Daily national Republican., 1866-03-15
THIRTY NINTH CONGRESS
THURSDAY, MARcH Is, 1865.
SEN

Mr.. Riddle from tho Printing Committee,
reported a resolution to print 10, 900 copies
Of the report OF the joint committee on re-
construction, with the accompanying testi-
mony, for the uso Of the Senate. The com.
mittee recommended the printing Of 5000
instead Of 10, 900. III -'TT .
Mr.. Wade hoped the amendment of the
committee would not be adopted. This was
an important document, and ought to bo cir.
culated.
Mr.. Riddle inquired If Mr., Wade know the
cost Of the printing.
Mr.. Wade said Il wonld only be the differ
ence between 5000 and 10, 900.
MS DAVIS. would like to know upon
what principle of justice and impartiality
the evidence Is taken. One gentleman Of
North Carolinn-one Of the truest and most
honorable patriots In the land--gave me this
information in relation to the State Of North
Carolina. He informed me that the evidence
Of some mon connected with the Freedmen's
Bureau had been taken. He addressed q
letter to member Of the committee request
ing that witnesses whose names had been
suggested by those who claimed sents In the
Senate and House should be allowed to give
their evidence before the committee. When
/ last conversed with him he had received no
such privilege as that. II just and intel
ligent and impartial committee would seek
for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
else but tho truth In relation to this matter,
the inquiry would be a subject Of deep inter
est to the country, and the result Of their
labors should be presented TO the country.
But IL that committee proceeds upon the
principle Of suppressing evidence, sup
pressing the truth, and silencing II, or at
least refusing TO hear evidence In behalf
Of the gentlemen claiming seats In the
two houses from the eleven excluded States,
/, for one, am opposed to publishing at
the public expense the results Of their labors.
I do not believe, at least I have very little
faith in, the various letters and information
read to the Senate by the honorable Senator
from Massachusetts,, presented to this body.
1 have no confidence whatever, or very little,
In the testimony which the men in the en-
ployment of the Freedmen's Bureau give in
relation to the state of public sentiment in
the Southern States.
Mr.. Davis then said that, as sample Of
the kind Of evidence furnished by those EN-.
ployed by the Freedmen's Bureau, he would
read from speech made few weeks ago by
Gen. Clinton B. Fiske, in Cincinnati, and
published in the Cincinnati Commercial. He
characterized the statement in it, in relation
to the treatment Of negroes In Kentucky, as
false and calumnious.
Mr. Wilson said that since the Senator
from Kentucky had risen, he had cut out Of
q paper q speech made by Colonel W. o.
Thomson, now at the head Of the Freed
mems Bureau in Louisville, Kentucky, who
was formerly member Of the House Of Rep
resentatives from Kentucky. Col Thomas
on says in his speech, 1T is said there Is no
necessity for the bureau in Kentucky. Our
Senators in Congress have asserted that all
the rights Of the freedmen are protected by
State laws. Now, my position enables me
to say that neither General Palmer's letter
nor General Fiske's speech in Cincinnati has
told more than fraction of the truth upon
that subject. Our State laws do not protect
colored people"
have simply to say in regard to General
Fiske that he is a gentleman of talent and
character and Christian man, whose word
will go further in this matter than the asser-
tion Of every rebel sympathizer in Kentucky.
As to Gen. Palmer, the country knows that
he is an eminent citizen of Illinois. lie is q
native Of Kentucky, a man of capacity and
high character He knows what is going on
in that State.
Mr.. Wilson then referred to the fact that
military tribunals had repeatedly convicted
men of cruel and inhuman treatment Of me-
groes in Kentucky, and the evidence taken
before these tribunals could not be contro-
verted.
After further discussion, the amendment
to insert elk thousand instead of ten thou
sand was disagreed to, and the original reso-
tion was passed.
n HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Smith, of Kentucky, by unanimous
consent, made personal explanation, in the
course Of which ho caused to be read by the
Clerk an extract from the Pittsburg Gazette,
which he claimed reflected on himself. Such
attacks, he said, arose from the infamous,
untenable and damnable heresy uttered in
this House that certain States were out Of
this Union.
Mr.. Broomall, of Pennsylvania, called the
gentleman to order. The gentleman had no
right to characterize the opinions of this
House as "a damnabe heresy."
The Speaker sustained the point of order.
The House thep decidedly vote of yeas
55, nays 70-not to allow the gentleman
to proceed.
Mr.. Smith, of Kentucky then obtained
leave to explain that certain previous
remark of his was intended personally for
Mr.. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, and not for
the House generally.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, rose and
remarked, merely, that what no gentleman
would utter no gentleman would answer.
[Sensation.
Mr.. Mccullough, of Maryland, introduced
a bill to authorize the construction Of lat
eral branch of the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad; which was referred to the Commit
tee for the District of Columbia.
The House then took up the bill intended
to protect United States officers from civil