railroad in California with the Columbia river in Oregon; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Select Committee on the Pacific Railroad. Mr. Stevens, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill (H. R. 192) making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the government for the year ending 30th June, 1865; which was read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, ordered to be printed, and made a special order for Thursday next, the 4th of February, after the morning hour. Mr. Ganson, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Whereas, by the twelfth section of the act entitled "An act to provide a national currency secured by a pledge of United States stocks, and provide for the circulation and redemption thereof," it is provided, "for all debts contracted by such association for circulation, deposits, or otherwise, each shareholder shall be liable to the amount, at their par value, of the shares held by him in addition to the amount invested in such shares;" and whereas no special provision is made by said act for the speedy enforcement of such liability in case of insolvency: Therefore, Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee inquire into the necessity or expediency of providing a special and expeditious remedy for dissolving associations organized under the said act, in case of insolvency, and of enforcing the individual liability imposed upon the stockholders of such associations by the said act; and in case the committee find such remedy necessary or expedient, that they report a bill making provisions on that subject. Mr. McBride, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Whereas the fees and compensation now allowed by law to the officers of the United States district court for the State of Oregon, and to jurors and witnesses attending the same, are inadequate, and lead to much difficulty in the administration of justice by said court: Therefore, Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be directed to inquire into the expediency of providing for an increase of said fees and compensation, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Jacob B. Blair, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be instructed to inquire into the expediency of printing one hundred thousand extra copies of the agricultural report of 1862, for the use of the members of this house. Mr. Kasson, by unanimous consent, submitted a concurrent resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, declaring that Congress has received with profound sensibility information of the purpose entertained by certain European powers to subvert the fundamental constitution of the neighboring republic of Mexico, and to impose upon the people of that republic, under the influence and menace of belligerent arms, a monarchical system of government practically unknown to the people of North America, and alien to their principles, customs, and usages; declaring that Congress regards this proposition with the deepest regret; and expressing its conviction that such an enterprise will be universally regarded in America as a menace to the dignity and permanence of popular government; that it will only result in adding a new element to the causes which have retarded the prosperity of that republic, and will provoke complications continually perilous to the tranquillity of this continent. Mr. Kasson, also, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the several heads of departments, submitting annual reports, or annual financial statements and estimates to Congress, be requested to provide therewith an index to facilitate reference to the different subjects and facts contained therein; and that this resolution be communicated to the respective departments. Mr. Farnsworth, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested (if not incompatible with the public service) to inform the House whether brevet rank has been conferred upon any of the officers of the volunteer forces of the United States, in pursuance of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1863, and if so, upon whom; and if not, the reasons why it has not been done. Mr. William J. Allen, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be requested to inquire into the fact as to whether any provision of law now exists by which the officers and privates, or their heirs, of the 1st regiment of Illinois cavalry, who were killed or taken prisoners at the battle of Lexington, Missouri, on the day of September, 1861, can obtain pay from the government of the United States for the horses and other property lost by said regiment at said battle, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Windom, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 193. A bill for the benefit and better management of the Indians; and H. R. 194. A bill for the benefit of half-breeds and mixed bloods of the Winnebago tribe of Indians; which were severally read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. Clay, by unanimous consent, presented a communication addressed to him by the Commissioner of Agriculture in regard to the manner of binding the 50,000 copies of the annual report of the Department of Agriculture; which was referred to the Committee on Printing and ordered to be printed. Mr. Beaman, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on the Territories, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 15) to provide a temporary government for the Territory of Montana, reported the same with an amendment. Ordered, That the said bill and amendment be printed and recommitted to the said committee. Mr. Cobb, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did this day present to the President of the United States a bill of the following title, viz: H. R. 33. An act making appropriations for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the United States for the year ending the 30th of June, 1865. Mr. Kasson gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to move for leave to introduce a bill relating to the capture of cotton and disposition thereof by the military forces of the United States. Mr. Dawes called up, and the House proceeded to consider, the report, heretofore submitted, of the Committee of Elections upon the claim of A. P. Field to a seat in this house as a representative from the State of Louisiana, the pending question being on agreeing to the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That A. P. Field is not entitled to a seat in this house as a representative from the State of Louisiana in the 38th Congress. After debate, On motion of Mr. G. Clay Smith, the further consideration of the same was postponed until Tuesday next, after the morning hour. Mr. Blow rose and announced the death of John W. Noell, a member elect to the present House from the State of Missouri. After remarks upon the life and public services of the deceased, Mr. Blow submitted the following resolutions; which were read, considered and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the members of this house, from a sincere desire of showing every mark of respect due to the memory of Hon. John W. Noell, deceased, a member elect to the present Congress from the 3d congressional district of the State of Missouri, will go into mourning by wearing crape on the left arm for thirty days. Resolved, That as an additional mark of respect for the memory of Hon. John W. Noell, the House do now adjourn. Ordered, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1864. The following memorials, petitions, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Arnold: The memorial of citizens of the State of Illinois, praying