Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-02
EDUCTION OF THE TAX ON WHLgKEy
Passage of the Ship Registration Bill.
DC. DC. DC.
DC. .


PETITION FOR COMPENSATION.
Mr.. Wiley presented the memorial of Mrs Mary
+. Tword, stating that through her instrumentaliy
Norfolk was captured she having signalled our fleet
and that in consequence thereof her house had been
burned by the rebels, and asking compensation Re-
ierred to Committee on Claims.
", u uPEDuGTIoN OF SALARY OF ABsENTEEs.
MT, ade, from the Committee on Territories, re-
ported favorably on the bill to deduct the salary of
any Territorial officer absent from his duty more
than thirty days at one time for the time so absent
EXTENDING JURISDICTION U. S. COURTS.
On motion of Mr. Poland it was resolved that the
Committee on the Judiciary be requested to INQUIRE
INTO the eXpedlency and constitutonality of extend
ing the jurisdiction of the Courts of the United
States over all suits brought against any person for
acts done under the authority or in aid Of the mill
ary forces of the United States and also of ali suits
brought against any person, for any act done under
the authority, or in aid of the socalled Confederate
States OF America and report by bill or otherwise
ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSITION
On motion OF Mr. Brown, it was
hes?fUed, That the Joint Committee on Recon
sruction be directed inquire into the expedency
OF amending the Constitution of the United States so
as 10 with greater certainty the power of Con-
lation all the guarantees contained in that instru
ment, and more especially
First-That which recies the people, without dis
tnguishing them by color race as those who are
20 choose representatives,.
Second-Ihat which assures the citizen of each
State all privileges and immunities of citizens of the
several States.
Third-That which enjoins upon the United States
TO guarantee TO every State republican form of
THE TRIAL OF JEFF. DAVIS
On motion of Mr.. Howard, his resolution calling
for the trial of Jefferson Davis and Clement c. Clay
was taken up.
follow at the end Of his resolution: cor such other
crimes in violation of the usages of war as may be
nreierTed, against them; and others acting with
Der he had offered resolution of inquiry why jeff
Davis was not tried. In answer to that resolution
the President had sent in brief message, enclosing
reports from the Secretary of War and the Attorney
General. lie then read from the reports in question
1t due to the dignity of the nation it was duty
they owed to the Constitution and the country that
there should be arragnment of some of the lead
ing traitors, at least. H. thought that he was safe in
saying that there diminution in the desire for
this on the part of the people. and unless some of
them were executed the feeling of disgust and disap-
| pointment throughout the United States would be
| great.
Jeff. DAVIS was the master of the rebellion and
breathed life and activity into it through its whole
| extent from the Atlantic to the Rio Grande. His
| commands caused every battle, and caused every
death to the Union forces. 1t his hand that shed
| the blood OF quarter OF million of men, and
| wasted SIX hundred millions of property. He was
emphatically the war, his will controller it and di-
rectcd it everywhere: The ground taken by the
| Attorney General that he could not be tried for
| treason in any place where he was not present If
inns was correct Ylew some very lnconyenient con-
| within arms length of the Virginia shore, while
his army was fighting battle under his orders with
In the same distance of the shore, and because he
| was not there corporeally he could not be tried
He contended at some length against the validity
OF the argument Of the Attorney General. He asked
were they impotent to punish gigantic treason and
able to exercise the severity of the law upon those
VINO We're the tools OF StrOng-handed tyranpy, With
great respect for the legal attainments and high
character of the Attorney General he must take the
liberty to dissent from his opinions on the law of
treason He held that in the strict ruling the law
| jeff Davis was present wherever the hostile acts
were committed, whether in Ohio, Pennsylvania or
| Virginia, and as much liable to be tried in those
States as Robert E. Lee or John Morgan. In his
opinion there such thing as constructive trea-
son. 1t was not requisite that the party should be
| eyewitness, but only that he should be able and
willing to assist lie could not resist the conviction
that Davis might be legally tried in judicial dis
trct where hostiities were actually carried on, and
| the same of his subordinate Generals. Under the
doctrine of the Attorney General, he could no
prosecutions for treason, but that Justice would be
cheated OF her due. 1t was folly to expect that any
convictions could be obtained in the rebel States. 1t
| only remained for the President to carry out the
spirit of the re'olution and put Davis and his fe-
| lows on trial for their crimes
PROTECTION OF CITIZENS.
At the conclusion of Mr.. HoWardS remarks the
unfinished business Of yesterday, being the bill Ia
guarantee civil and political rights was taken up
| the question being on the pending amendment Of
| Mr.. Morrill, advocated the passage of the amend
! ment and Mr.. Henderson opposed it.
ctzGns 6R9}2sed the gigiag ag Of the rights q
| most disastrousy to his State Oregon.
| Mr.. Henderson moved to amend the amendment
! by inserting after the word power nor subject to
| tribal authority
MIR. Henderson's amendment to the amendment
was rejected.
