The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-23
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81.

Mr.. Sumner, presented the memorial of the
Boston Board of Trade, asking the passage of
law to exempt northern creditors from the
operation Of statutes Of limitation. Referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
The Dill providing that no person be dis
qualified from acting ON grand or petit juries
by reason OF having formed or expressed an
opinion upou the matter to be submitted to
such jury, founded upon public rumor, news
paper statements, ETC., was made the special
order for Thursday.
The bill for the enlargement of the Freed
mems Bureau was taken up. The pending
question was upon Mr.. Cowan's amendment
to limit the jurisdiction of the Bureau to the
States lately in rebellion.
Mr.. Fessenden, from the special committee
on Reconstruction, reported joint resolution
to amend the Constitution by providing that
representation and direct taxes shall be APP
portioned among the several States which may
be included in this Union, according to their
respective numbers, counting the whole num-
Der of persons in each State, and excluding
Indians not taxed, provided that whenever the
elective franchise shall be denied or abridged
In any State on account of race or color, all
persons of such race and color shall be exclud-
ed from the basis of representation.
After debate Mr.. Cowan's amendment was
rejected, II against SO.
Mr.. Davis moved to strike out the provision
extending military jurisdiction and protection
to the agents and employees Of the Bureau
Rejected, S against 81.
An amendment was adopted restricting the
jurisdiction to the discretion of the officers
pertaining to the Bureau.
Several other amendments were offered and
rejected. ~,
The Committee on Reconstruction reported
an amendment to the Constitution the same
as in the House report.
A resolution was passed referring all papers
and documents on the subject of representa-
ton Of the late rebellious States to the com
mlttee on Reconstruction.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion.-Adjourned. "a
Mr.. Finck introduced bill prescribing the
oath OF office and repeating the test oath of
1862. Referred to Judiciary committee.
Messrs. Jencks & Myers introduced bill
regulating suffrage in the District of Column
bia.
Mr.. Bradford introduced bill providing for
the admission of the State of Colorado into
the Union.
Several resolutions were introduced instruct
ing the Committee on Ways and Means to en-
quire into the expediency of taxing tobacco in
the leaf, and reducing the tax on common
leaf. ,rl.f gl.sa aaa
A resolution was adopted instructing the
Committee on Judiciary to enquire whether
further legislation is necessary to compel COM
pliance with the law requiring all officers to
take the test oath. uE
A resolution was committed to, the Com
mittee on Reconstruction, declaring that the
leaders of the rebellion ought to BY tried by
court martial or a military commission
and that it would be inexpedient to try
them by civil court when jurors in the South
would be the equals of those accused of the
crime. -rses r-r
Mr.. Stevens, from the Committee on Recon-
struction, reported an amendment to the
Constitution, providing that representation be
based on the whole number of persons in the
State, and that where the elective franchise
is denied or abridged on account of race or
color, all such persons shall be excluded from
the basis of representation. n
MI. Rogers, of the Reconstruction Commit
tee, opposed the amendment, arguing that it is
contrary to the principle on which our gov
eminent is founded, viz, that representation
and t9XatiOn must go together 1t was de-
signed to degrade the white men.
MIR. Conkiin's speech favored the amend
ment.
On motion of Mr.. Stevens the further con-
sheraton of the subject was postponed until
tomorrow.
The following bills were introduced and APP
propriately referred:
To prevent counterfeiting u. s. money; to
regulate the appointment of Admirals and
certain volunteer officers in the regular navy;
giving bounties to those who entered the ser
vice in 1861 and 1862; prescribing the oath OF
office to all appointees OF government; for the
construction of a ship canal around Niagara
Falls: providing for the admission of ,Colora-
do as State.
The resolution declaring that the leaders of
the rebellion ought to be tried by court mar
tial was referred to the Judiciary, not Recon-
struction Committee.
An amendment to the Constitution was Of
fered, providing that in the event of the death
of both the President and Vice President, the
Chief Justice shall act as President until a
new election. Referred to the committee on
the Judiciary. af a' PA - taeA q
A preamble and resolution was adopted that
as several high officials have been appointed to
office, among them several rebels, the Judicial
ny Committee enquire whether legislation is
necessary to enforce obedience to the law by
all men, without regard to rank or color n
A series OF resolutions were offered by Mr..
Grinder, and referred to the Reconstruction
Committee, that State governments cannot be
destroyed; that representatives should be adj
mitted on taking the oath; that it is illegal to
hold States in the Union to vote for the Con-
stitutional amendment, and then not allow
them representation; that taxing the people
while denying representation, is contrary to
the principles of our government. 81,
Tine House then adjourned. COW
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