Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-26
DEBATE IN CONGRESS
Freedmen. Bureau and Negro Suffrage.


proposes to enlarge the powers of the Freedmen
Bureau 1t does enlarge them wonderfully.
think can demonstrate automatically that this
bill gives 10 the President of tile United States, and
to those entrusted with the discharge Oi these duties
the power of spending ut least two hundred and fifty
millions of dollars. IL cannot be the intention oil
the friends OF the bill that such enormous eApendI
ture shall b. incurred but we are 10 look at wha;
may be the result of this Bureau gong into opera
ton, to ascertain what the expense may be, and we
are not TO consider that those entrusted with the
discharge of those duties will not incur this eX-
pense.
Mr. Salisbury then reviewed the different sections
of the bill, alleging that it gave patronage TO a
dangerous extent to the President, as well as in
CURED immense expense upon the country. 1t pro-
yidcd for an agent OF the Bureau III every county
There were sixteen hundred and seyenty.eght cOun-
ties III the United States In every one of these an
agentat fifteen hundred dollars year would come
TO two millions five hundred and fourteen thousand
dollars. Seventy-two clerks Oh Assistant Commits
sOncrs at twelve hundred dollars year, would cost
cichty.sX thousand iour hundred dollars aud three
thousand two hundred and forty-twO clerks for
agents, in addition to all this making Il total for
officers alone of seven million three hundred aud
fourteen thousand two hundred dollars.
He reviewed the course OF the Republican party
since it came into power, contrasting the present
condition OF the country with its condition before
The election OF Mr.. Lincoln. He believed iegslI-
ton of the characternOw under consideration would
result in the election OF the Democratic party aud
Democratic majOrl.cs in both Houses of Congress.
All he wOud say TO the Democratic party was fOr
it TO stand firmly by It's principles.
Mr.. Fesscndch, OF Maine said the Senator from
Delaware had said that continuance in the kind Oi
measures now under consideration would very sOOn
put the Democratic party in possession vi both Halls
of Congress. lie did not know that lac should hcs.-
tate to do " hat he believed To be right and proper
even IN view oil such calamity as the accession of
the Democratic party.
If he really believed that such a consummation
was really to come about lie did not know but he
might hesitate little, dTeading tie evil 50 much,
but ho did not apprchcnd any such result was so
near at hand that ght to influence his acton in
measures that lie thought proper and just. Let Us
look at the condition ia which ind ourselves at
the close of a great war, brought upon us by the
Democratic party. The great mass OF the Demo-
cratic party, the leading portion OF it, was the
Southern potion. DO not say that all the Demo-
crdts were IN favor of bringing on the war. ! ac-
/ knowledge that very great portion OF them have
proved themselves to pc good and true palrUts-ls
good and true friends OF the country any set OF
Incn-but do say that the support which the Demo-
cratic party gave TO the south IN all It's measures of
aggression was degree of encouragement without
which do not believe the war would have occurred
That has been my opinion always and have no
hesitation in expressing II now. ii the war was
brought upon lis by the South itself, and Il result has
followed which may be grIcvous 10 them Tor u series
/ of years, 1t is not for them to complain. They in
vtcd the war, and drove us into the necessity Of
+ H., u Is,
continues To be oppressive, Tar the necessary
measures are concerned, they have themselves 10
thank for it, and cannot complain of the Congress
OF the United states. ii the Democratic party, as a
party, in It's previous course irresponsible in any de-
gree for the condition of things that exist, it il not
Tor that party party, to complain OF the meas
urcs which may he found necessary at present.
They also have taken the consequences OF their
tiun to a certain extent, and | think they ought to
be silent upon everything which is Il natural and i'll
of Ia
both responsible.
Mr. McDougall, Of California, objected to the ar
ragnment of the Democratic party. The Demo-
Gratis he SAID, have been mLlntainerS OF the Union
from the commencement Oi the troubles to the last
They had maintained the Union with their blood and
treasure.
Mr.. Fes4cndcn said he made distinction be-
tween the rank and file OF the Demo rac party ami
the leaders who acted in advance Of the party
Many Democrats had shown themselves lovers OF The
country. The great mass of the Democratic party
/ fought brlvcly To support the Government through
out in manly and patriotic way We hear great
many threats OF disruption of the Union panty, OF
the overthrow we are about t. experience, OF tie
good time coming for those who are not now having
the most agreeable time in the world. Perhaps 1t
may come il is not for me u say that it will nOt;
perhaps the great party which has control OF the
country ut the present time VIII commit such errors
that the people Will get tired OF it aud wish Tor
change. Nothing is more natural. Possession Of
power for long time is apt To make careless IL
not corrupt, and 1t is good thing in republic that
the people can change and dO change their rulers,
but let me say that ! hope the party in power will
continue there long enough to set things right, 81
that when there Is Il change there will not he 81
great Il capacity for evil as there would have been II
we had NOS got into power We will endcavOr 10
strengthen the country If we cannot strengthen our
selves. As good pdt.iOts we viii do whatever we
can for the public good while remain in power
and will not be frightened by the threats that we
hear made.
