Skip Skip PETITIONS and MEMORIALS. The PRESIDENT protempore The Chair has received and been requested to present to the Senate the memorial of J. W. Downey, of Petersburg, Virginia, setting forth in substance that the petitioner purchased of the late Dr. Malloigy, of Norfolk, Virginia, a large and val uable arm about 5 miles from Fortress Mon roe; that the price of the farm was about 30,000 dol ars, on which he paid about 18,000 dollars, and gave his obligations for the residue of the purchase price; that during the year 1862 or 1863 the Government took this farm for Government p oses, and dispossessed the petitioner; thatudgeut the month of March last the estate was sold under the confiscation act, and purchased by Mrs. Mallor, the widow of Dr. hlallory, of whom he may of the original purchase, for the sum of $ 125. Mrs. Mallory, as the representative of her hus band, holds the obligations of the petitioner, as he says, for the amount of about 12,000 dollars, the residue of the purchase price, $18,000, having been paid; an he asks that such action may be taken as shall be fit and properin the premises, he averring that the sons of Dr. Mallory, who will succeed under the present aspect of affairs to this estate, were officers in the confederate army during the war against the U.S., that he himself was conscripted as a private into the rebel army for a short time last sprin but that be shed no blood in the service, am? has taken all the oaths and demeaned himself like a peaceable citizen since the peace. This memorial, if there be no objection, will be referred to the ComClaims. The memorial was so referred. Mr. SUMNER. I offer the petition of delegates of the colored people of the State of Alabama, assembled in convention at Mobile, and representing 436, 930 citizens of the U.S. They set forth in detail the condition of the State where they reside, and call upon Congress to provide so many indispensable means of making their freedom secure. In the course of their memorial to which I shall simply call the attention of the Senate without reading, the say that in the city where they were assemble in convention several of churches had been already burned to the ground by the torch of the incendiary, and threats are frequently made to continue the destruction of their property; the means of education for their children are secured to them only by the strong arm of the U.S. Government a the marked opposition of their white fellow citizens, while the whole State the fight to participate in the franchises of free men is denied as insulting to white men and a respectful appeal addressed by some of their people to the late State convention was scorn fully laid upon the table, some of the members even refusing to hear its reading. They also state that many of their people daily suffer almost every form of outrage and violence at the hands of whites; that in many parts of the State their people cannot safely eave the vicinity of their homes; they are knocked down and beaten by their white fellow citizens without having offered any injury or insult as a cause; they are arrested and imprisoned upon false accusations; their money is extorted for their release, or they are condemned to imprisonment at hard labor; that many of their people are now in a condition of practical slavery, being compelled to serve their former owners without pay and to call them “master.” They express a hope that Congress may be led to give them an opportunity to verify these statements by suitable testimony, and also further hope that Congress will grant them the protection they need. I more, the reference of this important petition to the JtCommee of the 2 Houses. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SUMNER. I also offer a petition from a committee of colored citizens of the State of Mississippi, "in which, among other things, they set forth that, owing to the prejudice existing there, they have not been able to assemble in convention, but that they have done as well as they could, through a few of their number to set forth their grievances. They represent 437,404 citizens of the U.S., being a majority of nearly 100,000 in that State. These people, in a very brief petition, ask Congress to 0rant. them the right of suffrage, that “we may, they say, “the more effect dually prove our fidelity to the U.S.; as we have fought in favor of liberty, justice, and humanity, we wish to vote in favor of it and give our influence to the permanent establishment of pure republican institutions in these U.S.; and also that we may be in a position in a legal and peaceable way to protect ourselves in the enjoyment of those sacred rights which were pledged to us by the emancipation proclamation.” I move that this petition be also referred to the JtCommee. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SUMNER. I have also a petition from colored citizens of ColoradoI do not know whether to call it. yet a State, or a Territory protesting against its recognition as a State of the Union, on account of a radical injustice in the constitution which has recently been formed. I move the reference of this petitionto the ComTerritor. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SUMNER. I have a petition from citizens of Philadel his, calling the attention of Congress to the ourth section of the 4th article of the constitution of the U.S., where it is declared that “the U.S shall guaranty to every State in this Union a RFG, ” stating that in many States such a form of government does not exist, and proposing an amendment of the constitution in order more effectually to carry cut that provision. I offer a similar petition from members of the Union American church in Philadelphia; another one from citizens of Philadelphia; another one from citizens of Ches ter, Pennsylvania; another one from citizens of Springfield, Pennsylvania; another one from citizens of Norristown, Pennsylvania; another one from citizens of Columbia, Pennsylvania; another one from citizens of Penningtonville, Pennsylvania; another one from citizens of Me dia, Pennsylvania; all with the same prayer. move their reference to the ComJudiciary. