The Portland daily press., 1865-12-22
by TELEGRAPH.
Z no THE DAILY PRESS. I
Friday Morning, December %, 1865.
xxx CoNGREss---First Session.
SENATE.

-
asked TO report to the Senate upon what
grounds Jefferson Davis was conHned? and
why he was not brought to trai1
The Chair announced the following Com
mittee on Reconstruction' MessrS' feSsendeD,
Grimes Harris, Howard, Bohnson and Will
liamS.
Mr.. Sumner presented petition of the col
ored citizens of Tennessee. that the Congress
ional delegation from Tennessee be not re-
ceiyed until the State has recognized the rights
ofeolored citizens.
Also, petition of white citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia for the extension OF the right
of suffrage to the colored people.
Mr.. Howard presented apetition of $500 col
ored citizens Of South Carolina for such legis-
laton as will insure them their political rights.
Referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Davis offered a resolution, calling on
the heads of departments for list Of persons
indebted to the border States. Objected to
and laid over fag aa Of .4i-s
On motion of Mr.. Lane, the Post Office
Committee was instructed to inquire into the
eNpediency of abolishing the ranking pr1vil-
eye, except upon written communications.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill, which was re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee. to main
tain and enforce the freedom of inhabitants of
the United States.
Mr.. Stewart called up the Senate's bill to
secure the freedom of the States lately in re-
rebellion; and addressed the Senate in reply to
Mr.. Summers remarks of yesterday, and con-
troserting the theory that the Southern States
are out of the Union and that they have been
reduced to a territorial condition. He also ar
gued that the North was net justified in forcing
negro suffrage on the South while they with
held political rights from the negroes in the
Northern States. - - - 49,.
Mr.. Wilson repliet in favor OF the bill. He
combatted the idea that the democratic party
is coming into power either through the agen-
cy of the President or anybody else 1t must
have reconstruction and Reorganization before
it can govern this country through anybody.
He had no fears that the President would sep
= arate from the party that elected him, to which
he is bound by honor, by principle and by
interest. He has made no issue with Con-
gress, and Congress has made no issue with
him. / think 1t our duty to give the Presi-
dent manly, generous and honest support.
To look with hope and confidence, but to be
as infexblc as destiny with the cause of inn
partial and universal liberty in the country.
Mr.. Salisbury denied that he sail the dem
Ocratic party would come into power through
the agency OF the President He said an APP
prehension of something of the kind seemed
10 exist on the other side of the Chamber. ~
Adjourned to January 5, 1865. 'Aii1| .ia9
4 M XII HOUSE. - ~
The resolution that the government ought
never to recognize any government imposed
upon any nation on this continent by the
arms of any European power was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs. :sd8A
A resolution was offered endorsing the
Presidents message and pledging the support
of the House to the principles enunciated.
Laid over until the 9th of January.
A resolution was passed enquiring into the
expediency of admitting delegate to repre-
sent the District Of Columbia. sst
Numerous resolutions of inquiry were then
passed. .sf
iUI,o s,,to 81
Whole on the Presidents Message. 81 81.
Mr.. Fisk controverted Mr.. Stevens positions
and denied that the Southern States were out
of the Union. He urged the admission of
representatives from that section, so as to Sc
cure the restoration of the friendly and politi-
cal relations heretofore existing.
Mr.. Raymond, of New York, was glad to see
indications, on the opposition side of the
House, to support the Union. If these indica-
tions had been exhibited during the war, we
should have been spared the lives of thousands
of men and the expenditure of rivers of blood
and treasure He said the ordinances of Sc
cession were simply declaration of purpose
and determination to secede.Y Whether prac-}
tical effect could be given to the purpose de-
pended on their ability in the field The eff
feet was not a success, but failure. Who did
not wish that day might speedily come when
we shall have great republic, one and indi-
visible, stronger than it has ever been before.
He controverted, at length, the position of Mr..
Stevens, denying that the States lately in re-
bellion were ever out of the Union. The
House, by adopting such theories as those of
Mr.. Stevens, viz.,-"That we waged war
against the South as a separate nation,"-
could not talk about the treason of Jefferson
Davis; nor about loyal men in the South, if
the South were an Independent power. There
was nothing in the opinion OF the Supreme
Court, in the cases quoted by MIR. Stevens, to
chnu of ha oboIC tafa ON, ind n
ent community, or separate nation. A separ-
ate nation would have the right 10 contract
debts, and we being conquerors, would be sue
cessors of the debt. Mr.. Ray mond repeated
, that we have to deal with the Southern States
under the Constitution. He contended, how
ever, that new guarantees shall be given be-
fore the South are admitted to representation.
He was as anxious now as he was during the
war to see the Union restored. He would do
nothing to discover the Union, as the rebels had
in vain attempted. He looked on the South
as part of the Union, and was pursuing such
a policy as would have the besteiiect. He was
against imposing confscation, but will require
representatives from the section to be loyal
and national men, representing loyal contitu-
ences .re..ls .fs, ~ - L..,,7ff ~ 4. 4
Mr.. Jeneks, of r. l., said he did not wish to
become compromised by any speech here,
when no question was presented for their con-
sideration.
Inc COI1illltlc0 rOS0, when FeSOtuIlOllS re-
ferring to various branches of the Presidents
message were passed.
Mr.. Ashley, of Nevada, appeared and was
qualified.
The Speaker announced the following gen
tlemen as Regents in the Smithsonian msti-
tute on the part of the House: Messrs. Pat
terson, of New Hampshire, Farnsworth, of Il
linois, and Garfield, of Ohio O. trcn u1rT
The Speaker announced the following gen
tlemen on the Committee on Rivers and Min
ing: Messrs. Highly, OF California Ashley, of
Nevada, Cobb, of Wisconsin, Strouse, of Penn
sylvania, Drigg, of Michigan, Ashley, of Ohio,
Henderson, of Oregon, Allison, Of iowa, and
Mr. Conkling, of New York, asked leave to
offer resolution requesting the President to
communicate to the House any report made
blythe Judge Advocate General, or any other
officer of the Government as to the grounds
by which JEFF. Davis, O. G. Clay, Stephen
Mallory and David Yulee are held in confne-
ment. TlI85 eLEM94 lie ZD4
Mr. johnson objected.
On motion Of Mr.. Alley, of Massachusetts,,
the Committee on Post Offices were instructed
to inquire into the expediency of establishing
national system of telegraphing, by which all
kilograms will be forwarded under a similar
system to our present postal service, within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the post Office depart
ment.
Mr. Banks, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, reported resolution accepting the in
vitation of the French government to be rep
resented at the exposition at Paris in 1866, APP
proving what has already been done by the
Secretary OF State, and providing fol the APP
pointment of clerks in connection with the
commissions Passed. ~. ~
Mr.. Kerr introduced bin, which was referr-
ed, for the relief of loyal and innocent part
owners of personal property captured on ac-
count of criminal acts of others part owners
of it. D. = ..l9 -El1 &
Mr.. O'Nei introduced bill relative to the
payment of 800 bounty, founded by the act