New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCIAL PRLATIONS.

adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OUR FOREIGN COMMERCIAL PBLATIoSs
The SPEAKER laid before the House the An
Dua Report Of the Secretary Of State on Commercial
Relations between the United States and Foreign Ma
lions, which was referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr. ELIOT Un., Mass) submitted resolution which
referred TO the Committee Printing for printing
1900 copies for the use of members and LOCO Tor the
use Of the State Department.
THE CREDENTIALS OF Mr.. JOHNSON OF ARKANSAS.
Mr. DAWES Un., Mass) called up the question on
referring to the Committee on Elections the credentials
of James NJ johnson Of Arkansas, and which Mr..
Davis Md had moved TO lay on the table.
Mr.. DAWES said be lad 10 acquaintance with Mr..
johnson. but that gentleman had come hither with a
letter Of introduction from Gen. Steele. 1t known
from other that be had served Colonel of
of the Union regiments from the commencement Of
the war 10 the present time. While he was absent
Convention met in Arkansas and formed Free-State
Convention the first unwilling fruit borne by the Re
beion. The voters OF the lid Congressional District
elected Col johnson Representative in Congress by
four or tive thousand votes. The credentials were
offered through the ordinary channel but with the hon.
orabe Of warfare on him. and with the greater
honor OF bringing hitler a Free-Satc Constitution.
this gentleman was denied n hearing, the gentleman
from Maryland Davis having moved to lay the creden
tals upon the table instead Of permitting them to be
ferred TO the Committee on Elections.
Mr.. DAWES, in reply TO aquestiou OF Nr. Harding
Dor State Ky.) said that Arkansas was divided into
three Congressional Districts according 10 av before
the breaking ont of the Rebellion.
Mr.. STEELE Dem. IN. ~ said he had received q
letter Of introduction to Col johnson from Gen. Steele,
and by request had introduced Mr.. johnson to the
gentlemen from Massachusetts, (Dawes). Mr. johnson
arrived at Little Rock while the Convention was In
session aud requested TO remain there till the adj
journment, which lie did, and was made by the Con.
yen,ion bearer Of dispatches to the Government. He
Steele knew nothing OF the matter but thought under
the circumstances the gentleman having been Endorsed
by highly responsible body Of men, was entitled to
fair confederation
Mr. DAVIS Un Md said lis motion to lay tie ere.
dcnlals on the table for the purpose Of raising
al issue between his friend from Massachusetts and
himself IL the gentleman would move an inquiry
10 whether there existed State Government in Ark
ansas or not nobody would more chcerfuly acquesce
in the examination than he would But when the gen
teman moved the reference OF credentials claiming 70
be from the State Of Arkansas, and which credentials
did hot appear to be signed by the officers OF any State
Government known TO the United States, he Davis
desired say that such reference Of the credentials
carried with II the implication Of representing reeog
ernent brought before u.s. and there IN point
Of fact We must first ascertain whether there Is Gov
ernnent before accept the credentials There must
be such State Government ID recognized by al the
Departments Of the General Government otherwise
would be led into political complications.
Mr.. MALLORY dor. State, KY inquired whether he
understood the gentleman n hold that Arkansas has
been oblterated state, and must come back just US
a state is admitted into the Union.
MI. pAyrs lnd1 answered the question: The State
kansas have lost any personal privileges Of citizenship
A State may exist without Government. The Const
tuition assumed this when IL compelled Congress TO
guarantee republican form If government The Su
preme Court had said that if military Government
wofe established in State, II would be the duty OF tho
Government TO abrogate aud remove IT, de asked the
gentleman fiom Kentucky whether he recognized the
Government under which Col. johnson claims to be
Representative Ill Congress
Mr. MALLORY replied thnt no recognized the existing
Constitution es form for the government OF Arkensas,
but when gentleman came hther claiming to repre-
sent State and II be had doubts upon the subject ne
would refer the question TO the Committee OF Elections
Mr. DAVIS (Md.) resumed his argument, maintaining
that the rcesabshment Of State Governments Is under
tie clause of the Constitution. which says Congress
shoH guar not may guarantee republican form
OF government. II is their duty 10 do So with regard
TO The Constitution OF Arkansas the people in rebellion
tore II in pieces and the paper now spoken OF is not
Constitution until we say So.
Mr. HARDING asked whether in Mr. Dayis's judg
ment Arkansas Is in or out OF the Union.
Mr. DAVIS Un, Md would say Arkansas is in the
Union so far that are bound 10 maintain that no
forms without the substance shall control her citizens
So far as we are responsible she must be governed by
republican forms and not by traitors who may claim 10
be the Legislature Of Arkansas and the recognition OF
Arkansas as a State must be by all branches Of the
1;oyernment-not by the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentat,es separately not by the proclamation of the
President not by grave usurpelion aud IL must be
without the cucIoacbnent OF Executive power.
Mr. BOUTWELL, (Un., Mass) said he had settled
conviction that Arkansas and the other cooperating
States in the Conederacy had no legal existence as
States Of this Union
Nj r..
these States ceased TO exist by virtue OF their Secession
ordinances Hso, lie woud like TO know at what point
of time they ceased TO exist and got out OF the Union
Mr.. boutwell, replied that on the continent heither
n colony nor State ever existed excepting by the will
of the pcope aud that State could cease 10 exist AS
a State except by will of the people. II you deny the
constitutional power Of the people to annnl their owl
existence Won nave TO admit that whatever may be the
constitutional right. the fact still romans thnt inc
nower is in the people TO declare whether they shan
exist or not There Is no power III the universe 10
,f.,C Agsa If Arl
tive here unless by the consent and will Of tho people
themselves. Al law was against secession. Dul Whei
an individual commits the act oil seiues1iuet,oh anu
his body lies before YOU It Is IN VAN 70 reason 'as IN
der The law he had no right to do it. just SO with
Arkansas She by her act had ceased 70 exist as
state in the American Union. Although the state ny
The action Of its people has ceased to exist the Con
stitnton s extends over the territory unipired as
before the act OF secession passed. The state OF
Arkansas can again exist as State CT the Union ana
he admitted TO oil the rights OF other states tbs must
be Inv ~ act OF the people in their right mind without
military force and coercion in the arrangement OF Their
state Government. lie would, however hesitate TO
eiyo an affirmative vote for such admission until ne
found the majority Of the people willing TO accord equa
and exact Justice TO both black and white, and was sat
sted that in all particulars the people mean 10 pe loyal
10 the Government. The existence Of human slavery
being incompatible with republican form of govern
mont IL the duty of Congress 10 REJECT any state
prescnsiGg Constitution which sanctions II.
Mr.. KrRyAN Dom., n. W believed II was the cuty
OF all loyal endeayor to preserve the union lie
would appeal TO gentlemen to cay whether they were
doing everything 10 this end when they were spending
hours and days IN discussing questions which could DC
postponed and when other subjects were passing threat
ening tie destruction of the Government and the rum
Of tie people, Three months, nearly OF TINS congress
have elapsed aud yet bill has been passed to strength
en- the credit OF the Government Let U.S. ne said al
dress ourselves to practical questions, II we mean 10
support the Government.
NewYork was not the proper person to deliver lectures
the House. considering that the gentleman and his