Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-17
HENDRICKS SPEECH
Reimbursement to Loyal States for War Expenditures
PENNSYLVANIA CONTESTED ELECTION CASE
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, February l6, 1856
TERRITORIAL CONFINEMENT FnR rIRc1Nr.

to the Committee on Reconstruction The netition
atludes to the disloya acts of the State legislature
py one OF its members
:, Also similar petitions from citizens of Alexandria
Prlnce William and Acc0mac counties, Va. Referred
TO the Committee on Reconstruction.
PETITION FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY, Va.
Mr.. Riddle presented petitions from citizens of
Jefferson 3. county; Va praying Congress to withhold
IT'S consent for the cession of that county to West
Virginia. Laid on the table,
Mr. Riddle stated that this petition was signed by
twelve hundred of the voters of the county
THANKS TO Mr., BANCROFT.
MIR. Foot; from the joint committee appointed to
wait on Hon. Geo. Bancroft and return him the
thanks OF Congress, and request copy Of his ad
dress for publication, made report of the CORES
pondence In the case, which, on bis motion.
REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CONSUL AT BAHIA
mr. Chandler made favorable report on the bill
to reimburse MIR. Wilson, United States Consul at
Bahia for his property destroyed by riot.
Mr. Harris would ask for an explanation of this
MIR. Chandler said that while the pirate Florida
was in the harbor of Bahia mob in the night at
tackled the residence of Mr. Wilson and destroyed his
library and other property: that Mr.. Wilson had
proved himself brave and loyal man, and was
titled to compensation.
acting IN this matter. Much property had been de-
Stroyed by mObS IN this CITY, Baltimore and New
lork, and they might be called pay for it.
MIR. Clark said that the Committee on Claims had
recently made adverse report in the case of a
woman WhGse property had been destroyed by the
rebels at Norfolk, because she had given valuable
information to the U. s. forces
, Mr.: Chandler said that ne did not wish to press
the BILL and would therefore move thatit be laid
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Mr.. Chandler introduced bill to modify the act
to prevent the increase Of disease among the cattle
Mr.. Trumbull introduced joint resolution ten
derng the thanks of Congress to the officers and
men OF vessels engaged in the of officers and
soldiers of the army from the steamer San Francisco
MIR. Dixon introduced bill to prevent the peryer-
to 9 Rd sa gd
Mr. Lane Of Indiana, called up the bill to extend
the benefits of the pension laws to artitcerS which
Mr.. salisbury presented the petition of citizens of
New jersey asking for the removal of certain freed
men to certain Northern States. Referred to ths
Committee on Reconstruction.
MIR. Irumbull called UP the bill in relation to the
Court of Claims, which was passed.
TELEGRAPH TO WEST INDIES.
Mr.. Harris called up the bill authorizing and aid
ing the establishment of tclegraphic communication
read and laid over.
THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
The regular order of the day being the joint reso
luton fixing the basis of representation was taken
up upon which Mr.. Hendricks. of Indiana, was en-
titled to the floor.
Mr.. Hendricks said that the boast of the people of
the United States that they were in the enjoy
ment Of constitutional liberty Our Constitution
questioned that. The Fathers of the Republic met
and formed a government, under which for three
quarters of century we had lived and prospered
no people had prOspered before.
war came in 1861, war most unfortunate and
now, sir, after war against no common enemy, in
which the men Of the North here fought against the
other as no people hated before, it is proposed to
amend the Constitution. Eleven States were absent
from our councils and yet the men of the North pro-
pose to make a constitution for whole the country.
The Committee on Reconstruction appointed
solely to enquire into the condition of the late Con-
federate States. and had given them power to
quire into any other question but whether the rep
resentatives of Southern States should be admitted
into this and the other hall of Congress. Passing
from this duty the Committee had proper to
port anendms ats to the Constitution.
MIR. FeSsenuen-The Senator is very much mis-
taken. The House of Representatives referred ,
resolution introduced by one OF my colleagues in that
body tMr. Blaine) to the Committee, and it is well
known that no matter how Committee may be or
it can report on any subject which referred
Mr.. Hendricks-This is not q Committee of the
House or of the Senate but of both bodies, ana
neither can add to its Jurisdiction but by join: reso-
luton.
Mr.. Fessenden-The custom has always been diff
feEent- ,9 IT 1t is every day practice.
