Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-20
COMPENSATION OF POsTMAsTERs.
N avail Appropriation Bill.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON RECONSTRUCTION
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan'y 10, 1866

MEXICAN CLAIM.
The Chair laid before the Senate the memorial of
didG1anaer j: Atocha, praying for payment of his
claims against Mexico, agreeaby to the provisions of
the treaty of Gudalu pc Hidago of February Cd 1S48
Referred to the Comntte on Foreign Relations
PETITION TO ALTER THE CHARTER OF THE DISTRICT OF
,J Wv. COLUMBIA
- Mr.. Wilson presented the petition ofthe Rev. VIM.
Il: Lee, and several hundred other citizens Of the
DStTlct Of Columbia asking that the word white be
stricken from the charter Referred to the Commttee
on the District of Columbia.
~ MI Sumner presented petitions from residents of
the District of Columbia asking Congress to declare
null and void all existing laws making distinctions
on account of color; Mr.. Sumner said that one Of
these petlu0ns was signed by the editors of leading
Journal OF this city, and all of their employees Re
leFrea 10 the Committee on the District Of Columbia
. U. s. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA
Mr.. DOolittle presented the certificate of election
OF VIM Marvin as 4. S. Senator from Florida He said
he had known this gentleman for nearly thirty years
and gave him great pleasure to bear testimony to
ms steadaS loyalty to the United States all through
this struggle. His services United States Judge
world. For himself he was prepared to ask at this
moment thai he should be sworn in at once, but in
aeference to the wishes and opinions of Others here
read extracts from the addresses of Judge Marvin
on retiring from the office of Provisional Governor
ana OF his successor in that position. 1t appears
that every county Of the State but two was repre-
sented IN the convention and the reached more
than one-haf of that ever polled on the occa-
slon OF the highest party strife before the
war. Both the incoming governor and the conven-
ton were disposed to do all in their power to amei
framed by them evidenced.
Mr. Sumner said he had no desire to discuss this
question at the present time He had the highest
personal respect for the gentleman who sought TO be
admitted here II e contrOverted the statements of
Mr.; Doohttle asto the tranquility existing in Florida
and read letters to the effect that of the
legislature was composed of rebel officers and that
the people OF the State were more hostile than ever
IT they got into Congress- their plea was to repudate
the national debt get compensation for their slaves
stop all pensions to union soldiers if the same were
not given to rebel soldiers and prohibit the punisb
OF and hey
ing slaves to Cuba. Two vessel loads had already
gone.
The certificate was laid upon the table.
Mr. Wilson, by unanimous consent, introduced a
bIi restricting the expense of collecting soldiers
claims against the Government 1t provides that
claim agents shall not exact fee of more than $40
deferred l4 to the Committee on Military Affairs.
MI Lane, OF lntlana called up the bill to provide
lor inc payment OF pensions.
Without disPosing Of the bill, the morning hour
expired; and the unfinished business of yesterday
being the bill to enlarge the powers of the Freed,
mems Bureau was taken up.
THE FREEDMEN S BUREAU.
Mr.. Hendricks said the Southern States were now
IN a better condition than when the bill authorizing
the organization of the Freedmen's Bureau was
passed, and why should we now make it perpetual
the extract from the President message stating that
the rebellion was suppressed and the courts of the
United States IN successful operation and that meas
ures had been adopted or were in course of consuIn-
nation to secure the rights Of the freedmen.
Inns was soon after the close Of the war. and when
we could hardly have expected that the Southern
tates would soon be willing to surrender all their
prejudlces. 1t said that General Grant was in
favor of the continuance of the Bureau, but he did
not counsel the establishment of such despotsrs as
this bill proposes. He said the New York Tribune
acknowledged that things were working quite favor
ably With the opinions of the President and Cen
Grant, and such authority this, what necessity
was there for eniarging the powers of this Bureau
Mr. Ill. took up the bill and reviewed it section by
sectlon stating his objections in clear and forcible
manner.
He said in conclusion that if he had to take sides
he preferred to do It with men Of his own color but
ne did not wish to do it. he wished kindness and
caton m to Pc extended to all lie wanted this to be
Grant said that this Bureau, with these powers CON
terred upon it. would be an instrument Of discord.
MIR. Irumbull thought it incumbent upon him TO
reply to some of the arguments advanced by the SEN
at0r from Indiana. This Freedmen's Bureau was es-
tablished take care of large class of people who
by the results of the war were thrown mon H. bnnI
OF the government whenever in its history there has
been thrown upon it helpless population that must
extend its fostering aid Within the last thirty davs
Congress has voted half million support destitute
people during the coming winter, many of them In
dans who had been rebels and traitors to the coup
try, and had been fighting against us.
