The national Republican., 1866-12-05
THIRTYNINTA CoNGRE
snoosD ssssIoN.
fussbAr, DscsssnR 4,-lese.
SENATE,

AHeyor WAS Ouefeu Dy Tue OnhplAln.
The Journal Of yesterday was read.
MT Sumner gave notice that he would introduce
joint resolution declaring the true principles Of
reconstruction, the Jurisdiction of Congress over
the whole subject, the illegaiity Of the existing
governments In the rebel States and the exclusion
Of such States with such illegal governments from
representation In Congress and from voting on con.
stitutional amsndmenss.
Mr.. Wilson presented two petitions from officers
Of the army, ssEins an increase of pay.
MT Patterson presented two petitions asking for
pensions to eertsin widowa I7.r... EHs' n
MT. Chandler offered . resolution calline upon
the Secretary Of the Treasury 10 inform the Senate
what amount Of money had been paid, or ordered
70 b paid since the 18th q Nay last for the Dis
rict Of Columbia for advertising for the Executive
Dspa.tmsnts; also. the number and oharastse Of
the sdvsrtissmnts for which u Was paid, and who
directed u to Be- paid; aiso whom and In what man.
mar the cireulaton Of papers psblishins then Il de-
terninsd; also, the sworn statements Of The pub-
Unsnineus consent being given to proceed 10 its
consideration, the rssolution vas sdoptsd.
The rssolation calling upon The President for In.
formation a. to whether the French Emperor had
Withdrawn one third Of the French troops from
Mexico during the month Of November, ascording
to agrssmsnt; whether any apology bad been re-
csivsd in that eonnsetion from the French minis
ter, and what II any, action had bsen taken By the
Government to have that understanding carried out
came up in order. The question was on proceeding
Mr.. Sumner thought Il would BE- advisable TO rs-
fer the resolution to the Conmittss on Foreign
Relations 1t was very Important question, and
the Senate must BE- struck BY some Of the language
smpleyed He had bis doubts shout its propristy.
II not sent to that eonmittee, II should lie on ths
table for the present, until Senators could form an
opinion upon Il. q. .ar. rf. 3. .E ...
Mr.. Chandlsr thought the rssolssion might BE-
taken up and ACTED upon. II II were defective, e.
esption could then Be taken to II. r..tt4 y L..
NJ L. s.l~
up the resolution. It contained language which
one nation should not uss towards another; and
perhaps the French Emperor was not eognisant Of
the facts in the case. He himself could nos vote
for any rssolation containing such Language.
Mr. Summer had no desire 10 eysde the disoussion
Of the resolution. The Senate Vas aware that the
President had stated at some length what he had
done in regard to the matters referred to in It, and
that to certain extent, he had anticipated that
resolution. Under those circumstances, he thought
1t advisable that since the Language had not been
carefully considered, 1t should b sent to the Com
mittss on Foreign Relations.
The Senate refused to proceed to the considers
tion Of the resolution, and it referred back to
the committee. ....
Mr.. Chandler moved to proceed to the considera.
tion Of bill entitled "a supplement to an act to
suppress rebellion, &c and in relation TO the con-
fscatsd property of rebels.
Ths bill was read. ...."
Mr.. Sherman called for The reading Of the section
PfOpOsoo W % fopeAoo, Wnlcn W0 also read.
The question was on proceeding to the considera-
tion Of the bill.
Mr.. johnson was not prepared to say whether, by
| the Constitution, the President had the power to
grant such pardons without this set. Ths question
| was certainly one for consideration If he could
have done 90. the original act totally unnecss.
sary II he could not, ct all events Congress had
authorised him to do It [; and when he had sxer.
cissd that power Of course in such cases Congress
had no oonsrol. He would submit, thsrsfors, that
this bill could have no prsetiesl effect. The Prssi.
dent, too, had issued fswer pardons than his prsds-
csssor II was very advisable that bills relating to
such Important subjects should 20 to some CON.
mittse-eithsr the Judiciary COMMITTEES or some
other and he therefore hoped that 1t would not b
acted upon now. but would take that course.
Mr.. Fessendsn was Of opinion that every bill
should bs referred to . committee before 1t va,
acted upon. On some occasions when time wa
pressing 1t might seem desirable to act upon hill
without such reference; but he would remind tn,
through in that manner when it afterwards ap
e psarsd that it had been done unadvisedly. II b,
saw any necessity for immediate action In this case
hs would make no objection. II had been sug
which this bill would prevent. Supposing that to
bs So the bill had still to be submitted to him for
approval. He did not, therefore, SEQ that any ad.
vantage would be gained BY immediate action. He
thought that hereafter the rule should be insisted
on that every bill should receive the cIaminatio
Of . committee.
| Mr. Howard took It for granted that there was
some greater evil apprehended by the House when
they took this action than that comprised In the
mere fact that the President had the pardoning
power and could exercise it. He considered that
the great object Of this bill was to prevent an un.
wise restoration Of property by the President
to persons who had bean In rebellion under
the conhscaton act of 1862. II he had been rightly
informed, there was necessity for speedy action by
Congress upon this subject He did not under.
stand that the power Of restoring property forfeited
under the confscation act was leeitimstsly In.
cuded In the pardoning power granted by the Con.
stitution, but that 1t was separate and distinct
power conferred upon the President BY the conhs
cation act; and he had great fear that proceeding
had been had under that act in the way Of rsstor
ing forfeited property to rebels with which ths
country would not be very well satisfied when they
came to understand 1t. He supposed that this bill
was intended to put an end to these rsstorstioni
BY the President, far - practicable; and for ons
: he hoped the bill would be taken up and acted
, upon speedily, without unnecessary delay. II.
saw NO necessity Of referring 1t to the Judiciary
COMMITTEES, or any other committee. They oil
know what the 18th section of the act of 1869 was
the President Of the United States for the future
, from attempting to restore property forfeited be
cause Of the owners having been engaged in rebel
Q lion.
act promptly in this matter now whom 1t was allsgst
+ that pardons were hawked about by women Of a
0 least doubtful reputation In Washington, ant
through them property to the extent Of millions hat
|. been restored. If there ever was q time wheI
, prompt action was required 1t was tho present.
: the President had powers under the Constitution
let him exercise them; but in Gods name lot hin
have additional power In that respect He hopet
the bill would be passed by the Senate prompt,
as by the House. which took 1t up and passed II Il
an hour. The country looked to them with % mucl
confidence rs 1t did to the House.
, Mr.. Trumbull was understood to say that b,
differed from the Senator from Maine [Mr Fessen
denl in some respects Perhaps the power had besI
grossly abusedi but he trusted this measure woult
not be forced to vote at present They should no
be in great hurry to repeal this section which
short time ago they thought right and proper. NJ
, object would be attained by It, Tomorrow, or mex
day If necessary, they could attend to 1t. At pres
ent they should let 1t take the ordinary course and
not act upon 1t under any undue excitement.
Mr.. Doolittle, Of Wisconsin, thought the record
would show that they were not acting under any
undue excitement. This was not motion that ths
bill pass immediately but 1t before them, and
he did not know Of any better opportunity Of pro-
ceeding to consider IL. No one seemed to have any