Mr.. Hendricks eaid. if it tho practice. he I'D
two bodies had been made separate and independent
by the Constitution and they could not even alludo
to the action OF the House in this body. The purity
of legislation required it.
lie would now speak of the first of the propositions
which had been offered. 1t came from the Senator
from Massachusetts, (lir. Sumnerl, and proposed to
apportlon representatives according to the number
Of male citizens over twenty years Of age quail
fed to act electors for the most numerous branch
OF the State Legis aureS and opposition bad been
offered to it, until its effect was shown by speech
made in the other House (Nir. Blaine's) New Eng
was in favor of it. He then discussed at length the
proposition TO base representation voters, declaT
ing that 1t was question Of party policy, the object
being TO secure the permanent pred0mnance of the
republican party and especially of the New England
He then spoke of the plan of tho President, ard
said he knew more of it than what he saw in the
papers He was not of the Presidents party, but he
under the power,
Mr.: Wado-Wouid the President have power to
appoint Goyern0r for Indiana? And if not why
for those States if they are still in the Union?
Mr.. Hendricks-Qf course the President has nc
power to appoint a Governor for Indiana but in
those States de Jacto governments had for space
taken the place Of the de i@re governments.
Mr.. Howe asked what right had the Senator to as
sume that the people who elected Governor Orr were
dissatisfied with Governor Magrath and as according
to the Senator's opinions these States intact il
form, what right existed to remove Magrath.
Mr.. Hendricks said he would not be diverted from
ms argument Ihat question was before the Supreme
Court He did not think it fair to interrupt Sena
tor to say something smart sharp.
Mr.. HoWe-No, no, Mr.. President.
Mr. Hendricks-l refuse to be interrupted any
further.
Mr. II; read from the resolutions of Congress and
the proelamations of Mr.. Lincoln, that the war
Sa19 sy 19r ths of of the Union Secretary
amendment by the votes of the Southern Legislatures
and only the other day thad been declared that only
pass the Freedmen's bill, &c. Was it right to ex-
cude these States from all representation and yet
pass laws affecting them which. it was acknowledged.
could not be enacted but for their action?
He then spoke of the desire for vengeance which
eemed to possess the minds of certain Senators and
alluded t. the boodletting letter of Senator Chand
Ter in 1861. The Senator from Oregon wanted these
people punished What did be or his people know
ever reached that far Pacific slope His colleague que
was not willing for these States to come back, until
the traitors met the felons DOOM" Why ths clamor
for more blood when these people were on their very
Mr.. Howard said he would like to know upon what
on this floor with t6irsting for blood He (Mr. How
aTd bad brought in resolution calling for the trial
of Jefferson Davis who had been charged by the Sec
Eetary OF War with compCity IN the assassination of
President Lincoln. He asked the Senator, and he
wanted an answer, whether he would bring Jefferson
Davis to trial for his crimes
Mr.. Hendricks said if be was an officer of the Gov
ernment, charged with the execution of the laws
and believed that the charges made by the Senator
him to trial. and if found guilty by court having
the proper jurisdiction. he would execute the sem
Mr.. Howard-The Senator admits that he would
take blood himself, and upon what grounds has no
the assurance 70 charge other gentlemen here with
Mr.. Hendricks-Mr. President, the Senator has
unon useI %o[d wneh not for the Senate He asks
aS SSf ee o od ss hsis b t1s @ t 9 4 ne
in his face. [AppauSe and Kisses. l do what is
right, and have discussed this question in fair
just now.
The President had suffered more wrongs than any
of them. Andrew johnson had been an outcast from
his home for two years; had been reviled and perse
cuted, and yet ne could be kind and forgiving and
they could not.
In conclusi lou, he drew picture of the happiness
and prosperity which would attend a united country
and the assurance it would give to foreign nations
that we could not be trifed with. The discussions
of this Congress would form the most important
pages OF the cNuntrys history, and their decision
would be the most momentOus since the foundation
of the Government. lie e1horted them to extend
the hand OF brotherly friendship to those who had
once been in accord with them. Why could they not
let these States come in? Laughter on the foOr.l
Had they not guarantees enough? As for himself
he should do all he could under his duty for their
restoration.
Mr. Chandler said the Senator from Indiana had
referred to him as having written letter in 1861
He had been arraigned before on this subject He
been arraigned by the traitor, John c. Breckinridge
and after 1t that traitor went out of these halls into
the rebel army. He had been arraigned by another
Senator from Kentucky, and by other traitors on
this floor. He had written that letter and he stood
by it. A Democratic traitor was in the Presidential
chair, Democratic traitors were in all the Offices The
Democratic party had ordained that the Union should
be destroyed.
If that Senator willing to go down to posterty
on his record, he, (Mr. C) What was the con-
dition of the country at that time ? A Democratic
mob drilling here every night under the name of
the American rifles to break up the Government
The Democratic traitor, Robert E. Lee was in the
War Department. He had written letter to the
Governor of his State. that if the Union was 10 he
preserved, blood must be let He knsw he would
live in history after the Senator and his party had
gone down to eternal infamy. Applause and hisses
The Chair (Mr. Pomeroyl stated that these demon
straton OF applause and disapprobation had become
too frequent. They had been repeatedly checked.
and if persisted in, the galleries would be cleared