Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-27
News by
IAssoc1ArKp PRESS DEsPArcHKs.l
Proceedings Of Congress.

ITOCeeuIhSs Soushts
WASHINGTON, February &c.
SESATE.-Mr. Grimes, in presenting a petition
from citizens of Iowa, said he would take occasion
to refer to a despatch published in the IEteIigencer
this morning, stating that an immense ratlncatoh
meeting had been held in Keokuk, at which the veto
message and the Presidents Administration had
been endorsed. He said that the author'of that
despatch had been opposed to the war all along, and
that his press had been thrown into the river for the
utterances of disloyal sentiments. He was unwilling
that the despatch referred to should 60 forth as a re-
fex of the sentiments of the people of Iowa.
Mr.. Lane, of Kansas, moved to take from the files
the papers in the case of Messrs. Baxter and Snow,
Senators elect from Arkansas, and refer them to the
Committee on the Judiciary. Mr.. Clark called fol
a division of the motion, and the question was called
for on Withdrawing the papers from the files, and
decided in the affirmative. Mr.. Clark then moved
that the credentials BE laid on the table with those
from other lately rebellious States. Mr.. Lane called
the yeas and nays. The question was decided in the
afirmative-yeas 81, nays 10. Mr.. Lane moved to
admit Messrs. Baxter and Snow to seats on this
floor, which motion was laid on the table.
At one o'clock the regular order was taken up,
being the concurrent resolution, that no Senators OF
Representatives from any seeded State shall be ad-
mitted until such State shall have been declared en-.
titled to representation.
Mr.. Sherman took the floor. He maintained that
the resolution could confer no power not already
vested in Congress. \ similar resolution, he said,
had been adopted by the last Congress.
-. II ~. - =. IAN a. .u.s.
in force the act to establish a bureau for freedmen's
affairs. Referred TO the Uni on Freedmen's
Affairs.
Mr.. McCnng offered a resolution, prefaced by q
preamble, that it be referred to the Joint Committee
on Reconstruction to enquire and ascertain whether
contumaCy be clearly manifested in the seeding
States, and, if so, to enquire into the expediency oil
levying contributions on the disloyal inhabitants oil
such States to defray the extraordinary expenses
which would otherwise be thrown on the National
Government-for keeping up a standing army and
protecting the loyal citizens in their natural and
personal rights under the Constitution. After an
unsuccessful effort to lay the resolution on the table
it was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction
The Speaker laid before the House the credentials
of Alexander Hamilton Jones, member elect from
the Seventh Congressional District of North Carroll
ma. They were referred to the Committee on RECON
s%truction.
The Speaker also laid before the House the resolu'
ton of the General Assembly of the State of Nir'
gina in relation to the direct tax levied by Congress
in 1861, and now being collected in Virginia. Re
ferred to the Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Bingham, from the COmmittee on Reconstruc'
ton, reported back the joint resolution proposing
the following amendment to the Constitution
The Congress shall have power to make all law
which shall be necessary and proper to secure to the
citizens of each State all the privileges aud immu'
mites of citizens in the several States, and to all
persons in the several States equal protection in tile
right of life, liberty and property"
Mr.. Bingham urged the Importance of passing
this amendment, in order to preserve the unity OF
our people in one Government, and to carry out the
constitutional power.
Mr.. Rogers opposed the amendment, arguing that
it i~nterfered with the just powers of the States, and
would tend to Capitalization.
No vote was taken, and the constitutional amend
ment comes up again tomorrow.