The question then recurring on the amendment Of
MIR. Trumbuli, 1t was adopted by the following vote
! Aeas-Messrs, Anthony Chandler, Clark, Cragu
| Doolittle Fessenden Foot, Foster, Grimes, Harris
|
| Indiana, Lane of Kansas, Morgan, Morrill, Norton
| Nyc, Poland, Pomeroy, Ramsey, Sprngue Stewart
Sumner, Trumbull, Wade, Wiley, Williams and
| .Nays-Messrs. Buckaew Cowan, Davis. Guthrie
Hendricks; McDoqgall, Nesmith, Riddle, Stockton
Absent or not V otng-Messrs. Brown. Conness.
| CresSwell, Dixon Howe, Salisbury Sherman, Wright
The amendment as passed is to follow after the en-
! acting clause, and is as follows
Be Il enacted de-, That all persons born in the
| tn
without distinction of color, excluding Indians not
taxed are hereby declared to be citizens of the United
Mr.. Davis then took the floor, and opposed the pas
| sage OF the bill in lengthy speech.
| By permission of the Senate, Messrs. Conness
| Howe and Sherman, who temporarily absent
recorded their votes IN the affirmative on the amend
| ment OF Mr. Jrumbull.
| Without concluding his remarks, Mr.. Davis gave
| way, with the understanding that vote should be
| had at o'clock Tomorrow.
| On motion Of Mr.. Johnson, the Senate adjourned
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| Mr. Trowbridge, of Michigan. stated that he was
detained yesterday from the House by Illness or he
would have voted for the constitutional amendment
| which passed on yesterday.
Mr.. briggs, of Michigan, stated the same.
| SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Morrill,, of ermont, from the Committee on
| Ways and Means, reported bill to amend an act
approved March 3, 1865, to provide ways and means
follows: '''i 's III iuii Us
BE it enacted. DE-, That the act entitled IAN act
| to provide ways and means to support the Govern
ment" approved March 3, 1865, shall be extended
| and construed to authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury, at his discretion, to receive any Treas
| ury notes, or other obligations issued under any
act OF Congress- whether bearing interest or not in
exchange for any description of bonds authorized by
| the act to which this IS an amendments and also
to dispose OF any description of bonds authorized by
said act, either in the United States or elsewhere to
such an AMOUNT in such manner and at such rates
| he may think advisable, for lawful money of the
United States, for any Treasury notes. certificates
Of Indebtedness, or certificates of deposit, other
| representatives of value which have been or which
may be issued under any act Of Congress, the pro-
ceedS thereof to be used only for retiring Treasury
notes or other obligations issued under 3nv act 0t
Congress- but nothing herein contained shall be con
strued to authorize increase of the public debt
! Proridcd, That the bonds which may be disposed
payable both principal and interest in the coin OF
currency Of the countryin which they made pay
| five per centum per annum.
AND LEogided further, That the act to which this is
| provisions except as modified by this act.
AFFECT!NG RAILROADS.
Mr.; Trowbridge of Michigan. reported back from
into the expediency graduating the fares and rate
charged by railroad companies for the TRANSPORTATION
of passengers and freight order that the revenue
he derived therefom shall be given the protection
OF the agricultural interests from high and oppressive
| taxation.
Mr. Harding ofIllinos urged the necessity of legis
aton IN that direction, declaring that the railrOad
| in the West were doing what the Constitution pro
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, said that the improve
! ment of the Mississippi river would afford relief t,
Ihe producers oil the est hut the railroad cOmpanie
| were bridging the river at almost every point anC
| ohstructing its navigation.
| The resolution referred to the Ways and Mean
| Committee.
| THE WHISKY TAX.
Mr.. Stevens. Of Pa, inquired when the WAYS anC
Means Committee would be able to report up IN tina
portion of the ent report of the Internal Revenue
Commission relating to the whisky tax proposing tC
reduce SAID tax from two dollars to one dollar PEI
| gallon? He added that there should be some earl,
expression of the opinion of this House by rcsolu
| uon or recommendation else the Goyernmeu
| would lose three or four millions Of revenue durin,
| the present 81 son.
| iMr. Morrill,, Of VT, chairman, said the committee
had not yet taken up that report it having beer
received from the printer. He said that if the com
mlttee come to the conclusion to reduce the whisky
tax they would do with great deal of reluctance
| Mr. stevens replied that something should be done
| distilled spirits
MIR, Washburne. of Ill. said that it was also ruin
| ing the W estern market for produce
MI W wentworth, OF Illinois, appealed to the Houst
TO pass no nasty resolution regarding the whisky tax
until they iully examined the Internal Revenu,
| COMMISSION report and the accompanying bills s,
that each member might judge of the subject himsel
ana act underStandIngly on so important a subject
| REGISTRATION OF VESSELS
The House took up the bill regulating the regis
terng OF vessels 1t provides that no vessel or ship
when mas been registered as American vessel bu
which mas sailed under n foreign flag with foreign
protection during the rebellion shall be considered
an American vessel, or allowed to resume an Amer
can register, without the consent of Congress.
| Mr. Garheid, OF Ohio, opposed the bill. He sus