Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-16
Washington Correspondence.
Action of Congress on Reconarnction- Poss
er of Removal from cfce-TAe Tar Bill
.Misceiioneous

~ Of Removal from c6ece-IHe Tar Bill
| Miscellaneous.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May IL, 1866.
| ACTION OF CONGRESS ON RECONSTRUCTION.
Mr.. EDITOR The giant task of forming a
feasible ard acceptable plan of Reconstruction
by Congress, to which we all looked forward
with SO much mingled fear and hope, is being
rapidly accomplished. The report of the Com
mittee, reported last week, on Tuesday
taken up by the House. OF course there were
many slight differences Of opinion on the exact
form of an amendment to the Constitution nec-
essary to guarantee the perPetuation of those
principles established bv such terrible strife.
The principle objection was made to the third
section, and had the Democrats not united with
the Radicals to prevs Mt any amendments, that
section would undoubtedly have been stricken
out or amended in some way. 1t was evident
Iy the hope Of the copperheads, by thus fore
ng tho vote On the original measure, to receive
many Of the conservatives to their ranks. In
this, however, they were disappointed, for ev-
cry man who ever claimed to belong to the
| " big party, except Green Clay Smith, voted
for the amendment. When Raymond voted
eye, there wa. congratulatory cheer from those
sitting near him and storm of curses from the
copperheads, who denounced him as a deserter
and every other such thing All were aston
shed, for although he had expressed himself in
f4vor of all the bill save the third section, the
Times had made an onslaught the bill and
IL he IL
men who had submitted the Report, as con-
spirators, and condemning them and their pro-
ducton in most unmeasured terms.
few such men Kelley, Farnsworth and
Mckee of Ky, would have preferred clause
giving suffrage to all loyal men whether black
or white, the latter saying that be considered
the meanest and most ignorant negro in the
country, as better than the most intelligent
rebel in the country, and more entitled to suf-
rage. Still, not beiGg of that number, who.
ike Sumner, oppose some good because they
cannot obtain perfection, they gave the bill their
hearty support.
Ga the announcement OF the passage of the
the amendment, by the unprecedented vote of
l2s to 81, the joy of the Republican members
and the galleries could not be restrained, but
| ourst forth in hearty applause. This was too
much for the coppeIheads, excited as they
we're. and, boiling over with hate and anger,
they fercely cal ed to order the "niggers in the
gallery"
That this result was entirely unexpected to
the Democrats is evident from the fact that,
lust before the Reconstruction Committee re-
ported, the Democratic organs in New York
we're clamoring for the disbandng of the Com
mi tee demonstrating clearly that it could come
TO no conclusion, could report nothing accepta-
Die, in fact was mighty failure The report
astorished them, but they had begun to predict
its utter defeat. The Democratic papers here
were rejoicing at the defections of the various
members, and prophesying that King Thad
would soon find himself without subjects. Judge
then the chagrin with which the news of the
vote was received. The resolution will soon be
taken up by the Senate, and will probably pass,
and then let the people give it their approval,
and next winter will see these halls filled to
OVERT owing and all loyal Southern men well
! represented.
LEGISLATION RESPECTING REMOVALS FROM OF,
! FICE.
| In the Senate, the amendment to the Post
Office Appropriation bill, relative to appoint
nents, is still under consideration. 1t was re-
considered on motion of MIR. Poland, who de-
nounced the measure as monstrous and revolu-
| tionary. His action on this point excited much
wonder. | heard one member ask another,
" What's the matter with Poland ?'' TIE
ans We was, He is an old Democrat, and
" That is sufficient, t. at is enough to condemn
any man, and lead him to be d;strusted." 1t
is greatly to be regretted that Mr.. Poland felt
1t mis- duty to take this ground. and that he
could not wait till he had left his seat as a Re
publican Senator from Republican Vermont,
before he spoke in a manner to elicit consratu-
lltions from salisbury, and before he should
distribute through his state conservative speech
IS and documents.
o. "Wednesday and Thursday Mr.. Nye de-
lveIed a speech on this bill, which is pronoun-
ced the strongest political speech Of the :
| son.
THE TAX BILL.
Mr.. Morrilps Tax Bill is now before the
House, and will probably occupy most Of i'll
time during the month. Ii will be immediate
ly followed by the Tariff bill, in which, aftel
great labor and a persistent effort, Mr.. Nor
ri has brought the Committee to regulate tn.
tax on wool so to fully protect the producers
of this country.
| MISCELLANEOUS.
In tie Senate yesterday Mr.. Edmunds pro
posed an amendment to the bill i'm posing a du
ty on live animals, allowing the admission o
castle bona fde owned by citizens of the Uni
led States, bought in Canada before the pas
sage of any such act. He also advocated th
establishment of quarantine as a protection
against the invasion of cholera.
The House yesterday voted to again suspend
the evening sessions, which had been held tw,
evenings, because they were SO much in ad
vance of the Senate in their business. The,
also took recess TIL Monday that the Hal
mer use, thus plainly showing that no idea o
immediate adjournment is entertained. 1t i
, expected that business will be so far completes
as TO allow them to adjourn early in July.
they so disposed.
, A bit OF news, perhaps interesting to som
of your readers, is that John A. Swift, notoIi
, GUS as Banks right hand man and jealous de
fender while at New Orleans, a man of tn.
greatest quantity of words and very little sta