Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1866-02-01

by the changed condition of the country
Unless Congress changed, it was like the first
Continental Congress, and the material inter
ests and liberties Of all men duly eWoined up
on it to send to the people the necessary con
siitutional amendments for The future safety
of the Republic. lie apprehend that men
now within this Hall would learn, when it was
too late, that the ballot, in the hands OF con
spirators, was more dangerous to the Repub
lie than the bavonet. IF the resolution re-
ported from the Committee shonld not be
passed, he should trembc for the future Of
his country. Had gentlemen forgotten thai
the lIcnse I'll other day, with singular una
In;mity,s sent to the Senate an amendment tC
the Constitution, which was intended, by the
authority of the people, to declare by organic
law that neither the United States, or any
state of the Union, shall ever assume or pay
any debt, or liability incurred in aid Of the
late rebellion, or which shall hereafter be con
tractcd or incurred for such purpose? Did
not this suggest that the safety of the Rerub
lie imperatively demanded, not simply Il o.
the amendment should be passed, but that
there should be an additional provision, tha,
no state i'll the Union should ever raise by
taxation any money to pay tribute or pensions
for life to those who were engaged in the re
bclion? AS the Constitution stands, there
was no power to restrain taxation for snct
purposes. The Joint committee OF fifteen die
not consider that they had fully discharged
their duty by reporting this amendment
They have under consideration another origi
nal amendment to the Constitution, which
looked to the giving. Of power expressly te
Congress to enforce, in behalf Of every eiti
zen, in every state and territory the rights
which were granted to them from the begin
ming, but "hich, unhappi'y had been disre
garde,l simply for want Of power III Congress
to enforce them A distinction of free anc
bond citizens no longer existed He agree,
that the point made by the pending proposed
amendment to the Constitution, was whether
the declared intention Of our fathers shoulc
be enforced or surrendered, when all are free
by the amendment Of the Constitution recent
ly ratified; and VIII, ther minority should dis
franchise majority Of the citizens of state
In further explanation of the proposition, ht
said that it gave equal political power to every
state in the Union provided its requirement.
shall be obeyed lie repeated, This amend
mcnt could not accomplish all that was dc
sired, bit would be one step toward the attain
ment of the end No question of more i'm
portancc could come before the House, save
that the Constitution shall be so amended a.
to enforce guarantees in aid Of this same pro
vision.
After b,ing addressed by some other mem
bers, the House without taking any question
adjourned.
SENATE
Washington, Jan 26.--Mr. Wade of Ohio
introduced bill TO provide for the improve
mrnt of certain hnrbols in the state Of Ohio
Referred to the Committee On Commerce.
appropratcs, in round numbers, S23l 900 TO
the purpose, including $5O,OUO for the Ceve
land harbor 1000 for Grand river, S24 ,NOt
for Ashtahula, so 1000 for Conncaut, S3S ,OD(
for Sandusky, and $l5,00o for Vermilion.
After transacting much other business Of ;
general nature, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
The House agreed 10 take Il vote on thu
constitutional amendment reported by tn
Committee on Reconstruction, on Tuesda,
next.
The consideration of this subject was the,
resumed
\ lengthy and interesting discussion tool
place on this subject, after which the llous
adjourned.