The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-21
BY TELEGRAPH.
xxx CONGREss---FIRsT sEssro,

x s666ANA ASn,
xxx CoNGREss---FIRsT SESSION
l. WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Stevens from joint Committee on Re
construction reported joint resolution il
order to close agitation on a question which
iseems likely to disturb the action of the gov
ternment. and to quiet the uncertainty which
exists in the minds of the people OF the clever
States which have been declared 10 be in in
Isurrection, that no Senators or Representative
fshali be admitted into Congress frsm either o
the said States until Congress shall have
declared such States entitled to such repre-
lsentation. 80
DIR. Grider obtained leave to have read q
minority report concluding With resolution
ltieeiasing that the State Of Tennessee is enti.
tied to representation, and that her Repre-
sentatives be admitted to seats IN Congress
on qualifying themselves according to law.
Mr.. Stevens said there was an earnest dis
position until yesterday to enquire aud see
whether they could admit that State to repre-.
seniation, but since yesterday there has been
such state OF things as to induce the com.
mittee TO consider it wholly out of their power
70 proceed further without surrendering the
rights OF this body to the usurpation of ano;h-
er power. He demanded the previous oues-
ton.
Mr.. Rogers, of New York, amid calls of
order, declared against the passage of the
| resolution under the gag rule.
! hr. Stevens objected to Mr. Orders re.
port.
| de said he conld not consent for there was
an earthquake around US and he dare not
yield
There was much excitement and calls TO
| order during the proceedings
Stevens having moved the previous oues
tlon on the resolution Eldridge, johnson,
Chandler and others sought to stave off a vote
by endeavoring to adjourn. The question
was decided IN the negative BY yeas and
nays.
Eldridge said he and his friends would stop
these dilatory motions if Stevens Would with
draw the demand for the previous question
so hat the resolution might be debated.
Stevens said he sat here forty eight hours
in 1861 when the rebels went and be could
now stand 1t for thirty six hours lohger.
Parliamentary tactics were then resumed
and the opposition are still engag ged up to
this hour in making dilatory motions to ad-
Journ, &c, 10 staye of a vote on the pending
resolution.
AT last Fnck withdrew his motion that the
resolution be laid on the table1and under the
operation of the previous question il was
passed-l09 against 40
AT 7:l5 P. N. the House adjourned
SENATE.
Wade Offered a resolution to amend the
Constitution by rendering the President of
the United States ineligible to a second elec.
ton.
Wilson offered resolution. which was
adopted, instructIng the committee ON reso.
lnhons TO inquire how far the lately rebeIious
States had conformed 10 the requirements OF
the State reconstruction policy
AT o clock the chair announced that the
morning hour having expired the unfinished
business OF yesterday. which was the bill
returned ny tire President. with his exceptions
10 il, was before the Senate
Davis Of Ky. took the floor and read
long Argument : in approval of the bill
The Senate failed TO repass the freedmen's
bsreau bill over the veto. not having the re.
quired tsothirds vote. The vote was 80
against ls
Mr.. Henderson presented the petition Of
citizens Of Missouri on the subject OF recon.
siructon- ASKING Congress 10 annal the acts
q the President in establishing civil Govern.
ments Ia the South. and 10 secure eanal
rights tq all. without distinction Of colar.
Referred to the Special Committee of Eff
teen.
b Mr.. Wale introduced the following ioint
&esolutlon for an amendment, to the Consii-
tuition:
Resolved, That the following article be
presented to the Legislatures Of the several
States as an amendment 70 the Consultation
Of the nitea States, which. when ratified hv
three tonrths OF the sad Legislatures. shall
be valid as part Of said Constitution, viz:
The Executive power shall be vested in a
President of the United States of America:
he shall hold his Office during the term of
four years. and shalt not again be eligible to
that oihce during the term of his natural life
In case Of the removal of the President from
office, or OF death, resignation or inability 10
discharge the powers and duties Of the said
Office, the same shall deyulve on the Vice
President, who shall not again be eligible TO
the office of President during the term of his
natural life Whenever Congress NAV by
law provide for the case of removal. death,
resignation or inability of both of the Presi
dent and Vice President, declaring what Off
Ger shall then act as President, such officer
shall not again be eligible to the Office of
President during the term Of his natural life
Mr.. Wade, In offering this resolution said
will state that this resolution is no new idea
for have been An advocate of it for many
years, and have derived the very strong i'm
pressions | have on the subject, by very
careful observation of the workings of our
government through such periods as | have
been an observer of 1t, and | believe it has
been very rare that we have been able to elect
a President of the United States who has not
been tempted to use the vast power given to
him, according to his opinion to advance his
reelection; and when | say this Of the Presi-
dents who have preceded, say it inno attempt
TO deprecate the morals Of those men, bs
cause the Constitution places before them
which We can hardly expect that
human nature will resist-in the long run it
will never resist.
| have no doubt that the present Chief
Magistrate came into office while he was per
fectly sincere in his mind What were some
of his opinions? Why, he spoke and reiteratee
every day for two months that treason was a
great crime, that it ought to be punished. tha,
it must be rendered odious and that he was
the man to do this. He said it to every dele
CATION that waited on him untilthe word. be-
came stereotyped on the minds of the whole
people. How. sir, has he performed that
pledge Has he punished anybody? Why,
sir, We have the the unheard of specimen of
the greatest rebellion that ever cursed man
kind, involving more people, more lives,
more expense. than all the rebellions that
have occurred in history, and yet, sir, no man
has been punished in consequence oft SOM.
is wrong. fthis is all right, then the whole
system of punishment throughout the Union
ought to be abolished.
Sir, the President was right when he said
that treason was great crime, and ought to
be rendered odious. Why did he not carry
o.t -, Joal.....,a.o w.. L.. oo,.rrad ~ /