The Portland daily press., 1866-01-16
Letter from the Federal CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, JAM, IL, 1866.
To the Editor ofthe Press:

VI OOuSlOoo nave liOj UtSu Vi SpCC-
al interest. The daily sittings have usually
been short, and occupied with such minor and
matters as generally fill up the
morning hour. Yesterday, Mr.. Morrill, Of
Maine called UP the bill for free suffrage in the
District, but it was recommitted without
lengthy debate. Several of the amendments
made in Committee had previously been agreed
to, however, and the bill was recommitted only
at the wish of Senator Yates, a member OF
the Committee, who was not present when
the bill was considered by it. Those who' be-
lieving profoundly that liberty is the birthrlght
of man, and that the elective franchise is an
essential part of that liberty, hope to see dem
onstrated in this part OF the public domain,
how wise it is to be just, will watch the prog
ress of this bill with interest. Perhaps they
will be glad to know that its management is in
good hands-the same which four years ago so
skillfully directed the Emancipation bill to a
successful issue. This latter measure is only
a completion OF the former, and we, citizens
OF Maine, mayregard the fact with rare salts
faction that Senator of our choosing should
have the honor of engineering both. ss.a
The House upon resuming its sessions pro-
ceeded without even days delay to consider
as in committee of the whole the great ques-
ton OF reconstruction. Upon the 9Th inst.
Mr.. Spaulding, of Ohio, made a speech upon
that subject, in the course of which he pre-
sented what some have called the @Padscal
Ultiadtun." 1t embraces free suffrage in the
District of Columbia, and four amendments
to the Constitution of the United States pro-
viding respectively: ms. 4 risrt fa I'd is.;ss,.,l
LIST. Forlthe apportionment of Representa-
tives and direct taxes among the several States
OF the Union in such manner that "people
of color. shall not be counted with the popu-
lation making up the ratio, except in States
where they are permitted to vote so -,5l1ill
I'd. For the prohibition of notification and
secession. ali ias1e dee ta age Bus isszsqd7
3d. That the national debt shall not be re-
pudiated, or the Rebel debt assumed. sgg ii
4th. That no onewho has borne arms against
the United States shall ever be admitted to a
seat in the Senate or House of Representa-
tives.s eo5 IuoLa1 .dsi.riGaa .il Gro
In his speech on Monday, Mr. Blaine, of
Maine, showed in very clear and forcible
manner, the injustice to the older States, of
the proposition several times made during this
session, to apportion, by constitutional amend
ment, Representatives in Congress according
to voters, and not according to population.-
Here are some of his figures: Lsi ioHGr9 sW
D. b q b. O ~
sFor exam pie, California has population of 1885,,
ITO, and Vermont 314 $685. and each has three Renre
sentatives on this floor to-day But California has
207 200 voters and Vermont has 81, 900. Assuming
voters as the basis of apportionnent and allowing to
Vermont three Representatives California would Be
entitled to eight Take two States-one in the East
and one in the West-not greatly differing in aggre-
gate population for example, Massachusetts, and In
latter with ITO. Massachusetts has to day ten
Representatives on this floor and Indiana has eleven
an exactly fair apportionment. But Massachusetts
has only 227 429 voters while Indiana has 824 and
therefore the new basIs if Massachusetts should
re ain her ten Representatives Indiana would be al
lowed about teen and if Indiana should be confined
to her eleven, Massachusetts, would be reduced to
seven." n i9e I.@iis 5fEl $3.50 flif u -
A profound sensation was produced by the
speech of Mr.. Shellabarger, of Ohio, the sue
cessor of @Sunset" Cox, delivered on Monday
last. 1t went straight to the core of the re-
construction question, and was characterized
by great clearness of reasoning, terseness and;
vigor of expression, and cogency of argument.
After stating the question in one pregnant
sentence, after showing by copious quotations
from the law of nations what constitutes a
State, and showing that those "eleven districts
called the Confederate States"had ceased to be
States, he showed bycitations from the Con-
stitution what constitutes State in the Union.
and then raised question which settles it.
self, viz: .... 10y. :
Snow the question consider is, whether it shall
continue to be State, in the that it holds the
lowers and rights of State, after it has lost every
property which it must have before it could commence
to exist in the Union" % Gus i9 $3.50 l.-ll0ilJl
AS to the absolute necessity for real loyalty
in the States in order to national existence,
he asks, and the questions put are respectfully
commended to those who consider the mere
form of reconstruction all-suficient, = Z, !.
"Sir, how long may this nation survive with Sem
ate elected by rebel Legislatures; or with treaties
made by Senators chosen by rebel States or Presi-
dent elected by electors chosen by the Leesaure of
south Carolina; or with a President elected in
House OF Representatives where each rebel State
casts one vote; or with House of Representatives
elected by electors whom rebel legislature would
authorize to vote; with officers over United States
lOrCtS dpp0luUeu Dy reDel governors. with such
constitutional amendments as would be ratified by
rebel legislatures; or with naitor for President
whom you could only remoy. by the impeachment of
Senate elected by rebel legislatures; with such
foreign ministers and other officers of the United
States as such a Senate would confirm; or with
prohibition upon your closing the ports of the eleven
rebel States to aconmerce supplying them with all
the supplies OF war; unless you also closed all the
ports Of the other States? i5ifl II G tiIa7l i
Sir, II the recital of these powers which the States
as sch hold in governing this Union, does prove
that State in rebellion, and whose government and
nota component part of this Union during the con-
tnuance of such rebellion, for the purpose of exer-
csing any then such recital does prove other
mad house from the 18th of May to the 18th of Sep
tember, 1857 and that the mad men there succeeded
in devising framework of Government embody-
1ns in 1t a larger number of separate and fatal
Instruments of sef-slaughter than was ever cobin-
ed in Government before, than was ever dreamed
by men who make utopias, or by those who form
governments IN Bedam. 5r1rrf ss.-f.'s-1si4f .-,fF
After showing that Congress and the Presi-
dent have in their treatment of the rebel |
States recognized the fact, "that these State |
Constitutions, and their governments had not |
Sc revived as to control the methods of their |
own amendment"-afte reviewing the dsci- |
sions of the Supreme Court bearing upon the |
case, he proceeded to show that, these States |
having lost their powers and rights las States,
\ 81 . =
the Federal Government is entitled to take |
Jurisdiction over the time and manner of their
return. His mastery argument was conclud-
ed in these words: i,
ssMr. Chairman, here must close. qi. 81! f-,ae
If it is asked me now, granting your position that
hese States in revolt ceased to have any powers of
in the Union, still have not new ones |
,een reor 1anized safe and fit to resume these high
bowers? answer, sir, the question, sis it SAFE and
ire they ft," are the stupendous facts ON trial
y the American Congress. 1t was the whole end of
he feeble argument which have concluded to yindi-
ate my Governments power to take Jurisdiction of
his inquest and hold this trial. r-.i CO.'S l4f
But If am demanded by what standard Of fitness,
nd what guarantees for safety, Congress shall decide
hese great facts now on trial, it viii serve all the
purposes of this argument and this hour reply that
the true and high sense and spirit of the memora-
lie words of the President of the United States find
fitting answer. He says: ''No State can be regard
ed as thoroughly organized, which has not adopted
Teuersibe guarantees tor the rights of the freed
men," ~
Mr.. Chairman, let this noble acknowledgements
IDLE guarantees FOR the rights of Aneericdn citizens
y. I