The Indianapolis daily herald., 1865-12-14
Thirty-ninth COngreSs--lst Session.


WAsHISGToN, December H. -sENATE.-As-
scmbled at twelve M., Mr.. Foster, Presideat
pro tegI., in the Chair.
Mr.. Wilson was excused from further service
on the Committee Of Prisons and Penitentary
Claims.
Mr.. Brown introduced Till t. reimburse
the state Of Missouri for expenses incurred in
enrolling. equipping and proSisIoning the mil
itnrv. The bill was ordered to be printed, and
referred 10 the Committee on Military Affairs.
MT. Guthrie presented ren0nstrance from
certain citizens Of louisiana against the rccep-
ton of Messrs. Hahn and Gutter a Senators
from Louisiana.
MIR. Grimes objected to the romonstrance. A.
. il was addressed Ia Jacob Barker, and not To
senate. IL was laid upon the table.
Mr.. Foote presented resolution which was
referred, on Contingent Expenses of the Sen
ate, providing for the payment 10 the widow
oi the late Mr.. Coliamer, the amount due 10
that senator at the time of his death.
Mr.. Grimes offered II resolution which was
adopted. instruriing The Committee ON library
10 inquire into the eXpedency Of the appoint
mcnt Of "A reporter 10 prepare reports of the
senate proceedings for the Associated Press
Mr.. Sherman. from the Committee on Agri-
culture, reported House bill to prohibit the
importation Of cattle 30 - "a prevent the spread
Of the disease.
MIR. stewart submitted Joint resolution
embracing the following articles. 10 be pro-
posed - amendments IL the Constitution of
iSt. The union of the STATES under this Con-
stituton i inadmi>Sable, and no state
absolvc its citizens from the obligation Of
paramount allegiance to the United STATES.
2d. No engagement made obligation in
Cured by any STATE. or by any number Of
states. or by any county. city, or any other
municipal corporation. % SubNert or impair
the authority Of the United STATES. To support
or aid any legislature, convention or body, or
hostility to such authority, shall be held valid
l..
10y any state or by the United states. Refer
red To the Judiciary Committee
ON motion Of Mr.. sumner. the senate took
up the resolution calling for information In
regard 20 the employment Of persons in the
Treasury Department who have not taken the
oath Of allegiance. and whether there are per-
sons employed and paid for offices not provided
by law. The resolution was passed.
MIR. Wilson called up a till TO maintain the
freedom Of the inhabitants of the states de
ettred 10 be ia instruction and rebellion by
the proclamation of the President Of JULY j.
ls6l. Ii declares all laws heretofore in force
or held valid in the insurrectionarV states,
whereby any inequalities Of civil rights and
immunities among the inhabitants of these
states on account of race or color. are null and
void.
Mr.. Wilson explained the nature Of the bill
lie said tho proclamation Of the President Of
september -. 1868, declaring emancipation.
pledges the Saith Of the Government Of the
persons declared 10 be free. This was repeated
in his proclamation of January 1. Ii was
therefore the duty Of the Government TO main
tain the rights and immunities Of these freed
men. The most cold atrocities Were being per-
petrated upon th.st freedmen, and IL wa. the
duty of Congress 10 interfere At once. W hat
ever difference Of opinion there mieht bc on
The subject of negro suffrage, there ought 20 De
none in the duty Of making good the guaran-
tees u the Government.
Mr. johnson said there were serious legal
obligations 10 the bill. under consideration.
lt did not name any bills or laws. but all laws
of a certain character. besides. IL only repealed
all laws already made. But if the southern
States are in the Union. they have right 10
make police laws for themselves. He had
never believed the southern states were out Of
the Mon. and he was glad to see President
johnson, in hi message. which l. one Of the
ahlc>t ever ISSUED. concur IN this view. The
people OF the southern states are now ~ anNi-
uu> 10 return, n they once were 10 leave the
Union. lie believed there was as much NH
lanthropy IA the S0ath there WAS in the
North. and lic Wa sorry 10 see the Impression
sought 10 D. created that the people Of the
south were harharou,.
Mr.. Cowan did not believe the bill " ould ac-
complish what iI>-auth0T desired. lie thought
tu amendment t. the Constitution waS the only
way to reach the matter. and hc believed such
"a amendment would pas Congress within a
month
Nr. Wu>ou referred 90 certain laws passed in
The southern states since the abolition Of
slavery. Inch he said subjected the freedmen
O. worse bondage than slavery itself. The
condition II the freeJmea of tile South W ~
Wofsc To-day tfaa Il WAS on the day Il Ices
surrender
Nj. shg rlAan >ympathiked with iiff objects
II lie mn. n believed III u De the duty ~
ton-rc>> 10 secure freedom - emsnclplted
SLAVES. hut he he.ic,ei such legislation ought
L. De- postponed until the proclamation of the
scr etIl ~ Sat announcing The adoption OF
the constitutional Amendment Nv tile r o,fi>it,.
nu1Ar oi >taiss. Congress had bower. h,.
said, uutsr tat sgCeud section al fhr .p.nI- =
mcnt - make provision f.r the freedom o; tb,
blacks. and There Ms another >..ti..n - ~.
Constitution under which it e0uII b.. .ione.
that section " hlch -i1t>i i'eitilsn- - one state
all iae rights 81 Ilc ci.1@'las ~ several state
rh bii hefirt tile >cfiatr M not !, fne The
civil riEht> "a hich the ut-rHc, ought fa bax.
hut stated them on -'ilvrai ternt~.
IN III lud -ment. ton-rr>> ought o. impose
thc conditions upon which the southern >tat,>
sheu.d ~ received back iutpthe Juion. aud
thtN ought - o. 10 the form of alpsEdiucrit- o.
THE Constitution. Attion ga The hill h.far.
fht Senate ou-hi o. L. deferred uitila q reuort
Wa hti tFula ihe coguuaitee of uffctn. proi-
aei i.r hX the elucurrgut resolution pissed
Nj. >iul~hurv said when ,he constitutional
amendment Was before the Seuafe no senator
claiincd The r-Lt. uBlcr lhe -, ond section L.
give o. the Government The power, Il a cons.l-
idaicd Government
Mr.. Irumluli thought the bin wa> prema-
tunc in the sense stated ~ Mp. sherman There
Wa Yet no official information q the passage
of the constitutional amendment. and until
that amendment was PASSED there might be
some doubt - g. the pcwerof Congress as 10
what was proposed Amer the adoption of the
afnendmer; there could - no doubt n 10 the
power 81 Congress. lf fIe second section did
90 4 he
would nsA the senator from Delaware for y AZ
purpose II Was intended
NJ, saHl lshurs. don't know Whist II meant
had nothing u do gith ", But would ask
the honoFab% >tast"r ~hen II was h.forr this
body for adoption. lie asowed I'm hi. adyors.
y 81 II, that it va, meant for such purl,os.. as
now claimed