Skip Skip PETITIONS and MEMORIALS.R. WADE presented a petition of asst assessors of the 3rd district of Ohio, praying for an increase of compensation; which was referred to the ComFinance. Mr. LANE, of Indiana, presented a memorial of citizens of Indiana and Illinois, renion strating against the restoration of any State lately in rebellion until adequate security has been obtained against a renewed attempt to secede, against any representation in Congress beyond a just proportion of the voting poulation, against any payment of the rebel det or for emancipated slaves, and against any distinctions in State constitutions on account of color or descent; and praying for such an amendment of the constitution of the U.S. as will enforce the foregoing provisions; which was referred to the JtCommee to inquire into the condition of the States which formed the socalled confederate States of America. He also presented a petition of manufacturers of agricultural implements, praying for a reduction of the tax on sales of their manufactures; which was referred to the ComFinance. He also presented the petition of Anna G. Gaston, widow of LicutenantAlbeit G. Gaston, late adjutant of the 16th reiment Virginia volunteers, who is represented to have died from disease contracted while in the service of the U.S., praying to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the ComPensions. Mr. SUMNER presented a petitionof citizens of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, praying for an amendment of the constitution which will forever prevent any State from making any distinction in civil rights and privileges on account of race, color, or descent; which was referred to the JtComReconstruction. He also presented 3 petitions of citizens of NewEngland, praying that in the adoption of any measures establishing a new basis of representation there may be no distinction in the qualification of voters on account of race or color; which were referred to the committee to inquire into the condition of the States which formed the socalled confederate States of America. Mr. SUMNER. I also present a petition from women of the U.S., asking for an amendment of the constitution that shallpro hibit the several States from disfranchising any of their citizens on account of sex. I present this petition at this time, as it has been sent to me or this purposebut I take the liberty of saying that do not think this a propertime for the consideration of that question. I move its reference to the JtComReconstruction., The motion was agreed to. Mr. CHANDLER presented the petition of Thomas F. Wilson, U.S. consul at Bahia, Brazil, praying for compensation for losses alleged to have been sustained by him in consequence of his being compelled to abandon the consulate by the action of the Brazilian Government; which was referred to the ComCommerce. He also presented 2 memorials of citizens of Michigan, remonstrnting against the resto ration of any State lately in rebellion until adequate security has been obtained against a renewed attempt to secede, against any representation in Congress beyond a just proportion of the votin population, against any payment of the rebel debt or for emancipated slaves, and against any distinctions in State constitutions on account of race color, or descent, and praying for such amendments to the constitution of the U.S. aswill enforce the foregoing provisions; which were referred to the JtComReconstruction. Mr. CRAGIN presented the petition of Geor e W. Johnson, and others, citizens of Buffa o, NewYork, praying for the adoption of the proposed constitutional amendment that no State shall make any distinction in civil rights and privileges among naturalized citizens of the U.S. within its limits, or among persons born on its soil of parents permanently resident there on account of race, color, or descent; which was referred to the JtComReconstruction. Mr. HENDERSON presented the petition of William N. Smith, praying for compensation for property burned in the town of Glasgow, Missouri, by order of the U.S. Military officers on the 15th of October, 1864; which was referred to the ComClaims. He also pfesented the petition of Washington Crosland, praying for compensation for dam ages alleged to have been occasioned by the seizure and use of his property in StLouis, Missouri, by the U.S. authorities for railroad purposes; which was referred to the ComClaims. Mr. HARRIS presented a memorial of manufacturers of agricultural imlemeuts, remon strating against the heavy and burdensome tax now imposed on them, and praying for its reduction; which was referred) to the ComFinance. Mr. NYE presented a petition of the Hum boldt Canal Company, and of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other State officers of the State of Nevada, praying Congress to grant the right of way fora canal in that State; which was referred to the ComPubLands. Mr. HOWE presented the memorial of J. W. Warren, of Albany, Wisconsin, praying for compensation for damages alleged to have been sustained by himin consequence of the rescinding of the acceptance of his bid by the PostMGenl to carry the mail on the route from Mill Haven to Grand Rapids, in that State; which was referred to the ComPostOffices. Mr. SPRAGUE. I desire to present a petition, in the form of a letter, of George W. Lewis, treasurer of the Union Horse Shoe Company, of Providence, RhdIsland, with reference to taxation of the product of the concern in which he is treasurer; and I desire to read a portion of it: "As stated, the present revenue tax on spikes, nails. rivets and nuts, articles of about the same value and costashorse and mule shoes. cables, and toecalks, pay a tax of $2 40 perton, while the articles of shoes, toecalks, and cablespay a tax of 6%., equal to ten or 12 dollars perton. We think it impossibleto assignareasonwhy one should pay a greatertax than the other.” I move its reference to the ComFinance. The motion was agreed to. STATE or TENNESSEE. Mr. GRIMES. I present the memorial of J. Edward Cooper, orace Maynard, John W. Leftwitch, and William B. Stokes, who claim to be Representativeselect from the State of Tennessee to the HoRep, in which they represent that by the operation of the recent reellion the officers o that State abdicated their oflioes, and left the govern 1ment without any a cute to carry it Jn; that in this attitude of a airs oneuf their citizens, AndrewJohnson, was, M the 3d of March, 1862, by the POTUS appointed military governor of the State, which office he continued to hold until the 3d of March, 1865. To remedy this state of thin, the loyal people of the State of Tennessee, Tiny their clegates, assembled on the 8th of Janu ary, 1865, in convention, at the capital of the State, Nashville, to take such steps as wisdom might direct to restore the State of Tennessee to its once honored status in the great national Union. Certain amendments were proposed to the State constitution, made necessary, in the opinion of the convention, by the altered relations of slavery, and by the action of persons engaged in the rebellion, who had tem porarily usurped the machinery of the State government, and by the vacancy of the several State oHices, for the filling of which there was at that time no provision by law. These amendments to the constitution the convention submitted to the vote of their constituents on the 22d of February 1865, and they were by them adopted. While these proceedings met with the concurrence and cooperation of the military governor, they were the spontaneous action of the loyal people of Tennessee. Having thus provided the reorganization of the government under her pree xisting constitution so amended, the work was completed by the election of n Governor and Legislature on the 4th of March following, and on the 5th of April they entered upon the duties of their respective Offices. A copy of the several amendments incor porated into the organic law of the State, and of the proceedings of the Legislature at its 1st session, certified oiiicially by the SecyState and published b authority, are herewith appended and adopte as a part of the memo ria. The government so organized has been unresisted and has had uninterrupted jurisdiction of the State since. The memorialists respectful] submit that the govegnment is republican in form as well as in spirit, and they ask that it may be recognized and its perpetuity gnarantied as the true and proper government of the State of Tennessee, entitled to the same immunities and prerogatives as the State enjoyed by virtue of an act of Congress aproved on the 1st of June, 1796, until her relations with the Government were disturbed by the treason of a portion of the people. I move that the memoria and the accompa nying constitutional amendments and legislative proceedings be reterred to the JtCommee of 15. The motion was agreed to. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.