The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
Z WAsHINGToN.- Feb.

| ing the Constitution OF the Uulted States
so as to declare with greater certainty
the power Of Congress to enforce ant
determine by appropriate legislation al
the guarantees containedin that instru
ment, and more especially, first, thai
which relates to the people without dis
| tinguishing them by color or race, and
those who are to ch oose representatives
Second, That which assures the citizens
| of each State, privileges and immunities
of citizens of tie several States, land tha1
which enjoins upon the United States to
! guarantee to every State a Republican
form of Government.
following resolution, which was adopted:
| Resolved, That the committee on
Commerce be directed to inquire into
the expediency ofmaking an appropria-
ton for the improvement of the nayiga.
ton of the Colorado and Willamette
rivers and report by bill or otherw se
Mr.. Pollard offered the following which
was adopted: .En.t a. .,..-
Resolved, That the committee on the
Judiciary be directed to enquire as to
the expediency and constitutionality of
extending the jurisdiction of the conrts
of the United States over all suits
brought against any persons for acts
done under the authority or in aid of the
military forces OF the United States and
also of all suits brought against any per
son for any act done under the au-
thority or in aid OF the so-called Con
federate States and report by bill or
otherwise. ".s .'
Mr. Fessenden said he would on Mon
day next call up the constitutional
amendment which was passed by the
House yesterday, and would endeavor to
keep it before the Senate until passed
There were a number of State legisla-
tures in session at present, and it was
desirable to get the amendment before
them at an early day.
Mr. Howard called up the resolution
offered by him some time since recon-
mending the trial of jeff Davis and C.. c.
| Clay by MILITARY commission for COM
pllcity insthe assassination Of Mr.. Lin
coin and the violation Of the laws and
usages of war
Mr.. Howard offered an amendment
to include with Davis and Clay such
others as acted in concert with them.
| Mr. Howard said that on the DIST day
| of December he submitted resolution
of inquiry respecting. the charges upon
which Mr. Davis was confined, and that
in response to this the President sent
brief message accompanied by two CON-
munications, one from the Secretary Of
War and the other from the Attorney
General Mr. Howard having read ex-
| tracts from these two documents pro-
ceeded to controvert the position of the
Attorney General that Davis mnst be
tried for treason in some State where
the treason was committed. If there be
an expectation, said Mr. Howard, which
has been more prevalent than any other
among the loyal people of the United
States. 1t is this that is due to our dig
nity to the nation and to the obligations
we owe to the Constitution of the ma
tior that there should be an arraignment
and punishment, according to the forms
of law, of some of the ringleaders Of the
rebellion. 1t was Davis command that
shed the blood and caused the death of
more than quarter of million of men,
and the waste and destitution Of more
than six hundred million dollars vorth
Of property
Dir. Howard then entered into legal
argument in opposition to the Attorney
Generals views: he said that Davis
might be tried in Pennsylvania Ohio or
any other State into which the war was
carried, under the orders Of tha Presi-
dent of the late Southern Confederacy.
tie looked upon it as wholly out Of the
question to try to convict Davis iii any
Of the late rebellious States. because no
Jury could be found there to convict
him
At the conclusion of his rem arks. Mr.
Howard said if there was no objections
he would like To have vote upOn his
resolution
Messrs johnson and Salisbury an
bounced their intention TO debate the
resolution
The expiration of the morning hour
prevented action on the above by calling
| M the bill for the protection OF all per
| sons in their civil rights The pending
question was on the amendment OF Nj
Trumbull declaring all persons III the
| United States, not subject TO foreign
powers to be citizens of the United
| States Mr.. Trumbulis amendment a.
amended, declaring all persons born in
the United States. not subject to foreign
powers, except indians not taxed, to be
citizens of the United States, without
any distinction on account OF color, was
adopted. Yeas, 81 nays, 10.
Mr. Davis took the floor against the
bill and addressed the Senate at length
Pending the discussion the Senate al.
jOnrned.
HOUSE. Morrill, reported bill
amendatory to the law of March 3, 1868,
providing ways and means for carrying
on the government, which was made a
special order for Thursday.
Mr.. Newell, IN reply to question from
Mr.. Stevens, said that the committee had
not yet acted upon the report of the
Treasury Commissioner, aud they had
not considered the proposition to reduce
the tax on whisky to one dollar gal
| lon.
The House resumed consideration Of
the bill that no American vessel sailing
under foreign protection during the re-
bellion shall be entitled to the rights and
privileges of American vessels unless by
act of Congress. Passed.
The House then resumed consideration
of the bi1lto enlarge the power OF the
Freedmen 5 Bureau
Further in Helaifo on to the e xplostcn of
the Steamer Missouri