Mr. Fcsscnden then spoke of the bill under consd-
Grafton and ia conclusion referred to the subject of
reconstruction. lie had noticed that some gentle
men Were little anxious to discuss this matter be-
fore they had the bcnelt of the facts that the Special
Committee might De able 10 state, and the cOnCU-
sons to which they nigh; finally come. That was
Il matter for every gentleman to judge by himself
and for himself. but there was one thing upon which
he wished Ia say word. Senators have, in the
course OF debate, chosen to talk great deal
about the policy Of the President and the policy of
Congress-
canuorundcrstand why gentlemen of the other
side nf the House, and gentlemen of the same way
of thinking on this side OF the House, should be
very anxious to ge! up the idea that there is col
ls;on of opinions between the President and Con-
gress. We have all sorts of mmOrs, IN which the
wish is father TO the thought. One day hear that
such Cabinet Minister Is 10 be turned out or To IT,
sign and this day something else is being done that
the President had said this that; that lie means
oStrlci-c people who will not support his policy e.,
MI such rImOrs without the slightest ioundl-
ton, except the wis! Of those who invent them,
Mr. Fessenden said he would say to all who wished
such a state Of Affairs to come about not TO fattcr
themselves with any such idea. lie had not as yet
seen the slightest indication, ana h. did not expect
10 see any. Evcn surprising there was q difference
OF opinion To Il certain extent. IS Ia the time and
manner OF accomplishing Il great work which al!
desire to see accomplished at the earliest possible
day did it follow because OF this difference Of
opinion, that there was TO be the collision that was
talked ahoutl lie knew very well that men hung
around the White House and endedv0red to persuade
the President that those who ought to be his best
friends are not doing their best to sustain him. but
they paid the President poor compliment when they
minated that he was not keeping watch on these
matters himself.
There is no collision, said Mr.. Fesscnden. say
It for much or Little for the benefit of the county,
The Pres dent has done nothing that his friends
l,an OF. aud his friends have done nothing that he
can complain Of As COmmIHIcr-n-Ch Chief of the
army, he had appointed Provisional Governors in
the south hut he had not attempted to do any thing
which, under the Constitutions beiOn Scd to Congress
to do. In concIusion Mr. Fessendcn said he de-
sired full restoration of the Union as speedily as
possible. lie was opposed To the imposition upoa
any people designed 10 form part OF the Government,
Of degrading conditions OF any kind. lie would not
degrade the South in any way
After iew remarks BY Senator'S Hendricks AMI
Davis, in defence Of the pem2crLt.c panty the Sen
ate adjourned.
HouSE.-Tie House proceeded to the considera-
ton of the proposed amendment Of the Constitution
of the United states in relation u the apportIOnnent
OF Representatives and direct taxes.
Mr.. Jenckes, OF Rhode Island, suggested that the
amendment said nothing about property quail icl
ton. South Carolina, for instance, might IcqUna
qualification u! fifty Of land, or the payment
Of tax. There would be no discrimination az
count OF color in that state, Yet the basis Of repre-
scntatOn would b. the same.
Mr. Stevens, OF nsyiyania, replied that NJ mat
ter whether the State cut out white or black, the
representation would he diminished to that extent.
Mr. Farswo;h of Illinois-But suppose the black
man does not own real estalc2
Mr. Steycns-rhen the amendment operates.
Mr. BrOOks wished Ia know whether the one hun
dred thousand Asialirs OF coolies IN California
and Oregon, and those who are going into Nevada
and the Territories to make railroads are excluded
Mr.. Stevens replied that he understood the AsiatIcs
are excluded by the laws Of California on account
OF race from the elective franchise, therefore that
state to this extent, would be curtaed of rcpresen
tatiGn.
Me-. Brooks asked why exclude the Indian Is lie
not man of colorl
Mr.. Stevens rcpied-Indians not taxed are eX-
cluded by the Constitution.
Mr. BrOOks-But why not include them
Mr. Stevens-rhcy are tribal, and have their own
separate governments.
Mr.. BrOohs-Why not embrace them all, while
you are making Il liberal Constitution