The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-14
THIRTY.NINTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
Sc n ATE.


SENATE.
wAsamoros. Dec. 1a 1885,
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO Isn CONSTITUTION
Mr. STEWART rep.l OF Nevada, submitted joint reso.
luton embracing the following articles 70 be proposed
amendments the constitution Of the United States
FIa-The un ion Of the States under this constitution
Is indssouble and State absove its citSens from
the obligation Of paramount allegiance TO the United
States.
Sscond-No engagement made or obligation incurred
by any State, or by any number OF States or BY any
county, city other municipal corporation, 70 subver
impair or the authority OF tho United States 70
support or aid any legislature convention or BODY IN
hostility TO such authority shall ever be held voted or
be assumed or sustained in whole or In part by any
State or by the United States
The resolution was referred TO the Judiciary Com
mittee
Mr.. WILSON EXCUSED IRON SERVICE THE COMMITTEES
PENSIONS AND REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
Mr. Wilson, (rep.) Of Mass, was excused, at his own
request from service the Committees Pensions and
Revolutionary Claims
REMBuRnSa MISSOURI FOR EsRolhSG AND PROVISIONING
THE MILITIA.
Mr. BROWN, (rep.) OF Mo-, introduced bill to reim-
burse the State OF Missouri for expenses incurred in
rolling, equpping and provisioning the militia, which
ordered to be printed and referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs
SENATOR'S.
Mr.. GUTHRIE, (dem.) OF KY presented remon-
STRANGE from the executive OF Louisiana against the cleo
ton Of Mcssrs Hahn and Cutler as Senators from Lous
Mr. GRIMES, (rep) OF Iowa. objected to tho reading of
the remonstrance and j. was ordered upon the table
PAYMENT or THE WIDOW or SENATOR CoILAME..
Mr. Foor. trepl OF w., presented resolution,
which referred to the Committee Contingent Ex
penses OF the Senate providing for the payment to the
widow Of the late Mr. Coamer Of the amount due to that
Senator at the time of his death.
PRxss REPORTER.
Mr.. GRIMES offered a resolution iDstrucfing the
Committee on the Library to inquire into the ex.
pedency of the appointment by the Senate of reporter
for the Associated Press which, after discussion
was adopted
paouIBlrroy OF THE IMPORTATION CATTLE
Mr.. SHERMAN, (rep.) of Ohio from the Committee
Agriculture, reported the House bill TO prohibit the
porlation Of CATTLE prevent the spread Of the
cattle disease in this country.
The bill was passed
UNswoRN EMPLOYEES.
On motion Of Mr. SUMNER, rep Of Mass, the Senate
took up the resolution calling for information in regard
to the employment Of persons In the Treasury Depart
men who have not taken the oath Of allegiance, and
whether there persons employed aud paid for Offices
not provided by law
The resolution adopted after being amended so as
II provided by an act Of Congress that every person
in the civil, military naval department of the public
service except the President Of the United States shall
before entering upon the duties Of his Office and before
being entitled any Of the salary other emolunens
thereof, take and subscribe to certain oath in
prescribed FORM and IL is further provided iu
another act Of Congress- February O. 1863 chapter 25
that no money shall be paid from the Treasury Of the
United States to any person acting as an oicerciviI
military nayaas salary III any Office which Office is
not authorized by some previously existing law, unless
such Office shall be subsequently sanctioned By law and
whereas 1t is reported that Notwithstanding these
of Congress- certain persons have been allowed
upon the duties Of Office and receive the salary and
cmolumens thereof without taking the prescribed OATH
and certain other have been appointed TO Offices
not authorized by any previously existing law; there
fore,
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Treasury and the
Secretary OF War be requested so their respective
departments allowed TO inform the Senate whether any
have been permitted to enter upon the duties Of
office, and receive the salary and emouments thereof
without taking the oath prescribed by Congress- or, IL
they have taken II adding thereto explanations, and
also whether persons have been appointed to any Office
not authorized by previously existing law, and any
persons have been permitted appointed thereto
report II the same have received any salary cmolu
ments and what they were and ont Of what fund they
have been paid with the for such permission
appointment, and also the explanation If any assigned
by such parties ut the time of taking such oath.
