Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-22
SENATE.

1
WASHINGTON, Dec. q.
FREEDOM OF 1NHABIrASTs OF UNITED STATES.
| MIR. Wilson introduced bill to maintain and en-
force the freedom of the inhabitants of the United
tbe inted pr9Sides Sta that whereas the Congress
1865. submitted to the Legislatures of the seyera
states an amendment to the Constitution providins
that involuntary servitude should not exist except
IN punishment of crime. and that the Secretary o
state IN his proclamation Of December 18TH 1865 of:
ratified said amendment.
| Resotred, Jy the Senate and House of Represenfa-
5loes IN Compress assembted That all laws and regu-
latlons heretofore in force in any State or Territory
ofthe United States wherein any inequality of the
inhabitants of said States Territories is authorized
tion of slavery hereby repealed and it shall be
hereafter unlawful to make such law or regula-
ti?1' or enforce the same That all inhabitants OF
and enforce contracts to sue, be parties and give evil
de1ce IN all courts to lease purchase, sell and hold
full and equal rights before the law for the security
Of Of 0I person and property That any person who
Territories, under this act any privation of
right IT person or property secured by this
act shall be guilty of misdeameanor and upon
conviction shall be punished by fine not exceeding
$1,000, or imprisonment not exceeding three years or
both, at the discretion of the Court. That in the
States recently in rebellion proceedings under this
act may be instituted in the proper military courts
until Congress may by law establish the relations of
said States to the United States That in ali cases
where any defendant in suit or proceeding in
any court of State or Territory shall claim any
right under the provisions of this act by way of de-
fence, such defendant may remove by petition such
suit proceeding into the proper district or Crcuit
Court Of the United States Referred to the Commit
tee on Reconstruction.
RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
The. Chair announced as the Committee on Recon
struction as follows
Messrs. Fessenden. Howard Johnson Williams
and Harris.
PETITION FROM coLoMD SOLDIERS,
&, Mr. Sumner presented petition from colored SOL
dlers IN the late war; prayin equal bounty with
Tnite soldiers, and proteStnf against the admission
OF the Southern Representatives except upon gen
eral basis. Referred to the junt committee.
coLoRED MEN OF sorTH CAROLINA.
Mr. Howard presented a petition of $40 colored
the law without distinction Of color politically or
otherwise. Referredto the committee on reconstruc
Mr.. Sumner presented a petition of white citizens
OF the District of Columbia asking for the extension
Of the right of suffrage to the coored people of the
He stated that the white people of this District had
lor years been squattIng upon the civil and political
rights Of the colored people, and he glad this
Eefepred Ssfeg o. d'hnss was ABOUT to end was
Mr.; Wilson introduced bill to amerBBL., act en-
titled Act for the establishment of al A. <Im for
the relief OF totally disabled officers and lctonf the
yGiupteer yS forces of the UnteS States. to
INQUIRY ABOUT J@yt DSrs.
Mr.. Howard offered rest. lion = >rovidine that
whereas the Constitution provides for speedy trial
NeSOtCeu, l0aL fTfslQent be requested inform
the Senate upon hat charges the traitor jeff Davis
is still held in connament and why he is not placed
upon trial. Adopted
CONDITION OF SOUTHERN STATES.
Mr.. Stewart, called up Mr. Wilson's bill upon the
condition of the Southern States for the purpose Of
making a lew remarks upon the attack of Mr.. Sum
ner upon the ,ssage of the President yesterday
He considered II duty to reply to the gentleman and
defend the policy of the President He inquired if
s04Taufs T had been the motto under which millions
OF the Union men of the country had rallied around
the flag of their country; or to sustain the Gostt
ton Of the CTifeI !Hates?" lie thought the latter
He thought the despotic legislation embodied in the
good. He dwelt upon that portion of the Presidents
message IN reference to the amendment Of the Con-
the proclamation of the Secretary of State upOn that
subject and contended that the States which had rati
hed that amendment were States Of the Union. He
tRa there ana Rshind M M than
without regard to color and without regard to Luc,
and eontended that the conterng of that right was
strictly the privilege OF the s. Ecral States.
he spoke OF the letters rad by Mr.. Sumner yes
terday, and said they were written by persons un-
known to the Senate and to the country, and in
and what intentions they had in inditing them.
