Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-02-18
THERTY-NINTH CONGRESS.

THERTY-NINTIT CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is.
Senator Wilson'S bill for the reOrgani-
zation Of the army, was reported IN tne
Senate to-day. and meets the approba-
ton Of all the Generals, and is the result
of the deliberations on the subject. II Is
the same as was reported some time
since. with a few amendments. fifty
instead Of fifty-five regiments OF IN
fantrv are provided for. The Veteran
Reserve Corps is omitted altogether.
Senator salisbury created some amnse-
ment by his protest againstthe use Of the
word colored, as applied to persons Of
African descent. he said he had been
unable to find any historical authority
for any word but negro, for such use.
Gen. H0nderson's speech was quite
radical, although the General several
times took occasion to say that be was a
Conservative man. His argument was
to the effect that the rebel States ought
to be disfranchised by law, and the reor-
ganization Of those states should be in
trusted to the negroes and loyal whites
only.
Senator Fessenden is becoming restive,
underline process of a lengthy debate on
the pending amendment in the Senate.
He wants 10 have il sent before the Leg
islatures of the Northern States, this
winter, for action. There are speeches
enough for two or three weeks yet 70
come.
A new Constitutional Amendmentwas
reported in both Houses to-day, from the
Joint Committee on Reconstruction. It
Is the same as that which was tele-
graphed TO you a few weeks ago; and
provides that Congress shall have the
power TO secure 10 the citizens OF each
State equal protection % life, liberty and
property. In the Senate it was ordered
70 be printed aud laid over. In the
House, Mr. Bingham, Of Ohio, desired to
make it a special order for next Monday.
Several objections were made 10 this, and
on motion Of Mr.. Stevens il was finally
recommitted 10 the Committee, who
have leave TO report is at any time pend
ing its reference.
Mr.. Brooks, of New York, said that
the House might just as well vote on il
now as at some future day. The result
will be the same.
Mr.. Bingham replied that he should
allow a reasonable time for debate.
Mr.. Brooks replied that the manifest
object was to force il through under the
gag rule, and the country ought 70 know
The House debated for fifteen minutes,
to-day, a resolution tOextend the privil-
eyes Of the floor 70 Mr.. James N. John
son. a Representative elect from Ar
kansas.
Mr.. Green Clay Smith said that Col.
johnson was a loyal man, and that he
had fought in the army Of the Union for
three years and was clearly entitled to
the courtesy.
Mr.. Stevens replied that be had set an
unfortunate precedent by offering a res
OlutiOn for the admission TO the privilege
of the floor certain gentlemen who IL
turned out claimed seats in the House as ]
representatives from Tennessee. He was I
opposed 10 the resolution, stating that
Col. johnson was a claimant for g seat 1
from Arkansas, for it was a mOnstrOus
doctrine to assume that these defunct /
States could send Representatives 10 |
Congress.
Mr.. Smith replied with much warmth |
to Mr.. Stevens.
Mr.. KassOn, of Iowa, spoke for five /
minutes in favor Of Col Johnson, and /
declared that, as the State of Tennessee |
was recognized by the Baltimore Con
ventiOn, he should recognize it there.
The resolution was lost by eight ma |
its favor. Had some absentees been pre- /
sent, the resolution would have been |
carried on a close vote.
The House occupied the rest of the day
in hearing the contested seat case of
Baldwin as. TrOwbridge, Of the Fifth |
Michigan District. The latter gentle
man is the sitting member, and the Com
mittee on Election declare that be is en-
titled to his seat. The question at issue
is entirely one Of law, but the facts ap-
pear to be, briefly, as follows:
Mr.. Baldwin, Democrat, received a
majority of home votes, and Trowbridge,
Republican, received the soldiers vote,
which was cast out. and which gave him
the majority. The Supreme Court Of
Michigan, however, decided that the
Soldiers Voting Law of that State was
Baldwin, the contestant
claims he received the only legal ma
j1rity.
The House votes the first thing to-
and viii undoubtedly decide in
favor Of the sitting member.
The House judiciary Committee to-day
decided to report Senator TrumbulIs bill
which passed the Senate last week, TO
secure to all persons in the several States
the same civil rights. The House Cons
mittee added another amendment. II
provides that there shall be no distinc-
ton on account of race or color, in any
State or Territory Of the United States.
There have been considerable delega-
tons before the Ways and Means Com
miJJee to protest against discrimination
i'm favor of foreign over domestic coal
The special Internal Revenue Commis-
sion, in their first report suggested duty
Of fifteen cents per tun on bitumiGous /
coal A second report has been made /
upon this subject, recommending a higher |
rate Of duty. The Ways and Means /
Committee, in theic conference with the /
intimated that one dollar per
tun on coal Of this character would be all !
OF protection which this Government |
would insist on,
At their meeting to-day The House Ju- 1
dietary Committee rejected every Con- /
Amendment before them. 1
They also reported a bill to punish the |
Of national currency with
death.