istration, and this at a time when many thousands of soldiers holding the same faith are engaged in fighting the battles of the government of the United States; and whereas such discrimination is contrary to constitutional right, and is an odious reflection on the equality of religious privilege; and such restrictions are a violation of law, and a usurpation of the reserved rights of the people of Maryland exclusively to regulate and control their own internal trade and commerce, as the same has been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, and such restrictions can only be justified, if at all, under military authority, and for reasons of military necessity-which do not exist-and the same are a manifest oppression of the people of Maryland: Therefore Be it resolved, 1. That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to inform this house whether he has authorized or directed the said restrictions to be imposed; and if so, to communicate a copy of his authority or order for the same, and all other information in his possession relating to the same. 2. That the Committee on the Judiciary be directed to inquire into the facts and legal authority of such proceedings, with power to send for persons and papers, and to report at an early day the result of its investigations. Mr. Moorhead introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 121) for the prompt payment of the soldiers of the United States army and the seamen and marines of the United States navy; which was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment, Mr. Moorhead moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time. Pending the question on its passage, Mr. Lovejoy moved that it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs; which motion was disagreed to. The question then recurred on its passage, And being put, it was decided in the affirmative. So the resolution was passed. Mr. Francis W. Kellogg 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. McPherson introduced a bill (H. R. 632) for the relief of Thomas B. Price and sister, of Maryland; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Daily submitted the following resolutions; which were severally read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Territories be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation of money or lands to aid in building bridges across the Loup Fork and Platte rivers on the military road, and report by bill or otherwise. Resolved, That the Committee on the Territories be instructed to in quire into the expediency of making an appropriation of $10,000 for a geological survey of Nebraska Territory, and report by bill or otherwise. Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be requested to inquire into the expediency of appropriating $40,000 to build a penitentiary in Nebraska Territory, and $60,000 to pay the city of Omaha for moneys expended by her in building the capitol of said" Territory, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Ward submitted the following resolutions; which were severally read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Agriculture be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing an immigrant bureau in connexion with the Department of the Interior. Whereas an act entitled "An act to define the pay and emoluments of certain officers of the army, and for other purposes," in section twenty-one, provides "that any alien of the age of twenty-one years and upwards who has enlisted or shall enlist in the armies of the United States, either the regular or the volunteer forces, and has been or shall be hereafter honorably discharged, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States, upon his petition, without any previous declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and that he shall not be required to prove more than one year's residence within the United States previous to his application to become such citizen; and that the court, in admitting such alien, shall, in addition to such proof of residence and good moral character as is now provided by law, be satisfied by competent proof of such person having been honorably discharged from the service of the United States, as aforesaid:" ThereforeResolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report an amendment to said section, including those aliens who have enlisted or may enlist in the marine corps and navy of the United States. Mr. Ely introduced a bill (H. R. 633) for the relief of Edward Williams; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Mr. Sheffield submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Agriculture be, and it is hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency of affording governmental aid to experiments to be made under the direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture in cottonizing flax, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Eliot introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 122) requiring the estimation of seamen as well as soldiers in the adjustment of quotas of volunteers; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Train submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That a select committee of five be appointed to inquire whether any officer or employé in any department of the government is a partner, or interested, directly or indirectly, in any bankinghouse, money corporation, or other business firm having contracts with the government, or dealing in stocks or other property; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and to employ a stenographic clerk, at the rate of compensation usually paid to such an officer; and that said committee have authority to report at any time, by bill or otherwise. The same having been read, Mr. Train moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered to be put. When Mr. Stevens moved that the resolution be laid on the table. It was decided in the negative, {Nass. 22 89 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Cyrus Aldrich William Allen Mr. Thomas A. D. Fessenden Richard Franchot Elijah H. Norton Robert H. Nugen George H. Pendleton Mr. Aaron A. Sargent Socrates N. Sherman Elbridge G. Spaulding Samuel T. Worcester. Mr. Timothy G. Phelps Frederick A. Pike Thomas L. Price Albert G. Riddle James S. Rollins William P. Sheffield Rowland E. Trowbridge Chauncey Vibbard Elijah Ward Albert S. White Chilton A. White George C. Woodruff So the House refused to lay the resolution on the table. The question then recurring on the resolution, Mr. Lovejoy moved a reconsideration of the vote on ordering the main question. Pending which, On motion of Mr. Wickliffe, Ordered, That the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. Mr. Train 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. The House then proceeded to the consideration of the following resolution, submitted on Friday last by Mr. Mallory, viz: Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That when this House adjourns on Tuesday next, it adjourn to the first Monday in January next, The pending question being on the following amendment, submitted by Mr. Frederick A. Conkling, viz: Strike out "first Monday in,' and insert in lieu thereof "second day of." The said amendment having been disagreed to, Mr. Sargent moved that the resolution be laid on the table. Yeas. It was decided in the negative, Nay. ... 39 76 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are So the House refused to lay the resolution on the table. Yeas .... It was decided in the affirmative, {Nays.. 79 47 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are- Mr. William Allen William J. Allen George T. Cobb James A. Cravens Mr. James T. Hale Jesse Lazear George H. Pendleton Mr. Theodore M. Pomeroy John F. Potter William P. Sheffield Carey A. Trimble Clement L. Vallandigham Kellian V. Whaley Mr. Edward H. Rollins William H. Wadsworth |