Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-24
VOL. XX---No. 45.
SENATE.

that an amendment 10 the constitution b.
II adopted to prevent State from making dis
y tinction on the right Of naturalized citizens
i i which was referred to the Judiciary Com
q mittse.
Mr.. WILs0N introduced bill to con.
tinue the present Freedmen's Bureau foI
: TWO years longer, which was referred TO the
5 Military Committee
d Mr.. POMER0Y, Of Kansas. introduced a
bill to reimburse the State Of Kansas fos
expenses incurred in equipping and calling
out the militia to repel the invasion Of thai
State and Missouri, which was referred 10
the COMMITTEES on Military Affairs.
Mr. DIXON from the Committee on Post
I Offices and Post Roads, reported resolution
/ calling upon the Postmaster General to lay
/ before the Senate all the information in his
possession in regard to the feasibility and
usefulness Of establishing telegraphie lines
in connection with mail routes for the trans
mission Of government and private business.
Mr.. BROWN spoke at some length on this
subject, faYoring the establishments of gov
ernment telegraph lines on the ground that
1t would establish uniform rate of tele-
graphing as now exists in the pOstofiee,and
that 1t would break up the present monop-
oily which now contracts dissemination
of news through the public press, and that
It would enable a better report of Congress
sIonal proceedings than now goes abroad to
be sent from Washington. The resolution
was adopted.
Pending the consideration of the bill the
morning hour expired and the amendment
TO the constitution on the subject of repre-
sentation was taken up.
When the constitutional amendment on
representation was called up Nye was en-
Titled to the floor but yielded to Fessenden
who moved to take up the resolution for
bidding admission TO the Southern mem
/ bers,tili those States are entitled to repre-
sentation by act of Congress.
Mr.. SHERMAN opposed the motion on
/ the ground that it could not be fairly aud
calmly discussed at the present time. The
proposition was not law ROr intended TO or
crate. as law, but only as a concurrent
declaration Of political opinion passed in |
the other House in the midst of excitement. |
The Senate ought not to postpone the busi- |
ness Of Congress for the purpose Of getting !
into political wrangle between the Presi- |
dent and Congress.
Tne judiciary Committee at last session |
EepOrted almost unanimously similar reso-
lu,ions. A proposition of similar charac-
ter has already passed the Senate, and there |
is no necessity for immediate discussion Of |
thesubject. The adoption of the resolution
would amount to nothing as each House |
would always be judge Of election returns
.
exercise its right to do as it saw fit
Mr.. FESSENDEN said he called up the /
motion because he considered it of the
greatest importance. He denied that there
was any desire to get up quarrel between
the President and Congress, and said he |
thought now was the best time to discuss
the question. He thought there could be no
more important business than for the Senate
and House TO settle the. question as to
h.. kka-r h,,r., 1. 4
ton to the condition Of the Southern States
II Congress is placing itself in the way Of
reconstruction by keeping out members
from the Southern States 10 ought to know
II before discussing the Constitutional
amendment. He did not believe the Sena-
tors were too much excited to discuss the
question calmly.
Mr.. SHERMAN in reply, thought events
of yesterday were too fresh in the memory
of The Senators NOT 70 have some Influence
upon them, and thought it we'll to allow
that influence TO pass. He would -prsfar
that the Senate should deliberate calmly
until the excitement Of the present feelings
has disappeared. This measure was brought
forward under peculiar circumstances and
under feelings influenced by the veto mes
sage.
After further debate Mr.. DOOLITTLEI
rose to correct a statement that the Presi-
dent seemed to deny to Congress the right
to judge upon the qualifications OF members
and the right of representation from South
ern States or districts. He did not infer any
such thing, and was proceeding with
his remarks when he was called to order by
Mr. Trumbull on the ground that Senator
who was opposed 10 taking up ptheresolution
could not discuss its provisions.
The Chair sustained the point of order.
The question was then taken on proceed
rr,r To Nha nf H.o
resolution. Carried: Yeas 20, nays 10.
Mr.. FESSEN DEN took the floor on the
resolution arguing that it was optional with
Congress not 10 act upon credentials of
Southern members until they had passed
law for the admission of Southern States.
This policy was in accordance with what
Congress has intimated heretofore, and from
this he cited general instances. He re-
ferred at some length to action in the case
of Aouisiana as particularly applicable in
support of the present resolution, in defence
of the committee of which he was a mem
Der. He quoted from the speech of the Presi-
dent in reference to an assumption Of
powers by an irrepressible central directory
without consulting the legislative or execu-
tive branches of the Government. He
thought he could hardly nave considered
with care the nature Of the resolution now
under discussion. The resolution as it
for Joint Committee Of Fifteen to inquire
into the condition of the late rebelliOus
States, and report by bill or otherwise,
whether any or all OF them were entitled
to representation, and until such report was
made no members shall be admitted.
Mr.. FESSENDEN read from the Presi-
dents speech a paragraph ststing that the
States had no right nor power 10 go out OF
the Union; that he still maintained that
theory, and said when States gave evidence
of loyalty and obedience, they should be
restored TO their former relations. He ar
gued the right of Congress to inquire
whether the conditions named by the Presi-
dent had been complied with and said the
Special Committee was organized Tor that
purl ose.
On the subject of the bill vetoed by the
President he said he had never beea a very
warm friend of the bill, but yielded his OBJ
iecttons because he thought the power con-
lerred by it were constitutional, and their
exercise was necessary. He voted to sus-
tain the bill when returned, because he OBJ
jected to the closing portions Of the veto
message, which expressed the opinion that |
Congress could not make law to tax any
State that was unrepresented, which was in
effect, stating Congress had no right 10 pass
a bill affecting the Southern States.
Mr.. D00LTFTLE rose to say that he un-
derstO0d the PRESIDENT discussed the pro-
priety and not the right to legislate without
Southern members
Mr.. FESsENDEN thought propriety
should not be made the basis Of veto. His
objection to it was the argument used by the |
President to sustain it. He eontended for |
the right of Congress to decide on the fitness
of the Southern States for representation.
In conclusion, he gave his views on recon
struction, holding that by the laws of war,
Congress had the right to exact security for
the future He was in favor of the sdmis-
sion of the Southern members and Senators
at the earliest moment consistent with the |
safety Of the country
Alter executive session the Senate ad-
journed.
Special Dispatches.
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