DOW.

We know they do not mean to advocate the recognition of the loyal governments which have grown up under the legislation of Congress; for against those governments they are all the time arraying themselves. Then what governments are they that are to send their Representatives to Congress, their Senators to the other end of this Capitol, their electors to vote for President and Vice Pres ident? Frank Blair has told us, and it will not do for gentlemen now to attempt to throw off that exposition of their creed, that declaration of their position, which has been so clearly defined for them before the country by their candidate for the Vice Presidency.

The gentleman from New York [Mr. BROOKS] and others are uneasy. They tell us that the letter of Frank Blair is not their platform. What is their platform? Why, sir, on Monday, the 6th day of this month, the Democratic party in their convention at New York agreed upon a series of propositions, many of them mere axioms in politics against which nobody will protest; others generalities and commonplaces about which no question is likely ever to be made; others a wrapping-up of meaning in ambiguous phrase with the intention of catching people of the widest dissimilarity of opinion, so that your Chase men and your Pendleton men might meet upon the same ground. And that they say is their platform. That was on the 6th of July. Three days afterward, on the 9th of July, when, throwing aside all others, they had taken Horatio Seymour as their candidate for the Presidency, and the question came who should be their second on the ticket, Frank Blair marched into that hall, not in person, but through the representatives of himself and his position, with a platform in his hand, which he presents to these men, in which he not only lays down distinct positive views, which they by acclamation adopted with him, but which he presents to them accompanied with the declaration that all else they have been declaring about is of no consequence whatever, and this which he presents is the only issue. Now, see whether I overstate it. That is his platform thus presented. They say it would be rather a sudden change between the 6th of July and the 9th of July to have altered their whole position. Is there any change impracticable to these men? Do they not fight for Seymour and Blair just as they would have fought for Chase or Hendricks or for Hancock, had they been nominated? If any man thinks he can find a plank too short to afford room to allow the Democratic party to turn a somersault on in two days or one day, or in two hours or one hour, he knows less of the history of that party than I do.

Mr. JONES, of Kentucky. I ask the gentleman to let me put a question to him.

Mr. SCHENCK. I cannot yield. They cannot plead shortness of time, especially they cannot plead it in the face of the recorded facts; and I repeat, therefore, although they adopted that platform under which they seek now to take refuge on the 6th, by the decision of the 9th they virtually threw it aside when they nominated this candidate whom they accepted by acclamation, who said there was one great issue, and on that they meant to go to the country.

I will have some of this literature repeated in order to refresh the memory of gentlemen on the other side, although it has been read in full at the Clerk's desk. First, as to that platform. Here it is in a few lines:

"There is but one way to restore the Government and the Constitution, and that is for the Presidentelcct to declare these acts null and void."

Not submit them to the court. Oh, no! the Democratic President-elect is to declare them by his first proclamation null and void.

"

"Compel the Army to undo its usurpations at the South, disperse the carpet-bag State governments, allow the white people to organize their own governments, and elect Senators and Representatives.' One way is for the President to sweep aside all acts of the legislative power, and to substitute creatures in the shape of State governments

of his own making instead of those established by law.

The House of Representatives will contain a majority of Democrats from the North."

May be so!

And they will admit the Representatives elected by the white people of the South, and with the cooperation of the President it will not be difficult to compel the Senate to submit."

allowed to say it was necessary, for the very reason that they had selected such exponents of their opinions. I am a little at a loss to know to what I may properly direct my argument under the ruling of the Chair, which certainly was unexpected after the course which tis debate had been permitted to take.

Mr. SPALDING. I move that the gentleman be permitted to proceed.

That is your platform moved as an amendm ment to the resolutions of July 6, and you shall hear of it everywhere whether you will or no. You will have to stand on it and abide by it. Let me go on with it:

"I repeat that this is the real and only question which we should allow to control us: Shall we submit to the usurpations by which the Government has been overthrown, or shall we exert ourselves for its full and complete restoration? It is idle to talk of bonds, greenbacks, gold, the public faith, and the public credit."

Away with your generalities, commonplaces, platitudes, and delusions in the pretended platform which you adopted two days ago. That is not the issue. There is but one real, true issue; all those are of the slightest possible conse quence which two days ago you thought worthy to be made the declaration of your faith.

"I wish to stand before the convention upon this issue, but it is one which embraces everything else that is of value in its large and comprehensive results. It is the one thing that includes all that is worth a contest, and without it there is nothing that gives dignity, honor, or value to the struggle.'

Mr. MARSHALL. I raise the question of order that the gentleman is not discussing the question before the House. [Laughter.] Unless he gives a chance on this side I shall object to his proceeding. I have no objection at all if he will permit us to have one fourth the time he occupies.

The SPEAKER pro tempore, (Mr. ScoFIELD in the chair.) The gentleman will confine himself to the subject of debate.

Mr. SCHENCK. But I shall certainly take some opportunity hereafter, if it presents itself, to submit my views, not in a straight-jacket, upon this subject.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will state that the debate had been allowed to run on without objection from any quarter; but when objection was made and insisted upon, the Chair felt bound to rule as he did.

Mr. MARSHALL. If the other side will give us something like half a show I have no objection. Does the

The SPEAKER pro tempore. gentleman withdraw the objection? Mr. MARSHALL. Only on the condition stated.

