Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-03-03
CONGRESS-.


been defeated and the admission Of Louisi-
ana is in doubt in the Senate. Reason d.
vision Of opinion among the Union men, par
,icularly upon the question whether unre-
suicted right Of suffrage shall be made by
Congress a condition precedent to the admis-
sion Of a State, or shall be left, as the Con-
sttution leaves it, art. |, Sec. 2, and Art.
! II, Sec. / y and Congress heretofore has left
/ it, to each State to decide for itself. Ga this
| question some Of the most Jealous anti-slsy-
cry men in Congress are divided in opinion
/ In common with most Vermonters, we are 10
/ favor Of the largest liberty, but we do not be-
lieye it is safe to exclude anti slavery States
/ because they do not come quite up to our
standard on the suffrage question. We have
long had something Of the fear expressed by
/ Henry Winter Davis, that if Congress does
no, admit the regeuerated States very soon,
/ the Senate and the House will be surprised
/ by host Of gentlemen clamorous for admits
sion as representatives Of the old rebel States
I under their old constitutions Rather would
| we admit each State when it comes with
! slavery prohibited, and leave it to settle the
/ right Of suffrage under the gentle aud salu-
I tafy pressure Of Senator Summers amend
ment to the Constitution--to wit apportion-
ing representation in Congress according to
number Of persons holding the right Of suf-
rage
The struggle on this question in the Senate
l.. - H. 81 l. s.t,
/ has been witnessed this session. In the course
I Of the day, Mr.. Sumner offered series Of
seven resolutions directed against the prinei-
/ pie Of admitting Louisiana in the manner pro-
posed and set speeches were made by Mr.
Howard Of Michigan in opposition to the ad-
mission, and by Mr.. Johnson Of Maryland in
favor.
In the evening session, Mr. Sumner offered
an amendment TO the resolution Of the Judici-
airy committee, as follows
Provided that this shall not take fleet ex-
cept upon the fundamental condition that
within the State there shall be no denial Of
the elective franchise or of any other rights
on account Of color or race, but all persons
she'll be equal before the law, and the Legis-
lature Of the State, by solemn public act,
shall declare the assent OF the State to this
fundamental condition, and shall transmit to
the President Of the United States an suthen-
tic copy Of such assent whenever the same
shall be adopted upon the receipt whereof
he shall, by proclamation, announce the fact,
whereupon, and without any further proceed
ings on the part Of Congress, this joint reso-
luton shall take effect.
Mr. Henderson Of Missouri moved to
amend this by inserting after the word trace
the words " or sex" Remarks followed by
Messrs. Pomeroy, Salisbury, Johnson, Garlic
and Lane. Mr.. Wade moved to postpone the
subject till the first Monday IN December
which negatyed by a vote Of II to y
Mr.. Howard moved TO lay it on the table
refused by is to - Mr. Sumner said be
would regard the passage Of the resolution Of
the Judiciary committee as the Bull Run OF
the administration. He moved that the Sen.
ate adjourn
Mr. Trumbul accused Mr.. Sumner OF az.
tempting to brow breat and defeat the purpose
Of a majority Of the Senate by dilatory mo.
tons. Mr.. Sumner replied that be did moi
wish to browbeat the majority, but should
employ all Parliamentary expedents to deieal
the measure. MIR. Summers motion was re-
jected by Is 10 IL. Subsequently he renew
ed his motion. which was lost. Other mo.
tions followed, and failed.
Mr.. Salisbury said he had been accused o
cooperating with Mr. Sumner and the radi.
calls on this question. II was true because b,
believed tnat the radicals were right. n.
was cooperating with them to defeat thi,
e measure.
Mr. Doolittle Of Wisconsin then wished
that the whole country could witness tn,
scene in the Senate tonight. Five Of il
members who usually supported the admins
uation were uniting with the opposition t.
defeat the will of eighteen who had alwayi
voted with the administration. This was al
act Of usurpation.
The Senate, then, at ll;45 p. NJ. adjourn
n ed.
E The following are the Senators who appea
, to have voted in favor of staving off action OF
the measure-the administration men beinl
in italics
Messrs. Bro,0n, Buckalaw, Carlyle, Chan
n der, Davis, Hendricks, Hot0drd, Powell. Rid
die, Sumner, Wade and Wright.
n THE CURRENoy. the debate Of Feb
; II, in Congress, (House,) Mr. Woodbrdg
very briefly defined his views, and in doinl
so expressed our own. Vermont desir
no better currency than her own banks af
forded, but the exigencies of the country re
quire change. We copy from the Globe
e promising that the amendment in question
IS practically provided for the winding up o
If state banks by the lst Of January next:
~ Mr. WooDBRIDGg. Mr., Chairman, had | been
member Of this House when this national banking sys
d tenn adopted with the little knowledge 1 have o.
banking would have voted against IL but the syser
has been adopted through the wisdom Of Congress,
has become which is favored not only By the
generally but is highly favored by the Department haV
. ing our finances in charge
IL is very clear TO that both systems cannot ex
together that this gr, banking system hayn
been adopted as the system Of the country, the Stat
system, IL Il exists, win into collision with the
n tiona system and viii prevent its full and perfect pa
aud harmony OF development. Ia that view, although
have good deal Of doubt in regard 10 the amendme
have concluded that shall favor IL believe that
% wilt be for the best interests Of the oounty. beey
that is called for by those having charge OF our nation
al finances. For one, with the limited knowledge hay
on finances am not able oppose such an amendme1
Certain time is given, up to January, tor all Stat
banks nov existing TO be ONE national banking nsttu
lions. IL is time enough and believe that the poiie
D OF the Government having been established in favor
the stem, must take measures to prevent the stat
a. in will he