Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-09
THLRTY-NINTHH CONGRESS.
First Days Proceedings.
Organization Of the House.
The Clerk Ignores the Entire
Southern Delegates.
Organization of the House.
Protest by the Opposition.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, Dee. 4.
The Senate met at II o'clock, noon, and was
called to order by Mr.. Foster, President pro TEN.
PRAYER.
The Rev. DR.. Gray, the Chaplain, then offered
the following prayer:
Glory be to the name of God that the Republic
still lives the nation survives, and the country is
safe. Glory be to Thy name that our heroic efforts
have been crowned with victory, so that the desc
latlOns of war have ceased and the ground no
longer shakes beneath the tread of armed men.
Glory be to Thy name that we are permitted t.
recognize God in the dispensation of His provi-
dence and His grace in dealing with us. We bless
Thee and thank Thee that the statue of Freedom
looks down upon our Capitol and upon an entire
nation of freemen, and that we are permitted by
the dispensatiOns of Thy providence to give liber-
ty to the captive, and open the prison of them
that are bound, and proclaim the acceptable year
of God. Oh Lord we bless Thee that Thy servants
are permitted to convene i'll these halls and legis-
late under circumstances so suspicious, to delbe-
rate upon matters so great and important to the
interests of the nation, and grant we pray Thee
that all their deliberations and enactments may
be such as to secure the Divine approval, ensure
the unanimous acqulcScencc Of our people. and
command the respect of the nations of the earth.
Oh Lord, grant that the affecting dispensatiOns of
Thy providence and public bereavemcnts which
the Nation and the Senate have received since last
use. Bless the President Of the United States
and the Ministers of State associated with him in
authority. 1HlDue tnem with wisdom ana strength
adequate to their great responsibilities, that the
principles OF our free and glorious Government
may be established upon an everlasting basis, and
come come Thou ancient ofdays and reign over US
forever. Amen.
CREDENTIALS PRESENTED.
Mr.. Foot presented the credentials of Mr. Luke
Y. Poland, to fill the vacancy Occasi1ned by the
death of Mr.. Colamer Of Vermont.
The credentials were read, ana Mr.. Poland took
the prescribed oath Of allegiance.
CASE OF ATDR STDCETDN-A PporrgT
Mr. Wright presented the credentials of Mr..
Stockton rs Senator elect from New Jersey.
Mr.. COwan presented protest against the re-
ceptiOn Ct Mr.. Stockton, signed by the members
of the New jersey Legislature. alleging that Mr..
Stockton did not receive n constitutional major
ity of votes, which was necessary to his election
as Senator.
The protest was ordered to be laid upon the ia
bic for the present, and Mr.. STOCKTON was duly
sworn into Office.
ELECTIVE FRANCHISE OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Mr.. Wade presented a bill to regulate the Flee
tive Franchise in the District Of Columbia.
The bill provides that from and after its pas
sage, every male citizen of twenty-One years of
age, who Is citizen of the United States, 4 resi-
dent of the District for six months and never
convicted Of an infamous crime, shall have the
right of Suffrage in the District.
Section imposes penalty for interruption or
interference with the right granted above.
The bill was ordered TO be printed.
TRIAL By JURY-CoLoRED JURORS.
Mr.. Sumner introduced bill to preserve the
right of trial by jury, which provides that grand
jurcs shall consist one-half of persons of African
descent in sections where One-siXth of the pOpu-
lati0n are Africans, and the same proportion in
petit nlrCs where the matter relates to any iniu-
rics inflicted by person oc African descent upon
a person not Of such descent. or vice versa; and
prejudice against such African race is made a
ground of challenge and exclusion from such
juries.
