Skip Skip PETITIONS and )IEMOIUALS.R. NESMITH presented 3 petitions of officers of the Navy attached to the navy yard at Mare Island, California, prayin for an increase of their compensation; which was referred to the ComNavAffrs. Mr. SHERMAN presented resolutions of the Legislature of Ohio, in favor of an increase in the regular Army, and recommending the appointment of competent volunteer officers topositions therein: which were referred to the ComMilAffrs , and ordered to be printed. He also presented a petition of citizens of Ohio engaged in the manufacture of harvesters and other agricultural implements, praying that they may be allowed in making their returns to deduct the value of any and all parts of ms. chinery which have already paid a tax; which was referred to the ComFinance. Mr. ANTHONY presented the petition of Benjamin Tillc, of RhdIsland, praing for compensation or rent of land occupie by the War Dept in Washington city; which was referred to the ComClaims. Mr. POMEROY presented the memorial of Commodore Henry Eagle, praying to be reimbursed for money alleged to have been stolen from him on the 2d ofJunc, 1848, while acting as urserof the U.S. bomb vessel Etna, at Prontera, in the State of Texas, he having paid the some on the settlement ofhis accounts;, which was referred to the ComNavAffrs. Mr. MORGAN presented the petition of William Masters and Thomas Smith, rnying for an increase of the duties on importe clay pipes; which was referred to the ComFinance. Mr. HARRIS presented a memorial of a committee appointed by a convention of plow makers and manufacturers of agricultural implements of western NewYork, praying for a reduction of the tax on agricultural implements; which was referred to the ComFinance. Mr. DOOLITTLE presented a memorial of the Legislature of Wisconsin in favor of payment to Alexander E. Pratt, late sheriff of Waukesha county, in that State, r expenses incurred by him in pursuingandk epingapris oner convicted in the U.S. district court for that State for counterfeiting U.S. coin; which was referretLto the comm ittee on Claims, and ordered to be printed. Mr. SUMNER. I present a petition of the authors and editors of our country, and as it is very briefI will read it: To themembers of the Senate and HoRep of the U.S.A.: We. the undersigned, citizensof the U.S., do most respectfully represent to your honorable bodiesthat the true interestsof American literature demand the adoption of an international copyright law by this Government and that of GreatBritain, and (0 pray that you will enact such measure or measuresas will secureat the earliest possibleday the consideration of such a law by the 2 Governmentslicroinmentioned and your petitionerswill over pray, &e. This petition is headed by William C. Bry ant, on among the names I observe Parke Godwin, Leonard Bacon, Willem L. Kingsley, George P. Putnam, C. P. Crunch, E. P. “hi le, George E. Ellis, Benson J. Lossin, J. Pletcher, Oliver Wendell Holmes, an many others whose names I do not read. I also present a similar petition, which is headed by Henry W. Longlcllow, and I find among the names James Russell Lowell, Jared S arks, S. Austin Allibone, and most, if not all, those who have done the most for the litera ture of our country, and also most of the leading editors of the country. ome 14 years ago, sir, I had the honor of presenting a similar petition signed by Washington Irving, Fenimore Cooper, and William H. Prescott. Those illustrious persons have passed away without seeing the proper which they addressed to Congress answered). I trust that some, at least, of these numerous petitioners may see their prayer answered before they too shall pass away. have had some hesitation as to the committee to which these petitions should be referred. It will be observed, however, that they concern primarily an international question, inasmuch as they propose action on our part which looks to reciprocal action on the part of GreatBritain. I shall therefore ask the reference of these pe titions to the ComForRel; but should that committee not be able to mature any measure in iursuance of the petitions, I shall eXpect that they will be reported back to the Senate and referred to some more appropriate committee, who may undertake to mutdro some measure in pursuance of the prayer of the petitioners. I ask their reference to that committee. The President protempore. That ref erence will be ordered. Mr. SUMNER. Mr. President, I present a petition signed by John A and rew, and a large number of the most distin uished and respect able gentlemen of Massac usetts, and, as you will see from its size, [holding up the the signatures are very numerous. petition] this very brief, and I will read it: The undersignedffeoplleof Massachusetts, respect. fully pray that the justitution of the U.S. may be amended: 1. So that the President and VEEP.maybe chosen by the qualified voters of the U.S. directly, without the intervention of electoral collezcs. 2. Sothat the qualifications of votersforPresident, VEEP and Representativesin Conercssmay beestablished onan impurtinlJust, anticonstitutional basis.imparting and limiting the privilege of voting for those officersto those citizens who can read on who comily with the other requirements and conditions mu O by the laws of their respectiveSuites prospectively; provided that no one shall be abridged oraffectedin his enjoyment of thisfranchiseby reason of race, color, descent or social condition, and that no one shall be disfranchised who already enjoys it under existing laws. I move the reference of this petition to the JtCom on reconstruction. The motion was agreed to. Senfrom LOUISIANA. Mr. JOHNSON. I have been requested to present (and I comp] with the request with pleasure) the credentia sofHon. Hcnry Boyce, elected as one of the Senators from the State of Louisiana for the term ending March 4, 1867. I move that they lie on the table. The motion was agreed to. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.