Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-04
CONGRESSIONAL.

| WASHINGTON, March 3-HoUsE-The House sat
| in Committee of the Whole on the President s
message A general debate was the only thing in
| order.
There was not Score of members in. the hall
| while the Journal was being read, and the audi
| ence in the galleries was correspOndingly slim.
No sort of interest was taken in the proceedings.
Among the reports of a private character made
| yesterday, was one by Mr.. Washburn of Massa-
| chusetts, from the Committee on Claims, report
ing adversely on forty petitions for damages
| arising from raids made in July, 1864, by the
rebels in,the vicinity of Fort Stevens, near Wash
ington, and an adverse report by Mr.. Sloan, from
| the committee on the House bill to provide for
accepting and adjusting the claims against the
| Government for the injury destruction of prop
erty by o. armies of the United States or by mil
itary authorities during the late rebellion.
: Mr. Mckee. of Kentucky proceeded to address
| the House at length in support of the amendment
| to the Constitution, which was introduced on the
| 9th of February, and which had been referred to
| the Judiciary Committee, providing that no per-
son shall be qualified to hold the office of Presi-
dent or Vice President of the United States, of
Senator or Representative in the National Con-
gress, or any Office held under the appointment of
the President who had held office, civil or mill
tary, under the late Confederacy, who had vol
UNFAIRLY aided the rebellion, or Tho should here
after be guilty of similar offense.
Mr.. Mckee. in condemning thes policy of the
President, asked by what power he imposed an
oath upon voters at elections by what authority
did he say to the Legislature of sovereign State:
you must ratfy the Constitutional amendment
before we accept you as being in proper relations
to the Union over which l preside onwhat law
did he proceed to order convention TO remodel
the Constitution of State, which had never lost
its power. and then say TO that convention: You
must repudiate your debts and abolish slavery,
before you resume your place in the Union" Mr..
Mckee said he made no war upon the President
for these acts they were questions for his newly
acquired supporters TO consider for themselves,
but that he (McKee) would sooner the most costly
jewel Of the earth, if placed on his head by one
who had plucked it from the crown in which it
had been set. Mr.. Mckee said that it
was by the law the President had exercised these
powers. These matters which the represen-
tatives of the people in the national Congress had
the right to pass upon. 1t belonged to them to
determine when and how the rebel States should
resume their proper relations in the Union.
Mr. McKees speech was principally directed to
a criticism of the Presidents policy. In the same
tone he, advocated the adoption Of the proposed
amendment as a proper punishment to the rebels.
making them infamous in the eyes of the law and
putting the legal stamp of condemnation upon
them.
Mr.. Sloan next addressed the House and argued
that the union of States and existence Of the
nation were very distinct things. The union of
States might be destroyed without affecting the
existence Of the nation. When the eleven South
ern States entered into rebellion and inaugurated
civil war, the, union of States was dc fdcio dis
solved Just as much as if the rebels had proved
victorious and had had their independence ac-
knowledged. They held no political position
since their revolt except that of rebellious sub
jects. He eontended that they should rot be re-
stored to their former Constitution in the Unien
until the political power in those States was con-
fined exclusively in the hands of loyal persons.
Equal rights and privileges were extended to
all the inhabitants until the peoriogave evidence
of hatred to rebellion and love Of The republic,
until rebel sentiments, rebel genefa,s rebel bands
and rebel troops were reprdiated, and until love
of Justice Law and order was so frmlyeStablished
in the minds of the people rs 10 sive unquestion-
able assurance of enduring peace; then, but not
before. would he vote to readmit them into the
Union.
Mr.. Thorn, OF Illinois. next addressed the
House. The Government question to be settled
was in one view question Of union or disunon.
and in another view question Of centralized
despotism ora National Government with dele
gated powers. consisting of States. If the States
that attempted to seeede were out Of the Union, |
either in fact or in law the war had failed in its
avowed object If they were not out Of the Union.
chen. the power Of the General Government being |
re- established. they were entitled TO be repre-
scented in Congress.