Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-01
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1866.
CTA- inns
PETITION FROM LADIES OF K,ys,s

Lawrence, Kansas, asking the passage of an amend
ment to the Constitution as will prohibit any State
on account Of sex. Referred to the Committee on
Reconstruction.
PENSIONS TO ARTIFICERs IN THE ARMY.
Mr.. Lane. of Indiana, from the Committee on
Pensions reported tavOraby on the bill extending
the benefits of the pension laws 20 ariifcers
ant elections in the Districr of Columbia Referred
to The Committee or the District.
THANKS TO ADMIRAL FARRlGUT.
Mr. Crimes from the COMMITTEE on Naval Affairs,
reported fav0rably the joint resolution extending
thanks cf Congress to Vice Admiral Farragut and
others; and asked its present consideration.
The resolution was taken up and passcd.
GRANT OF PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. Stewart introduced bill granting million
acres of pubc lands for the benefit of mining col
lege in Nevada. Referred to Committee on Public
Lands.
sALE or POSTAGE STAMPS
On motion of Mr.. Dixon the bill authorizing the
sale of postage stamps on credit was taken up.
Mr. Dixon Withdrew the amendment heretofore
offered ard substituted another: which authorizes
the to sell stamps to such persons
only. rs he may select.
On motion of Mr.. Clark, the bill was laid over.
WITHDRAWAL OF GOODS.
On motion of Mr.. sprague, the bill to extend the
and bonded warehouses was taken up; the question
otIng on his motion to reconsider
Mr.. Sprague took the floor and addressed the Sen
ate in opposition to the bill
PROTECTION To CITIZENS.
Without taking action, the unfinished business be-
ing the Dill to guarantee civil and political rights
was taken up.
Mr.. Davis spoke in opposition to the bill. lie re-
fused to be interrupted by MIR. Trumbul, and told
that gentleman he had seen people with less cOncet
and more brains.
The question was then taken on the amendment
offered yesterday by Mr. Lane, OF Kansas which was
rejected.
Mr.. Trumbull then modified his amendment so as
| to include Indians not taxed.
A long debate sprung up on the amendment par
tlclpated in by Messrs. Hendricks Trumbul Ciar X
and Davis.
Mr.. Clark declared that in his opinion the black
| man Just much citizen OF the United States
| as the white man.
Mr. Davis positively asseverated that he was not
citizen.
Mr.. johnson said that the ground Of the decision
OF the Supreme Court in the case Of Dred Scott
that Africans imported into the United States
as slaves, and bought and sold property. 1t is
obvious the Court would have come to a different
conclusion had these Africans emigrated here, had
they come as men and not been brought in as chat
tells, They would, Of course, have been citizens 1t
is Obvious also, that had negroes been citizens of
New hampshire at the time OF the adoption OF the
Constitution, stated by the Senator (Mr. Clark
| they would have become citizens of the United
States He read from the decision of the Court in
support of mis- position The Court had decided that
none citizens at that time, but had they taken
the view maintained by the Senator from n lew
Hampshire, that negroes participated in the cleo
tons of that State and took part in the convention
they would undoubtedly have come to the con-
| cluSlon.
| He did not take issue with the Senator from New
hampshire, but looked to the historical fact The
decision of the court before US, and although he
did not propose to inquire whether it would be
tanned in the future but there it is and has and will
control decis ions elsewhere In reply to the Senator
from Kentucky, Mr. Davis, whom he understood to
that under the Constitution of the United States,
no person could be made Gill by legislation,
less foreigner and under that clause Of the Con-
stituti0n which gives Congress the power to eStab-
lish laws of naturalization. lie admitted that that
law was only intended to apply to foreigners but it
did not follow from that that these negroes could
not be made citizens. That would be an extraOrd-
nary proposition. There are four million of them
They not foreigners, and have allegiance to
renounce. and therefore could not come under the
naturalization clause; but does it follow from that
that pOwereXiSts to make them citizens? 1t seemed
to him, that to make the question was to it.
Had the condition of things existed at the time
Of te constitutional convention now, ne thought
1t would nave been disgrace to them had they not
given the power to pass laws securing their just
rights to these freedmen.
Mr.. Davis again took the floor. and at the oonclu-
sion Of his remarks the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE USE OF TIE HALL.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois. from the Committee
the use of the hall except for legitimate legislative
purposes and its occupation for the delivery of he
eu!ogies, on President Lincoln and the late Hon.
Henry Winter Davis, and or Divine service; which
was agreed to.
PAY To PRISONERS OF WAR.
Mr.. ketchum. of New Y OTk, offered q resolution
instrUctiGg the Military Committee to report bill
to pay prisoners OF war the communication Of ration
agreed to.
