Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-14
xxx CONGRESS.
First Session.
WASHINGTON, Dee. II, 1865.
SENATE

/ The Senate was called to order at twelve
/ O'Clock, by ". Foster President pro TEN.
Mr.. Wilson presented the petition Of
Francis Cook and two thousand five hundred
other colored citizens of the District Of O.
lumbia, asking for the right of SUFFRAGE
! The petitioners set forth that large Dronor-
! ton of the colored citizens of the D;etr;o.
are property-holders and taxpayers Tbov
claim that as they are sufficiently INTELLIGENT
to build and sustain churches and insfitn-
| tons of learning, and to accumulate nror-
erty, they are sufficiently intelligent to vote
| That for years they have been obIioed not
only to educate their children, but contrib
| ute to the support of the schools in which
only white children were taught. That the
record of colored people "a to crime and
! pauperism is as fair as any other class in
the country. Out of a population of less
than 10000 they sent $500 soldiers into the
| field while the white population of over
10000, furnished only $4,000. and colored
soldiers volunteered without incentives Of
large bounties, pay or promotion.
The petition was referred to the Commit
tee on the District Of Columbia.
! The President pro TEN. laid before the Sen
ate memorial of the North Carolina Leo
islature, asking the repeal of the test oath
Mr. Wilson introduced bill to prevent
the sale of bills, bonds or scrip and other
| evidences of debt of the so-calIed Confa1-
crate States, or any of them, which Furnishes
as felony buying, selling or holding such CIV
licences Of debt, with penalty of five bund-
red dollars fine, and Imprisonment for not
less than one year nor more than ten which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Brown presented bill to grant land
for aiding in the construction of a railroad
to the Pacific coast through Arkansas and
Missouri, by the Southern route. Referred
to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad
and ordered to be printed,
Mr.. Wade introduced the following. which
was referred to Committee on FOREIGN AZ
fairs:
WHEREAS, In letter of instructions.
dated July 8, 1862, directed to the General
commanding the French forces in Mexico,
the Emperor of the French indicated the
policy concerning the affairs of this continent
| by declaring that it was his intention TO es-
tablish a Monarchy in Mexico which would
restore to the Latin race on this side of the
Atlantic all their strength and prestige, guar
antee security TO the French West India coll
onies and those of Spain, secure the interests
and establish the influence of France in the
center of America, and prevent the people
of the United States from taking possession
of the Gulf of Mexico, from which they
would command the Antilles and South
America, aud so become the only dispenser
of The products of he New World and
WHEREAS, In pursuance of said policy
an effort has been made to establish a mon
archy in Mexico contrary to the wishes of
the people, and to support Macmillan in
his usurpation by European soldiers; and
WHEREAS, among other acts contrary to
the spirit of the age and humanity, tho So
called Emperor of Mexico, by decree and
regulation dated September 5, 1865, practi-
cally re-established slavery in his domin-
ions, and by a decree dated October, 8, 1865,
has violated the usages of civilized warfare,
by DENYING to the Mexican Republican
troops the rights of belligerents, and order
ing their execution wherever found within
twenty-four hours after their capture; there
fore, be it
Resolved By the Senate and House of Rspre-
Sentatires Of the United States in Congress
assembled:
l. That we contemplate the present con-
dition of affairs in the Republic of Mexico
with the most profound solicitude.
,. That the attempt to subject one of the
republican governments of this continent by
foreign power, and to establish on It's ruins
a monarchy, sustained solely by European
bavonets. is opposed to the declared policy
Of the United States Government, offensive
to our people, and contrary to the spirit Of
| our institutions.
3. Reaolred, That the President Of the
United States be requested to take such steps
concerning this matter as will indicate the
| 4 homo, 4
interests of our Government
On motion of Mr.. Howard, the President
was requested to furnish the Senate with all
the correspondence in the possession of the
Government touching upon the occupation
of Mexico by the French troops
On motion of Mr.. Chandler, the President
was requested to give the Senate all CORES
pondence and other information in regard tc
the barbarous decree of the so-called Emper-
or of Mexico, ordering all Mexicans found
defending the sacred cause of independence
to be shot without trial.
Mr.. Cowan submitted the following re-
solution, which was objected to by Mr. Sum
ner and goes over under the rules:
ReS0lred, That the President of the United
States be and he is hereby requested to furn.
ish to the Senate information of the state Of
that portion of the Union lately in rebel.
lion; whether the rebellion has beeu sup
pressed and the United States put again in
possession of the States in which it existed
whether the United States Courts are restOr-
ed, pOst-oAices re-established and the
revenues collected; and also whether the
people of those States have reorganizcd THEN
State Governments, and whether they are
, yielding obedience to the laws and Govern
ment of the United States.
Mr.. Sumner called up his resolution cal
ling for Information as to certain employees
of the Treasury Department; whether there
are men in the Department who have not
taken the oath required by law and whether
there is no money paid out Of officers provid-
ed by law.
Mr.. Johnson offered substitute, which
he said, was similar to Summers proposition
without the preamble, which, in Summers
proposition, took it for granted that such a
state of things as stated actually existed
Mr.. johnson said his substitute was simple
resolution of inquiry.
Pending consideration Of the above, Mr.
Doolittle said the proper business before the
Senate was his motion of Wednesday last, to
refer that part of the Presidents message
relative to the States to the Committee on
Judiciary.
Mr. Sumner presented a bill to confirm
the liabilities granted by General Sherman,
to colored men, in the Sea Islands last
winter, Referred to the Committee on
Judiciary.
Mr.. Howard introduced a resolution cal
ling upon the President for what Informal
ton he has in his possession respecting the
occupancy of Mexican territory, which was
adopted.
The Senate adjourned at one o'clock.
HoUsE-Mr. d. w. Voorhees, appeared
to-day and was qualified.
Mr. Blaine introduced bill to reimburse
the loyal states for advances made and debts
contracted in the support of the war, and on
motion it was referred to q select committee
of seven members.
Mr.. Patterson introduced bill to repeal
certain laws and ordinances in the District
of Columbia, and for other purposes. 1t
was referred to the Committee for the Dis
trict of Columbia. The bill annuls all po-
litical distinctions on account of color, both
in this district and in other territories.
, Mr.. Elliott introduced bill declaring the
condition of the states recently in rebellion
and the powers of Congress in relation to
them, To be referred to joint committee
of fifteen if appointed.
Mr.. Jenckes introduced joint resolution