We did not hear the Senator'S voice raised in op-
position to that and why should we deny aid to this
oppressed race, who had been working for others all
their lives. 1t was not the first time assistance had
been given to the poor African-we had spent thou.
sands in transporting bim back to his native land
Ihls bill was OF temporary character and was not
1t Is only to provide for them until they can take
care OF themselves. The authority to pass it is to be
found IN the acts OF previous Congresses and in his
The military power Of the Government has not ceased
partment of the Government is of the opinion that
the rebellion is yet at an end
The Attorney General, replying to your resolution
concerning ell DAVIS tolls you that the civil power
Is not yet restored in those States. The President
stl continued the supervision of the habeas CORPUS
in them and General Grant has Just issued an order
prohibiting the bringing of civil suits against the
officers of the Government.
Mr.; SALISBURY. with the permission of the Senator,
General Grant had the constitutional right to issue
such an order. Mr. Trumbull, with emphasis. Yes
most certainly ample and complete authoritv an
dorse every word of 1t, and hope it will be enforced
and II these provisional governments attempt to orga
nlZe IN defiance of the laws and Constitution of the
United States have not the slightest doubt that
the Lieutenant General, by direction of the Execu-
tive, will arrest every man composing them The
Senator from Indiana expresses fear that this Bureau
rection? He knew it not, and therefore it could
not come within the scope of the bill. He argued
Hendricks against the bill. 49,
Mr.. Salisbury, Mr.. Trumbull giving way said as
he was gratiied to say that she had the proud and
noble consciousness of being one of the first to enter
the Federal Inlon and one of the last to obey the
structure then raised; that she one of the last
slayeh0ldng States and he was the last Shareholder
do with the subject under discussion. He would saw
to the Senator that old his State was. and great
as she was she would certainly have to submit to the
laws OF the United States abolishng slavery Laug-
ter and applause in the galleries. which was promntIv
suppressed by the Chair
Mr.: Trumbull then continued his argument He
hoped there would he necessity for proceeding IN
extreme measures; hoped the people of the reSe-
to do. submit to the authority of the Government
Let them be as Jealous in the enactment of laws to
improve the negro as they have heretofore been to
fore they will all be restored to them but they con
tinue to keep up the old preiudices harbor malice
against the Union men, they expec. the forpiye-
ness OF the nation, which they nave so foully warred
against foT four y6arsf
The amendment to the bill offered Yesterday hv
Mr.. Trumbull agreed to.
Without taking final action, at o'clock on motion
of Mr.. FeSsenden, the Senate adjourned until To-
morrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The Chaplain during the prayer thanked the AL
mighty for the result of yesterdays proceedings mot
because of any political significance but because Of
their confirmation of the eternal right of men,
Mr. HUB BELL IN FAVOR OF THE SUFFRAGE BILL
Mr. Hubbell; of Ohio, stated that if be had been
present Yesterday ne would have voted for the bill to
MERCANTILE MARINE.
The Speaker laid before the House a communica
ton from the Secretary of the Treasury relative to
the decrease OF the mercantile marine and sgsestip
remedial legislation declared in House reSSIntin1
passed February, 1865. Referred.
AFFECTING POsTMASTERs
Mr.. Grnnell introduced bill to regulate the COM
Pensatlan OF poStmasters which was referred to the
Postmaster General shall readju-t salaries once n
quarter when there is discrepancy of ten per cent
a private nature. A large number of private bills
were reported.
DISTRIBUTION OF NATIONAL CURRENCY
Mr.. Hooper of Mass, on leave, offered resolution
which was agreed to, calling the Sec of the Treas
ury for the amount of apnortionment for each State
and the District OF Columbia, of the national bank
note circulation, as required by the amended act
COLLECTION OF TROPHIES.
Mr.. Schenck, of Ohio, offered resolution. which
was agreed TO- calling on the Secretary of War for co.
pies Of all eQrrespondenoe between the Superintend
ent Of the U, T. Military Academy and the Chief of
the Engineer Corps of the Army relative IN thGT" i"
LECTION of trophies Of the late war at est point
Mr.. Culipm OF Illinois; etsered a resolution which
was agreed TO: requesting the Ways and Means Com
mtae to inquire into the expediency of repeains So
much OF schedule ofthe Internal Revenue Act as
leves stamp tax AS" DC
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
On motion OF Mr. Stevens the House resoIved H.
selfnto Committee of the Whole on tbe stafa oS ~
Union and took ol up up House bill No. ~ making ap-
June 30th, 1867, Mr.. Blaine, of Maine, in the chair
The bill was read and was then open to amendment
long discussion ensued the appropriation of
$05OOO for the purchase of Scovers Island for the
Portsmouth (N. H. Navy Y ard after which Che com
mttee struck it out. On mntinn thn anrn,a;..S i:I