Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-25

SENATE.
WAsHryGToy Jan ..

| emd0clDaIen, n
any debt incurred in aid of the rebellion Referred
PETITION FROM COLORADO.
Mr.. Sumner, presented petition of citizens of Colo
| rado, now IN New \ ork praying her speedy admis-
WORD white shall be expunged from her constitution
| Laid on the table,
Mr.. Brown presented similar petition from the
c9lored citizens of that territory, which was laid on
| the table.
PETITION FROM WOMEN FOR SUFFRAGE.
| Mr.: Brown presented petition from the women Of
the United States asking that the elective franchise
be also conferred upon them. it is proposed to be
conferred upon the negroes Referred to Joint Com
| mittee on Reconstruction.
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
| Mr.. Grimes presented the credentials of Samuel J
kirkwood, Senator elect from Iowa, and on his mo
| ton, Mr.. Kirkwood was sworn in.
| Mr. Anthony presented memorial from loyal citi-
for property destroyed by order of General Sheridan
| Referred to Committee on Claims.
| of Claims.
| COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
| MIR. ConneSs rose to a question of privilege, and
complained that the proceedings of the Senate were
not properly repore ed by the Associated Press and
said that all mention of measures introduced by him
| were studiously unnoticed.
Mr.. Davis expressed his Indifference on the sub
| ject.
| Mr.. McDougall coincided with Mr.. Davis
Mr, sherman an; explained that the Senate had no
porters, and that the Associated Press had perfect
right to report just what they pleased.
Mr.. Stewart also complained of the reports.5
RESTORATION OF PROPERTY.
Mr. Dixon introduced a resolution requesting the
Committee on the Judiciary to inquire what legisa
non IS necessary to restore to loyal citizens of the
United States their property real or personal which
may have been confscated by the socaled Confeder-
ate Government, and report by bill otherwise.
Agreed to.
THE FREEDMEys BUREAU BILL.
The unfinished business of yesterday, being the bill
then taken up Mr. MoDougai addressed the Senate m
on the subject and gave his views in opposition the
Mr.. Davis followed Mr.. McDougaIl in the samelins
of argument
The question was then taken on the amendment
offered by Mr.; Davis, striking out the Section con-
hrnng the coored occupancy of lands granted them
bv special field orders of Gen. Sherman, in possess
ION OF them tor three years; and resulted follows
,, YeasIMeSsrs; Buckalew, COwan. Davis, Guthrie,
Hendricks McDOugall. Riddle, salisbury, Stockton.
Nays-Messrs. Anthony, Brown, Chandler, Clark,
Cragin. Dixon. DGolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster
Grimes, Harris, Howard Howe. Lane of Indiana,
Morgan, Morrill,. Norton. Nye, Poland, Pomeroy'
RamSey, sherman, SnTague, Stewart, Sumner, Trum
Van Wlnkle, W ade, Wiley, Wilson and Yates-32.
so the amendment was rejected. MeSsrs johnson
and Cresswell were not present when the vote was
taken.
Mr. Davis moved to strike out the sixth section.
Mf: Wiley SAID, regarding this section as uncon-
stitutional he would have to vote for its being
stricken out. regarded the bill as visionary and
unconstitutional and also that 1t did make distinc
ton Oh account of col or about which so much COM
plaint had been made here.
The question was then taken on the motion of Mr.
Davis, and resulted as follows-ayes 10, nays $3.50
the motion was rejected.
vldlng that the jurisdiction of the Bureau shall only
extend over such States where the civil courts
obstructed which was rejected by ayes 10, nays Sc.
Mr. McDougall moved to amend, by striking out
all after the enactng clause and inserting that the
under the Constitution of the United States for the
protection of refugees and freedmen and TO call into
requisition such military aid as may be necessary.
Mr.. Davis rose to point of order that the motion
of the Senator from California could not be enter
tanned until the bill had been read through, section
by section.
The Chair entertained the point made by Mr.
Davis.
Several amendments were proposed by Mr. Davis
The bill having been read through. the question
was taken on the amendment offered by Mr.. McDou-
gall which was rejected by the following vote: Ayes
8, nays 81.
The bill was read third time, when Mr. Salisbury
Mr.. Davis took the floor but gave way to Mr. Hem
derson, who said that this the long session, and
did not think it incumbent Senators to stay here
after hye O'Clock, and therefore renewed the motion
| to adjourn.
Mr., Trumbull said he hoped not. they wanted
vote on this bill tonight.
The motion to adjourn was lost. Ayes Il. nays o.
Mr.. Hendricks said that his side were willing for
vote to be taken on the bill at three o'clock
row, and therefore renewed the motion to adjourn.
Mr.. Irumoull withdrew his objection. and the Sen
| ate adjourned.
