The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-11
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
MAsH1NaroN. Nav 10.
SENATE.

The House bill to authorize the vice
Admiral of the Navy to appoint Sec
rotary with the rank and pay of Lieu
tenant, was passed.
A resolution calling upon the Score
tary- of War for information as to the
intention of the Government with re-
gard to the Government works at Har-
per's Ferry, was adopted.
A bill to authorize the coinage of five
cent pieces was passed.
A bill to impose 20 per cent ad val
orem duty on cattle imported into the
country, was passed, with an amend
ment exenpting for 10 days cattle al,
ready owned by American citizens and
now in the British provinces.
The resolution to prevent the intro
duction of cholera, was taken up and
discussed.
The morning hour expired pending
the discussion and the post office ap-
preparation bill was taken up.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, the House resumed the con-
sideration of the constitutional amend
ment reported by the Reconstruction
Committee. Mr.. Randall, of Pennsyl-
vania, addressed the House in oppose
ton to the measure, he wished that the
colored race in the Southern States were
allowed TO occupy the same position as
it did in his own State, but as he was
not willing that the general government
should interfere with matters in Penn
sylvania, neither was he willing that
it should interfere with the South. The
Injustice and enormity of the I'd section
had been so thoroughly ex-
posed by gentlemen on the re-
publican side, that he deemed
it unnecessary TO say anything about
it, further than to express his belief
that the intention was to prevent the
possibility of any Southern State voting
for the amendment, as the whole
scheme was one of procrastination and
delay, looking to the exclusion of the
Southern States till alter the next Pres
idential election. The Presidents plan
on the contrary was plain and simple,
Just and effectnal, and, as he believed,
acceptable to the vast majority of the
people North and South. The issue
between the President and Congress
was made and the appeal must be made
to the people. BE believed that moth
OF the legislative branch of the Gov
eminent by the conservative men of the
country under the lead of Andrew
Johnson.
Mr.. Strouse, of Pa, followed on the
same side. He declared that the Con-
stitution was never intended to be plas-
tered and patched, and that Congress
tampering with 1t.
Mr.. Banks, of Mass, was the next
speaker. He regarded this as the most
important question that could be pre-
scented to Congress or the country. He
believed that the organization of the
could only be safely made by edecttng
a change In the basis of political socie-
ty in the Southern States untouched,
and left the enemies of the country In
condition to renew the war, there
fore, no proposition met his APP
proval which did not effect rad
zeal change in the basis of society
in those States, but he did not
expect the House to adopt his opinions,
nor would he insist on any theory of
his own. He had no doubt that the
Government of the United States had
full authority to extend the elective
franchise to the colored people of the
South, but he did not think it had the
power. The public opinion of the coun-
try was such at this momentas to make
It impossible. He (Thompson) thought
it wise on the part of the Committee on
Reconstruction TO waive that matter in
Difference to public opinion. While
resentation equitable, he did not think
important. In his judgmentit was of
no consequence whether the late rebel
States had fiftyor tifIy-eight repreSen-
tatives in the House. The Southern
people governed by force, their phtloso-
ply was force, their practice was force,
their traditions was force, with few or
many they would have power when
ever they were restored; while, there
fore, he agreed cheerfully to the propo-
sition, but in purpose and phraseology
it did not seem to meet the question at
issue. He approved the proposition to
disfranchise the enemies of the country
= IA tiki fNRTs an n
necessary at this time. Heidi not care
much whether the extension of the
franchise to the negro was complied
with, although he was in favor of it.
He had no difficulty in regard
to the supposed unfairness
of DISTINGUISHING disloyal men
who had come within the term of
the amnesty proclamation, for he held
that in all proclamations and military
conferences the idea of restoring politi-
cal rights was carefully guarded
against. He did not agree with the
gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Gartield) as
TO the impractibility of enforcing dis
the rejection of the proposed amend
ment.
Thus far and no farther there were 81
States represented in the House, and
two more would give the number re-
quisite to adopt the constitutional
ne pGllGNGS budS
see and kentucky would ratify, and
that would give the requisite number of
votes. 1.-THE amendment was to be de-
feated at all, it would be defeated by
Republican or Democratic States. 1t
was not true that nine-tenths or any
such large proportion of the southern
people were enemies to the government.
The common people of the south would
ultimately be found among the truest
and best friends of the government.
The debate was continued by hiessrs.
Eckley and Beaman in support of the
measure, and Mr.. Rogers againstit.
Mr.. Dawes, of Mass, declared that
with the exception of the Sd section of
the Joint resolution, he gave in a meas
nre his approval; but II he could not
get that section excluded he would still
vote for it.
After further debate, Mr.. Stevens
withdrew the motion to recommit, and
moved the previous question:;
Mr.. Garfield inquired of the Speaker
whether in case the previous question
was not seconded, it would be in order
for him to move to amend by striking
out the third section and offering the
amendment offered by Mr., Mckee, pre-
venting those who had voluntarily
taken mart in the rebellion from hold
ing office under the United States Gov
eminent.
The Speaker replied that motions and
amendments would be in order If the
previous question should not be sec
onded The House divided, and the
Speaker counted ayes 90; nays 80.
The democrats almost all voting aye,
in order to prevent any amendment of
the Joint resolution, the tellers were de-
manded and ordered, the result being
the same; SO the previous question was
recorded on the question, shall the
main question be now put The House
v0tad nv vss,aS and NAYS the reRnlt he