Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-23
Personal Explanation of John L. Thomas.
TRIAL OF LEADERS IN THE LATE REBELLION
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution.
SENATE.

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. q.
The Chair laid before the Senate a communication
from the Secretary of the Interior enclosing certain
papers relating to the Pacific railroad. Ordered to
be printed, and referred to the Committee Pacific
Railroad.
ANOTHER SUFFRAGE PETITION.
MIR. Wade presented the petition of one hundred
and thirteen citizens of the District of Columbia
praying the aboshment OF all laws making d'stinc-
ton on account ofcolor. Referred to the Committee
on the District of Columbia.
CLAIMS AGAINST SOUTHERN MERCHANTS.
Mr.. sumner presented memorial from the Boston
Board of Trade, stating that large number of mer-
chants of that city had claims against citizens of the
States lately in rebellion and praying for such legs
latiOn by Congress, as will exempt for reasonable
period loyal creditors from State statutes of limita-
ton. Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
PETITION FROM COLoRED PEOPLE IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Mr.. Sumner presented petition from the coored
convention of South Carolina, representing $4,000
citizens of South Carolina and claiming to represent
majority of the people of that State setting forth
the present condition of affairs in that State, and
State that life and property may be secure also for
equal suffrage and the right to carry arms and to be
tried by jUries of their color, and hold public
assem6Iages in perfect security: Referred to the
Mr.. Harris presented the petition of S. NJ. Hart,
publisher OF paper in West Virginia at the time
the broke out and asking compensation for his
property destroyed by the rebels. Referred to Com
mittee on Claims.
THE EIGHT HOUR SYSTEM.
Mr.. Salisbury presented petition, signed by a
large number of the citizens of Delaware, praying
that eight hours may be fixed as legal days labor.
Referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Morrill,, by unanimous consent, introduced a
bill to introduce bill to enlarge the powers of the
levy court of the county of Washington, which was
referred to the Committee on the District of Column
ba. The bill authorizes the court to sell property
upon which arrears of taxes are due for certain
time, after giving proper notice in at least
paper of Washington, and allows the owners of such
property to redeem it at any time within two years
upon paying costs, &C. The court is aso authorized
to enact ordinances prohibiting profane swearing
and indecent exposure of ones person.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
asked to be discharged from further consideration
of the bill giving the Secretary of War Superior pow
ers Indian Bureau and that It be referred to
QUALIFICATION oF JURORS.
On motion of Mr.. Clark, the Senate took up the
bill in regard to the qualification Of jurors, and wrta
the Committee on the Judiciary, is as follows:
bill in relation to the qualification of Jurors. and
to writS of error, in certain cases
Be ii enacted 6gtke Senate and House Of Represeta.
tires Of the United States Of america IN Congress
sembed That person shall be disqualified to act
upon any grand or petit jury by reason OF having
formed or expressed opinion upon the matter or
cause to be submitted to such, jury founded upon
mon notorety provided he be otherwise competent
and it shall appear to the satisfaction of the court
upon his declaration under OATH or otherwise, that
he can and will, notwithstanding such an opinion,
act impariay aud fairly upon the matters to be sub
mitted to him
Ind be fttuTT5Pr enacted, lhat question
Of law arising upon the trial of any person in any
district circuit court of the United States in
the supreme court Of the District of Columbia for
any offence, the punishment whereof may be death,
may be removed to the supreme Court OF the United
States by writ of error to be sued out within sixty
days after the entry of the final judgment in such
in the courts below; and thereupon proceedings
shall be stayed in said courts and the questions of
law heard and determined in said Supreme Court Of
the United States and such order sent to the court
below. affirming reversing the Judgment the
determination Of such questions Of law may require.
Mr.. Sumner objected to the bill as amended. He
said the original bill was to prepare the for the
trial of that greatest criminal the world knew.
Mr. r. Davis SAID tho friends OF the Union ought not
obstuacy, folly and blunderS he had contributed
more to the overthrow OF the rebellion than any
Mr.. Doottle explained that action on the case
cited would not be affected by the bill as now
ported.
The further consideration of the bill was then post
pOned until Thursday next.
THE JOINT COMMITTEE on THE LATE CONFEDERATE
STATES.
Mr. Fessenden, by unanimous consent, reported
from the committee appointed to take into consdera
ton the condition ofthe so-caed Confederate States,
Joint resolution to be proposed to the Legislatures
Of the several states amendment to the Com
sttution CT the United States, providing that repre-
sentaon III the several States shall be apportioned
according to their population, counting the whole
number of people in every State, excluding Indians
not taxed, and providing that in all States where
laws shall be passed affecting citizens account OF
their color, those afec ed shall not be estimated
in the basis OF representation.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony, the Joint resolution
providing that all papers bearing upon the condition
of the rebelious States shall be referred to the joint
Committee ON Reconstruction. was taken up.