Mr. SCHENCK. It comes with a bad grace from the gentleman who told me he only wanted a minute, and I gave him more. I inquire if it would be in order to supply some omissions in the account he gave of the personnel of that convention which made this platform which opposes itself to the bills we have under consideration?

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is of the opinion that all of this debate is not relevant to the joint resolution before the House, and if objection is made it cannot proceed.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I have no objection to this debate being pursued at some subsequent time, if gentlemen wish to go on with it; but if they mean to continue it now, I propose to make a report from a committee of conference on the legislative, &c., appro

the report adopted, so that the enrolling clerks may get the bill.

Mr. BOUTWELL. Objection being made by gentlemen on the other side of the House to a further continuance of the debate, and the gentleman from Illinois desiring to proceed to other business, I surrender the floor and ask for the question.

Mr. SCHENCK. That is precisely what I am doing. It is claimed that there are or are to be certain Democratic State governments established at the South by these means, which,priation bill, because it is important to have being about to be established, will obviate all necessity for passing this bill. We disagree to that; and I comment upon the character of those governments and the issue sought to be made before the people by which those governments are to be thus made the law for these southern States. I say, therefore, that is one distinct issue, the issue which General Blair concludes his letter by claiming to be the only one "that gives dignity, honor, or value to the struggle.' It is to be found in the secondary platform overriding the first accepted by these gentlemen, and it now presents the one ground upon which they go to the people. Why, sir, how was General Blair taken? How were any of the candidates taken? Is there anything in the selection of either of them which would indicate that the gentlemen would not have taken this as their position in regard to these southern States?

Mr. MARSHALL. I rise to a point of order.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is of opinion that the gentleman is wandering

somewhat from the subject.

Mr. SCHENCK. Will the Chair be kind enough to tell me wherein?

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair thinks that the Democratic candidates and their platform have nothing to do with this question.

Mr. SCHENCK. I regret to differ from the Chair, and from the gentleman on the other side.

Mr. NIBLACK. The Democratic platform does not go into effect till after the 4th of March next, whereas this is intended to go into operation before that. [Laughter.]

Mr. SCHENCK. Under the advice of the Chair I shall have to desist from the course of remark I was entering upon, but it did seem to me that when it was claimed that upon certain principles and positions taken by these men whom they selected to lead them, indicated, embodied, and personified in this way, a bill like this was unnecessary. I might be

The first question was on the amendments reported by the Committee on Reconstruction; which are as follows:

In lines four and five strike out the words “and which States are not now represented in Congress." In line fifteen strike out the word "and" and insert "nor."

Add to the resolution the following:

Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to apply to any State which was represented in Congress on the 4th of March, 1867.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. I demand the yeas and nays on agreeing to the amendments. The yeas and nays were ordered. Mr. HAMILTON. I desire to offer an amendment.

order, the main question having been ordered.

The SPEAKER. No amendment is in

The main question was taken; and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas 110, nays 23, not voting 65; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Allison, Ames, Arnell. Delos R. Ashley, James M. Ashley, Bailey, Baldwin, Banks, Beatty, Benjamin, Benton, Blair, Boles, Boutwell, Bromwell, Benjamin F. Butler, Roderick R. Butler, Churchill, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Coburn, Cook, Covode, Cullom, Dawes, Delano, Deweese, Dixon, Driggs, Eckley, Ela, Eliot, Farnsworth, Ferriss, Fields, French, Garfield, Griswold, Hamilton, Higby, Hinds, Hooper, Hopkins, Chester D. Hubbard, Hulburd, Hunter, Jenckes, Judd, Julian, Kelsey, Ketcham, Kitchen, Koontz, George V. Lawrence, William Lawrence, Loan, Logan, Loughridge, Lynch, Mallory, Marvin, Maynard, McCarthy, McClurg, McKee, Miller, Moore, Morrell, Mullins, Myers, O'Neill, Orth, Paine, Perham, Peters, Pike, Pile, Plants, Poland, Pomeroy, Price, Raum, Robertson, Roots, Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shanks, Swith, Spalding, Starkweather, Thaddeus Stevens, Stokes, Taffe, Thomas, Trowbridge, Twichell, Upson, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Robert T. Van Horn, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Elibu B. Washburne, Henry D. Washburn, William B. Washburn, Welker William Williams, James F. Wilson, and John T. Wilson-110.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Axtell, Beck, Brooks, Cary, Eldridge, Getz, Glossbrenner, Golladay, Grover, Johnson, Thomas L. Jones, Knott, Marshall, Mungen, Niblack, Phelps, Ross, Stewart, Stone, Taber, Lawrence S. Trimble, and Van Trump-23.

NOT VOTING-Messrs. Anderson, Archer, Baker, Barnes, Barnum, Beaman, Bingham, Blaine, Boyer, Broomall, Buckland, Burr, Cake, Chanler, Reader W. Clarke, Cornell, Dodge, Donnelly, Eggleston, Ferry, Finney, Fox, Gravely, Haight, Halsey, Harding, Hawkins, Hill, Holman, Hotchkiss, Asahel W. Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Humphrey, Ingersolf, Alexander H. Jones, Kelley, Kerr, Laflin, Lincoln, McCormick, McCullough. Mercur, Moorhead, Morrissey, Newcomb, Nicholson. Nunn, Polsley, Pruyn, Randall, Robinson, Selye, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F. Stevens, Taylor, John Trimble, Van Auken, Van Wyck, Thomas Williams, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodbridge, and Woodward-65.

