New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MRAyIyG or THR RPvPyTrR TAx

Mr.. MORRILL, (Vt.) from the Committee on
Ways and Means, reported back the Senate amend.
ment to the House bill. to declare the meaning Of GER
tain parts OF the Internal Revenue Act Of June 80
1864. The amendment which was to substitute the
word wherever" for whenever" was concurred in.
ACCOUNTS OF PAYMAsTERs.
Mr.. FARNswoRTH Il) leave introduced bill
concerning the settlement Of accounts Of psymasters.
which was read twice. and referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs .-.
VOLUNTEERS NOW IN SERVICE.
Mr.. Ross Ql) offered resolution, which was
adopted directing the Secretary Of War to report how
many volunteers whose terms Of service have EXPIRED
still in the service. and why the 2sth Illinois
Veteran Volunteers are still kept in the service ct
QUESTION ANSWERED..
Mr. JULIAN Qnd) from the Committee on Public
Lands reported in reply to the resolution Of the 2eth
of February that the Clerk Of the Committee was fully
occupied.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
Mr.. WILSON Qowa) having the right to close the de-
bate on the Civil Rights bill yielded half bis hour to
Mr.. Bingham.
made BY the supporters Of the bill to the amendments
which be had submitted, 1t confession that this
bill should not pass He made captious objections TO
legislation in favor Of the rights o. all ne knew tnss
the want OF the Republic He knew that II II mad
been observed in good faith In every State OF the Union
the sad caamtes Of the last five would have been
impossible He honored the mover OF the bill in his
purpose; be reproach on the Judiciary Commit.
tee FOR seeking TO remedy great wrong; he was with
rights IN the Constitution respected and enforced ev-
erywhere. but he asked that 1t should be enforced
In accordance with the Constitution Of the country
Had Congress, he asked, the power TO declare that
there shall be discrimination in civil rights among
citizens OF the United States in any State or Territory
account of race or color or previous condition OF
Sayeryf He denied that Congress ever had the power
or the colorado power OF saying that any man born OF
parents owing allegiance TO the Government and
within lie jurisdiotion was net and should not be
citizen OF tue United States 1t bis birthrght and
II could not be taken from him; neither could Congress
declare by enactment that there should be discrim
nation in civil rights among citizens What were
civil rights Did they not include and embrace every
right that pertained to citizenship It had been 20
UNDERWOOD among publiciss ever since the days OF
Aristotle. who interpreted it as sgnifying Q person
who was partner In the government OF the country.
Under the Constitution OF the United States every
citizen In some respects partner In the Govern.
men The term political rights" was only limitation
acceptson that branch Of civil rights most directly
exercised in connection with the Government IL en-
braced within the term cvil rights" what was pro-
posed by the first provision Of the first section OF tho
bill simply to strike down by Congressional enactment
every State Constitution in the land and every State
statute that made discrimination on account OF race
or color There was scarcely State Of the Union
that did not by its Constitution or BY Its state law.
make some discrimination account Of race color
between citizens Of the United States In regard 10
civil rights and this bill would subject the Governor
OF the State Of Ohio to fine and imprisonment II no did
not disObey the Constitution Of that State. which de-
clared that no one should be elected to ONCE (and
that State save white citizens Of the United States.
He reminded the House that this bill stood in
strange contradiction of the solemn action OF
Congress that Just and righteous BILL known as the
Freedmen's Bureau bin, which went upon the ground
that that power could be exercised within ipsurfecton
ary districts and which point blank condemnation
OF the attempt to assert this great power oyer Staes
tions with the Government Of the United States In
time OF war whether civil or foreign war. the public
safety din the language Of Mr.. Adams) becomes tho
highest law and state tribunals aud institutions went
by the board for the time being But when peace was
rcstored-when the Courts OF Justice were thrown open
in their hands -justice to be administered under
the Constitution. according to the Constitution and
within the limitations Of the Constitution The Of
tho lite, liberty and property Of tho eitisen
was In the State, and not In the Federal
Government. He quoted De ToQueville's remark
that THE secret OF Americas strength was
her centralized Government and decentralised admin
conferred Congress the power TO protect life BY the
terror Of the penal code within organized States ana
Congress had never attempted to do it. But thus OIL
proposed TO reform the whole criminal code OF every
Stale Government What power had Congress TO DO
sol that was the question. This bill made It penal
offence for State Judges to obey the Constitution aud
laws Of their States He denied the power OF congress
10 DO this
Further remarks were cut OF by the termination Oh
Mr. WILSON yielded i've minutes of bis time to Mr..
Shelabarger.
Mr. SnsLLApARGeR desired to explain the vote which
he shonld cast He had difficulty In regard TO tho
constitutiouaity Of the second section OF the bill pro-
vded Congress had the power TO enact the first section
His mind had come to conclusion, though not TO .
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