New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-17
XXXIXrH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE. WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, ls6s.
Tur -f.IIS

-
poses.
1t authorizes the Postmaster General to prevent tho
delivery of packages OF letters 10 fictitious ad
dresses whenever be satisfied that fraud or lecep
tion is intended Such letters shall be the dead
letter Off and thence TO the writers 1t also imposes
fine for mailing hand.bs and circulars TO induce
people to invest money in lotteries gift enterprises
It further imposes fine and imprisonment for falsely
denying the reception OF money received In snch cases
The bill referred to the Postofiice COMMITTEE.
TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT WANTED.
Mr.. HOWARD presented the memorial OF l73 citizens
Of Alexandria. Va, asking for Territorial Govern
ment for the State Of Virginia
The memorial asserts that on the Withdrawal ol tHe
United States troops the State Government VIII Ial
into the hands of Rebels that the Legislature at Rich
Inond has recently passed law TO tax loyal people Tor
pension 10 the widow OF Stonewa Jackson, and that
loya men are being prosecuted by traitors.
The memorial was read and. on motion, referred to
the Committee on Reconstruction.
THE VIRGINIA LINE
Mr. RIDDLE presented the memorial Of citizens Of
Jefferson County. Virginia, protesting against the
cesson Of that county to West Virginia, and asking
that the matter be left to the vote OF citizens oi tue
county.
The memorial was referred to the Committee on Ter
ritOries.
THE MEMORIAL CEREMONIES.
Mr.. FooT, Chairman of the Committee on the late
ceremonies on the death OF President Lincoln, reported
that under Joint resolution he had applied TO MI
Bancroft for copy Of his Grafton. and had been fu-
nished with IT for publication.
REIMBURSEMENT OF CONSUL.
Mr.. CHANDLER, from the Committee on Commerce.
reported Dill 10 pay 10 MI. WllsOD tOurIl
Bruzi s,5OO for damage done to his personal effects
by mob after the capture of the Florida.
At the suggestion OF several Senator'S the above was
laid over for the present
THANKS.
Mr. TRUNBrLL introduced joint resolution ten
dering the thanks Of Congress to the officers and sea-
men who rendered assistance TO soldiers wrecked on
the steamship San Francisco.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs
THE PEssIoN LAW.
On vnot;n ~ Mr. 1 nd fha Sana q
bill TO grant the benefits VI the pension law ~ aTtceis
the same az to soldiers.
The bill provides that men enlisted or detailed as
articers and wounded IN the service are entitled 10
g per month pension, and If killed their heirs oT as
sgnees entitled 10 the same amount.
The bill passed.
Mr. TRUNBuLL called up the bill in relation TO tie
Court Of Claims.
1t provides that in all decided by tee Court Of
Claims there may be an appeal TO the Supreme Conrt:
also that the session of the Court OF Claims shall COM
mence Oh the first Monday in December.
WEST INDIAN TELEGRAPH.
Mr. CHANDLER called up the bill permit the Inter
national Ocean Telegraph Company TO estabsh line
between the New York and West India Islands
1t compels the Company to have the line iilished
within five years. and gives the exclusive right of way
At the request of Mr.. SHERMAN the above laid
over for the present.
THE AMENDMENT.
The Constitutional amendment was taken up az one
O'clock.
MIR. HENDRICKS took the 1oOr Oelllon 10 toe
pending measure. lie commenced by referring 10 the
early history OF the country showing that the Contit
tion Of the United States framed at time when
the best faterna feeling existed between the dferoDs
sections Of the country. 1t was framed after leBg
had cemened the Union with bond Of friendship.
Now il was proposed TO amend it AT q time when
ona hate Was strong aud when the IT
entire section excluded from the Halls OF Con-
gress He deprecated very much the disposition which
seemed 90 prevail with regard 10 amending the Consti
tution He would vote against every amendment now
p,pr
introduced hereaitern0 that he did not believe there
were points in which the Constitution could be iu-
prov but be did not believe the people Congress
were IN a condition 10 act wisely upon such measures.
Mr.. HENDRICKS denied the right Of the committee 20
report such proposition as they had done Itwas
mttee raised 10 inquire lnto the snblect OF The adn
sion OF Southern Senators and Repr.sen not
report amendments to the Constitution OF the United
States.
Nj FEssESDEN said it the practice of committees
10 eiort everything referred 10 them The rcsolg
ton under discussion was offered IN the House aud
referred TO the Joint Committee.
Mr.. HENDERSON contended that the practice
bad one The Special Committee be said, had It's origin
in party Ii was political inluisition over
whose doors might be written No adnittance 70 the
American people They selected witnesses according
10 their own pleasures II was party measure thas
originated the committee, and 1t nothing but Q
party committee 1t could not have been organized il
proposed any day the first day OF the session. Re-
ferring the first proposed amendment the subject
OF representation, he said 1t was abandoned because
was found out that 10 base representation upon the
voting population would be TO inure New.Englands
interest lie believes federal taxation ought to be
based upon property, and not upon population. Tie
proposed amendment seated only upon party poll
cy 1t was designed TO cripple the representation Of the
South and perpetuate the power OF the RepuDncao
party. This much had been admitted by Thaddeus
Stevens in the House. Another effect Of the proposed
amendment would be to reduce the representation Of
agricultural section Of the country. aud 10 correspond
ingy increase New. England powers He would lot
say word against New England He honored her his
tory; but he could consent that she should have in
creased powers, During the war the interests OF the
North. West had been subordinate to New.England By
heavy tariff foreign competition had been cat Of tor
the benefit Of New England manufacturers. He de-
manded for the West simple equality with the other
States in the burdens Of the country Tbs had not oeeo
the case for five years Manufacturers had been grow
ing rich while Western farmers had been almost impov
erished.
Mr.. ANTHoNY interrupted Mr. Hendricks TO say that
there nov had been time when home manufacturers
had more competition with importers than during the
past few years when the impost duties not equal
10 the individual taxes.
Mr.. HrSDRIcKs thought the same powers that formed
the representation in the Senate might change Il.
though il declared Interchangeable. Equality Of
representation in the Senate would reduce New
England TO one,hird her present number. The six
New England States had twelve Senators with pOpn-
aton OF 10000 while the six great Western agri-
cultural States of Indiana. Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Mis-
souri, and Kentucky. with population Of s,5O1Wo.
had only twelve Senators. According to population.
every man in Rhode Island equal 10 ten in Indiana
in the legislation of the country. The Southern peo-
pie be said had done all that conquered people
could do 10 show their good faith, anu now lt
was proposed 10 punish them by reducing their
REPRESENTATION In this idea of punishment the gallant
armies of the Union not represented. As pun
shment this amendment could not be adopted accord
ing TO the Constitution IL was an post dcs0 law.
The southern people had committed great crime blt
they had suffered the punishment Of defeat, which was
the seyerest known TO beigerents Ii there was tho
Senate desire to amend the Constitution from motives
of revenge. it certainly did not come from the army
Quoting from Mr.. Fessendens speech. Mr. Hendricks
said for the first time in the history Of the Senate was
proposed TO do by ndirecon what could not be done
directly. Indirection vice in anything His col
league mr. Lance had come here 10 advocate negro
suffrage but he had raised his voice toward en-