Mr.. Wilson said he introduced the bill under con-
f meet pressing dnsefSSsy S and as mat
letters read by his colleague and said the gentleman
might as well question the atrocities committed at
Andersonville as those letters; If the gentleman
would go into the FreedmenS Bureau and read the
testimony daily received there. it would make his
heart sick 20 contemplate the injustice committed by
man upon his fellow man.
Mr.. Stewart contended that the objects of the bill
could be obtained without regarding the Southern
States as territorial subjects.
MIR. Wilson defended the bill against the attack of
the other side of the Senate and stated that there
no issue between Congress and the President but
that he believed if Congress legsated upon the sub
Ject as they believed right and according to law the
President would sanction 1t. If not then the issue
would come. He hoped that the word 'conseruatiUe'
would not again be used by any member in either
house, for in his opinion iwas word that disgraces
the lips of any American statesman that utters it.
= q a rr1la WOrl ~
we shall have emancipation emal, patton by war,
emancipation by legislation. emancipation by the
procl lamation of the martyred President. and eman
cipation by the amendment to the Constitution and
hoped that Congress would be as bold, firm, and pru
dent no,g as they were when the country deuged
in blood. he would not trust repentant rebel with
the interests of the meanes in the country and
he would say to the gentleman from Delaware(Mr
Salisbury that he does not know the men who fought
this for the Union if he supposes they will coun
tenance the whose names linked with that of
slavery and some OF them With that of the rebellion
very great mistake if he understood him to say that
the Democratic party would come into power through
he did say, however, that the apprehension seemed
to exist both in the House and in this chamber that
such would be the case that SO far as the President
was concerned, he had always Though he had strayed
into bad company. entertained the highest regard
for him. and as long he continued in his present
course he had his hearty corporation. He informed
Mr.. Wilson that the Democratic party was not in as
hopeless condition as he supposed He said in re-
gard to the word conservative" that if the present
be persisted in. the Democratic host would swell with
the conservative element of the country
He contended that the ordinances of secession be-
ing mere nullites, the Southern States had never
been out of the Union, were still in the Union and
entitled to elect their own State officials and Repre-
sentatves to Congress, and conduct their State
affairs; and stated that General Shermans principle
the only true solution of the national difficulties
He contended that three-tourths of the Statel had
no more right to abolish slavery in his State than
had three ourths of the States the power establish
slavery in Massachusetts He inquired of Mr.. Will
nNuha or hn Ernvu Gf thp hn hol
until after the cyndescended to visit the
slave States, and as to his State, there was not
enough of negroes to make mile posts along the
public roads.
Mr.. Wilson. I would inform the gentleman that
in 1855 visited Delaware, and in the city of Will
mington delivered one of the most rabid abolition
speeches It was ever in my power to deliver, and
very kindly received and entertained by number of
persons who thought exactly as | did; and am very
ig of the people of Delaware thinking the way.
M f. a buBsn ba that a SPRINGS eeT
grow old and grey-headed before Delaware becomes
a disciple of Massachusetts,.
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. Cragin introduced joint resolution to amend
eighty shall reside in the United States, and every
citizen of the United States shall be bound. and pr
marily allegiance to the United States, anything
in the CONSTITUTION Of any State Territory notwth
standing and every State heretofore In the Union
United States, and shall not under circumstances
have any right to Withdraw therefrom. Referred to
the Committee on Judiciary and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Lane, of Indiana introduced resolution di-
rectlng the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads
to inquire into the expediency of abolishing the
franking system except upon written communica-
tions. Adopted.
The Senate, at fifteen minutes before three, went
into executive session, and shortly after adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEVADA.
Mr.. Bidwel of California presented thecredentials
of D. r. Ashley, member elect from Nevada, who
came forward and was sworn in
On motion Of Mr.; Phelps, of Maryland. it was
Resotued, That the Secretary of the Treasury be
directed to furnish to this House what amount has
been expended in the permanent establishment of the
Naval Academy at Annapolis from its foundation to
the present time.