Resolved, That ten thousand copies of the opinion of the Attorney General on the power of the President to suspend the writ of habeas corpus be printed for the use of the House of Representatives. Mr. Lehman introduced a bill (H. R. 94) to facilitate the settlement of the accounts of officers; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Babbitt submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz Resolved, That the committee to whom the subject of the establishment of a national armory has been referred be, and is hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing such armory at the city of Erie, in the State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Colfax gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to move for leave to introduce a bill granting to soldiers bounty land on all government lands subject to entry at $1 25 per acre, more or less, and granting homesteads to actual settlers on the alternate sections of land reserved from railroad grants, and subject to entry at $250 per acre. Mr. Ward submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill granting a pension to the widow of the late Colonel A. Vosburgh; also, a bill granting a pension to the widow of the late William D. Kennedy. Mr. Ward submitted the following preamble and resolutions, viz: Whereas there is reason to believe that our army is now suffering in health and deteriorating in general condition in consequence of the absence of obvious remedial causes, which it behooves the House to inquire into and remove to the extent of its power: Be it therefore Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to inquire into the condition of our troops, as regards their state of health, and to inves tigate the causes which are acting unfavorably upon it, with a view to removing them and placing our army in a more wholesome and efficient condition; that such committee confer with the sanitary commission, which has made the health of our troops a special subject of inquiry, and such scientific men, and medical men, and others who may be competent to give information upon the causes unfavorable to the health of our army, and to which they may be exposed, and suggest the means for their removal. Resolved, That said committee have leave to sit, if necessary, during the recess of Congress, and have power to send for such persons as may be able to communicate general and scientific information upon matters pertaining to the inquiry; and that the sum of $5,000 be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, or so much thereof as may be required, to defray the expenses of said investigation. Pending which, On motion of Mr. Campbell, Ordered, That they be laid on the table. Mr. Duell submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a new mail-route from Norwich, in the county of Chenango, to Cincinnatus, in the county of Courtland. Mr. Eliot submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to report at the next session of Congress if any, and what, legislation is necessary for the increase and extension of the trade and commerce of the United States with foreign countries. Mr. Sheffield submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be, and hereby are, instructed to inquire what legislation, if any, is necessary to provide for the care and maintenance of and attendance upon soldiers wounded in the service of the United States who have been or may be discharged from said service and returned to the several States, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Eliot introduced a bill (H. R. 95) to protect our coast from privateers, and to prevent frauds upon the revenue; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Moorhead moved that the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; which motion was disagreed to. Mr. Granger, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled bills of the following titles, viz: S. 20. An act authorizing the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and fixing the salary of the same, and for other purposes; and S. 31. An act to increase the medical corps of the navy. When The Speaker signed the same. On motion of Mr. Stevens, the morning hour having expired, the House proceeded to the consideration of the business on the Speaker's table. When Bills of the Senate of the following titles, viz: S. 52. An act to provide for the purchase of arms, ordnance, and orduance stores; and S. 54. An act requiring an oath of allegiance and to support the Constitution of the United States to be administered to certain persons in the civil service of the United States; were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz: S. 52, to the Committee of Ways and Means. S. 54, to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Johnson, by unanimous consent, introduced a resolution (H. Res. 6) construing an act entitled "An act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Sedgwick, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 96. A bill making further appropriations for the support of the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1862, and for other purposes; and H. R. 97. A bill authorizing the purchase for the use of the navy of Coston's night signals; which were severally read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and ordered to be printed. And then, On motion of Mr. Francis W. Kellogg, at 1 o'clock and 27 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1861. The following petitions and memorial were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the twenty-fourth rule of the House, to wit: By Mr. Goodwin: Fifteen (15) petitions from citizens of the first congressional district of the State of Maine, for a peaceful adjustment of pending difficulties. By Mr. May: The memorial of the mayor and city councils of Baltimore, Maryland, in relation to the suspension of the functions of the board of police in that city by the government. Ordered, That the said petitions and memorial be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Patton, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of