American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

" hohANoASANb W. - " y Il
Speeches were the order of the day.
Mr.. Cook. of Illinois, argued that thu
power Of recognizing the seeded State
as being in the Union rested with Con
gress. When the military power Cal
safely be Withdrawn and these States re
main peaceabls in the Union, of theii
own accord. and not by force. and the
Union men and freedmen do not require
a military force to protect them, civil
government should be recognized. but nc
military power could set aside the enact
ment and ludeaI decisions Of State full
in the Union While these acts were nee
essary The Southern States should not be
Recognized.
Mr.. Lawrence offered the following:
Resolved, That it is the deliberate sense
Of the House tnat the condition Of the
rebel: Estates fully justifies the President in
maintaining the suspension of the writ Of
habeas corpus in those States. ResolUed,
That it is the deliberate sense of the
House that the condition of the rebel
States fully justities the President in
maintaining the wit, and that he is en-
titled to the thanks of the nation for en-
ploying the war power for the protection
of Union citizens and The freedmen il
those States.
Lawrence said in the course of his
remarks that it would depend on the
people Of the rebel States when recon
struction would be complete; il would be
complete when loyalty returns. when the
government is so practicable as TO secure
obedience to law with security for the
future assured. then can reconstruction BE-
completed. He wonld welcome the
Southern Representatives when they came
with the guarantee Of peace, security and
liberty.
WASHINGTON. Feb l9-In the Senate
Mr.. Wilson introduced concurrent res
olution to dsarm and disband the militia
in the rebel Gus States. He read letters
from Generals Swayne, Thomas, Hartsuff
and others in charge Of the freedmen in
the Gulf States, which Represented that
there was danger Of The extinction OF the
negro race. and the expulsion Of Northern
men if the militia should not be superse
ded by the United States forces.
In the House. Lanier's resolutions that
it becomes the duty Of Congress to guar
antee a republican form Of government to
the Southern States, and jusiifying the
President in keeping an army in the reb
ell States. and protecting loyal citizens and
freedmen, were passed. His frs! resolu
ton declaring that the progress Of the re
bellon deprived the people of the States
where it was organized. of all civil gov
eminent, was agreed to; yeas 60. nays Sc
His third resolution justiies the president
in maintaining the suppression of the writ
of habeas corpus was also agreed to by
a vote Of nj against 30.
1t is said that the Presidents veto of
the Freedmen Bureau bill has jus, been
received. covering thirty pages of fool
soap. He is opposed to the bill in every
shape and form. and believes many OF its
features to be unconstitutional and says |
that no such Legislation Tor the South
ought to be adopted. He says tina. the
bill confers too much appointing power
on the President; and in full discussion
Of his reconstruction policy he thinks the
Representatives ought to be aG-
mitled.