Skip Skip PETITIONS and MEMORIALS.R. SUMNER. I offerthe memorial of the association of loyal Pennsylvanians, here in the city of Washington, asking Congress, as soon as possible, to confer upon all loyal citizens in this District the elective franchise, without distinction of color and they protest. most ener getically againstthe conduct of the present board of aldernien and the city government of Washington on this subject. They protest against it as being an insolent imitation of the exploded doctrine of State rights, so far as they under take to say that Congress, which has, under the constitution, exclusive jurisdiction of the DistCol must defer to the people of the District in enforcing a great not of justice. They set forth certain resolutions which have been tabled in the board of aldermen, tending to show that the board of aldermen are strongly adverse, as they express it, to the opinions of our late martyred President. I ask the reference of this document to the ComDistCol. It was so referred. Mr. COWAN presented apetition of citizens of Alleghany county, Permsylvania, praying that pensions may be grantedvto the sufferers by the explosion at the Alleghany arsenal on the 17th of September, 1802; which was referred to the ComPensions. Mr. RIDDLE presented a petition of citizens of Wilmin on, Delaware, praying that 8 hours may he established as alegal days work for all workmen, artisans, or other laborers in the employ of the U.S.; which was referre to the ComNavAffrs. Mr. BROWN presented a petition of citizens of Osage county, Missouri, praying that a pension may be granted to Parellee Howerton, widow of Stern W. Howerton, who was killed by the rebels during Prices raid in that State in October, 1864; which was referred to the ComPensions. Mr. HARRIS presented a memorial of citizens of StLawrence county, NewYork, remonstrating against the continuance or renewal of the socalled reciprocity treaty; which was referred to the ComForRel. Mr. NORTON presented a memorial of the Mississippi River mprovenient and Manufac turin Company, praing for a grant of lands to ai in improving tenavigation of the mississippi river to the falls of StAnthony: which was referred to the ComPubLands. Mr. LANE. of Kansas, presented a petition of citizens of Galveston, Iexas, praying for the construction of a railrOad through the Indian l l 1l L. Territo, making it the south branch of the Union gacitic road, commencing at the northern line between Kansas and said Territory, at the junction of the Leavenworth, Lawrence, and Fort Gibson road, or the nearest point to the Pacific road, running south to the south line of the Indian Territo at a point connecting with the Houston nn Texas Central and Galveston and Houston roads; which was referre adto the ComPacRailroad. Mr. MORRILL presented the memorial of Paul Dudley and 52 others, citizens of Milford and Greenbusli, in the State of Maine, reine nstrating against the renewal of the socalled reciprocity treaty with the British Prov inces, and against the formation of any new treat which shall grant especial favors to the people of the Provinces not granted to 0th. friendly nations; which was referred to the ComForRel. Mr. HENDERSON presented a petition of citizens of Pike county, Missouri, praying for the appointment of properly qualific engineers for the examination o aplicants for appointment as local inspectors otpsteainboats, and to examine into the qualifications of local engi neers; which was referred to the ComCommerce. Mr. TRUMBULL. I have received and been requested to present 27 petitions signed by R. Smith, and some 2,000 otiers, citizens, officers, and soldiers of the volunteer army, praying that the soldiers who were enlisted in the early part of the war in 1861 and 1862 may be aid the same bounties that those who enliste subsequently in the years 1863, 1864, and 1865 received, alleging that their services were equally valuable to the country. I move the reference of these petitions to the ComMilAffrs . The motion was agreed to. MINERAL LANDS.