So the amendments were agreed to.

The joint resolution was ordered to a third reading, and it was accordingly read the third time.

Mr. BOUTWELL. I demand the previous question on the passage of the joint resolution. The previous question was seconded and the main question ordered.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. I demand the yeas and nays on the passage of the joint resolution. The yeas and nays were ordered.

The question was taken; and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas 112, nays 21, not voting 65; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Allison, Ames, Arnell, Delos R. Ashley, James M. Ashley, Bailey, Baldwin, Banks, Beatty, Benjamin, Benton, Blair, Boles, Boutwell, Bromwell, Benjamin F. Butler, Roderick R. Butler, Churchill, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Coburn, Cook, Covode, Cullom, Dawes, Delano, Deweese, Dixon, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley, Ela, Eliot, Farnsworth, Ferriss, Fields, French, Garfield, Griswold, Hamilton, Higby, Hinds, Hooper, Hopkins, Chester D. Hubbard. Hulburd, Hunter, Jenckes, Judd, Julian, Kelsey, Ketcham, Kitchen, Koontz, George V. Lawrence, William Lawrence, Loan, Logan, Loughridge, Lynch, Mallory, Marvin, Maynard, McCarthy, McClurg, McKee, Miller, Moore, Mullins, Myers, O'Neill, Orth, Paine, Perham, Peters, Pike, Pile, Plants, Poland, Pomeroy, Price, Raum, Robertson, Roots, Sawyer, Schenck, Scofield, Shanks, Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, Thaddeus Stevens, Stewart, Stokes, Taffe, Thomas, Trowbridge, Twichell, Upson, Van Aernam, Burt Van Horn, Robert T. Van Horn, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Elihu B. Washburne, Henry D.

Washburn, William B. Washburn, Welker, Thomas Williams, William Williams, James F. Wilson, and John T. Wilson-112.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Axtell, Beck, Brooks, Cary, Eldridge, Getz, Glossbrenner, Grover, Johnson, Thomas L. Jones, Knott, Marshall, Mungen, Niblack, Phelps, Ross, Stone, Taber, Lawrence S. Trimble, and Van Trump-21.

NOT VOTING-Messrs. Anderson, Archer, Baker, Barnes, Barnum, Beaman, Bingham, Blaine, Boyer, Broomall, Buckland, Burr, Cake, Chanler, Reader W. Clarke, Cornell, Dodge, Eggleston, Ferry, Finney, Fox, Golladay, Gravely, Haight, Halsey. Harding, Hawkins, Hill, Holman, Hotchkiss, Asahel W. Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Humphrey, Ingersoll, Alexander H. Jones. Kelley, Kerr, Laflin, Lincoln, McCormick, McCullough, Mercur, Moorhead, Morrell, Morrissey, Newcomb, Nicholson, Nunn, Polsley, Pruyn, Randall, Robinson, Selye, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F. Stevens, Taylor. John Trimble, Van Auken, Van Wyck, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Wood, Woodbridge, and Woodward-65. So the joint resolution was passed. During the roll-call,

Mr. POLAND stated that his colleague [Mr. WOODBRIDGE] was out of town on important business; if present he would have voted for the resolution.

The result of the vote having been announced as above recorded,

Mr. BOUTWELL moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

INTERNAL TAX BILL.

Mr. SCHENCK. The amendments of the Senate to House bill No. 1284, to change and more effectually secure the collection of internal revenue on distilled spirits and tobacco, and to amend the tax on banks, have been referred by the House to the Committee of Ways and Means. There were one hundred and eighty-three amendments made by the Senate to that bill, generally verbal, but there are some of them which are of substance, very few of them. Since obtaining the printed bill this morning containing those amendments we have been diligently at work, but have considered only some fifty-two or fifty-three of the amend

ments. If we continue upon them we will probably be able to report them back to the House on Tuesday morning next with our recommendations in regard to them. I have, however, been instructed by the committee to ask permission to report those amendments back to the House, and ask that they all be non-concurred in, and that a committee of conference be requested upon them. In that way we suppose there may be had a saving of three or four days of time in the final disposition of the bill. I hope, therefore, that there will be no objection to that course being taken at this time.

No objection was made.

The report was accordingly received.

Mr. SCHENCK. Inow move that the House non-concur in the amendment of the Senate, and request a committee of conference. The motion was agreed to.

Mr. SCHENCK moved to reconsider the vote just taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Indefinite leave of absence was granted to Mr. Infinit, on account of the illness of his

wife.

Indefinite leave of absence was also granted to Mr. VAN HORN, of Missouri, after to-day. Mr. SCHENCK. I would inquire of the Chair how many members were present when the last vote was taken.

The SPEAKER. Only thirty-three more than a quorum.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I give notice that I shall hereafter object to the granting any leave of absence except for good reason stated.