MAINTAINING FREEDoM INHABITANTS THE
LATELY INsURRH1IoaARY STATES.
Mr. WILSON called up bill to maintain the freedom Of
the inhabitants OF the States declared TO be in nsuTec
ton and rebellion by the proclamation Of the President
in force or held valid in the insrrcctionary States
making any inequality q civil rights and immun,ties
race or color, are null and void.
Mr. WILSON explained the nature of the bin. He said
the proclamation OF tue President Of the 22d Of Sepem
Der, 1862 declaring emancipation, pledges the faith Of
the government Of the United states to maintain the
freedom Of the persons declared to be Free This
peated In the proclamation OF the LIST Of January II was
therefore, the duty Of the government maintain the
civil rights and iminuntes Of these freedmen The
codbooded atrocities were being perpetrated upon these
freedmen, and IL was the duty OF Congress TO interfere
Whatever differences Of opinion there might be
the subject Of negro suffrage there ought be
In regard TO tho duty OF making good the guarantees Of
the governments
Mr. JOHNSON, dem of Md, said there were serious
legal objections 10 the bill under consideration II did
not any bills or laws. but all laws Of certain
character. Besides il only repealed all laws already
made But IL the Southern States in the Union they
have right to make police laws for the future He had
believed that the Southern States ont OF the
Union, and he was glad 10 see in President Johnsons
Message which was Of the ablest ever issued con-
currence in this view. The people Of the Southern
States as anxious TO return they
to leave the Union. He believed there was much
philanthropy in tho South AZ in the North, and he
sorry TO the impression sought created that the
people OF the south were barbarous.
Mr. CowAs (rep.) Of Pa, did not believe the bill would
accomplish what ~ author desired. He thought
amendment to the constitution was the only way TO reach
the matter, and he believed such amendment would
pass in Congress within a month.
Mr. Wilson referred 10 certain laws passed in the
Southern states since the abolition of slavery, which lie
said subjected the freedmen TO a bondage than
slavery itself The condition Of the freedmen Of the
South was worse today than II the day Of Lees
surrender.
Mr. SasRxAS sympathzed with the objects Of the
bill He believed 10 TO be the duty OF Congress secure
freedom TO the emancpated slaves but no believed such
legislation ought 10 be postponed until the proclamation
OF the Secretary OF state announcing the adoption Of the
constitutional amendment by the requisite number OF
second section Of the amendment to make provision for
the freedom of the blacks and there sec
ton OF the constitution under which II could be done
that section which gives 10 the citizens OF State all
the rights Of the citizens Of the several States The bill
before the Senate did not define the civil rights which
the negro ought have, but stated them in general
terms In his judgmeDs Congress ought to impose the
conditions upon which the Southern States should be
received back into the Union, and they ought 10 be
the form OF amendments to the constitution Action
the bill before the Senate ought to be deferred until the
report OF the committee OF Gfteen provided for by the
concurrent resolution passed yesterday.
Mr. SAursBuEr, lden. OF Del, said that when the
stuona amendment Was before tue Senate Senator
claimed the right under thcsccond section give to
ment
Mr.. TRuxBuLf, (rep) Of H., thought the bill pre-.
mature the sense stated by Mr. Sherman. There was
yet official Information Of the passage Of the consttu
onsl amendment and until the adoption OF that amend
ment there might be doubt IT, the power Of Con-
gress TO do what proposed After the adoption OF
the amendment there could he doubt 10 the power
Of Congress II the second section did not confer this
power upon Congress he would ask the Senator from
Delaware for what purpose IL was intended
Mr.. SAuLsRrRy--I do not know what IL meant had
,sxtfh a.. hnfI axLs ha harn