Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-14
VOL. XIX---NO. 296.

tionary States, whereby any inequality
of civil right and ifhmuhities among the
| inhabitants Of these States on aeeotint ol
the race or color, are null aud void.
! Mr.. WILSON explained the nature Of the
| bill. lie said she proclamation of the Pres
ident of the 22d Of September, 1903, declar-
ing the emancipation pledges the faith OF
the Government Of the United States to
maintain the freedom Of the persons de-
eiaTed to be free. This was repeated in his
proclamation Of the LIST Of Janaary. 1t was
therefore the duty of the Government to
maintain the civil rights and immunities
| of these freedmen The most cold blooded
| atrocities wete being petpettated upon these
freedmen, and it was the duty of Congress
to interfere at 6hce. Whatever differences
ofopinion there might be on the subject Of
negro suffrage there ought to be none in re-
gard to the duty Of making good the guar
antees of the Government.
Mr. JOHNSON said that there were seri-
Gus legal objections to the bill Under eonsld-
Grafton. 1t did not name any bill or law,
but all laws Of certain character, and it
only repealed laws already made. But if
the Southern States are in the Union they
have right to make police laws for the fu-
ture. He had never believed that the South
ern States were out of the Union, and was
EAau 70 see IN the IFtS.utuL message sMulsn
was the ablest ever issued, a concurrence in
this view. The psopls Of the Southern
States were now as anxious to retIirh as
they once were to leave the Uninn--zHe be
lieved that there was as much philanthropy
in the South as in the North, and he was
sorry to see the impression sought to be Gre
ated. that the people of the sauth were bar
barbous.
Mr.. COwAN did not believe the bill
would accomplish what its author desired.
He thought an amendment to the eonstitu-
ton was the only way to reach the matter,
and be he believed such an amendment
would pass in Congress in less than month.
Mr.. WILSON referred to certain laws
passed in Southern States since the sboIi-
ton of slavery, which he said subjected the
freedmen to worse bondage than slavery
itself. The condition of the freedmen of the
South was worse to-day than it was on the
day OF Lees surrender.
Mr.. SHERMAN sympathized with the |
objects of the bill He believed it to be the |
duty of Congress to secure freedom to the |
slaves, but he believed such |
legislation ought to be postponed until the !
of the Secretary Of State an
the adoption of the Constitutional /
by the requisite number of |
States, appeared. Congress had power, he /
ment to make provision for the free dom of /
the blacks, and there vas another section of |
he Constitution under which it could be 1
lone, that section which gives to the citi-
,ens of one State all the rights of citizens Of
he several States.
The bill before the Senate did not define
he civil rights Which The negroes ought to
nave, but stated them in general terms. In
ais judgment, Congress ought to impose the
conditions upon which the Southern States
should be received back into the Union, and
hey ought to be in the form of amend
nohts to the Constitution. Action on the
1ill before the setiate ought to be deferred
until after the report Of the Coftithittee Of
Fifteen, provided for by the concurrent re-
solution passed yesterday.
Mr.. SALISBURY said that when the
Amendment was before the
senate no Senator claimed the right under
he second section TO give to the Govern
nent the powers of consolidated govern
nent.
Mr.. TRUMBUL1 thought. the bill was
premature in the sense stated by Mr. Sher-
nan. There was yet no official Information
# the passage of the Constitutions 81 amend
nent, and until the adoption of that amend
nent there might be some doubt as TO the
,ower of Congress to do what was proposed.
Ifter the adoption ef the amendment there
ould be no doubt as to the power Of Con-
ress.
If the second section did not confer this
over upon Congress, he would ask the
enator from Delsvgre, for what purpose it
7as intended
Mr.. SALISBURY. 81 do not know what it
IvuHs. nau nOInlng to do with it hnt l
-ould ask the Honorable Senator, whether,
-hen it was before this body for adoption, he
vowed in his advocacy of it, that it was for
lch purpose as now elaimed7"
Mr.. TRUMBULL. "Mr President, never
it in any 6tiier way"
Mr.. SALISBURY. "Did you state it so
the timer"
Mr.. TRUMBULL-I do not know that |
atcd 1t 50. l might as well have explained !
lat that clause which declares that slavery
lall not exist meant that slavery shall not
Iist could make it no clearer. l report |
it from the Judiciary Committee for the
sry purpose Of conferring upon Congress
Ie authority to see that the first clause was
Irried out in good faith.
Mr.. SALISBURY said he did not see how
.ntlemen holding that the Southern States
e not in the Union can regard the amend
ent rs adopted. 1t required three fourths n
the States to adopt tie amendment, and
at number could not be obtained without
uniting the Southern States.
On nioticn Of Mr.. HOWARD, the Senate
,journed. !