The am endment offered by Mr. Doolittlo to insert
the words except credentials after the words "all
papers," was withdrawn, and the resolution was
agreed to-
THE FREEDMEY's BUREAU BILL.
On motion Of Mr.. Trumbull, the bill enlargng the
powers of the Freedmen's bureau was taken up and
the amendment offered by Mr. Cowan restricting its
operat ions to the States lately in rebellion,
siderod.
Mr.. Cresswell hoped the amendment would not
pass. lie had received in the last two three weeks
letters from a number of gentlemen of his State
tMaryland) stating that combinations OF returned
rebel soldiers had been formed, to beat, and in
his State the civil powerless, and far it
related to Maryland, he desired the amendment to
Mr.. Wilson said all predictions in regard to this
and similar measures had proved erroneous. They
had lifted the country up in the eyes Of the civilized
ings of Almighty God but the same persons still
continue to oppose the passage of measures that will
secure unreserved liberty: In 1861 the identical dis
the only man who was right then John C. Breck-
inrdge who said was the beginning of the break
ing. of all bonds. All predictions made when slavery
was abolished in the District of Columbia have
proved groundless. When it was proposed to make
free the slaves of the rebels were told it would
weaken the friends and strengthen the enemies of the
Union. The reverse was the fact, When We put the
musket in the hands of the freedmen were told he
would not fight and the white man would not fight
by his side but when it; was DONE they proved their
heroism on hundred fields of battle and the white
man fought cheerfully side by side with him;
In their last extremity the rebels offered the negro
the boon of freedom if he would fight for them, and
he Indignantly spurned the offer. The emancipation
proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, the greatest man
in the world. broke the backbone of the rebellion.
When the bill organizing this Freedmen's Bureau
was under discussion the same predictions were ut
tered, the same apprehenslonS expressed, and the
same predictions made aad these toe have all been
refuted by the action of the Bureau, The man does
not live with powers enough to express the good this
Bureau has done. and the evil it has prevented.
When the rebellion went down last spring three and
a half millions of negroes knew they were free and
many OF them did the most natural thing, they left
their masters to prove their freedom TIE masters
did fully recognize this fact but this Bureau went
into that country and made the master know that he
must deal with his former slave as freeman.
by this intervention, by this carrying equal justice
and right into the rebel States, il harmonized the
master and the freedman, and made both look to
practical results, and last autumns crops prove the
good which ensued The expenses Of this Bureau
did not reach onetenth of per cent of the good
which it had done.
REMARKS OF Mr.. CowAN.
Mr. Cowan said, under the Constitution OF the
United States which they had all sworn to support
this Government had certain powers. Under the
municipal class. it cannot be pretended that they
men of any color in any of the States. They had no
right to select men from any State and put them IN
der control of such laws as they might see ft. No
lawyer in America would say that under the Consti-
tuition of the United States they had any such power
Another class OF power rested IN them called the war
The ground on which he placed the authority to
create the Bureau was that of belgerent oharac
ter The operations of this Bureau could only law
fully extend to those parts of the country which as
sumed belligerent attitude towards the United
States. He determined to resist the effort to put
the iron grasp of the Government upon people who
rely their constitutional rights. lie wishes. it to
be distinctly understood here that he in favor of
State rights lawful legitimate rights the States had
rights as well as the General Government, and upon
these depended the individual liberties of the people
of the country and when they allow Congress to in
fringe upon them. the essential virtue of the Cons-
uti IN is gone. We had made the free AMI all
the world shouted hozana. and they were now, told
they must do more must give him vote. Well, the
effect of that would be that he would get his head
broken at the poll- laughter.
Whatgood would an Office do to negrn2 Tits sup
posed to confer social position and power would 1t
give that to the negro? 1t was of the poorest
propositions that had ever been made 1t
ne the victim intended for sacrifice with flowers
" hen Is this insane crusade to end that assumes
things which are and always will be impossible. He
was as much friend of the negro as any one, but
when be was told that negro good he, that
his hair straight that his foot and leg were as
neat as his friends from Maine Mr. Morrill, he knew
better IL was not so, and would be. The Sc.
natOr from Massachusetts said he and his party
right. Ihey were right IN the teeth of all the instincts
of our nature Let us be content to treat the negro
he IS treated in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and every
other place where people have retained their sanity.
REPLY OF Mr.. WILSON.
Mr.. Wilson said the Senator from PENNSYLVANIA
tells he is the friend the negro but for the last
Ave years there has not been proposition before this
the Senator has not sturdy resisted He had scarcely
raJ on