ENROLLED BILLS, ETC., SIGNED.

Mr. HOPKINS, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that they had examined and found truly enrolled bills and a joint resolution of the following titles; when the Speaker signed the same:

An act (H. R. No. 373) to place the name of Mahala M. Straight upon the pension roll of the United States;

An act (H. R. No. 456) granting a pension to the children of Pleasant Stoops;

An act (H. R. No. 522) granting a pension to W. W. Cunningham;

An act (H. R. No. 525) granting a pension to Jeremiah T. Hallett;

An act (H. R. No. 550) providing for the sale of a portion of the Fort Gratiot military reservation in St. Clair county, in the State of Michigan;

An act (H. R. No. 676) granting a pension to Thomas Connolly ;

An act (H. R. No. 677) granting a pension to the children of James Heatherly;

An act (H. R. No. 770) granting a pension to John H. Finlay ;

An act (H. R. No. 771) granting a pension to John L. Lay;

An act (H. R. No. 773) granting a pension to William H. McDonald;

An act (H. R. No. 825) granting a pension to John W. Hughes;

An act (H. R. No. 1099) for the relief of Wait Talcott; and

Joint resolution (H. R. No. 292) directing the Secretary of War to sell damaged or unserviceable arms, ordnance, and ordnance stores.

INDIAN EXPENSES.

The SPEAKER, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, with an estimate of the appropriations necessary to carry out treaty stipulations with the Seneca and other Indians, lately ratified by the Senate; which were referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed.

REMOVAL OF POLITICAL DISABILITIES.

communication from the Secretary of War, transmitting certain petitions forwarded by the several military commanders, for the removal of political disabilities; which were referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

LEGISLATIVE, ETC., APPROPRIATION BILL. Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, from the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on House bill No.

605, making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1869, submitted the following report:

The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments of tho Senate to the bill (H. R. No. 605) making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1869, having met, after full and free conference have agreed to recommend, and do recommend, to their respective Houses, as follows:

That the House of Representatives recede from their disagreement to the amendments of the Senate numbered 2, 3, 12, 18, 19, 32, 37, 39, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 56, 59, 61, 62, 65, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 97, 99, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 143, 145, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 194, 199, 200, 201, 202, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 223, and 227, and agree to the same.

That the Senate recede from their amendments numbered 15, 38, 50, 68, 69, 76, 77, 84, 86, 89, 92, 921, 96, 961, 98, 101, 1014, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 135, 136, 166, 167, 185, 186, 187, 197, 198, 204, and 226.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the eleventh amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: at the end of said Senate amendment add the following: "Provided. That after the 30th June, 1869, members of the Capitol police shall furnish at their own expense, each his own uniform, which shall be in exact conformity to regulation, and all provisions of law requiring an appropriation for such uniform are hereby repealed.'

That the House recede from their disagreement to the fourteenth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: strike out of said amendment the word "five" and insert in lieu thereof the word "eight," and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the thirtieth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with amendments, as follows: strike out all of said amendment and insert in lieu thereof the following: "For compensation to the Private Secretary, assistant secretary, who shall be a short-hand writer, two clerks of class four, steward, and messenger of the President of the United States, $12,500: Provided, That so much of the fourth section of the act of July 23, 1866, making appropriation for legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1867, as authorizes the President of the United States to appoint a clerk of pardons, and one clerk of the fourth class, is hereby repealed," and the Senate agree to the same as so modified.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the forty-first amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: at the end of said amendment add the following words: "Provided, That the office of examiner of claims shall be abolished on the 30th day of June, 1869," and the Senate agree to the same as so modified.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the fifty-third amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with the following amendments: strike out of said amendment the following words: "And for temporary clerks $9,000;" and in line two of said amendment strike out the words "fifty-two thousand seven hundred" and insert in lieu thereof the words forty-three thousand seven hundred and forty," and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the sixtieth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the word "three" and insert in lieu therof the word "two," and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the sixty-third amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the words "forty-two thousand and seven hundred" and insert in lieu thereof the words "forty thousand nine hundred and twenty," and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the sixty-fourth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the word "four" and insert in lieu thereof the word "three," and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the sixty-sixth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with amendments, as follows: strike out of said amendment the word "nino" and insert in lieu thereof the word "seven;" and on page 14, line nine of the bill, strike out the word "three" and insert in lieu the word "five," and the Senate agree to the same.

insert in lieu thereof the word "fifty:" and on page 17 of the bill, after the word "dollars," in line twentythree, add the following words: and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to lay before the House of Representatives annually with his report of receipts and expenditures a statement in detail of the disbursements made from the same hereby appropriated;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the Senate agree to the amendment of the House to the seventy-ninth amendinent ofthe Senate. That the House recede from their disagreement to the eightieth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with the following amendment: Inline two of said amendment strike out the following words, and fifty."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and second amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with amendments, as follows: in line one of said amendment strike out the word "four," and insert in lieu thereof the word "seven,' and strike out of said amendment the words "s SIX thousand four," and insert in lieu thereof the words eleven thousand two."