The bill was ordered to be printed
PROPOSED OATH FOR LATE REBELS
Mr.. Sumner introduced a bill prescribing an
oath TO maintain n republican form CT govern
mcnt in the States in rebellion, as follows:
Il do hereby swear that ] will at all times here
after use my best endeavOTs to maintain repub-
lican form of government in the State of which ]
am an nhabitant, and in the Union Of the United
States; that | will mt al! times recognize the in
iudiSSouble unity of the sepHblic, and will al
ways circumference and resist any endeavors to
break away secode from the Union; that | will
give my influence and vote mt all times to sustain
the national credit that / will always discountC-
nance ind resist any attempt directly or indirect
~ to rePudlate or postpone, either IN any part
IL any way. the debt which was contracted by the
United States in subduing the Rebellion, or the
obligations assumed to the Union soldiers; viii
always dlSCOuntenanCe and resist any laws making
any distinctions Of color or race. and IN all ways
will strive 10 maintain a State government COM
pletely loyal to the Union, where all men shall en-
JOY equal protection and equal rights.
Each oath shall be preserved. and if falsely
taken, such person shall be guilty Of perjury and
in addition to the present penalty for that crime
he shall forfeit his right to hold Office
This was ordered 10 be printed.
PUNISHMENT FOR INFBA ACTIONS or THE COYsTITU-
TIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr. Sumner offered bill to enforce the Consti-
tutIOnal Amendment by furnishing any attempt to
control the services Of any person contrary to this
provision by fine not exceeding 81 600 or inn
prisOnment not exceeding 10 years. both, at the
direction of the Court; and it shall be no defense
that such claim Is sanctioned by any State law.
1t annuls State laws in conflict with it, and re
stricts jurisdiction IN cases growing out of II to the
United States Courts.
This was ordered to be printed.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE IN THE DISTRICT.
Mr. Sumner introduced A bill to give the right of
suffrage to persons of color in the District of Co
lumbia, which was ordered to be printed.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
Mr. Sumner introduced joint resolution pro-
posing TO amend the Constitution as to make
voters. instead Of population, the basis of repre-
sentation in Congress.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Simmer introduced a concurrent resolution
declaratory of the adoption of the Constitutional
Amendment abolishing Slavery.
Mr. Brooks said the gentleman from Pennsylva-
mia understood the purpOri OF the ancient maxim,
that language was given TO TO conceal our ideas.
The proper time to which the gentleman alluded
was in anticipation of the Message, in order that
the gentleman might throw himself in opposition
10 u, TO place before the country quasi condem-
nation of the President. lie (Brooks) was not the
Presidents yindicat0r, except where the record
should be presented on principles in accordance
with his own. He moved that the gentleman from
Tennessee be allowed to present his credentials as
q member elect from the State of Tennessee, and
that his name be placed upon the roll.
POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Stevens-I rise TO the point Of order that the
motion is inadmissable the motion for the election
of Speaker now being in order
The Clerk ruled that was good point Of order
Mr. Maynard-I appeal to the gentleman to lis
ten 20 me for a few minutes.
Mr. Stevens cannot yield to any gentleman
who is not member Of this body.
Mr. johnson Pa obtained the floor, for the
purpose, as he said of explaining, but
Mr. Stevens objected, rcmarking. "A man can
not explain anything never spoken
The Clerk reminded Mr.. Brooks that be could
not yield the fc0T If objection was made, nor could
he yield il excepting for the purposes Of eNplana-
ton or debate on pending amendments
Mr. Brooks replied that he did not regard the
proceedings as parliamentary, and expressed his
regret that such dangerous precedent was about
% be established.
tion. II related 10 making W the roll, which was
the first step % organization.
The Clerk held that that had no reference TO
the election Of Speaker, which was the pending
motion.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
Mr. Stevens moved the previous question. On
the motion 20 proceed 10 the election Of Speaker
Mr.. johnson proposed 20 submit motion which
could take precedence of the motion Of his col
name Of the gentleman from Tennessee, who holds
the credentials, be placed upon the roll.
The Clerk dccidcd the motion out Of order.
The House, under the operation Of the previous
question, agreed 20 the question OF Mr. Morrill,.
that the House now proceed 10 the election Of
speaker.
ELECTION FOR SPEAKER.
Mr.. Morrill, nominated Schuyler Colfax of In
diana, and Mr.. Winfield nominated James Brooks
Of New York.