The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-27
THE SENATE AND PRESIDENT.
Mr.. FEssENDENs REPLY TO THE VETO MESSAGE


In the United States Senate, on Fri
day, the Senator from Maine made the
following reply to the veto message Of
President Johnson: The morning hour
having expired, Mr.. Fessendes moved
to take up the concurrent resolution pro
viding that no Senator or Representa-
tive from lately rebellious state shall
be received in either House until that
state shall have been declared by Con-
gress entitled to representation.
Mr.. Sherman rose and said he rarely
desired to differ in opinion upon mere
question of the order Of business; but he
thought this was question that ought
not to be taken up at the present time.
The resolution is this moment laid on
our table. 1t was introduced on Tuesday
in the House of Representatives, and
passed under great excitement. 1t is sent
here and about to be discussed under a
like condition of excitement, and every
man feels, in the indications that are
around us, in the circumstances and
events that have transpired recently
here, that the public mind--even the
mind of Senators--was not in that calm,
deliberate frame which is necessary for
the discussion of grave questions. And
now proposition is made by the honor
able Senator from Maine topostpone all
the business of this body---even the con-
stitutiOnal amendment reported by him
self, which, at the outset, he declared
among the most important acts Of legis-
lation. 1t IL proposed to postpone this
amendment and take up concurrent
resolution. What is the character of
that resolution 1t is simply declaring
O political opinion, which will not have
either the form or sanction of law. 1t is
not in the shape of law, and is not in
tended to operate as law. 1t is not to
be submitted TO the President for his
constitutional approval. 1t IS a concur
rent declaration. of q political opinion,
introduced and passed in the other
House in the midst of excitement, and
we are called upon to pass upon it, while
the public mind, and while we our
selves are more or less excited by the
surrounding circumstances. And APP
peal to Senators whether it is not better
to look at this matter and to lay it over
% or an isG one here likely to be 7" Changed
Is it not proper for US at least to postpone
this for reflection and consideration.
The honorable Senator from Maine has
SAID it ia the most important question
that can be presented to Congress- be-
lieve lie said the most important ever
presented. 1t Is an assertion of the pow
er of Congress to pass upon the condi-
ton of the reconstructed states. do not
doubt or Deny that power, but is it not
wiser for us to exercise it than to pass a
resolution that we have it? Willy do we
not exercise that power? By the passage
of the constitutional amendment we are
about to exercise it-by its passage and
by submitting it to the Legislatures of
the several states now in session to
change the basis of representation so as
to remove tue anomaly of allowing the
rebel states increased political power in
Congress. When the Senator from Maine
introduced that measure he said there
were twenty Legislatures in session, and
that there was occasion for immediate
action. Mcknight pass that in two or
three days, and would it not be wiser for
us to do so than to postpone it? I say it
is, and we ought not to postpone the
business of Congress for the purpose OF
getting into political wrangle between
the President and Congress. That upon
this question there is deep and broadly
marked difference between the Presi.
dent and Congress we allknow. Why
not wait for reflection and consideration?
Does the Senate lose by it? Not at all.
Although have no doubt that my voice
will not be sufficient in this matter to
prevent Immediate consideration,. vet at
the same time must, as one of the SEN
ators from the state of Ohio, express nv
deliberate opinion that it would be wiser
and better to postpone its consideration
for a few days, and go on with the regu-
lar order of our business, and act upon
the constitutional amendment which
has been so long debated in this body.
Therefore. / shall vote against taking IN
this resolution at the present time. Sup
nose YOU pass it, What difference
would it make. twill be simply an as
sertion Of power asserted by the Senate
over and over again. may state that
the Judiciary Committee, at the last ses-
sion, reported almost unanimously q
similar resolution. A proposition SINH
lar in character has already passed the
Senate. There is no good to come from
the Immediate discussion of this ques-
ton. Suppose we resolve that until
both Houses agree there shall be no rep.
resentatives admitted into either House
from Tennessee until the Senate con-
seat, What then? Suppose a change
should occur in the House, and major