The Portland daily press., 1866-03-08
xxx CONGRESSES Session.
WAsH1NeToN, March 7.

-,--.- WASHINGTON, March 7.
GNUU& SENATE. HFHFi11|
Mr.. Wilson offered resolution, which was
adopted, instructing the Judiciary Committee
to inquire what legislation was necessary to
protect officers of the army from arrest and
prosecution by the civil courts for acts done
in obedience to orders from superior officers
while in the United States service. o..i.,.51 y y
Mr. Sprague offered resolution, which was
adopted, instructing the Committee on For
eign Affairs to report bill for the appoint
ment and commission of two judicial officers,
one from the army and one from civil life, to
examine the subject of cholera preventatives,
and attend the cholera congress in Europe. 81
Mr. Davis called up the resolution offered by
him, calling for committee to investigate the
cotton frauds. He offered substitute for the
ORIGINAL proposition, providing for standing
committee of the Senate on the subject of the
abuses of power Of which majority shall be
composed OF opposition. Senators. .5.l.l,3
At l P. M. the Constitutional amendment
was taken up. % a9 iaa
Mr.. Summer made speech in opposition to
Mr.. Sumner spoke at great length against
the proposition before the Senate. To his
mind it was most utterly reprehensible and
objectionable. The same sentiment which
led us to hail the abolition of slavery with
gratitude, as a triumph of justice, should make
us reject with indignation decree to crystal
ize into organic law the observation-disclosures of
race. II was with infinite regret that he
differed with valued friends; but he could not
do otherwise. He should speak frankly as on
other occasions, in exposing the crime against
Kansas, or the enactment which turned the
whole North into hunting ground where
man was the game. This attempt was on a
larger scale and more essentially bad. Such
measures, SO obnoxious to every argument OF
reason, so perilous to national peace, and so
injurious to the good name Of the Republic,
must be encountered as we encounter the pub
lie enemy. eis-f'.. &c, ~ A7i--s'4
Mr.. Sumner spoke of the part the negroes
had taken in the war, and said the Republic
was solemnly pledged to these benefactors by
Ties of gratitude, and by open promise in the
face of the civilized world. Treason must be
made odious. All who had been untrue to the
Republic, must for a certain time be exclud-
ed from partnership in the Government, and
all who have been true must be admitted into
the partnership, according to the sovereign
rule of the Constitution, which knows no dis
tinction of color. In the one way reconstric-
ton is easy; in the other impossible.
He considered this not an amendment but
detriment to the Constitution. and its avowed
purpose uncertain, loose, cracked and ricketty.
Were it adopted, you would declare that mil
lions of your fellow citizens had no rights
which white men were bound to respect, thus
repeating in new form the proposition which
has backened the name of Taney.. Adopt it,
and you will stimulate new war of race up
on the race The proposition was as hardy as
it was gigantic, for it takes no account OF the
normal sense of mankind, which is the same
as if in rearing monument we took no &C
count OF the law of gravitation. 1t was the
paragon and master. piece of ingratitude,
showing more than any other act of history
what was so often charged, that Republics are
ungratefuL Adopt it, and you fix stigma
upon the very name of Republic.
Mr.. Sumner stated his objections to the
pending proposition, and summed them up as
follows: l{Stk S0gtG9 rE ab5Ha{,E +
Mr.. President-Such is the argument for the
rejection of the pending proposition. Follow
ing it from the beginning, you have seen first
how this proposition carries into the consttu-
ton itself the idea of inequality of rights thus
defiling that unspotted text Secondly, how it
is an expressed sanction of acknowledged tax
alton without representation. Thirdly, how
it is a concession to State rights at the mo-
ment when we are recovering from terrible
war waged against us in the name of State
rights. Fourthly, howsit is a constitutional
recognition oil oiigachy, ariStocracy, caste and
monopoly founded on color. Filthy, how it
embodies the wretched pretension Of a white
mans government Sixthly, how it assumes
what is false in constitutional law, that color
| can be qualification for an elector. Seventh
| ly, how it positively ties the hands of Congress
in fixing the meaning Of republican govern
nent, SO that under the guarantee clause it
will be constrainedte recognize oligachy, aris-
tocracy, caste anu monopoly together with the
| tyranny OF taxation without representation is
| not Inconsistent with such government
| Eghthly, how it positively ties the hands of
Congress in completing and consummating the
abolition of slavery in pursuance of the second
clause of the constitutional amendment, SO
that it cannot for, this purpose interfere with
the denial of the elective franchise on account
of color. Ninthly, how it installs loyal citizens
| and tenthly, how it shows forth in unmistaka-
BILE character compromise of human rights
the most immoral, indecent and utterly shame
| full of any in our history. All this you. have
seen with pain and sorrow. I trust who that
is moved to sympathy for his fellow man can
listen to the, story without Indignation, and
who that has not lost the power of reason can
fail to see the cruel wrong. And now the
| question, occurs, what shall be done to this?
answer reject at once the pending proposition
Show it no favor, give it no quarter. Let the
country see that you are impatient of its pres
ence. = III \ . = - i = i : y LII
ira Mr.. Doslittle addressed the~Senate at con-
siderable length in favor Of representation ac-
Scording to the number of voters. IN
NJ Mfr. Morrill, rose to speak, but on motion of
Mr. Johnson the further consideration Of the
subject was postponed until tomorrow, At one
o'clock. ~ ..a hfH ,
Mr.. Ramsey moved that the Senate take up
the bill for the admission of Colorado.
After debate, which was participated in by
Messrs. Wilson, Ramsey, Trumbult and Sum
,ner, the bill was taken up and read second
time, and made the special order for Monday
Innext, at one o'clock @ssnataA ~ gs,iKN
r., After the consideration of private bills, the
Senate at five O'Clock adjourned. ,aieqaio2