Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-14
.xxxIxth CONGRESS-. First Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. -.
SENATE. -- Te 2.


Revolutionary Claims. d.
Mr.. Brown Introduced bill toreimburse
the State of Missouri for the expenses in
CURED in enrolling, equipping and provis-
iOntng Militia. The bill was orderedctO TO be
printed apd referred to the committee on
Military Affairs. l ~ N
Mr.. Guthrie presented a renonstrance
from certain citizens of Louisiana agaiDst
tile reception of Messrs. Hahnand Cutler as
Senators from that State.
Mr.. Grimes objected to the remonstrance
as lit was addressed to Jacob Barker, and
not to tho Senate, and itwas ordered TO lie
on tie table. ;i1t..i.H " ~ nun
Mr.. Foster presented resolution, which
was referred to the committee on Contin-
gent Expenses of the Senate providing for
the payment to the widow OF the late Mr..
Collamer the amount due TO thatSenator at
the time Of his death. -
Mr.. Grimes offered resolution, which
was adopted, instructing the committee on
Library to inquire into the eXpediency OF
the appointment Of a reporter to- prepare
reports Of the Senate proceedings for the
Associated Press.
5Mrs Sherman; from the committee olgAg-
ficnlture, reported House bin to prohibit
the importation of cattle, so as to, prevent
the spread of diseases. --
Mr.. Stewart submitted o Joint resolution
embracing the following articles, to be pro-
posed as amendments to the Constitution
OF the United States: - - -.
First. The Union of the States under the
Constitution is indssoluble, and no State
can absolve Its citizens from obligation of
paramount allegiance to the United States.
| Second No engagement made or obli-
cation incurred by any State, or by any
number of States, or byany county, city or
other municipal corporation, to subvert,
impair or resist the authority Of the United
states, OFlto support or aid any legislature,
convention or body, in hostility to such au-
thority, shall ever be held, voted, or be as
sumed or sustained, in whole or in part, by
any State by the United States. -,2l
i The resolution was referred to the Judici-
| ary committee.
/ Mr.-Wilson called up the billto maintain
the freedom of the inhabitants of the States
H declared to be In insurrectiOn and rebel
lion by the proclamation of the President
of the lst OF july, 1892 10 declares all
laws heretofore in force or held valid In the
II linsurrectiOnary States, whereby any ine-
quality of civil rights and immunties
| among the inhabitants of the States on ac-
| count of cOlorare null and yoidgfi" n G
/ Mr.. Wilson explained the nature of the
bill He said the proclamation of the Pres
ident of the United States, of September
Il Is, 1863, declaring emancipation, pledges
the faith of the Government of tho U6ited
States to maintain the freedom of the per-
sons declared to be- free.- This was repeat
ed in the proclamation of the lst of JAN
uary. 1t was therefore the duty of the
Government to maintain the civil rights
and immGnities of these freedmen The
most cold -bloOded atrocities were being
II M ta1 m fhacn yua
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 none in regard to the duty o
making good guarantees of the Govern
ment.
Mr. johnson said there were ,seriou:
legal objections to the bill under consider
alton. 1t did not name any bill or laws
but all laws of a certain character. 1t only
repealed all laws already made; but if the
Southern. States are in the Union they have
a right to make police laws for the future
He had never believed the Southern States
were out of the Union, and he was glad tt
see in President Johnson's Message, which
was one of the ablest ever issued, con-
currence in this view. The people of the
Southern States were now as anxious Il
return as they once were to leave thu
Union. He believes there was as mucl
philanthropy in the South as In the North
and he was sorry to see the impression
sought to be created that the people of th,
South were barbarous.
Mr.. Cowan did not believe the bill woulC
accomplish what its author desired. Ii,
thought an amendment to the Constitution
was the only way to reach the matter, anC
he believed such an amendment would pas
in Congress within month.
Mr.. Wilson referred to certain laws pass
ed in Southern States since the abolition o
slavery, which, he said, subjected the freed
men to worse bondage than slavery itself
The condition of the freedmen of the Soutl
was worse to-day than it was OH the day o
Lees surrender. g. -~'r.HrsA
Mr.. Sherman sympatized with the objec
of the bill. He believed it to be the duty
of Congress to secure freedom to emanci
pated slaves; but he believed such legisla
tion ought to be postponed until the proc
lamation OF the Secretary of State an
nouncing the adoption of the constitution
al amendment by the requisite number O
Estates. Congress had power, he said, un
lder the second section of the amendment
to make provision for the freedom of tn
blacks, and there was another section o
the Constitution under which it could b
done-that section which gives to the citi
zens of one State all the rights of the citi
zens of the several States. The bill betor
the Senate did not define the civi
rights which the negroes ought t
have, but stated them in geners
terms. In his Judgment Congress
ought to impose the conditions on which tn
several States should be received back int
the Union, and they ought to be- in th
form of an amendment to the Constitution
l.Action on the bill before the Senate ougil
to be deferred until the report Of the com
mittee of 10 provided for by the concurren
resolution passed yesterday.
Mr.. Salisbury said that when the sconsti
tutional amendment was before the Seuat,
no Senator took the authority, under tn
second section, to give to the GovernmeI
I the powers of a consolidated government
Mr. Trltmbull thought the bill was pre-
mature. In the sense stated there was
Ebe official information of the passage of tn
, , constitutional amendment, aud until th
adoption of that amendment there nigh
be some doubt as to the power of. Congress
to do what was PROPOSAL IA fterlthe adop
! tion of the amendment there could be n
doubt as to the power of Congress. If tn
: second section did not confer this power o
Congress, he would ask the Senator trot
Dslawarei fox fox what purpose It wa. A.. intend
ed? r.0 f,is s5,Ta N i~ Gig4f gtli io hs.niyr
D Mr. Saulsbury--I do not know what
meant. had nothing to do.with II; but
would ask the honorable, Senator whether
B when it'was before this body for adoption
he ayowed, in his advocacy OF itsthatit wa
Intended for such purposes as are 0nol
claimed?
Mr.. Trumbull-Mr. President, i never un
lerstood it any other. way. ,..s.
M. CaaIHht,rxr MID x,,1t. - - q ~.