The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-05-24
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
xxxrxTn cosoREss-FIRsr sEss,
WEDNESDAY,, MAY "a, 1866.

hthinH tOf IN tnCronHo OF the pfottct
American industry. deferred 10 the Committee on
Mr. Morgan presented the petition Of msnufao-
tursrs Of clothing, asking reduction oftsx. Re-
ferred 70 COMMITTEES on Finance
Mr.. Morrill, introduced bill TO incorporate the
National Gas-Light Company which was referred
to the COMMITTEES for the Disttict Of Columbia.
The persons named a. incofporators arc Messrs
Q. P Patterson, II. L, Merriman, Chas. W. Cook,
John A. Rollings, and Francis Wright. II author
lies the Secretary Of the Interior to make contract
with this company, for fourteen years for the gas
required for public purposes In Washington, at o
price not TO exceed three dollars and twenty cents
per thousand feet, and not TO exceed the average
price Of gas In the cities Of New York. Brooklyn,
and Jersey City; and he company shall give bonds
In the sum Of s2o, 900 for is faithful fulhlment
The capital stock Ia not to exceed million dol
lars In shares OF hundred dollars each It gives
the company the benefit Of laws guarding the right
Of property enjoyed BY similar corporations
On motion Of Mr.. Norton the bill 10 authorize
the winopa and st. Peters Railroad Company 70
build q bridge over the Mississippi river and 10
establish post route, was taken up and amended.
Sc RECONSTRUCTION.
Pending discussion, Mr.. Howard moved TO take
mp the jtint resolution from the House proposing
an amendment 10 the Constitution.
Mr.. Sumner. The question, a. take Il, IL Of
proceeding to the consideration Of that resolution.
or course that does not involve the merits Of the
question, and shall not speak Of them. I do not
know that shall be able TO take any part In this
debate, but cannot allow tho resolution TO be
taken up WITHOUT expressing my individual opinion
that It would DO better II Its consideration were
postponed stiIl longer.
believe, cir, that the country has gained much
by the postponement that has already been had.
On former occasion stated that wo were able TO
have better proposition at the end Of April than
We had at the end Of March, and believe now that
we shall DO able to accept better propositions shall
DO better prepared for the question next week than
We now, and the week after better than We will
be next week. Here Ia q vast mass Of testimony
which has been taken. II has been laid In drblets
before Congress and the country never gathered to-
gether as whole. IL has never been analyxed; no
/. conclusions have been drawn from H. and yet the
testimony was brought together for some purpose;
doubtless to onlightsn Congress and the country,
and yet Congress Is now asked 10 proceed without
opportunity Of considering that testimony In any
mature form think, sir, that II Is q mistake that
We are asked to proceed under such circumstances.
think cir that delay for the arrangement Of that
testimony to the end that II may be presented In
proper form for GUS consideration, would be wisdom
i think sir II would be the highest statesmanship.
I think after the consideration Of that testi
mony, we shall be better prepared TO decide than
we are now, not only OF what we ought to do, but
Of what We can do. For instance, here 10 a very
considerable question which shall be called upon
to discuss to the extent to whsh certain persons
shall be excluded from the right Of suffrage
doubt not that the Senate Is better prepared to dis
cuss that question this week than last week, and
sure II will DO better prepared to discuss II next
week than now; and my reason is that the evidence
that subject Is accommodating. I heard only last
evening very important testimony from gentle.
man in whom / have every confidence, Just from
the South In regard TO tho public opinion there es-
pecialy among those recently engaged In rebellion
all tending to show the necessity Of some regulation
or requirement on our part
Mr.. Fesssnden did not know that he should take
any part In tho discussion, but he begged leave to
say that he differed entirely from the honorable
Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. sumnsrl as to the
propriety Of proceeding with 1t at the present time
The natter had been under confederation very
long, aud II the Senator had not informed himself
As to the kind Of testimony which had been taken
Il was his fault; because not only had the tes
timony been Published In the newspapers but II
had been published IN numbers, under the direction
of the Senate, and laid upon the tables Of Senator'S
He Mr.. + agreed with the Senator In one thing
which was, that much had 50 far been gained BY
delay. Tho Senate would remember that at one
time II was pushed very hard in all the newspapers
to have speedy action
Mr.. Sumner did not wish to be understood as
making any formal objection to proceeding with
the measure. He had merely expressed an indi
vidual opinion which he felt very strongly. He
could not help It. He might be In error; II was
probable he was In error but he had performed
his duty, and In an humble way had satisfied him
self simply by making this declaration. 30,
Mr.. Hendricks desired 10 know Of Mr.. Sumner
to what time he Nj 8 proposed TO postpone the
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