Mr. T. L. Jones moved that the vote agreeing to the resolution be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Bingham, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1563) to incorporate the University for the Blind in the District of Columbia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Julian, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be instructed to inquire into the expediency of enacting a congressional registry law for the Territo ries of the United States, and that said committee report by bill or otherwise. A message in writing was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Moore, his private secretary; which was handed in at the Speaker's table. Mr. Van Aernam moved that the vote to lay on the table the resolution of Mr. Ross, submitted at this day's session, and providing for a new distribution of seats in the hall of the House of Representatives, be reconsidered. And the question being, Will the House reconsider? Mr. Benjamin moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative, Yeas. 80 93 48 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are So the House refused to lay the motion to reconsider on the table. The question recurring on the motion to reconsider, By unanimous consent, Mr. Richard D. Hubbard and Mr. Samuel S. Marshall were excused from service on the select committee appointed to investigate certain alleged election frauds in the State of New York, and the Speaker appointed in their stead Mr. Michael C. Kerr, of Indiana, and Mr. Charles E. Phelps, of Maryland. Subsequently, By unanimous consent, Mr. Phelps was excused from service on the said committee, and the Speaker appointed in his stead Mr. Lewis W. Ross, of Illinois. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hamlin, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of the following titles: S. 612. An act relating to the proof of wills in the District of Columbia. S. 665. An act respecting the organization of militia in the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, and Arkansas. S. 693. An act for the temporary relief of the poor and destitute people in the District of Columbia; in which I am directed to request the concurrence of the House of Representatives. The Senate have passed, without amendment, the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 375) donating condemned cannon for the erection of a monument to Major General Kearney. The President of the United States has notified the Senate that he did on the 15th instant approve and sign the following entitled bills and joint resolution: S. 186. An act providing for the sale of the lands, tenements, and water privileges belonging to the United States at or near Harper's Ferry, in the county of Jefferson, West Virginia. S. 565. An act to authorize the Secretary of State to adjust the claim of Gustavus G. Cushman for office rent while commissioner under the reciprocity treaty. S. R. 170. A resolution in relation to the library of the Department of Agriculture. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following executive communications: I. A letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting copy of "A bill for the coinage of nickel-copper pieces of five cents and under," for the consideration of Congress; which was referred to the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. II. A letter from the Postmaster General, transmitting, in compliance with a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 7th instant, a copy of an agreement made with Wells, Fargo & Co., on the 21st October, 1868, for carrying the United States mails overland between the termini of the Union and Central Pacific railroads, with other papers connected with that subject; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following message in writing from the President of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations : To the House of Representatives: In answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 14th December instant, I transmit the accompanying report of the Secretary of State. WASHINGTON, December 16, 1868. ANDREW JOHNSON. By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Sitgreaves to the 8th of January next. Mr. Benjamin, at 3 o'clock p. m., moved that the House adjourn. It was decided in the negative, Yeas.. 59 112 50 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are So the House refused to adjourn. Mr. Thomas L. Jones George W. Julian Mr. Abner C. Harding Mr. Philetus Sawyer Glenni W. Scofield Mr. Robert C. Schenck John P. C. Shanks Lawrence S. Trimble Charles H. Van Wyck Hamilton Ward Mr. Charles W. Pierce Theodore M. Pomeroy The question then recurring on the motion of Mr. Van Aernam to reconsider, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present Those who voted in the affirmative are— So the vote to lay the resolution on the table was reconsidered. The question then recurred on the motion of Mr. Van Trump to lay the said resolution on the table; and being put, was decided in the negative. The question then recurring, Will the House agree to the resolution of Mr. Ross? Mr. Ross moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said resolution was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Cook, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That leave be given to withdraw the papers filed in the 38th Congress in support of the claim of E. W. Crandall, the same being required as evidence in the trial of a cause in the circuit court of the United States at Chicago. |