That the Ilouse recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and eleventh amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the word nineteen" and insert in lieu thereof the word "twelve;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and twelfth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the word "thirty;" and insert in lieu thereof "nineteen;" and on page 23 of the bill, line twenty-seven, after the word "thousand" strike out the word "four" and insert in lieu thereof the word "two;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and thirteenth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with the following amendment: strike out of said amendment the words "fifty-two" and insert in lieu thereof the word "thirty;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and fourteenth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows: strike out of said amendment the words "fifty-eight" and insert in lieu thereof the words "forty-two;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and twenty-eighth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the words twenty-five" and insert in lieu thereof the word "fifteen;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and twenty-ninth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the word "thirty," and insert in lieu thereof the word" eighteen;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and thirty-seventh amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with amendments. as follows: on page 26 of the bill, line three, after the word "for" insert the following words: "Chief Clerk $2,000;" and also strike out the word "four" in said amendment and insert in lieu thereof the word "three."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and thirty-eighth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out "seven thousand two and insert in lieu thereof "five thousand four;" and in line four of the bill, on page 26, strike out the word "" one where it first occurs and insert in lieu thereof the word "two;" and in the same line strike out the word one where it occurs the second time, and in lieu thereof insert the word " three;" and in the same line strike out the word "six" and in lieu thereof insert the word "two."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and thirty-ninth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out "eight" and insert in lieu thereof the word "six."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and fortieth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with the following amendment: strike out "eleven thousand two" and insert in lieu thereof "eight thousand four."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and forty-first amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out "twenty" and insert in lieu thereof "ten."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and forty-second amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out "twenty-four" and insert in lieu thereof "twelve;" and the Senate agree to the

same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and forty-sixth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with amendments, as follows; in lines two and three of said amendment strike out the words "three thousand five hundred" and insert in lieu thereof the words two thousand six hundred and sixty-three:" and at the end of said amendment, add the following: "Provided, That this office shall cease on the 4th day of March, 1869, and no further appropriation for its continuance shall be made until said office shall have been established by law;" and the Senate agree to the same as so modified.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and forty-eighth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with amendments, as follows: in line one of said amendment strike out the word "four" and insert in lieu thereof the word

"three:" and in line two of said amendment strike out the word "four" and insert in lieu thereof the word "three," and in the same line strike out the word "eight" an insert in lieu thereof the word "six."

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and ninety-third amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: at the end of said amendment add the following: "Provided, That from and after the 30th day of June, 1869, the Department of Education shall cease, and there shall be established and attached to the Department of the Interior an office to be denominated the office of education, the chief officer of which shall be the Commissioner of Education, at a salary of $3,000 per annum, who shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, discharge all such duties, and superintend, execute, and perform all such acts and things touching and respecting the said office of education as are devolved by law upon said Commissioner of Education;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and ninety-four and a half amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with amendments, as follows: in lieu of said Senate amendment insert the words "four hundred;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and ninety-fifth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with the following amendments: in line two of said amendment strike out the word "eight" and insert in lieu thereof the word "seven;" and in line six of said amendment strike out the words "twenty-five hundred and insert in lieu thereof two thousand;" and in line six of said amendment strike out the words "two thousand" and insert in lieu thereof "eighteen hundred;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the one hundred and ninety-sixth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the words ninety-one" and insert in lieu thereof the words "seventy-five;" and the Senate agree to the saine.

That the House recede from their disagreement to the two hundred and third amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment, as follows: strike out of said amendment the words "fiftyseven" and insert in lieu thereof the word "ten;" and the Senate agree to the same.

That the House recede from their amendment to the two hundred and twenty-fifth amendment of the Senate, and the Senate recede from said amendment and agree to the following as a substitute for both amendments:

SEC.. And be it further enacted, That all advertisements, notices, proposals for contracts, executive proclamations, treaties, and laws to be published in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, shall be published in the papers now selected under the provisions of section ten of an act approved March 2, 1867, entitled "An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes," and shall also be published in the paper selected under the provisions of the second section of this act: Provided, That no advertisement from any State, District, or Territory other than the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia shall be published in the papers designated, unless at the direction first made of the proper head of a Department. That the Senate recede from their disagreement to the amendment of the House to the two hundred and twenty-eighth amendment of the Senate, and agree to the same. L. M. MORRILL. TIMOTHY O. HOWE, T. A. HENDRICKS, Managers on the part of the Senate.

E. B. WASHBURNE, CHARLES E. PHELPS. C. DELANO,

Managers on the part of the House. The report of the committee of conference was adopted.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, moved to reconsider the vote by which the report was adopted; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

MILITARY PEACE ESTABLISHMENT. The House resumed the consideration of the bill (H. R. No. 1377) to reduce and fix the military peace establishment.

The pending question was upon the amendment of Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana, to the amendment of Mr. GARFIELD to the seventh section of the bill.

Mr. GARFIELD. I desire to make a propositition in regard to this bill; that we now proceed with its consideration until we get through with the next section, which is simply a provision to determine the number of regiments we are to have in the Army. When that question shall have been determined, if it then be the pleasure of the House, to recom mit the bill to the Committee on Military Affairs with instructions to draft a bill more in harmony, in its terms and provisions, with the opinion of the House as exhibited by the

votes of to-day. I will make no objection; the committee to have leave to report at any time.

The SPEAKER. It will require unanimous consent for the committee to report at any time.

Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana. I object. Mr. GARFIELD. I move that the bill with the amendments already adopted be ordered to be printed.

The motion was agreed to.

Mr. SCHENCK, Mr. PHELPS, and Mr. GARFIELD gave notice of amendments which they propose to offer and which were severally ordered to be printed.

IN SENATE.
MONDAY, July 13, 1868.

Prayer by Rev. E. H. GRAY, D. D.

On motion of Mr. MORTON, and by unanimous consent, the reading of the Journal of Saturday last was dispensed with.

HOUSE BILLS REFERRED.

The following bills and joint resolutions received from the House of Representatives were severally read twice by their titles and referred as indicated below :

A bill (H. R. No. 1277) to provide for the distribution of the reward offered by the President of the United States for the capture of Jefferson Davis-to the Committee on Claims. A bill (H. R. No. 1320) for the relief of L. Merchant & Co., and Peter Rosecrantz-to the Committee on Claims.

A bill (H. R. No. 1341) making appropriations and to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes-to the Committee on Appropriations.

A bill (H. R. No. 1366) for the relief of Captain A. G. Olivar-to the Committee on Claims.

A bill (H. R. No. 1370) to fix the time for holding the terms of the United States district court in Virginia-to the Committee on the Judiciary.

A bill (H. R. No. 1378) to declare the meaning of the several acts in relation to retired officers of the Army-to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 288) amendatory of joint resolution for the relief of certain officers of the Army, approved July 26, 1866-to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 310) to extend the provisions of the act of July 4, 1864, limiting the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims to the loyal citizens of the State of Arkansas -to the Committee on the Judiciary.

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 331) to grant an American register to the Hawaiian brig Victoria-to the Committee on Commerce.

BRIDGE AT FORT LEAVENWORTH.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Chair will lay before the Senate the bill (S. No. 355) authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri river upon the military reservation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, which has been returned from the House of Representatives with an amendment.

Mr. POMEROY. I presume the Committee on Military Affairs will be disposed to concur in that amendment. I ask to have it lie on the table for a few minutes until they can see it. I have no doubt they will concur in it, and that we can pass it without being referred. As soon as the committee have examined it I will call it up.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. It will be laid aside for the present.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of War, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 6th of February last, information in relation to the expense of maintaining the military establishment in the Territories of New Mexico and Arizona; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, and ordered to be printed.

He also laid before the Senate a letter of the Secretary of the Interior, communicating estimates of appropriations required to carry out such provisions as will need immediate action of the treaty concluded February 23, 1867, with the Senecas, Shawnees, Quapaws, Peorias, Kaskaskias, Weas, Piankeshaws, Ottowas of Blanchard's Fork and Rock de Boeuf, and the Wyandottes; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.

Mr. FESSENDEN presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. HARLAN presented a petition of Frederick Hall, praying the confirmation of the title to certain lands which he purchased of two Chippewa Indians; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. ANTHONY presented two petitions of officers of the United States Army, praying an increase of compensation; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. CONNESS presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying the passage of the bill to fix and equalize the pay of officers, and to establish the pay of enlisted soldiers of the Army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. HOWE presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying the passage of the bill to fix and equalize the pay of officers and to establish the pay of enlisted soldiers of the Army; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. FERRY presented a petition of officers of the Army, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militla.

Mr. MORGAN presented the memorial of Charles Gaylord, praying aid in the construction of a marine railway for passing ships across the Isthmus of Darien; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. WILLEY presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. HARLAN presented a petition of Violet Henry, widow of Sherrod Henry, late a private of company D, sixtieth United States colored troops, praying to be allowed a pen

sion; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. CHANDLER presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. COLE presented a petition of officers of the Army, praying an increase of sation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. HOWARD presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

Mr. CHANDLER, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 605) to declare a part of the Iowa river not a navigable stream, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. No. 323) in relation to surveys and examinations of rivers and harbors, reported it without amendment.

Mr. STEWART, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred various petitions and memorials relative to the removal of civil disabilities imposed by act of Congress upon the persons therein named, asked to be discharged from their further consideration; which was agreed to.

Mr. POMEROY, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 1052) amendatory of an act entitled "An act granting public lands to the State of Wisconsin to aid in the construction of railroads in said State," approved June 3, 1856, reported it without amendment.

Mr. DAVIS, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Joseph Wilson, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and moved that the petitioner have leave to withdraw his petition; which was agreed to.

Mr. TRUMBULL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 610) in relation to corporations éreated by laws of the United States, reported it with amendments.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 584) relating to the finding of indictments in the courts of the United States in the late rebel States, reported it with an amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 604) regulating the times and places of holding the district and circuit courts of the United States for the northern district of Florida, reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom were referred the amendments of the House of Representatives to the bill (S. No. 852) to authorize the temporary supplying of vacancies in the Executive Departments, reported an amendment to the House amendments; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. WILSON, from the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. No. 326) for the relief of Henry B. St. Marie, reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. No. 328) for the donation of certain columus, reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 1365) for the relief of Captain Thomas W. Miller, asked to be discharged from its further consideration and that it be referred to the Committee on Claims; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 255) for the relief of the heirs of James S. Porter, late of Hancock county, West Virginia, asked to be

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 600) to authorize the sale of portions of the military reservations at Forts Leavenworth and Riley, in the State of Kansas, reported it with amendments.