THE bill, as amended and now on its passage nro
vides as follows;
1t provides that the act to establish bureau for
the rehet OF freed men and refugees approved March
B. 1865, shall continue in force until otherwise pro-
vided by law and shall extend to refugees and freed
dent may divide the section Of country containing
such refugees and freedmen into districts each con-
tanning one or more States, not to exceed twelve in
number, and by and with the advice and consent of
the senate, appoint an assistant comm ssioner for
each OF said districts who shall give bond, receive
the same compensation, and perform the same duties
prescribed by this act, (Or the act to which this is an
amendment) or said bureau may, in the discretion of
the president be placed under a commissioner and
assistant commissioner to be detailed from the army
in which event each officer assigned to duty shall
| serve without increase of pay or allowances.
/ Sectl0n of ip{C
sub,dlstrlcts, and the appointments of clerks and
authorizes the President of the United States to ex
tend military jurisdiction and protection over all am
loyees, agents, and other officers in the exercise of
duties authorized or imposed upon them by this act
provisions, fuel clothing &c., for refugees and freed
| men.
Sec authorizes the President to reserve from sale
or from settlement under the homestead or pre-emp
ton laws, and to set apart for the of freedmen
and loyal refugees, male and female, unOccupied
slppl and Arkansas, not exceeding in all three mil
lions of acres of good land, and the commissioners
under the direction of the President shall cause the
from time to time to be allotted and assigned in
parcels not exceeding forty acres EACH to the loyal
refugees and freedmen, who shall be protected in the
use and enjoyment thereof for such term of time and
| at such annual rent as may be agreed ON between
the commissioners and such refugees or freedmen.
The rental shall be based upon the valuation of the
land, to be ascertained in such manner as the com
missioners may. under the direction of the Presi-
dent, by regulation prescribe. At tho end of such
term, or sooner, II the commissioners shall assent
thereto the occupants of any parcels assigned NAV
purchase the land and receive title thereto from
| the United States, in fee upon paying thereto the
| value of the land, aseertained as aforesaid.
Sec. That the possessory titles granted in pursu-
ance of Major General Shermans special field order,
dated at Savannah January l6 1885, are hereby con-
frmed and made valid for the space of three years
| Sec. g. That the commissioner SHALL under the di-
recton of the President procure in the name of the
United States, by grant or, purchase such lands
within the districts aforesaid may be required for
ment for support, and he shall provide or cause
to be built suitable tab ssylums and schools. But no
entered into nor other expenses incurred until
| after appropriations shall have been provided by
g OP he G 1ed & o Of this act out Of
the commissioner shalt cause such lands from time
to time. to be valued. allotted assigned and sold in
manner and form provided in the fourth section of
this act provided aways that the said lands all NOT
be sold for less than the cost thereof to the United
| States.
Sec authorizes the President to extend military
| protection to the freedmen in all cases of law.
making determinations against them on account of
color.
Sec. prescribes punishment for subjectins freed
Sec. repeas all acts inconsistent with the proyi.-
| ions of this.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Inc Speaker laid before the House communica-
ton from the Secretary Of War transmitting cor
respondence between the Chief Engineer of the army
and the military superintendent of the Academy at
West Point, relating to the capture of certain can
communication from the Secretary of the Treasury
giving list of all vessels. once foreign; which have
received an American register during the year 1865
| Referred,
| NEW BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
| The proposition to amend the Constitution of the
United States as to a new basis of repre-
sentatlon, was taken up in regular order.
| Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio made the following notion.
That the pending resolution and amendments be re-
| committed to the Committee ON Reconstruction with
Instructions to report an amendment to the Const-
tutlon which shall fret appOrtion direct taxes among
the States, according to property in each and which
shall. second, apportion representation among the
States on the basis Of adult male voters who may be
| citizens of the United States.
| Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio said the present mode of
| unjust, and although the result of compromise was
in principle and unequal in its practical re-
suits. By his amendment they would make the voters
in each State precisely equal. 1t was not proposed
to withhold suffrage from any class of people The
amendment did not design to interfere with the right
| of any State to say who shall shall not vote He
desired voter IN South Carolina to be equal to a
voter in Ohio for the purpose of representation and
the crowning merit of this amendment was perfect
representative democracy for all purposes of repre-
sentaton every voter being equally potential in our
| councils. The original basis of representation on
three ffths OF the slaves of the South having ceased
| the mode itself should now pass away. Place not a
tax on labor but on property. which on the true
| basis of taxation.
| Mr.. Shellaborger, of Ohio, opposed the pending
| amendment because 1t contemplated, provided. and
authorized the States wholly dsfranchse an entire
of people and that, too whether that race was
white or black, Saxon, Celtic Caucasian 1t had
i, | no regard for the number or proportion to the
entire population of the States. 1t was declaration