The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL PRocREDINGs.
WAsHISeToS, Dec. -, 1855.
SEN ATE.

80
| chair.
Mr.. Wilson was excused from further
service on the Committee on Pensions
and Revolutionary Claims.
Mr.. Brown introduced a bill 10 re-em-
burse the State Of Missouri for the ex-
penses incurred in enrolling, equipping
and provisioning the militia. The bill
was ordered 10 be printed apd referred
TO the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Guthrie presented a remonstrance
| from certain citizens of Louisiana
against the reception Of Messrs. Hahn
and Cutter, as Senators frvm that State.
Mr.. Grimes objected to the remon-
STRANGE, as II was addressed:to Jacob
Barker and not TO the Senator. II was
ordered TO lie upon the table.
| Mr.. Foote presented resolution
which was referred TO the COMMITTEES on
Contingent Expenses of the Senate,
providing for the payment TO the widow
Of the late Mr.. Collamar, the amount
| due to the same at the time of his
death.
Mr.. Grimes offered resolution which
was adopted, instructing the Committee
on the Library TO inquire into the ex-
pediency of the appointment OF "A re-
porter TO prepare the reports OF the
Senate proceedings for the associated
press.
Mr.. sherman from the Committee on
Agriculture, reported the House bill TO
prevent the importation of cattle so rs
! to prevent the spreading Of the disease.
Mr.. Stewart submitted a joint resolu-
ton embracing the following articles 10
be proposed as an amendment 10 the
Constitution of the United States:
First. The Union Of the States under
this Constitution is indissoluble, and no
State can absolve its citizens from the
obligation OF paramount allegiance To
the United States, or in no engagement
made or obligations incurred by any
States or by any number of States, or
by any county, city or other municipal
corporation 10 submit, impair or resist
the authority Of the United States, or to
support any legislature, convention or
body in hostility osuch authority, shall
ever be held void or be- assumed or sus-
tanned I'm whole or i'm part by any State
or by the United States. The resolution
was reierIel 70 the Judiciary Commit
tee.
ON motion of Mr.. Sumner the Senate
took up the resolution calling for infor-
nation in regard to the employment Of
persons I'm the treasury department who
have not taken the oath of allegiance.
and whether there are persons employ
ed and paid for In offices not provided
by law. The resolution was passed.
Mr.. Wilson called up bill To main
tain the freedom Of the inhabitants Of
the States declared 10 be in instruction
and rebellion, by the proclamation Of
the President of the LIST of July, ISL
1t declares all laws heretofore in force
or held valid in the insurrectionary
States, whereby any inequality OF civil
rights and immunities among the In
habitants Of those States, on account of
race or color are null and void. Mr..
Wilson explained the nature of the bill.
He said the proclamation OF the Presi-
dent Of the I'D Of September, 1853 de-
claring emancipation, pledges the falth
of the government of the United STATES
tu maintain the freedom of the persons
declared to be free. This was repeated
in the proclamation of the LIST Of Jan
uary. II was therefore the duty OF
this government TO maintain the civil
rights and immunities of these freed
men. The most cold blooded atrocities
were being perpetrated upon these
freedmen. and il was the duty of Con-
gress To interfere nj once. Whatever
differences of opinion there might be ON
thesubiect ofnegro suffrage, their ought
TO be none in regard to the duty OF max
ing good the guarantees of the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Johnson said there were serious
legal objections to the bill under con-
sideration. IL did not name any bills
or laws. but all laws Of certain char
acter. and IL only repealed all laws al
ready made, but IL the Southern States
are in the Union they have a right TO
make police laws for their protection
He had never believed that the South
ern States were out OF the Union, and
ne WAS clad to see in President john
sons message, which was one OF the
ablest ever issued, concurrence in
this view. The people Of the Southern
States are now as anxious TO return, as
they ever were to leave the Union.
Mr.. Cowan did not believe the bill
would accomplish what its author de-
sired. lie thought an amendment TO
the Constitution was the only way TO
reach the matter, and he believes such
an amendment would pass in Congress
within n month.
Mr.. Wilson referred TO certain laws
passed in Southern States since the
abolition Of slavery, which he said sub
Iected the freedmen To a worse bondage
than slavery itself. The condition OF
the freedmen of the South was worse
to-day than il was on the day of the
surrender.
Mr.. sherman strongly cQncurred
with the object of the bill. Ho believed
IL 10 be the duty of Congress TO secure
the freedom of emancipated slaves, but
. 4 l..Ig....l ataah laaffalaflnn nnUhl In la
postponed until the proclamation OF the
Secretary of State announcing the
adoption OF the constitutional amend
ment by the requisite number OF States.
Congress had power he said under
the second section of the amendment,
to make provision for the freedom OF
the blacks, and there was another sec
ton ofthe Constitution under which II
could be done, that section which gives
! 10 the citizens Of the State all the rights
of the citizens of the several States. The
/ bill before the Senate did not define the
! civil rights which the negroes ought To
have, but states them in general terms.
/ In his Judgment Congress ought To inn
pose the conditions upon which the
/ Southern States should be received
back into the Union, and ought to be in
the form Of amendment TO the Consti-
| tuition. Action on the bill before the
Senate ought to be deferred until the re-
port of the committee of u, provided for
| by the concurrent resolution passed
/ yesterday.
Mr.. salisbury said that when the
Constitutional Amendment was before
he Senate, no Senator claimed the right
/ under the second section to give 10 the
government the powers OF 10 CONSOLE
| dated government.
Mr.. Trumbull thought the bill was
premature in the sense stated by Mr..
| Sherman.
On motion Of Mr.. Howard the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Schenck, from the Committee on
! Military Affairs, reported a joint reso-
/ luton requesting the President TO sus-
pend any order mastering out the OIL
/ GERS of the Veteran Reserve Corps until
| Congress shall have time To consider
what disposition shall be made OF the
corps.
I A brief debate occurred on the reso-
luton, during which Mr.. Schenck said
that the privates belonging In the corps
had for the greater part been mustered
out and the question now was, what Is
TO be done with the officers? The OH
cers should not be summarily dismissed
out of the service, they having families
dependent upon them for support.
remarks by other members were
made when the joint resolution was