Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-02
XXXEXth Congress
WASHINGTON, May l

nOOOGs
Mr.. BOUTWELL, sent to the Clerks desk
an amendment which he proposed to offer
to one of the bills reported yesterday by
the Committee on Reconstruction and
which was ordered to be printd. 1t pro-
vides that whenever the proposed Constitu-
tional amendments shall have become part
of the Constitution, and Tennessee or Ark
ansas shall have ratified the same and shall
have modified its Constitution and laws in
conformity Herewith, and shall have es-
tablished an equal and just system of
suffrage for all male citizens within its ju-
risdiction who are not less than q years of
age, the Senators and Representatives
from sueh State if found duly elected and
qualified, NAV, after having taken the re-
quired oath of office, be admitted in Con-
gress as such, provided nothing in the Sec
ton containsd shall be so construed as to
require the disfranchisement of any 10y al
person who is entitled to vote.
Mr.. BINGHAM, also, sent up substitute
which he proposed to offer for the bill. and
which was also ordered to be printed. 1t
provides that whenever any State lately in
insurrection, shall have ratified in good
faith and irrevocably the above reeited
amendment, and shall have modified its
constitution and laws in conformity there
with, the Senators and Representatives
from su5h State if found duly elected and
qualified, may, after haYing taken the oaths
of office required by law, be admitted into
Congress as such.
M. STEVENS, from the Committee On
APPROXIMATIONS, reported back the Senate
Joint resolution making appropriations for
the expenses of collecting revenue from
customs which was considered and passed.
Mr.. ELLIOT offered resolution, which
was adopted, reciting that an alaming con
dition Of destitution is reported as existin g
among the white population and freedmen
extending TO absolute want of food in va
rjous portions of the South, especially in
Arkansas, Alabama and South Carolina,
and that without government aid thousands
must perish by starvation before the raising
of another crop, and directing the Select
| Committee on Freedmen to inquire into the
expediency of recommending an appropria-
| ton of 100000 for the immediate relief by
rations of food for the destitute, giving
preference in such relief to those whose
personal property and supplies Of food have
been destroyed by the ravsges Of war, to be
expended under the direction Of the Com
| missioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, with
leave to report at any time.
Mr.. STEVENS suggested that an inquiry
was not necessary, as the Committee on Ap-
| preparations had yesterday reported bill
appropriating Sll,O0e,000 for the Freed
mems Bureau
the object intended by the resolution.
Mr.. RICE, Of Mass, from the COMMITTEES
on Naval Affairs, reported back the Senate
amendments to the House bill for the bet
ter organization of the Pay Department OF
the Navy. The amendments were con-
CURED in.
The House then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the bill reported on the llth Of
april from the Committee on Commerce, to
| amend the act of July 4th, 1854, TO encour-
age immigration, and the act of March Sd.
1856, to regulate the carriage of passengers
| in steamships and other vessels. The bill
1 after an amendment in some Of its details
was passed.
Mr.. KELLY offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
| WHEREAS, It is reported by citizens o.
Alabama in formal memorial to the two
| houses of Congress, that many Of the people
of the mountain districts of that State arr
suffering from want, and that considers
bic number of them have died Of actus
starvation /; therefore
/ Rssolued, That the President be requested
to instruct the proper officer or officers o
the Bureau of Refugees and Freedmen, Z
Il INQUIRE into the conditioned said district
or any. otheKs Aistrsets, Of tha-< <insurCen
LLs.Atssin which such suffering may be sail
10 exist, and to relieve the people thereo
and provide them with corn and other see
for planting crop sufficient for an annua
supply of each family requiring such reiie
Mr.. ROSS introduced q bill to eonstruc
ship canal for .he passage Of armed an
naval vessels from the Mississippi river
Lake Michigan, which was read twice an
| referred to the Committee on Roads an
| Canals.