LEAVENWORTH COAL COMPANY.

Mr. WILSON. I am directed by the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 938) to authorize the sale of twenty acres of land in the military reservation at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to report it back without amendment, and recommend its passage.

Mr. POMEROY. As I presume there can be no objection to that bill, I hope the Senate will allow it to be put on its passage now. I think there can be no objection to it.

Mr. WILSON. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the bill.

Mr. POMEROY. I think there will be no objection to it.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. It requires unanimous consent to consider the bill on the day it is reported.

There being no objection, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill.

The preamble recites that the Secretary of War, in behalf of the United States and in accordance with the previous practice of the War Department, on the 13th of November, 1860, executed to Samuel Denman, William H. Russell, and Thomas Ewing, jr., and their assigns, a lease of twenty acres of land in the military reserve at Fort Leavenworth, State of Kansas, for the term of sixteen years thereafter, with a preference to them of an extension of the term and with the exclusive right to them to mine for coal under the lands of the military reserve; that the lessees and their assigns accepted the lease, and upon the faith thereof have prosecuted their mining operations under many difficulties at great expense and have finally succeeded in striking the deep coal beds of that geclogical region after having expended their entire capital to the amount of $40,000; that it is now discovered that the lease is invalid because the Secretary of War was unauthorized in law to make the same, by reason of which the lessees are deprived of their right to proceed and are threatened with the total loss of their money and are without redress; that in view of the incalculable benefit to be derived, not alone by the State of Kansas, but by the whole country adjacent thereto by the development of the coal strata of the region, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas on the 18th day of February, 1868, concurred in a joint resolution reciting the above and respectfully requesting Congress to act in the premises; and the House of Representatives of the United States have heretofore passed an act directing the sale, in small tracts, of a body of land in the military reserve. The bill therefore provides that the Leavenworth Coal Company, being the successors and assigns of Samuel Denman, William H. Russell, and Thomas Ewing, jr., in the lease, shall have the right to purchase from the United States twenty acres of land lying in the military reserve at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and described as follows: beginning at the intersection of the south line of the military reserve and the Missouri river, running northwardly thence along the west line of the Missouri river, thence westwardly in a line parallel to the south line of the military reserve, thence southwardly in a line at right angles with the south line of the military reserve, thence eastwardly in the south line of the military reserve to the point of begin

ning, the lines to be run so as to make the form of the twenty acres as nearly square as practicable. The Leavenworth Coal Company are to pay therefor the sum fixed by the United States district judges of the State of Kansas, the eastern district of Missouri, and of the northern district of Illinois, whose reasonable expenses are to be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated; and the lease is extended sixteen years from the passage of this act. Upon the payment of the purchase money, the Secretary of the Interior is directed to issue to the Leavenworth Coal Company and its successors and assigns, a patent for the above described lands, which patent shall also grant to the company and its successors and assigns the exclusive right to mine for coal underlying the lands now comprised in the military reserve.

Mr. HARLAN. I did not hear the amount that they are to pay for this land.

Mr. HOWARD. No particular amount is mentioned. The property is to be appraised by three district judges.

Mr. EDMUNDS. How soon after the appraisal are they to pay?

Mr. HOWARD. They are to pay when they purchase, I suppose.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. MCPHERSON, its Clerk, announced that the House had passed the bill (S. No. 564) concerning the tax commissioners for the State of Arkansas.

The message also announced that the House had passed the following bill and joint resolutions, in which it requested the concurrence of the Senate:

A bill (H. R. No. 1428) authorizing the admission in evidence of copies of certain papers, documents, and entries;

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 332) authorizing the appointment of examiners to examine and report upon the expediency of discontinuing the navy-yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and uniting the same with the yard at Kittery, Maine;

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 338) exonerating certain vessels of the United States from the payment of tonnage fees to consular agents in Canada;

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 335) for the protection of settlers on the Cherokee neutral lands in Kansas; and

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 337) continuing the refining of bullion in the Mint of the United States and branches.

The message also announced that the House insisted on its amendments to the following

bills of the Senate:

A bill (S. No. 175) for the relief of Joseph McGhee Cameron and Mary Jane Cameron, minor children of La Fayette Cameron, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 382) granting an increase of pension to Obadiah T. Plum;

A bill (S. No. 422) granting a pension to Maria Schweitzer and the children of Conrad Schweitzer, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 518) granting a pension to the widow and children of John P. Felty; A bill (S. No. 547) granting a pension to John Sheets;

A bill (S. No. 314) for the relief of George T. Brien;

A bill (S. No. 383) granting a pension to John A. Weed and Elizabeth J. Weed, minor children of Robert T. Weed, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 517) granting a pension to the widow and children of Henry Brown; and A bill (S. No. 521) granting a pension to the children of William M. Wooten, deceased;

And had agreed to the conference asked by the Senate, and had appointed Mr. S. PERHAM of Maine, Mr. H. VAN AERNAM of New York, and Mr. J. BEATTY of Ohio, managers at the conference on its part.

PAPERS WITHDRAWN.

