The Portland daily press., 1865-12-21
thursday Morning., December 81, 1856.
LETTER from tho Federal capita,. .

Letter from tho Federal Capital. .3|
Proposed amendment to the Constitution
The Steoens Rssolation-The Predicted
Qaarrel-Free Suffrage. = .5 h- ~ "a
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 1855. s
To the Editor Of the Press. 3- y o4- ple sd
The general direction which Congressional
action has thus far taken during the present
session, is not destitute of significance, or bar
rem of suggestions. No less than sixteenjoint
resolutions have been introduced proposing
to submit to the LAgislatuses of the States
amendments to the Constitution of the Unit
ed States Several of these, however, are to
the same or similar effect. Four resolutions,
introduced respectively by Messrs. Sumner of
the Senate, and Schenck, Stevens and Broom
hall of the House, propose the appointment
of Representatives in Congress according 10
the number of legal voters, and not according
to population. Three, introduced respectively
by Messrs. Stevens, Bingham and Famsworth,
propose the prohibition of the. payment of the
rebel debt, or any part thereof Another, by
MIR. Stevens, proposes to make all laws, state
and national, equally applicable to every citi-
zen, without distinction of race or color. One,
by Mr.. Jencks, proposes the election of Presi-
dent and Vice President by direct vote.
Two, introduced respectively by Messrs. Sic
vens and Bingham, propose the removal of all
export duties. Another, by Mr.. Hubbard pro-
poses to extend the elective franchise to all
who have served in the army or navy Of the
United States during the late rebellion. One
by Mr.. bingham proposes to forbid all expend-
itures of money from the United States treas
ury, otherwise than in pursuance of appropri-
ations made by law, except in the payment of
the interest on the national debt Another,
by Mr.. Wilson of the Senate, proposes to pre-
vent the sale Of rebel notes, bonds, &e.-a
needless precaution, one might suppose -
which with two more, one by Mr. Stewart of
the Senate, declaratory of the supremacy of
the Federal government over the state govern
ments, the other by Mr.. Delano of the House,
looking to the security of personal rights in
the late rebellious states, complete the rather
long list. Few Of these proprosed amend
ments, apprehend, win be submitted to the
states, for ratification, and fewer yet will proba-
bly, be accepted by them. 1t would be strange,
indeed, if the tremendous stress and strain to
which the Constitution has been exposed dur
ing few years past, should not have revealed
some points where it may bes improved and
strengthened, and it should be our first care to
make all the repairs really needed; but ON the
other hand. we should deal very carefully with
bark that has borne us so safely through
such tempest. However strongly the pres
ent exigency maYi44lne us toward centrali-
zation and consofdation of political power in
the general, goyernment, and the tendency in
that direction is unmistakable, we should pro.
eeed only with the greatest care, and no far
ther than is unavoidable. e-5tI
The adoption of the Stevens resolution by
the Senate, on the 18th inst, by so decisive q
vote as thirty-three yeas to eleven nays, is a
very significant fact. The passage of this
resolution by the two Houses is by far the
most important action taken the present ses
sion. The Senate amendment which strikes
out the clause forbidding either branch ol
Congress to admit members until the com.
mittee of fifteen shall have reported is i'm.
portant only as removing theoretical objec-
ton. believe no one, at all acquainted with
the views'of leading statesmen in both the
House and the Senate, supposes the amend
ment detracts anything from the practical eff
fciency of the measure, or that, in its prac-
tical results it will make one hair white or
black. Each House is made by the Constitu-
ton the exclusive judge of the election and
qualifications of its own members, and be-
cause this right and duty is still preserved
where the Constitution places it, we are not to
infer that the Senate declines to act with the
House. They will undoubtedly proceed in
concord and harmony i'm the work of recon-
struction, and in those who think otherwise,
the wish is probably father to the thought.
In the admirable speech of Senator Fessen-
den upon the resolution, he said: "I do not
agree with the honorable Senator from Wis
consin, that by passing simple resolution
raising committee of its own body, and re-
ferring to it certain papers, if we conclude to
do so, we are infringing on the rights of any
body, or making an intimatiOn with regard to
any policy that the President may have seen
W
Sir, I trust there are no such things as exclu-
sive friends of the President among us, or
gentlemen who desire to be so considered. ]
have as much respect for the President of the
United States probably as any man. 1 acted
with him long, and might express the favor
able opinions which entertain OF him here If
they would not be out of place and in bad taste
in this body. That I am disposed and ready
to support him to the best os my ability, as
every gentleman around me is, in good faith
and kindly feeling in all that he may desire
that is consistent with my views of duty to
the country. giving him credit for intentions
as good as mine, and with ability far greater,
I am willing to asseverate. Now, therefore,
sir, hope that, laying aside all these matters
which are entirely foreign, we shall act upon
this resolution simply as a matter of business.
No one has right to complain of it that we
raise committee for certain purposes of our
own when we judge it to be necessary. 1t is
an imputation upon nobody; it is not any
thing which any sensible man could ever find
fault with, or be disposed to do So 1t is, in our
judgment, our deliberate Judgment, our friend
ly judgments course Of action adopted from
regard to the good of the community. and
that good of the community co,uprehends the
good of every individual in it." -.--
The Copperheads are about as busy as ever
upon their lavorite undertaking, that OF set
ting the President, and the party which elect