Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1865-12-17
rmprv.xrxrrr CONGRESS.

TnIRTY-NIxTH CONGRESS.
Senate
wAsHINGToS, Dee 81
The Senate assembled attwelve o'clock,
MON Mr.. Foster, President pro. tenn, IN
in the chair.
Mr., Wilson was excused from further
service on the committee on pensions
and revolutionary claims;
Mr.. Brown introduced a Din 70 reln-
hnrse HE State Of Missouri for the eX-
Dsnses incurred in enrolling, equipping
| and provisioning the militia. The bill
was ordered To be printed and referred
IN h committee on military affairs.
Mr.. Guthrie presented a remembrance
from certain citizens Of Louisiana
against the reception Of Messrs. Hahn
and Cullen as Senators from that State.
Mr.. Grimes objected 10 the TemOn-
STRANGE. as it was addressed to Jacob
| Barker and not to the Senate, and it was
ordered TO lie upon the table.
Mr.. Grimes offered a Resolutions which
was adopted, %instructing the committee
on the library to inquire into the expedi-
ency of the appointment Of a reporter 70
/ prepare the reports Of the Senate pro-
ceedings for the Associated Press.
Mr.. sherman, from the committee on
agriculture, reported the House bill 20
prohibit the importation of cattle, so as
10 prevent the spread of the disease.
Mr.. Stewart submitted a joint resOlu-
ton embracing the following articles to
be proposed as Amendments TO the Con-
/ stitution Of the United States: First, the
! Union Of the States under this Constitu-
lion is indissoluble, and no State can
| absolve its citizens from the obligation
of paramount allegiance to the United
States: second, no engagements made
! or obligation incurred, by any state, or
any number OF states, or any county,
! city or other municipal corporation, TO
| subvert, impair or resist the authority Of
the United States, or to support or aid
/ any legislation, convention or body in
! hostility 10 such authority, shall eve be
/ held valid, or be assumed OF sustained,
in whole or in part, by any State or by
the United States. Resolution referred
TO the Judiciary Committee.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner, the Senate
took up the resolution calling for informa-
ton in regard TO the employment Of per-
sons in the Treasury Department who
have not taken the oath of allegiance,
and whether there are persons employed
and paid for Offices not provided for by
law.
The resolution was passed.
Mr.. Wilson called up a bill 10 main
tain the freedom of the inhabitants of
the States declared to be in Instruction
and rebellion by the proclamation Of the
President Of the first Of July, eighteen
hundred and siXty-twO. II declares all
laws heretofore In force or held valid in
the nsUrrectionaryState wherebythere
was any inequality Of rights and immu-
mites among the inhabitants Of those
ENa@m- ~ 1870 80 400 or aANA- 90.
null and void. Mr.. Wilson explained
the nature Of the bill. He said the proc
lamation Of the President OF the twenty
second of September, eighteen hundred
and ~sixty-twO, declaring emancipation,
pledges the faith Of the Government of
the United States 10 maintain the free
dom Of the persons declared TO be free.
This was repeated in the proclamation Of
the first of January.
IL was therefore the duty of the Gov
eminent 10 maintain the civil rights and
immunities. The most cold blOOded
practices were being perpetrated upon
these freedmen, and it was the duty of
Congress to interfere at once. Whatever
differences Of opinion there might be on
the subject Of negro suffrage, there ought
TO be non i'm regard to the duty of max
ing good the guarantees Of the Govern
ment.
Mr.. johnson said there were various
legal objections to the bill under consid-
Grafton. 1t did not name any bills or
laws, but all laws Of a certain character, |
besides il only repealed all laws aheady
made; but if the Southern States are in
the Union, they had a right to make po-
lice laws for the future. He had never
believed that the Southern States were
ont of tho 7 nfnu- anl no u-ne nfah 70 coo l
in President JOhnson's message, which
was n of the ablest ever issued, a con-
cUrrence in this view. The people Of
the Southern States were as anxious to
return as they once were 10 leave tina
Union. He believed there was as mach
philanthropy in the South as in the
North, and he was sorry TO see the i'm
preston sought 10 be created, that the
people Of the South were barbarOds.
Mr.. COwan did not believe the bill
would accomplish what its author de-
sired. He thought an amendment to the
Constitution was the only way TO reach
the matter, and he believed such an
amendment would pass in Congress
within a month.
Mr.. Wilson referred to certain laws
passed in the Southern States since the
abolition Of slavery, which he said sub
Jeeted the freedmen to a greater bondage
than slavery itself The condition of the 1
freedom Of the South was worse to-day
Than II was on theday Of Lees surrender.
Mr. johnson sympathized with the OBJ
Of the bill. He believed it 10 be the
duty Of COngress to secure the freedom TO
emancipated slaves; but he believed such
legislation ought 10 be postponed until
the proclamation of the Secretary Of
State announcing the adoption of the
Constitutional Amendment by the re-
number Of States.
Congress had power, he said, under the
second section of the amendment, to
make provision for the freedom of the
and there was another section OF
the Constitution under which it could be
done, that section which gives to the
of q State all the rights of the
Of the several States, The bin
before the Senate did not define the civil
which the negroes ought to have,
but stated them in general terms. In his
Congress ought to impose the
conditions upon which the Southern
States should be received back into the
and they ought TO be in the form
Of amendments to the Constitution.
Action on the bill before the Senate
ought 70 be deferred until the report Of
tle Committee Of fifteen provided TOR BY
Mr.. salisbury said that when the
Constitutional Amendment was before
he Senate, no Senator claimed the right
the second section, TO give to the
Government the power Of a consolidated
government.
Mr., Irumbull thought the bill was pre-
mature IN the n stated by Mr.. Sher-
There was yet no Official informa-
Ioh OF tne passage Of the Constitutional
and until the passage of
that Amendment there might h. soD,a
doubt as 10 the power Of Congress ~ do
What was proposed. After the adoption
If the Amendment there would 6e no
ioUbt as 70 the power Of Congress M
he second section did not confer this
upon Congress, he would ask the
nom Delaware with what pur-
1ose it was intended? ,
Mr.. Sautsbury-I do not Know vbati II Z
neanti / had nothing to do with Il Rnt {
Would ask the Hon. Senator whether {
Fhen IL was before this body for adon.
ion, he avowed, IN his advocacy of h
hat II was meant for such purnose az
claimed?
Mr.. Trumble-Mr. President. 7 nayor
understood it any other than that W.
MI: Saulsbury-Did you state so al the
0"e
Mr.. Trumbull-I do not know that 7 A.,
lated II so. I might as well have ~ {
FAMED that the clause which declare '
slavery shall not exist meant tLet
laYery should not exist. I could mali .
! no clearer. 1 reported il from The In /
lclary Committee for the very nurnosa :
comforting upon Congress heauth6rify
o see that the first clause was ca~rte3
at in good faith.
MT salisbury said he did not Zoo H.
holding that southern Statns
re not in the Union, cap regard haSe
Amendment as adopted #
J4uHl three-fOurths Of the States to
~ u Amendment, and that number
qua not be obtained without countina
ne Southern Srates.
On motion Of Mr.. Howard the Sanot.
IoUTDed senate
House. ,
MI. Schenck, from the COMMITTEE
luIlaFy Affairs, reported a Joint r~esoln- b
90 requesting the President to susnand E
ny order mastering out officers al ~
eJgtsh reserve Corps until Copgress
nave time % consider what disgogj e.
snail be made Of the eorps a "
5oatt occurred on the resolution dnrin-
Hici MT. Schenck said that ~ n--.