Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-03-02
XXxlXTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 90

Iug sCfltJ VulTaHtinc W tuc sFttdu
of the CHI 2.era, was referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
A bill was introduced to continue the
present Freedmen's. Bureau two years
longer. Referred to the Military Commit
tee. t4rff -r
A resolution was adopted asking in
formation in regard to the feasibility Of
establishing telegraphic lines i'll connection
with the mail rout IS for the transmission of
government and private business.
The constitutional amendment on the
subject of representation was taken up.
Mr.. Nye was entitled to floor, but gave
way to Mr. Fessenden, who moved to take
Up the House concurrent resolution pro-
>idn that no Senator or Representative
from lately rebellious State shall be re-
coguized ia either House until that State is
declared by Congress entitled to reprcsen-
tation.
Mr.. Sherman appealed to the Senate to
del action on the resolution for few
DAYS until the present excited feelings are
somewhat abated.
of Congress for the purpose of getting
into political wrangle with the President.
which was broad enough without bringing
ON this additional controversy.
Mr.. Fessenden said he was not aware
that there had been an effort to get up i
political wraugle with the Pre- silent; he
certainly had no disposition to do so.
No man had heard him speak of the Presi-
dent except in terms of respect. and he
was not sensible of any excitcmentto pre-
vent his speaking on the question. lie was
not carried away by passion; he had re-
Elected and was prepared to express his
opinion on the great question; the sooner
the question comes up the better. If the
President is right in his assumption that
we have nothing to say in the matter. we
ought to admit these men at once. If they
come with the proper credentials. 1t Is
very unbecoming in us officially to assume
powers we do not possess. If we are
placing ourselves in the way of recon-
struction of this Union by assuming con-
stitutional authority to extend the time and
keep men from their proper seats in this
bod. we ought to know it; on the con-
trary if we have something to say about it,
i. is proper we should assert it before the
country. before we proceed to act upon the
constitutional amendment now betors this
body and which is intimately Involved in
this very question now under considera-
ton.
Mr.. Sherman again urged delay. The
Senator from Maine says he is not excited.
Probably he is not; but the public mind is
excite |. and wetlrs used in debate to-day
that this subject deserves. This delay can
do no harm; it may do good.
After further debate between Messrs.
Howe and Fessentien. Mr.. Doolittle rose
to correct statement made by these
gentlemen. He said he understood them
to say in substance thst the President
seemed to deny to Congress the right to
judge not only the qualifications and
election of members. but upon the right OF
representation on the part of the States of
Districts in the Senate and House of Re
personalities OF this Congress. He (Doo-
little) did not infer any such thing from the
language of the President.
Mr.. Doolittle was proceeding with his re-
marks, when lie was called to order by Mr.
Ennbaill.' who made the point that
- Ber opposed to taking up a resolution
had no right to discuss the merits Of that
resolution.
The Chair sustained the point of order.
The resolution was taken up--26 to Il.
Yeas--Anthosly, Brown, Chandler, Clark
CONFESS. Cragin. Cresswell, Fcssenden.
Kirkwood. Lane of Ind, Morrill,, Nye,
Pollard. Pomerov, Ramsay. Sumner, Trum-
bull. Wade. Wiley Williams. Wilson.
Nays-Buckalow, Cowan. Davis; Dixon.
a Doolittle. Guthrie. Hendricks. Johnson.
Lane of Ka.. McDougall, Morgan, Ne
smith, Norton. Riddle. salisbury. Sher-
man, Stewart, stockton, Van Wrinkle.
Mr Fessenden spoke in favor of the reso-
luton. He sent to the Secretary'> desk
the following extract from the speech OF
the President
- wefind that. in fact, by an irrespon>i-
BILE central directory. nearly all the powers
-of the government are assumed without
even consulting the Legislative and execii-
tive departments Of the government. Yes.
and by a resolution reported by Il COM
mite upon whom all the legislative power
of the government has been conferred that
the principle in the constitution which
authorizes and empowers each branch of
the Legislative departments to be the
judges of the election and qualification of
its own members. has been virtually taken
away from those departments aud conterr-
cd upon a committee who must report be-
tore they can act under the constitution
and allow members duly elected to take
,eir seats" ..-
Mr. Fe ,sendcn read another short para
graph from the speech. Says the Prcsi-
dent:
Il free to say aS your Executive that
am not prepared to take any such posi-
ton. / said in the Senate in the very in
ceptiec Of rebellion. that the States had no
right to 60 out. and that they had no pow
er to - out. That question has been set
tied and cannot turn around now and
give the lie direct to all have professed to
have done in the last five years. l can do
10 such thing. | say that when they con-
ply with the constitution. when they have
given sufficient evidence of their loyalty
and that they can be trusted. when they
WELD obedience to law. l say extend to
Them the right hand Of fellowship and let
peace and Union be restored
Mr. Fessenden. So say !. so say ALL
When they do that there will be no objec-
ton to their representation.
Mr. Sumner. There is no difference on
thlt question.
Mr. Fessenden-And the President HIM
SELF instead of saying anything different
FIR I'm us says that whenever they have COM
IL ed with these conditions then they ought
10 be admitted.
Mr.. Fessenden continued, advocating
the ri sht of Congress to inquire whether
the Conditions named by the President had
baen complied, With. The special com
mite, was organized for the purpose of
l,aking these INQUIRIES. lie stated this
that the c0uu1y might understand what all
This noise was about. With reference to
the appOiutment of this committee-Is this
committee of fifteen, he asked, anything
more than the servant of Congress- i
any other committee, Joint or special, any
fhiny more than the servent Of Congress !:
Can II set up its win against the will OF
the boly which constituted u. We are APP
pointed for the special purpose of making
inquiries, and reporting to Congress the
res ut Of our inquiries, and for what rea-
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