The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-03
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
xxxIxrn ooSenEss-FIRsT SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, Mar 2. 1865.
CEN ATE

pensation to the owners and shippers Of the cargo
such sum 10 be distributed In accordance with the
award Of WIN. N. Evarts and Edward NJ Arehi.
bald 10 whom the claim was referred for adjust
mont, by an agreement between the Secretary Of
State and the British Minister At Washington.
.....#.H DISTRICT nArrHRs. .....-.... ....
Mr.. Morrill, reported the bill donating certain
lots in the city Of Washington for schools for col
ored children in the District Of Columbia with en-
amendment, striking out certain lots which, as has
been ascertained are not the property OF the uni
ted States. i..I. r I... 30
Mr.. johnson, from the COMMITTEES on the Judi.
ciary Committee, reported adversely on the bill to
reorganiIe the Supreme Court Of the District Of
Columbia, and asked for Its indefinite postpone
ment which was agreed to. ~. .H
Mr.. Psssendsn presented petitions, numerously
signed asking the adjustment Of the crude tax on
pstroleumi referred to Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Morrill, reported, from the Committee for
the District Of Columbia, the following bills, with
out amendment: '..
A bill to grant certain privileges to the Aiexan.
dria and Washington Railroad Company in the
District Of Columbia. -.-H
A bin 70 Incorporate the First Congregational
Society Of Washington.
A bin relating to public schools in the Di,trio,
Of Columbia. ...
A bill concerning the Fire Department Of wSsh.
ington atty ..|f. T.. ..
Mr. Wiley, from the Committee for the District
Of Columbia, reported the bill to authorize the
Canal Company to enter the District Of Columbia,
with an amendment, as q substitute, having 10 Its
main features the substance Of tho original bill
TEE PUBLIC DEBT. .. anal.
Mr. Sherman reported n bill to reduce the rate
Of interest on the national debt and for funding
the samei which was referred to the COMMITTEES on
Finance. .. ..| ''#
The 8rst section authorizes the Secretary Of the
Treasury, II he shall deem IL expedient, to issue
registered or coupon bonds, payable principal and
nteres In coin, bearing interest not exceeding FIVE
psr cent, semi.annually, payable not over thirty
years from date, to be issued In amount sufficient
to cover all existing or outstanding obligations Of
the United States, and 10 be disposed Of at such
terms, not less than par the Secretary may deem
proper; provided, that the expense Of preparing
Issuing and selling shall not exceed two per cent.
The second fecti D entities these bonds "the
consolidated debt Of the United States, and they
shall be exempt from taxation In any form by or
under State municipal, or local authority, and in
consideration Of the reduction Of interest," they shall
be exempt from taxation by the United States.
The third section applies the resultant saving In
interest to the reduction Of the national debt and
In lieu Of the sinking fund heretofore provided,
thirty millions including this saving are appropra
ted yearly TO the reduction Of the debt.
The fourth section requires holders Of seven.
thies TO give notice Of their intention 10 convert,
upon maturity into fye-twsnties six millions prior
to maturity
Mr. Sherman briefly explained tho objects Of the
bill
Mr. Clark said he would ask that Friday be set
apart for the consideration Of bills from the Com
mittse on Claims. ....
. COURT or CLAIMS.
Mr.. Clark. from the Committee on the Judiciary,
reported without amendment the bill to extend the
Jurisdiction Of the Court Of Claims.
Mr.. Dixon introduced n joint resolution provid-
ing for the representation Of the several States,
follows: - ... ... .... ... .. .
Rssoived, &C., That the interests Of peace and the
interests Of the Union require the admission Of
every State to its share In public legislation, when
ever II presents ITSELF not only In attitude Of
10y atty and harmony but In the persons Of Repre-
sentatyes whose loyalty cannot be questioned under
any constitutional or legal test.
Mr. Fessenden said the President had more than
once announced that none but loyal men should
participate in the Government. The Senator from
Connecticut had gone into the merits Of the report
lie Mr.. + had said nothing on that point, and
intended TO avoid u until the question prop
srly up. II Congress saw ht to amend or modify
tho plan Of the committee iu any way it did not
meet their appreciation, he was content
Mr.. Grimes said there was a controversy between
the Senator from Maine IMr. Fessendenl and the
Senator from Connecticut tMr. Dixonl as to the
views Of the President, and from the particular 70
laions existing between the President and the Sen
ator from Connecticut, supposng the Senator to be
10 position to answer, he would Ask him whether
the last reported views Of tho President were cor
rect. He would follow the example Of reading from
newspapers He held In his hand the National In.
teliigsaeer Of this morning, q journal said to be
in intimate relations at the White House. Mr.. g.
then read the account Of the views Of the President
and Cabinet on the report and plans Of the recon
struction committee as published In the papers Of
today.
Mr.. Grimes said II he understood the force Of
language, this was not the position the President
Of the United States formerly occupied II he IN
derstoOd the President, he now insisted that these
States should be Immediately admitted, without
any antecedent conditions He supposed this was
the counter proposition from the White House TO
the plan Of the committee. a.
Mr.. Dixon knew nothing OF the Presidents views
except from published statements
Mr.. Grimes said tho proposition Of the Senator
was identical with the proposition contained In the
IRtsHigsnesr Of this morning.
Mr.. Dixon said he had taken his resolution from
the Veto message Of the President on the Freed.
mems Bureau bill. more than two months ago. lie
had prepared It without consultation with any liv-
ing being He was responsible to no one for bis
views, and looked TO no one for instructions.
Nr. Grimes said no had no wish to insinuato that
tho Senator had amaster, but thought he was jus.
titled In assuming the Senator to be on intimate
relations with the Executive. The Senator has
knoWlsdged that be has taken his resolution from
the celebrated veto message Of tho President.
Mr.. Sumner said the question involved in tho
proposition Of the Senator from Connecticut was so
important that II might always be considered In
order to discuss 1t. lie did not dspreoate this dis
cussion, but would deprecate any decision on the
question, and hoped the Senator from Maine Mr.
fessendeul would bear this in mind. lie did not
think Congress was In any condition to decide on
II. He thought that excellent committee [recon-
ftruction had been Influenced too mdoh by voices
from without to bring an issue before the country
There was no occasion for II. The Connecticut
election was over the New Hampshire election was
over, and no elections Were coming on before
autumn. He Mr. s. wanted q report that would
rally them all in solid phhlanx. lie was certain
that the committee could not hive made this report
In the last week Of March, and was sure a better
report could DO mRdo In the last week Of May than
has been In the last week Of April. Let them have
time. Let there be time to disseminate the testi.
mOny taken be fore the committee on reconstruction
lie hoped Congress would not act before the natural
and Legitimate influence should result from this
testimony. The Senator from Connecticut had for.
gotten two very important things wher he drew up
his proposition.
Mr.. Dixon. forgot more than two things.
Mr. Sumner. The Senator says he foTgets more
than two things. Two things he certainly does for
get he fOrgets that We have been In war; no for.
gets that I, 900 900 Of human beings have been
made free. The Senator had made no Allusion to
it. He provides no guarantees the most essential
thing is guarantee. II he Mr.. s could forget that
there had been a war, he also could forget the me-
csssity Of guarantee.
Mr. Dixon said: The Senator says forget. He
too forgetL Only rhort time back the Senator had