During a debate in the House of Representatives on April 9, 1864, Democratic Congressman Alexander Long of Ohio had told the body the Union should recognize the Confederacy and make peace.  Speaker Schuyler Colfax immediately made a motion to expel Long from Congress. Five days later, Pennsylvanian J.M. Broomhall offered a substitute motion for censure and Colfax accepted.  The motion to declare Long "an unworthy member of the House of Representatives" passed by a voted of 80 to 70, largely along party lines. (By John Osborne) 

During a debate in the House of Representatives, Congressman Harris of Maryland had told the body the Union should have let the South go in 1861 and "I hope that you will never subjugate the South." Congressman Elihu Washburne of Illinois had immediately moved that Harris be expelled from Congress for treason. The motion for this was passed but, with a vote of 84 to 58, not in the required majority.  A following motion from Ohio Congressman Robert Schenck to censure Harris did then pass by a vote of 98 to 20. (By John Osborne) 

In September 1864, the people of Nevada had voted overwhelmingly - by a vote 10,375 to 1,284 - to accept the newly drafted state constitution. Immediately, the entire ratified document was wired to Washington at a cost of $3,416.77, the longest and most expensive telegraph message to date. President Lincoln, accordingly, proclaimed Nevada a state, eight days before the national elections. The new state's votes in Congress were a welcome boost to both the president's November election chances and to his legislative program. (By John Osborne) 

An attempt to form a constitution in the state had failed the previous year but this time the people of Nevada voted overwhelmingly - by a vote 10,375 to 1,284 - to accept the newly drafted document. The entire constitution was telegraphed to Washington at a cost of $3,416.77, the longest and most expensive message to date. President Lincoln, accordingly, proclaimed Nevada a state on October 31, 1864. The new state's votes in Congress were a welcome boost to his November election chances and his legislative program. (By John Osborne) 

In early February, Senator James Doolittle of Wisconsin had introduced the bill to enable Nevada to prepare for statehood.  This bill passed both houses quickly and President Lincoln signed it on March 21, 1864.  A previous attempt to form a constitution in the state had failed the previous year but this time the people of Nevada voted overwhelmingly to accept the newly drafted constitution in September and the President proclaimed Nevada a state on October 31, 1864.  (By John Osborne) 

In the U.S. Senate, Senator James Doolittle of Wisconsin introduced a bill to enable Nevada to prepare for statehood.  This bill passed both houses quickly and President Lincoln signed it on March 21, 1864.  A previous attempt to form a constitution in the state had failed the previous year but this time the people of Nevada voted overwhelmingly to accept the newly drafted constitution in September and the President proclaimed Nevada a state on October 31, 1864.  (By John Osborne) 

The House was voting on a provision to provide funding for education in the District of Columbia.  Representatives determined that African-Americans in the district would be provided with seperate schools, funded according to the percentage of black children amongst the total children provided for under the bill.  The final bill passed both houses of Congress without a division.   (By John Osborne)