public lands.

The Speaker, by unanimaus consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, recommending an appropriation for the Orchard party and First Christian party of New York Indians; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Patterson, by unanimous consent, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 26) to provide for the public instruction of youth in the county of Washington, District of Columbia, reported the same with an amendment in the nature of a substitute therefor.

Ordered, That the said amendment be printed, and the bill and amendment recommitted to the said committee.

Mr. Patterson, by unanimous consent, from the same committee, reported a bill (H. R. 434) to authorize the bailiff of the orphans' court, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, to serve processes issued by said court, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

On motion of Mr. Baily, by unanimous consent, the Committee of Claims was discharged from the further consideration of the memorial and accompanying papers of citizens of Wrightville, York county, Pennsylvania, praying compensation for damages sustained by the burning of the Columbia bridge during the rebel raid, and leave was granted for the withdrawal of the same from the files of the House.

On motion of Mr. Morrill, 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. Elihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R.

405. A bill to provide internal revenue to support the government and pay interest on the public debt, had come to no resolution thereon.

Two messages in writing were received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Nicolay, his private secretary, which were handed in at the Speaker's table.

On motion of Mr. Morrill,

Ordered, That the five-minutes debate on the bank amendment to the bill H. R. 405 shall cease in half a minute after its consideration is resumed in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

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. 181. An act in reference to donation claims in Oregon and Washington; and

H. R. 367. An act to provide for the collection of hospital dues from vessels of the United States sold or transferred in foreign ports or waters. When

The Speaker signed the same.

On motion of Mr. Morrill, 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. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 405, to provide internal revenue to support the government and to pay interest on the public debt, had come to no resolution thereon.

On motion of Mr. Morrill,

Ordered, That all debate on section 114 of the bill of the House No. 405 shall cease in one minute after its consideration is resumed in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

On motion of Mr. Morrill, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of the Wole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 405. A bill to provide internal revenue to support the government and pay interest on the public debt, had directed him to report the same with sundry amendments.

Pending the question on the said amendments,

Mr. Fernando Wood submitted an additional amendment to the said bill. Pending which,

Mr. Morrill moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same.

When

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved to amend the said amendment of Mr. Wood, by striking out the same, and inserting other words in lieu thereof. Pending which,

Mr. Morrill moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered to be put.

When

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following message this day received from the President of the United States, viz:

To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives:

I have the honor to transmit herewith an address to the President of the United States, and through him to both houses of Congress, on the condition and wants of the people of East Tennessee, and asking their attention to the necessity of some action on the part of the government for their relief, and

which address is presented by a committee of an organization called "The East Tennessee Relief Association."

Deeply commiserating the condition of these most loyal and suffering people, I am unprepared to make any specific recommendation for their relief. The military is doing, and will continue to do, the best for them within its power. Their address represents that the construction of direct railroad communication between Knoxville and Cincinnati, by way of central Kentucky, would be of great consequence in the present emergency. It may be remembered that in the annual message of December, 1861, such railroad construction was recommended. I now add, that, with the hearty concurrence of Congress, I would yet be pleased to construct the road, both for the relief of these people and for its continuing military importance. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

APRIL 28, 1864.

The same having been read,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and printed.

The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the fol lowing message this day received from the President of the United States, viz: To the House of Representatives:

In obedience to the resolution of your honorable body, a copy of which is herewith returned, I have the honor to make the following brief statement, which is believed to contain the information sought:

Prior to and at the meeting of the present Congress, Robert C. Schenck, of Ohio, and Frank P. Blair, jr., of Missouri, members elect thereto, by and with the consent of the Senate held commissions from the Executive as major generals in the volunteer army. General Schenck tendered the resignation of his said commission, and took his seat in the House of Representatives, at the assembling thereof, upon the distinct verbal understanding with the Secretary of War and the Executive that he might, at any time during the session, at his own pleasure, withdraw said resignation and return to the field. General Blair was, by temporary assignment of General Sherman, in command of a corps through the battles in front of Chattanooga, and in the march to the relief of Knoxville, which occurred in the latter days of November and early days of December last, and of course was not present at the assembling of Congress. When he subsequently arrived here, he sought, and was allowed, by the Secretary of War and the Executive, the same conditions and promise as allowed and made to General Schenck. General Schenck has not applied to withdraw his resignation; but when General Grant was made lieutenant general, producing some change of commanders, General Blair sought to be assigned to the command of a corps. This was made known to Generals Grant and Sherman, and assented to by them, and the particular corps for him designated. This was all arranged and understood, as now remembered, so much as a month ago; but the formal withdrawal of General Blair's resignation, and making the order assigning him to the command of the corps, were not consummated at the War Department until last week, perhaps on the 23d of April instant. As a summary of the whole, it may be stated that General Blair holds no military commission or appointment other than as herein stated; and that it is believed he is now acting as a major general upon the assumed validity of the commission herein stated, in connexion with the facts herein stated, and not otherwise. There are some letters, notes, telegrams, orders, entries, and perhaps other documents, in connexion with this subject, which it is believed would throw no additional light upon it, but which will be cheerfully furnished if desired. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

APRIL 28, 1864.