Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-02-02
WASHINGTON. Feb 1,

WASHINGTON, Feb l.
SENArE-On motion of Mr.. Brown OF
Missouri, it was
Rssotred, That the amendment which was
passed by the House yesterday should be
| kept before the Senate until passed. There
were number of State Legislatures in SEES
sion ut present, and it was desirable to
get the amendment before them at an early
day.
Mr. Howard called up the resolution Of
fered by him some time ago, calling for the
trial OF jeff Davis and c. G. Clay, by militia
| ry commission, for completely in the assas-
sinaliOn of Mr.. Lincoln, and in viOle.. or n,
the laws and usages of war.
Mr. Howard offered r.. amendment. to in.
clude with Davis Ind Clay such others as
ac'ea ID CO" ..ccrt with them.
..s0lrai, That the joint committee on re-
construction be directed to inquire into the
expediency of amending the constitution oil
the U. s., so as to declare with greater Ger.
tainty the power of Congress to enforce and
determine by appropriate legislation all the
guarantees contained in that instrument
were specially first, that which recites the
people without distinguishing them by color
| or race, and those who are TO choose repre-
sentativcs. Second, that which assures the
citizens of each State all privileges and i'm.
| munities Of citizens Of the several States. 3D.
that which eniOins upon the U. S. to guaran.
tee TO every State Republican form of gov
eminent.
Mr.. Pollard of W., offered the following
which was adopted
Rtsolred, That the committee on the Judi.
ciary be directed to inquire as to the expe
dicncy and conslitu,ionallty of extending
the jurisdiction of the courts OF the L. s.
| over all suits brought against any person
for acts under the authority, or in aid of the
| military force of the t. s., and also Of all
suits brought against any person for any act
done under the authority, or in aid of the So
called Confederate States, and report by bill
or Otherwise.
Mr.. Fesscnden said he would on Monday
next call UP the constitutional amendment
Mr.. Howard said that on the 2lst Of De
cember lie submitted resolution of inquiry
respecting the charges upon which Davis
was confined, and that in response to this the
President sent a brief message accompanied
by two communications, one from the Sec
rotary Of War and the other from Attorney
General Howard. Having read extracts
from these documents lie proceeded to con.
tradict the position of the Attorney General
that Davis must be tried for treason in some
one Of the States where the treason was
committed. If there be an expectation,
said Mr.. Howard, more prevalent than
another among the loyal people Of the U.
s. it is that it IS due to our dignity as a ma.
ton and the obligations we owe to the con-
stitution of the nation. that there should be
an arrangement and punishment according
to the forms of law Of some, at least, Of the
leaders of the rebellion. 1t was Davis com
mand that shed the blood or caused the
| death Of more than a quarter Of million oi
men and the waste and destruction of &C.
| OOO, 900, 900 OF property.
Mr.. Howard then entered into legal mr.
gulEent in opposition to the Attorney Gen.
| eral. He held that Davis might bc tried in
Pennsylvania Or Ohio or in any other State
In which the war was carried under the or
ders of the President OF the late Confetier.
acy. He looked upon it as wholly out OF
the question 10 try to convict Davis in any
Of the lately rebel States, because no Jury
could bc found there to convict him.
The conclusion of his remarks, IL there
was no objection, he would like to lave q
vote upon his resolution
Mes rs. johnson and Salisbury announced
their intention to debate the resolution. The
expiration Of the morning hour prevented
action on the above, by calling up the bill
for tho protection Of all persons in their civil
rights. The pending question, was the
amendment Of Mr. Trumbull declaring ali
persons in the U. s. not subject to any for.
eign power TO DC citizens Of the U. s.