By Mr. Gooch: The petition of citizens of the State of Massachusetts, praying for the establishment of an ambulance and hospital system in the United States army. By Mr. Patterson: The memorial of officers of the fourth and sixth regiments of United States colored troops, praying for additional legislation relative to the bounty, pay, and allowances of colored troops. By Mr. Yeaman: The petition of citizens of Hopkins county, State of Kentucky, praying that the Union men of that State be exempt from further draft, and that the draft be enforced upon the disloyal party who have furnished no men. By Mr. Garfield: The petition of citizens of Summit county, State of Ohio, praying that colored troops be placed upon the same footing as other soldiers. By Mr. Schenck: The petition of soldiers in the regular army, praying that the provisions of the fifth section of the "act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in the enforcement of the laws" to such soldiers as may serve two years subsequent to April 15, 1861. By Mr. Kelley: The petition of hospital stewards on duty in the State of Pennsylvania, praying for an increase of compensation. Ordered, That the said memorials and petitions be referred to the committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Sweat: The petition of the heirs of John J. Bulow, jr.-heretofore referred January 16, 1857; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Speaker appointed Mr. Windom a member of the Committee of Claims in the place of Mr. Ashley, excused. Mr. Cobb, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, on the 17th instant, present to the President of the United States a joint resolution of the following title, viz: H. Res. 1. Joint resolution of thanks to Major General Ulysses S. Grant, and the officers and soldiers who have fought under his command during this rebellion, and providing that the President of the United States shall cause a medal to be struck, to be presented to Major General Grant in the name of the people of the United States of America. A message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Nicolay, his private secretary, notifying the House that he did, on the 17th instant, approve and sign the foregoing joint resolution, (H. Res. 1.) The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following message heretofore received from the President of the United State, viz: To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: Herewith I lay before you a letter addressed to myself by a committee of gentlemen representing the Freedmen's Aid Societies in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati. The subject of the letter, as indicated above, is one of great magnitude and importance, and one which these gentlemen, of known ability and high character, seem to have considered with great attention and care. Not having the time to form a mature judgment of my own as to whether the plan they suggest is the best, I submit the whole subject to Congress, deeming that their attention thereto is almost imperatively demanded. DECEMBER 17, 1863. The same having been read, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Ordered, That it be printed and referred to the Committee on Emancipa The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House executive communications as follows, viz : I. A letter from the Secretary of State, transmitting a statement of the number of seamen registered in the several ports of entry of the United States during the year ending September 30, 1862; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. II. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a statement of the number and names of persons employed in the Coast Survey during the last fiscal year, their compensation, &c.; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Mr. Dawes submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That there be printed so much of the documentary and other evidence in the several cases of contested election already referred to the Committee of Elections, as, in the judgment of said committee, will be necessary for a proper understanding of each case. The Speaker having, as the regular order of business, called all the committees for reports for commitment, Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a joint resolution (H. Res. 14) to supply in part deficiencies in the appropriations for the public printing, and to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for bounties and premiums to volunteers; which was read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and, by unanimous consent, made a special order for this day at 2 o'clock p. m. Mr. Blow, by unanimous consent, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 35) to provide for the deficiency in the appropriation for the pay of officers and men actually employed in the western department or department of Missouri, 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, by unanimous consent, made a special order for 3 o'clock p. m. this day. Mr. Ward, by unanimous consent, presented the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of New York, held on the 3d instant, for the purpose of responding to the President's call for volunteers; which were laid on the table and ordered to be printed. The Speaker having resumed the call of the States and Territories for resolutions, Mr. Yeaman submitted the following resolutions, viz: Resolved, That a conspiracy of persons, combined together, and assuming the name of a State, or a confederation of States, for levying war upon the United States, or for withdrawing such States from the Union, does not extinguish the political franchises of the loyal citizens of such States; and such loyal citizens have the right, at any time, to administer, amend, or establish a State government without other condition than that it shall be republican in form. 2. That a formal return or readmission of any State into the Union is not necessary. It is sufficient that the people, or those who are loyal in any State, and qualified by the election laws thereof in force before the rebellion, shall, at any time, resume the functions of a State government compatible with the Union, and with the Constitution and laws of the United States; and doing this is sufficient evidence of loyalty for the purpose of doing it. 3. That all questions touching property rights and interests, arising out of confiscation and emancipation, and the effect and validity of any law, proclamation, military order, emergency of war, or act of rebellion, upon the title to any property, or upon the status of any persons heretofore held to service or labor in any State under the laws thereof, are left for the judicial determination of the courts of the United States. The same having been read, Mr. Yeaman moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same. Mr. Lovejoy moved that the said resolutions be referred to the select committee on the rebellious States. Pending which, Mr. Lovejoy moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the motion to refer was agreed to. Mr. Lovejoy 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. Yeaman submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee of Elections be authorized to summon Colonel John W. Foster, 65th Indiana mounted infantry, 4th cavalry brigade, army of the Ohio, to appear before the committee to testify in behalf of George H. Yeaman, in the matter of the contested election now pending before the House, in which Mr. Yeaman is the returned member from the 12th congressional district of Kentucky, and John H. McHenry, jr., is con testant. The same having been read, On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Elections. Mr. Spalding submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That a select committee of nine be constituted to consider the subject of a national bankrupt act, and to report thereon by bill or otherwise. The same having been read, Mr. Spalding moved the previous question. Pending which, Mr. Holman moved that the resolution be laid on the table. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative, Nays.. The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Mr. James C. Allen Sydenham E. Ancona George Bliss John M. Broomall Charles A. Eldridge James E. English Those who voted in the negative are— Mr. John B. Alley Lucien Anderson Mr. Henry T. Blow George S. Boutwell Mr. Amasa Cobb Alexander H. Coffroth John A. J. Creswell Mr. Andrew J. Rogers Lorenzo D. M. Sweat Henry W. Tracy Mr. Ignatius Donnelly Mr. John Ganson Daniel W. Gooch Mr. Orlando Kellogg Francis Kernan Mr. Nehemiah Perry Frederick A. Pike So the House refused to lay the resolution on the table. Mr. M. Russell Thayer Ellihu B. Washburne The question then recurring on the demand for the previous question, it was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the resolution was agreed to. Mr. Spalding 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. Cox submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the expediency of a total repeal of the act of March 3, 1863, for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes; and that, in lieu thereof, they report a bill calling forth the militia of the States to "execute the laws of the Union and to suppress insurrection," in pursuance of the eighth section, article one, of the Constitution, and providing for the organization, arming, disciplining, and governing of the said militia, reserving to the States, respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia, according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. Or, if that be not expedient, that said committee inquire, further, into the expediency of repealing so much of said act as allows substitutes or exemption for money, so that all citizens owing allegiance shall be liable to serve the government, without regard to their pecuniary ability to obtain discharge therefrom by the procuration of substitutes or the payment of money: Provided, however, That said substitution and exemption shall not be repealed so far as it relates to the present call for troops in States where the law, under that call, has not been executed. The same having been read, Mr. Cox moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same. Debate then arising on the resolution, it was laid over under the rule. Mr. Ashley, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 48) to provide for the establishment of provisional military governments over the districts of country declared by the President's proclamation to be in rebellion against the government of the United States, and to authorize the loyal citizens thereof to organize State governments, republican in form, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time and referred to the select committee on rebellious States. Mr. Schenck, on leave, introduced a bill (H. R. 49) to create a Bureau of Military Justice; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Hutchins submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered and agreed to, viz: Whereas the President of the United States, in his recent message, recommends the establishment of a yard and depot for naval purposes upon one of our western rivers: Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing such navy yard and depot and locating the same at Portsmouth or Ironton, or some other feasible point on the Ohio river, within the Hanging Rock iron region of southern Ohio, and that they report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Schenck moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable him to report from the Committee on Military Affairs, and the House to consider, a bill to repeal section three and part of section ten of an act entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes,” approved March 3, 1863.,' And the question being put, it was decided in the negative, two-thirds not voting in favor thereof. Mr. William H. Miller submitted the following preamble and resolution, viz : Whereas the entire people of the States still adhering to the federal Union are sorely exercised by reason of the reported suffering of their brethren now prisoners of war in the Confederate States; and whereas the commonest promptings of humanity should induce the executive representative of the nation to exhaust every proper effort to alleviate their distressed condition aud restore them to their homes; and whereas we are well informed that the number of confederate prisoners in our hands is vastly in excess of the number of federal prisoners in theirs, and that exchange could be made, excluding the question of color, that would restore our white brethren to liberty without prejudicing what may be supposed to be the rights of colored federal soldiers now prisoners of war: Therefore, Resolved, That the President of the United States be respectfully requested to promptly instruct those having in charge the matter of the exchange of prisoners between the United States and the so-called Confederate States to propose an exchange of white men for white men, leaving other questions to be disposed of when the suffering white sons of the republic shall have been restored to the service of the government, their friends, and firesides. The same having been read, Mr. William H. Miller moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same. Mr. John O'Neill moved that the preamble and resolution be laid on the table. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative, Nays... (Yeas... The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are- Edward II. Rollins Mr. James A. Cravens |