New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-06

put forth proclamation or command at the time
Congress was logislating on the constitutional
amendments. -.
This, Stevens said was in direct violation ofthe
privileges of this body and if it had been several
centuries ago by British King to Parliament, it
would have cost him his head but in this day we
are tolerant of usurpation and the abuse of power
Mr.. Smith, of Kentucky, called for the reading
of the paper to which Mr.. Stevens referred.
The paper was then read, being the reported
conversation between the President and dis
tinguished Senator on the subject of the amend
ment of the Constitution etc.
Mr.. Stevens in conclusion said that if a three
fourths vote of each House of Congress be given
for the pending amendment, it would be a law
irrespective of the signature Of the President, to
whom it had now to be presented for approval
The House rejected Schenck's amendment pro-
viding that the apportionment shall be according
to the number of male citizens over twent yone
years of age having the qualifications requisite for
the elective franchise of the most numerous
brance of the State legislature, on vote of 80 to
81.
The House then voted on the resolution reported
from the Reconstruction Committee. Yeas 49,
nays 40 The Secretary saying two-thirds having
voted, therefore he delared it passed.
The House resumed consideration Of the bill
charging the powers of the Freedmen's Bureau.
Mr.. Davidson, of Pa, said that the close of the
war found surrounded with questions of the
highest Importance. Solution must be found for
the problem of our national debt and finances.
Our foreign and domestic trade must be settled
| upon basis of sound economical principles. Privi-
leges and immunites of American citizens must
be so clearly defined that they may be secure
from usurpation in war as well as in peace.
The limits of martial law must be settled
with such distinctness that it may not be
permitted to supplant the civil, and that it
may not be strengthened to partzan pur-
poses and individual oppression. The Union
must be restored upon constitutional basis of alb
solute and perfect equality of the States. The
dignity of the country as well as its safety, must
further be supported by the unqualified usurpation
of the Monroe doctrine. 1t was impossible that
two distinct races could exist tremendously in the
same country on the same footing of equality by
law. The result must be deterorating admixtures
| of races such as is presented in Spanish America
| The proud spirit of our people would revolt at
| such certain degradation, while our women would
Indignantly execrate men who advise and dictate
| the policy.
| Nj. Taylor, of New York, opposed the bill to
enlarge the powers of the Freedmen's Bureau, in
asmuch as freedmen are to be cared for exclu-
sivey of all other persons it was class legsla-
| ton which he condemned.
| In the evening session Mr.. Dennison, of Penn
sylvania, spoke against the manner in which the
amendments to the Constitution are hurried
through without debate and delberaton. Such
| legislation would be impracticable and worthless,
when the effort was to make a sectional abolition
| Constitution.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, addressed the
House in favor of protection to American indus
try, concluding by saying, such is my plan for
acquiring Canada, enforcing the Monroe doctrine,
paying the national debt, and by relieving the
South of embarrassment, and securing the scat
tered Union. The poor whites must be weaned
from the rifle, net and line, by inducements of well
| rewarded labor. Their idle wives and children may
thus be brought to habits of order, method and in
dustry and ina few years we shall cease to remem-
Der that there were for several decades millions of
people tending rapidly to barbarism. The same
inducements to the oppressed and degraded, as he
has been, colored man. will find there are fields
open to his enterprise, and useful and honorable
career possible to him. and will prove that, like
ut m q
acquire it. Let US, then, reassure ourselves by
experiment, and open them to the enterprise of
the world, and the question whether we owe three
hundred or three thousand millions will then,
years hence, be one of trifing importance. Can
ada will come to like ripe fruit falling into the
hands of the farmer; and if Macmillan remains
in Mexico, it will be as citizen Of the republic
and adherent of the Monroe doctrine.
Mr.. Stevens, from the Committee on Reconstruc-
ton, reported back the joint resolution proposing
an amendment to the Constitution, with an amend
ment so as to read as follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiDee of The United States Of Anle1'ica in
Congress assembled, Thattwo-thirds of the House
concurring. the following article be proposed
to the legislatures of the several States as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States, which when ratified by three tourths of
the said legislatures, shall be voted as part OF
said Constitution, viz: representation shall be ap-
portioned among the several States which may be
included within this Union, according to their
respective numbers, counting the whole number
of persons in each State, including Indians not
taxed provided, whenever the elective franchise
shall be denied in any State on account of race OF
color, then persons therein of such race color
shall be excluded from the basis representation,
| Mr.. Davis addressed the House. He opposed
the charging of the powers of the Freedmen's
Bureau.
AT the close of his remarks the House took a
! recess
At the evening session. Mr.. Dennison opposed
amending the Constitution and Mr.. Kelly favored
protection to American industry, when the House
adjourned.