the construction of a ship canal around the Falls of Niagara; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. By Mr. Marvin: The memorial of citizens of the State of New York, praying that colored soldiers may receive the same pay as white ones; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Alley: The memorial of the Boston Board of Trade, praying aid to the South American Steamship Company; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Stevens: The petition of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying that incomes below six hundred dollars may be taxed; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Eliot: The memorial of citizens of the State of Massachusetts, praying an act of universal emancipation; which was referred to the Select Committee on Emancipation. By Mr. Yeaman: Certain affidavits relative to the claim of R. E. Case, postmaster at Hudsonville, Kentucky; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Van Valkenburgh; Two memorials of men and women of the State of New York, praying an act of universal emancipation; which were referred to the Select Committee on Emancipation. By Mr. Arnold: The petition of Hugh Maher, praying relief as a surety on a certain custom-house bond; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Williams: Two memorials of women of the United States, praying an act of universal emancipation; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Long: The memorial of Major General William S. Rosecrans, and over four thousand other volunters in the United States army, praying the establishment of a uniform hospital and ambulance system; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr William G. Brown: The petition of Lewis Turner, praying an increased pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. James S. Rollins: The petition of Paymaster J. W. Carpenter, United States navy, with accompanying papers, praying compensation for loss of money; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Kinney: The memorial of the governor and legislative assembly of Utah Territory, praying the establishment of a daily mail from Great Salt Lake City to Los Angeles, in California; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. H. Winter Davis: The memorial of James Walsh-heretofore referred April 4, 1856; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Also, the memorial of merchants of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, praying aid to the South American Steamship Company; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. James S. Rollins: The petition of John Christie, praying the payment of money already appropriated for the pay of himself and others, from October, 1857, to July, 1859; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Blow: The memorial of the German Lutheran Congregation, of the State of Missouri, praying that ministers of the gospel may be exempt from military duty; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. McBride presented the credentials of William H. Wallace, as delegate elect from the Territory of Idaho; When, The said William H. Wallace appeared, and having taken the oath required by the act of July 2, 1862, took his seat in the House. The Speaker laid before the House additional depositions in the contested election case between James Lindsay and John G. Scott, from the third congressional district of Missouri; which were referred to the Committee of Elections. The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter. from the Secretary of the Treasury, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 17th of December last, in relation to the operation of the reciprocity treaty; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House copies of the laws and journals of the Territory of Washington, session of 1862–263; which were referred to the Committee on the Territories. The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports for commitment and printing, Mr. Long, from the Committee of Claims, to which was referred the petition of Daniel H. Bingham, made an adverse report thereon; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Mr. Windom, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Margaret S. Stevens, widow of General Isaac I. Stevens, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill (H. R. 195) for her relief; which bill was read a first and second time, committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and the bill and report ordered to be printed. Mr. Farnsworth, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Captain J. S. Tichenor, made an adverse report thereon; which was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Mr. Schenck, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 163) for the relief of Charles Anderson, assignee of John James, of Texas, reported the same without amendment, accompanied by a report thereon. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, and that the bill and report be printed. On motion of Mr. Schenck, Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Abraham Snyder, and that the same be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion of Mr. G. Clay Smith, Ordered, That the Committee of Elections be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of B. D. Williams, and that the same be referred to the Committee of Claims. All the committees having been called, the Speaker resumed the call of the States and Territories for resolutions; When Mr. James C. Allen submitted the following resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Printing, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be, and they are hereby, instructed to order the printing of fifty thousand additional copies of General George B. McClellan's report for the use of this house. Mr. Arnold, on leave, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 28) providing for the payment of soldiers in the field of the value of short rations; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Farnsworth submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency and propriety of so amending the confiscation law as to make it the duty of district attorneys to institute proceedings against the property of traitors, upon complaint under oath of any citizen, showing cause for such proceeding. Mr. Farnsworth 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. Stuart submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the papers relating to the application of Esther P. Fox for a pension be withdrawn from the files of the House and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions, to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for her relief. Mr. Ross submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the compensation paid to invalid pensioners corresponding with the enhanced expense of living and the depreciation in the value of our national currency, and that they report by bill or otherwise. Mr Arnold submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be directed to inquire what legislation is needed to enable enrolling officers, who enrolled the militia by order of the President of the United States, under the direction of the governors of the States, to get their pay, and that they report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Morrison submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the men who perilled their lives in, as the Chief Executive in his recent message declares, "many conflicts, on both land and sea, with varying results;" and when he says "the tone of public feeling and opinion at home and abroad was not satisfactory;" and when he further says, “hope |