this House of the following titles, viz: H. R. 74. An act to increase the consular representation of the United States during the present insurrection; and H. R. 78. An act to amend an act entitled "An act supplementary to the act entitled 'An act providing for a naval peace establishment, and for other purposes, passed March 27, 1804, 919 the former without, and the latter with, amendments; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. The Senate have also passed bills of the following titles, viz: S. 58. An act supplementary to an act entitled "An act to increase the present military establishment of the United States," approved July 29, 1861; and S. 61. An act to amend an act to prohibit the sale of spirituous liquors and intoxicating drinks in the District of Columbia; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. The Senate have disagreed to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the bill of the Senate (S. 36) to provide for the construction of one or more armored ships and floating batteries, and for other purposes; and have also receded from their disagreement to the amendments of the House, numbered one, two, three, and four, to the said bill; further insist on their disagreement to the first amendment of the House to the said bill, ask a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two houses thereon, and have appointed Mr. Grimes, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Carlile managers on their part. The President of the United States has notified the Senate that he did yesterday approve and sign bills of the following titles, viz: S. 20. An act authorizing the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and fixing the salary of the same, and for other purposes. S. 24. An act authorizing the Secretary of War to reimburse volunteers for expenses incurred in employing regimental and other bands, and for other purposes. S. 31. An act to increase the medical corps of the navy. S. 38. An act making an appropriation to pay the expenses of transporting and delivering arms and munitions of war to the loyal citizens of the States of which the inhabitants now are or hereafter may be in rebellion against the government of the United States, and to provide for the expense of organizing them into companies, battalions, regiments, or otherwise for their own protection against domestic violence, insurrection, invasion, or rebellion; S. 48. An act providing a commission to examine and report as to the compensation of all officers of the government, and for other purposes. S. 51. An act in addition to an act entitled "An act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports, and for other purposes,' approved July 13, A. D. 1861. The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports Mr. Sedgwick, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 87) authorizing additional enlistments in the navy of the United States, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. Stevens, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 98. A bill making an appropriation for field fortifications for the defences of the city of Washington and elsewhere. H. R. 99. A bill making an appropriation to pay the expenses of the investigating committees of the House of Representatives and Senate appointed the first session of the thirty-seventh Congress, and of the commission authorized to examine and report as to the compensation of all officers of the government; which were severally read a first and second time; and the House having by unanimous consent proceeded to their consideration, the said bills were severally ordered to be engrossed and read the third time. Being engrossed, they were accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. Stevens moved that the votes by which the said bills were passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Stevens, from the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the bill of the Senate (S. 41) supplementary to an act entitled "An act to authorize a national loan, and for other purposes," made the following report, viz: "The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the amendment of the Senate to the amendment of the House to the bill (S. 41) supplementary to an act entitled 'An act to authorize a national loan, and for other purposes,' having met and considered the same, and after full and free conference thereon, have agreed to recommend to their respective houses as follows: "That the House recede from their disagreement to the Senate's amendment, and agree to the same with the following amendment : "Add the following: "SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the provisions of the act entitled 'An act to provide for the better organization of the treasury, and for the collection, safe-keeping, transfer, and disbursement of the public revenue,' passed August 6, 1846, be, and the same are hereby, suspended, so far as to allow the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit any of the moneys obtained on any of the loans now authorized by law, to the credit of the Treasurer of the United States, in such solvent specie-paying banks as he may select; and the said moneys so deposited may be withdrawn from such deposit for deposit with the regular authorized depositaries, or for the payment of public dues, or paid in redemption of the notes authorized to be issued under this act, or the act to which this is supplementary, payable on demand, as may seem expedient to, or be directed by, the Secretary of the Treasury. "SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury may sell or negotiate, for any portion of the loan provided for in the act to which this is supplementary, bonds payable not more than twenty years from date, and bearing interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, payable semi-annually, at any rate not less than the equivalent of par for the bonds bearing seven per centum interest, authorized by said act. Managers on the part of the House- "THADDEUS STEVENS. "E. G. SPAULDING. "Managers on the part of the Senate "W. P. FESSENDEN. |