On motion of Mr. HOWE, it was

Ordered, That the petition of N. Daniels be withdrawn from the files of the Senate and referred to the Committee on Claims.

On motion of Mr. POMEROY, it was Ordered, That William Pollard have leave to withdraw his petition from the files of the Senate.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. WILLIAM G. MOORE, his Secretary, announced that the President had on this day signed the following acts and joint resolu

tions:

A bill (S. No. 232) granting a pension to Henrietta Nobles;

A bill (S. No. 238) granting a pension to Carrie E. Burdett;

A bill (S. No. 291) granting a pension to Ann Kelley, widow of Bernard Kelley; A bill (S. No. 292) granting a pension to Maria Raftery;

A bill (S. No. 307) for the relief of certain Government contractors;

A bill (S. No. 332) granting a pension to John W. Harris ;

A bill (S. No. 333) for the relief of Julia M. Molin;

A bill (S. No. 316) for the relief of Rebecca V. Senor, mother of James H. Senor, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 318) for the relief of Charlotte Posey, widow of Sebastian Posey;

A bill (S. No. 321) for the relief of Mrs. Mary Gaither, widow of Wiley Gaither, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 342) granting a pension to Thomas Stewart;

A bill (S. No. 359) granting a pension to Louisa Fitch, widow of E. P. Fitch, deceased; A bill (S. No. 381) granting a pension to Edward Hamel, minor child of Edward Hamel, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 427) for the relief of the widow and children of John W. Jameson, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 436) for the relief of James Hooper;

A bill (S. No. 456) for the relief of Sylvester Nugent;

A bill (S. No. 494) granting a pension to Elizabeth Steepleton, widow of Harrison W. Steepleton, deceased;

A bill (S. No. 495) for the relief of Henry Reens;

A bill (S. No. 434) for the relief of Elizabeth Barker, widow of Alexander Barker, deceased; A bill (S. No. 497) for the relief of Catharine Wands;

A bill (S. No. 498) granting a pension to Anna M. Howard;

Lucinda R. Johnson;
A bill (S. No. 500) granting a pension to

Harriet W. Pond;
A bill (S. No. 501) granting a pension to

A bill (S. No. 520) granting a pension to Martha Stout;

A bill (S. No. 542) for the relief of Thomas W. Ward, late collector of customs, district of Corpus Christi, Texas;

A bill (S. No. 549) granting an increase of pension to Catharine Eckhardt;

A joint resolution (S. R. No. 81) placing certain troops of Missouri on an equal footing with others as to bounties; and

A joint resolution (S. R. No. 107) in relation to the Maquoketa river, in the State of Iowa.

INTERNAL TAXES.

The Senate proceeded to consider its amendments to the bill (H. R. No. 1284) to change and more effectually secure the collection of internal taxes on distilled spirits and tobacco, and to amend the tax on banks, disagreed to by the House; and

On motion by Mr. SHERMAN,

Resolved, That the Senate insist upon its amendments to the said bill disagreed to by the House of Representatives, and ask a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon.

Ordered, That the conferees on the part of the Senate be appointed by the President pro tempore.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore appointed Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. MORRILL of Vermont, and Mr. BUCKALEW.

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. COLE asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 613) prescribing the time for appeals in certain land cases; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. McDONALD asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 614) to pay loyal citizens in the States lately in rebellion for services in taking the United States census of 1860; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. ROSS asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 615) to provide for a commission to investigate claims arising from depredations committed by or upon Indians in Kansas; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. OSBORN asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a joint resolution (S. R. No. 159) authorizing the Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands to sell certain portions of public lands within the corporate limits of the city of Pensacola, Florida, for educational purposes; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

MESSENGERS, PAGES, ETC.

Mr. McDONALD. I submit the following resolution, and ask for its present consideration :

Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms be, and ho is hereby, authorized and directed to retain during the coming recess the special messengers, pages, and laborers now employed.

Mr. FESSENDEN. I think that had better go over.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection being made, the resolution goes over under the rule.

BRIDGE AT ST. LOUIS.

Mr. HENDERSON. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House bill in regard to the construction of a bridge at St. Louis. It has been reported by the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, and it is important that it should pass.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (H. R. No. 631) amendatory of an act approved July 26, 1866, entitled "An act to authorize the construction of certain bridges, and to estabJish them as post roads" was considered as in Committee of the Whole.

The preamble declares that the St. Louis and Illinois Bridge Company, organized under the laws of the State of Missouri, and the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company, organized under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, have been consolidated, in pursuance of the authority granted to the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company, in their act of incorporation, and the authority granted to the St. Louis and Illinois Bridge Company, by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, approved March 19, 1861. The bill proceeds to provide that the company formed by this consolidation, under the name and style of the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company, is hereby recognized and declared to be a corporation by that name, with full power and authority to construct a bridge across the Mississippi river opposite the city of St. Louis, in conformity to the act of which this is amendatory, with all the rights, privileges, and powers granted and conferred by the several acts of the General Assemblies of the States of Illinois and Missouri to the respective companies by the consolidation of which the Illinois and St. Louis Bridge Company was formed, and not inconsistent with the provisions of the act to which this is amend atory. In constructing the bridge there shall