Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-27
Associated Press Report.
XXXIXth Congress
WASHINGTON, February 26.


AAAAAUn CONGRESS
WAsHiSeroN, February %.
HOUSE.
Mr.. BEAMAN, of Mich, introduced bill
to continue in force and 10 amend the Freed
mems Bureau bill.
| Mr.. TROWBRIDGE, of Mich, offered
resolution instructing the Committee OF
Military Affairs to inquire into the qualit,
of the artificial limbs supplied to the soldier
and sailors, and if found defective to report
Mr.. MoCLURG, of Mo-, offered pream
bic instructing the joint committee on re
construction to enquire whether the late Sc
| ceded States are still in contumacy, and i
so to inquire into the expedieney Of levyinl
contributions of the disloyal inhabitanis
| thereby to defray the extraordinary ex.
penses of the government.
On motion of Mr.. SCHENCK, of Ohio, II
was referred without instruction to the Re.
construction Committee by yeas 100, nays q.
Mr.. BINGHAM reported from the Com
mittee on Reconstruction joint resolution
to amend the constitution by adding the
following article:
That Congress shall have power to make
all laws which shall be necessary and
proper to secure to the citizens of each State
all the privileges and immunities of the
several States, and to all persons in the sew
eral States equal protection IN the rights OF
life, liberty and property
Mr.. WENTWORTH introduced a bill to
provide for admission duty free of certain
machinery for one year. Referred to Com
mittee on Ways and Means.
Resolutions were adopted instructing the
Committee ON Military Affairs to inquire
into the expediency of paying soldiers or
their heirs all pay and bounties withheld
by reason of sentence of any military
court.
A resolution was adopted instructing the
Committee on Ways and Means to consider
the expediency of relieving from tax on
property sold under legal judgment.
A resolution was adopted directing the
Standing and Select Committees to report
whether their clerks are necessary, what
portion of their time is occupied by their
duties, and what PARTON by private business
of members of committees.
The Committee on Pensions was instructed
to inquire into the expediency of making a
donation to A. Begler, of Port Byron, Ills,
for sending seven sons into the army.
Mr.. DEFREE offered 3 resolution to the
effect that Congress has no right to fix the
qualification of electors.
Hr. " TDoO1v vFv-V-a-t-I-a-----I-
O4ubAuLg anu ~ " % A0Ah OhNls
A communication from Governor Pier
pont of Virginia, relative to taxes in that
State was referred the Committee on Ways
and Means.
The Speaker announced the appointment
of Niblack on the Committee on Appropri-
ations, in place of Voorhees,, and Washburn
Of Ind, on the Committee on Claims, in
place of Niblack.
A Joint resolution was passed authorizing
the Secretary of War to transfer certain
supplies to the National Home for orphans
of soldiers and sailors.
The Committee on Commerce was in
strncted to consider the expedency of an
appropriation for Manitowoc harbOr, Wis
consin.
In support of the resolution from the Com
mittee on Reconstruction, Mr.. Bingham said
that if the proposed legislation had been on
the statute books the rebellion would have
been an impossibility. The proposed amend
ment placed no obligation on any State or
citizen not now enjoined by letter of the
constitution. By order Of the Committee
on Reconstruction, and for the purpose of
giving to whole people the care Of the gem
eral government, he would press the resOlu-
ton upon the constellation of the House.
Mr.. ROGERS in reply thought the pro-
of Capitalization and disfranchisement of
States. The trainers of the constitution new
er designed to grant such powers as the pro-
posed amendment would enable Congress to
legislate on any subject affecting the inter
ests of States. 1t would renew all i'll feel
ing between the northern and southern
States, and make the latter more the de-
tendencies of the United States. Mr..
Rogers was particularly severe ON the Com
mittee on Reconstruction, which he de-
nounced as a committee OF despotism.
The Speaker was authorized to assign a
seat on the floor of the House for a reporter
of the Associated Press.
Mr.. ROSS introduced resolution inquir-
ing whether clerks to the Standing and Sc
lect Committee are necessary, and what
portion of their time is occupiedsin private
business of members.
Mr.. ROGERS spoke an hour and half,
his time being extended, and was frequently
interrupted BY Kelly, Mckee, Washburni
and others. The Constitutional amendment
went over TO come up tomorrow. After
reading of the journal the House refused tC
suspend the rules to take up the joint reso-
Iutions relative to the Paris exposition,
Rogers asked leave to introduce a petition
in favor of the hour labor system. No OBJ
lection was made.
SENATE.
Mr.. SHERMAN spoke in favor of the
Presidents reconstruction policy, yet he
was in favor of the Freedmen's bill anG
voted for it aud against the veto, but he con-
sidered the President exerted only his oon-
stitutional right in exercising the veto
power. While he thought there was much
that was ridiculous in the Presidents
speech of the 22d, there was yet much in il
worth consideration, prompted by desire
to see the Southern States speedily restored
to ther constitutional relations. While She
Sherman, was anxious to sec a mode adopt
ed by which loyal Southern men might b.
admitted to Congress, he never woulC
consent to the admission Of any one WHIT
had taken part in the rebellion and wOulC
never vote for the repeal Of the test oath
He also favored votes and not population a
the basis of representation, though he SHOULD
not probably vote for the proposition nov
/ in the Senate recognizing population a
the basis. He did not believe Mr.. Sumner
proposition to declare suffrage by an act 0
Congress was justifable.
Mr.. Sherman referred to the speech mad
| by President johnson on the I'D Of Feb
ruary. He thought that no man who was
| friend of the Presidents would be unwiilip
to wipe that out of his history. It was i'm
possible to conceive of more humiliatin
spectacle than that of the President of tn
United States addressing such crowd q
called upou him on the 22d Of February
He regretted especially tho paragraph i
the speech made by the President on tina
day referring by name To Messrs. Steven
and Sumner, But it should be remembere
that President johnson was very con
bative man and had always been noted fc
his force in repelling the assaults made o
him. Mr.. Sumner had recently accuse
him ofwhite- washing, and while no affror
was intended his language was evidentl
construed into an affront. 1t should not /
forgotten that Mr.. Stevens proclaimed Al
drew johnson an "alien enemy" in the Ba
timore Convention, and he recently said
the House that for certain language use
by him-the President British kin
wonld have lost his head 90 vslrs ago.
These facts must he tax o consider
ton, in making up i'l upon tn
unfortunate speech. Mo i- i-i,.s par
graph was that which charged certa u gel