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SUMNER presented the petition of James Larry, praying for compensation for losses sustained) by him in cons uence of the occupation ofhis proper, by the U.S. Army near Cold Harb, Virginia, in June, 1864; which was referred to the ComClaims. He also presented the petition of F. A, Lewis, sraying for compensation for property destroyed urin the war by our armies; which was reIferre to the Committee. on Claims. He also presented a memorial of citizens of Ohio, praying for an amendment of the constitution of the U.S. to the effect that it may recognize Christianit; which was referred to the ComJudiciary. Mr. SUMNER. I also offer the etition of George B. Upton and George B. pton, jr., 2 eminent merchants of Boston, setting forth that a ship of theirs was seized and burned at sea by a cruiser known as the Alabama; that application has been made to the Dept o State here to secure compensation for that cutra e; that the application has been presente in London to the British Government, and there refused; wherefore, the petitioners sa“y as follows: Believing, as our petitioners do. that nations are responsible whi. thmush the want of neutrality laws or of the proper construction and enforcement of such as do exist, give thair support and sanctionto pirncies committedby vesselsbuilt, manned and fitted out in their own ports and thus allow their subjects to make war upon thoseofo t. hernations in time of peace: and bollffflnfi that no immediate comon sntion can he obtained y thomfrom the British vernment: knowing, moreover, they were in namesin fault that their property was illegally destroyed. they can only, asnlast resource, petition theirown Government to pay them the value of their said ship Nora at the date of her destruction, and charge the same to the Government which permitted the outrage.” I move the reference of this petition to the ComForRel. The motion was agreed to. Mr. HOWARD. I desire to present JtResolutions of the Legislature of p the State of Michigan, adopted by the 2 bodies on the 213; of March, 1865, in which, in behalf of the people of that State, they express their earnest determination “to do everything in their power to support and sustain the national Administration in all measures for the vigorous prosecution of the existing war, the utter overthrow of armed rebellion, and the punishment of trai tors, ” kc. I move that these resolutions may be 1printed and laid on the table. he motion was agreed to. Mr. HOWARD presented a JtResolution of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, asking for a rant of landsto aid in the construction ofas ipeanal from Lake Superior to Lac LaBelle, so as to form a safe harbor; which was referred to the ComPubLands, and ordered to be printed. He also presented a JtResolution of the Legislature of that State, asking for the reeal of the tax on the Holy Scriptures and so 001 books; which was referred to the ComFinance, and ordered to be printed. He also presented a JtResolution of the Legislature of the same Stateiu relation to the unsafe condition of the Waugooshance lighthouse iu the straits of Michilimackinac; which wasreferred to the ComCommerce, and ordered to be printed. He also presented the petition of John Burt, John Owen, and other iusiness men of detroit, Michigan, praying for an approation to construct a breakwater at Marquette ay on Lake Superior; which was referred to the ComCommerce. He also presented the petition of Jesse Smith and others, citizens of lichignn, praying for the establishment of a triweekly mail route from Coopersville, in Ottowa county, to Squires Ferry, in the county of Newaygo; which was referred to the ComPostOffice. He also presented the memorial of the widow of Major homas C. Fitzgibben, of the 14th Michigan infantry, praying for relief; which Was referred to the ComPensions. Mr. RAMSEY presented the memorial of the Mississippi liiver m provement and Manufac turing Company of h innesota, praying for an appropriation of the public land}; of the U.S. to enable them to construct a lock or dam at or near the falls of StAnthony, so as to enable boats navigating the Mississippi river to reach said falls; which was referre to the ComPubLands. Mr. POMEROY presented the memorial of delphine P. Baker, representing that, on the recommendation of Government officers and others, she has purchased the property known as Point Lookout, situated at the junction of the Potomac river with Chesapeake bay, in the State of Maryland, with a view of donatin it. to the “National Military and Naval Asylum for the benefit of disabled soldiers and sailors, ” and that she will conve to that asylum the title to her property if the government will donate to it the buildings thereon; which was referred to the ComMilAffrs . Mr. DOOLITTLE presented the petition of Benton Jones, a citizen of Wisconsin, praying to be. reimbursed for moneys exended by him while in the service of the U.S.; which was referred to the ComClaims. He also presented a memorial of the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin, asking for a grant of lands to aid in the construction of a ship eanal from Sturgeon ha to Lake Michi n; which was referred to the CompubLands, and ordered to be printed. He also presented a memorial of the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin, in favor of dividing thatState into 2 judicial districts, and to create a western judicial district; which was referred to the ComJudiciary, and ordered to beb printed. Mr. MORGAN presented a petition of the Union League Clu of the city of newYork, praying Congress to appropriate and pay to the amily of the late President Lincoln the sala for his full term of office; which was referre to the ComFinance. Mr. LANE, of Indiana, presented a concurrent resolution of the Legislature of Indiana, on the subject of foreign interference in Mexico, and the rule of neutral and belligerent rihis; which was referred to the ComForRel, and ordered to be printed. Mr. CHANDLER. Ipresent a remonstrance from citizens of East Saginaw, any renewal of the Michigau, against rirocity treaty. ask that it may be read, an referred to the ComForRel.