The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-25
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
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THURSDAY, MAJ ~ 1880.
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SENATE.
M. Wilson introduced q resolution iustruoting
the comnittee on Finance 10 inquire into the con.
dition Of the national banks Of the city Of WASH
ington and report, hrst what amount Of Govern
ment funds has been on deposit In these or other
banks In the last twelve months; second by whom
and under what authority were these deposits made;
third, what amount Of and what rate Of interest
has been paid, and to whom.
Mr.. johnson suggested TO the Senator from MAG
saehusetts to include all the national banks In the
resolution.
Mr.. Wilson said several millions had been de.
posted In these banks and reports had been flying
about that interest had been allowed 70 certain
discussing officers on their deposits He was In
favor Of the cub Treasury system and thought the
Government should keep Its own money.
Mr.. Wilson then modified his resolution making
II applicable to all the national banks, and provid
Ing for the appointment Of q special committee to
make the inquiry. The resolution was then passed.
Mr.. Grimes presented the petition Of citizens Of
Iowa, praying Congress not to give any authority to
construct bridges over the Mississippi river inter.
fering with navigation. Laid on the table.
Mr.. snmner presented petition from George W.
Blake, late second lieutenant 9th regiment veteran
reserve corps, praying that the President DO d.
rected to convene q military commission for the
trial Of Jefferson Davis, for which ho urges the
following reasons: ...HO....-
l. The American people regard him as the chief
instigator Of the late rebellion. a...--.
2. Loyal American people look upon him as
guilty Of treason In levying war against the Gov.
eminent and in causing the Confederate army to
invade our territory.
8. The American people protest against his trial
by jury selected from the people ofany State that
participated In the rebellion. @ ....
4. The American people believe JET Davis has
no more right 70 q trial by Jury than Wirz or the
assassins that murdered Lincoln.
s. The people demand such trial 10 justice to the
thousands OF soldiers who were sent TO their final
account through the wicked acts Of Davis.
.. This mode Of trial Is not dictated by revenge.
but In accordance With the peculiar fitness Of
things and the usages governing trials Of prisoners
Of war in similar cases.
7. The right inhercs In Congress to direct the
trial in such mode as II may deem proper.
8. His crime Is treason and robbery Of Union
people firing the private property and taking the
lives Of citizens Of the United States.
Q. He is further charged with organizing piracy.
10. He is accused Of starving and shooting In
cold blood prisoner Of war.
IL. For these reasons, and the fact that he was
chief Of the army and navy Of the socalled confed.
crate States, he should DO tried by military com
mission.
The petitioner deems II unnecessary 70 procure
signatures ''as 1t conveys the ideas Of every real
patriot throughout the United States Of America.
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the joint resolution
relative to the appointment Of cadets TO the Mill
tary Academy at West Point was taken up.
Mr.. Anthony offered an amendment, that in all ap.
pontments ofcadets after the year the person
authorised to nominate shall nominate not less than
Eve candidates, all Of whom shall be residents Of
the congressional district from which they are nom
mated or Of the District Of Columbia II nominated
from the District from whom one shall be selected
who passes the best competitive examination as may
be prescribed by tho War Department. this provis-
ion not to relate to the appointments made BY the
President
The amendment was agreed to.
n - - f.
after the superintendent Of the academy shall DO
selected from any corps Of the army.
Mr.. Nesmith said that the superintendent could
now only be selected from the engineer corps, and
II was the opinion Of many Of the first officers Of
the army that this should not DO the case II
tainly had deleterious effect.
The amendment was disagreed to, and the joint
resolution was then laid over by the expiration Of
the morning hour.
THE age prescribed for cadets Is from seventeen
TO twenty-five years. except in the case Of those
Who have served honorsbly in tho army, who may
enter up 10 twenty -four years. All those who
served in any capacity in the military or naval ser.
vice Of the rebellion are precluded from entering
the academy .H.
Mr.. Trumbull asked leave 10 withdraw from the
files Of the Senate q petition presented by him
from citizens Of Augusta county, Virginia, to the
had been in constant danger since the withdrawal
Of the United States troops, and asking that they
be sent back. Mr.. T. said no had this morning re-
csived q letter from Stanton, informing him that
the names Of the sgners of this petition had been
procured throughsome source for the purpose OF
giving the rebels an opportunity to persecute them
Alexander II. Stewart and Joseph Ssgar were de-
scribed as being at the head Of this thing. num-
Der Of those who had signed the petition had been
go frightened and intmidated that they bad pub
and others were being threatened with prosecution
for forgery. II was desired now to withdraw the
petition, SO that the signers may be exempted from
further persecution.
Mr.. Howard said that 1t had been stated that
these signatures forgeriss but to each Of them
was attached an affidavit proving Its genuineness.
Mr.. Wilson said that Mr.. segar had come to him
and asked for the names Of the petitioners, and not
supposing that any harm would ensue from grant.
ing the request, he had directed his clerk TO give
Mr.. Segar a copy Of the petition. 0
Mr.. Sumner said II was right to'proteet all loyal
citizens, but II was something which had never
been done before to take petition frolu the files
Of the Senate.
The motion to withdraw was then agreed to.
THE RECONSTRUCTION PLAE
The joint resolution from the committee on re-
construction was then taken up, tho question being
on the amendment Of Mr. Wade e.
Mr.. Stewart, Of Nevada, then took the floor.
Mr.. Stewart said that, In the conflict OF opinion
upon Questions Of expediency the only safe course
to do right; that there was no little difference
OF opinion upon the tundnmontAl theories OF our
Government; that all men are equally entitled To
ife liberty and the pursuit Of happinossi that the
objections to the Presidents plan Of reconstruction
was Its failure to realize the fond hopes of the
American people; that four millions Of citizens
whose only offence Is fidelity to the Govern.
ment should possess these inalienable rights and
be added to the strength Of the Union in support Of
Its integrity and tho financial burden oftho war; and
that his the Presdent) plan failed to furnish any
security against the Unlimited sway OF the rebels
In their local State governments with increased
representation in Congress Of the disoyal element
Of the rebelliOni yet he Mr.. s. would admit that
II was better than no plan, and was slow to con-
denim II unless he could improve II. An improve
ment Of the Presidents plan Injured n cure not
an aggrayation Of the evils complained Of
General amnesty and impartial suffrage were the
only remedies that were endorsed by justice and
humanity, but opposed by prejudice and passion
Those who had assniled him Mr.. s. for the advo-
cacy Of the resolutions he had offered, had failed
to find arguments to refute the correctness Of the
propositions. If his views had been modified by
the progress Of events, he had but followed the
maxim Of Mr.. Lincoln, ITO adopt new views when.
they appeared 10 DO true yiewsn and he could
secure the support Of those only who had changed
their opinions by the constant development of new
facts for the last six years. he Of the
cess Of his proposition. The trouble was, that
some men attempted to apply "old theories to new
facts tho theory Of slavery to condition Of free
dom. s.r... ....
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