Mr. Ingerso of Illinois. asked, but failed to OBJ
the relief Of sufferers by the late explosion of the
REPEAL OF FISHING BouHTIEs.
Mr. WashbTrne. from the Committee on Commerce,
but allowing draw back salt used in curing Esh;
laid over.
The REGISTERS OF VESSELS
MIR. Eliot from the Committee on Commerce.
ported bill prohibiting vessels that have surrender
ed their registers during the war. and sailed under
foreign flags, from again obtaining American re-
glSter without the special consent of Congress. Mr..
Eliot said that there had been vessels owned in Bal
timore which, while retaining American owner,
had surrendered their registers and adopted foreign
hag IN order to secure greater freedom and security
on the ocean during the war. He said there was Do
doubt but that these vessels had the right to resume
an American register. He did not think il Just to
loyal owners Of vessels that those alluded to should
old flag.
Mr.. Brooks, of n. Y thought that owaers of ves-
sells in the State Of Maine had probably sold moro
ships than any State in the Union, except perhaps
New ork, in order to secure the protection OF for
egh flag during the war, owing to the insecurity Of
Mr.. Pike OF Me-. said that most of the vessels sold
in Maine were sold to British owners, and were not
retained In the hands OF American owners.
Mr.. Washburne of Illinois, said that the Secre-
tarS OF the Treasury had written the committee
letter. stating that eight hundred thousand tons of
shipping had been transferred during the war for the
purpose set forth in the debate
Mr. Spaldlng, OF Ohio, opposed the bill He thought
the American registry law now protected the ship
ping interests OF Maine too much. The bill was here
laid over for further debate.
NEW BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
MIR. Stevens, from the Joint Committee on Recon
structlon TO whom were referred the joint resolution
and all of the proposed amendments to amend the
constitution OF the Jnlted states as TO provide for
new basis OF representation, reported the following
Joint resolution as substitute for the propositions
referred to them:
ResoiDed, BY the Senate and House of Representa-
tives. ETC., two-thirds OF both Houses cOncurrng)
that the following article be proposed to the Legsla
lures Of the several States, amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States which when rat-
fed by hfee-fourths of said Legislatures, shall be
valid as part of said Constitution, viz:
"Article-Representative shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included
within this Union according to their respective
harg that uNnla
State, excluding Indians not taxed: ProVided That
whenever the elective. franchise shall be denied or
abridged in any State account of color, all
persons therein OF such race or color shall be excluded
from the basis of representation" This amendment
Is the same heretofore under consideration. except
that the words-and direct taxes" are striken out
after the word Representative.
MIR. Stevens addressed the House in support Of the
amendment as modified which he had lust reported
He said that it differed only from the amendment
words 'and direct taxesI He held differently from
the position at the other end Of the avenue that the
Constitution needed no amendment, but should re-
main as our, fathers made it, But Como
veal or woe 10 ~: .,u only equalled for
peclar"'' lat Convention which issued the
--.-,Ion of Independence. The present and
luture generations awaited the legislation of this
Congress on the basis of freedom with the greatest
and deepest interest.
If the fathers had placed the Constitution on the
basis Of freedom in the Declaration of Independence
there would have been no necessity fr the present
amendment, and every one would have been
free and equal before the law. But at the time when
it proposed to reduce the prime pies of the deca-
ration into the organic law of the land a spirit hot
from hell appeared among the founders of the Gov
ernment, which had been growing larger and strong
er ever SINCE The fathers, to preserve and harmon
lze the conflicting views of the thirteen colonies
made a compromise In the Constitution. At the
time that took place there but ninety bales of
cotton exported. Now there were three millions
Then there were but few slaves, while now there
were four millions of freedmen-the slaves having
increased so rapidly as to exceed the white pop
ulatIon OF the Southern States. He reviewed the
present time as the to do justice to the princi
pies OF the Constitution, and he would say now that
he would rather not live than to entertain the senti
ment OF the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ray
mond), and those above him, that the Constitution
did not need any amendment.
MIR. Raymond Qnterrupting) said that Mr. Stevens
misunderstood hIIn IN saying that he opposed all
amendments. lie expressly conceded that some
amendment similar to the pending one should be
adopted.
Mr.. Stevens (continuing) said ne alluded as much
to gentleman of the other end of the avenue as TO
the gentleman from New York. He had as much re-
spect for the President any one but he did not en-
dorse him. for he had put forth document in the
shape of a command TO this House which was a usur-
patton and violation of the rules and privileges of
this House. and hundred years ago would have cost
a British king his head had h. sent such an edict in
such way to Parliament Without this amendment
he conended that the States always had the right to
regulate the elective franchise. and he held that the
pending amendment did not take away this right
when 1t became incorporated in the Constitution It
said however these States that if they abused the
elective franchise the Constitution would hold PEN
atty over them.
All knew of the aspiration and ambition of the