The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-06-08
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
xxIxTH ooseREss-FIssr SESSION
rnuR'D AZ; Jo me :, 1859.

i -
THURSDAY, June 7, 1868.
Mr.. Ramsey introduced bill for the relief Of the
United States Express Company; which was referred
to the Finance Committee. II AUTHORIZES the issue
Of several denominations Of seven.thirty United
States bonds and SKIES Of 1881 as duplicates Of
others destroyed BY ere on the New York and Erie
railroad January 80, 1866, while In the possession
Of the express company. The whole smount is
| 50, 900.
GOVERNMENT rELEoRAPHISe.
Mr., Sherman from the select committee on in
aid In the construction Of telegraph lines and to
| secure to the Government the use Of the same for
postal, military, and other purposes.
| It authorizes the National Telegraph Company,
which was organised April 10, 1886, under the
laws Of New York, to construct and maintain lines
through the United States, along any military or
post roads, provided there shall be no obstruction
Of ordinary travel by land or navigation Of rivers
| with the right To use stone and timber from the
public lands in construction Of such lines and with
= grant Of public land not exceeding one quarter
section for each telegraph section.
The second section gives priority 10 the trans
mission Of Government dispatches.
The third section prohibits the transferring Of
these rights and privileges to another company
without the consent Of Congress- provided that the
Government may, at any time after Eve years, pur.
chase the property Of this company, at price
| fixed by Ave competent disinterested persons So
lected, two BY the company, two by the Postmaster
General, and ono by the other four.
The last section the right OF Congress to
grant similar privileges TO any other company.
WAR DAMAGES, ETC.
Mr.. Wilson presented the petition Of Jas l. Nc
Elderly, Of Mississippi, asking compensation for
damages d9ne BY the Union army. Referred to
Mr.. Morgan presented the petition Of lato officers
Of the Union army, but now engaged in the cutiva-
tion OF cotton protesting against the proposed tax
on cotton. Referred to Committee on Finance
On motion Of Mr. Henderson, the bill TO grant
lands to the state Of Kansas to aid in the construc
tion of the Kansas and Neosho Valley railroad and
its extension to Red river was taken up.
Mr.. Hendricks said enormous grants Of land had
already been made to the State Of Kansas, and
argued against the passage Of the bill
Pending discussion, the morning hour expired
RECONSTRUCTION .''
The joint resolution from the committee on re-
construction was then taken up the question being
on the following, proposed by Mr.. Williams, as a
substitute for the second section;
Representatives shall be apportioned among the
several States according to their respective mum.
bers, counting the whole number of persons In each
State, excluding Indians not taxed But whenever
the right toyote atany election hold under the Con.
stitution and laws Of the United States or OF any
State, is denied to any Of the male inhabitants Of
such State being I'll years Of age and citizens Of
the United States, or in any way abridged except
for paTtoipAtionin rebellion or other crime the
basis Of representation shall be reduced In the pro-
portion which the number Of such male citizens
shall bear to the whole number Of male citizens, 81
years Of age, In such State.
Mr. Davis, Of kentucky, being entitled to the
floor, said that they had been informed by mem.
Der Of the dominant party that they were now en-
tering-on the seventh month Of the session, and
had never before been go backward in business
This was true, and was owing to the majority
alone. In real practical legislation they were very
far behindhand; but In illegitmate, msohieyous
legislation II must DO confessed they had made
considerable progress. Their efforts had all been
for the elevation Of the freedmen to an impossible
stains
The policy of the President, and the course pur.
sued by the majority Of Congress- were then con-
trasted by Mr.. Davis. He maintained that the
policy Of tho Executive was tho right one and
that 1t was but continuation Of that Of his pred
ecessor. The former excellent occupant Of the
Presidential chair had very ofton given up bis own
views to their wishes, against his better judy
ment. The present Executive was now assailed
with such bitor nveotive for tho sole reason that
be refused to give up, at their behest his own sa-
cred convictions Of right and duty.
Mr. ID. said that the party arrogated To itself the
supreme control Of the Government and parted
from the President because he would not be plant
tool in their hands. He read from the speech Of
Mr.. Howard In support Of his assertion, and also
an extract from the Chicago Tribune that the
President only represented the Republican party,
and that when he was not true to II he became a
swindler and usurper II was claimed that
the majority Of Congress constituted the Govern
ment, and humble men like him, tMr d., who had
the Independence to differ with the President, were
denounced as assailiug the Government, lie did
not recognize any such principle. Neither the
President nor Congress composed the Goyernmen
The Government was composed Of three coordinate
executive, and judicial.
Mr.. d. commended at lengthas 70 the right Of the
Pre- sdent pursue the policy he had He said that
MS soon as the rebellion was suppressed and the
armies Of secession had surrendered, the reyolted
States were restored to thei- former position 10 the
Union In determining the right Of representatives
to admission into Congress, all that this body Ia
authorized to do Is to decide the question udcially
not politically.
Mr.. D. concluded by declaring himself rs no party
man, but standing on tho Constitution alone, and
under II willing to do all In his power for the beit
ton of q statei when she was admitted once she
was admtted'forever. II the severe measures that
are now sought to be put In force against the South
had been adopted ct the timo when New England
hung out blue lights to warn the enemy, II would
have condemned one.half Of her adult population.
Men should look little more to their own history
Tho city Of Baltimore was called the mob city. sev-
eral times the mobs had exercised complete sway
there, tst that did not abolish the city government
As soon as the mobs were put down the city author
tiles resumed their powers.
Without coming TO vote on the amendment Of
Mr.. Williams, the Senate adjourned,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House passed, after debate, which oocu.
pied most Of the day, bill to authorize the Score
tary Of the Navy to accept League Island In the
Delaware river for naval purposes II authorizes
the Secretary Of the Navy to accept from the city
authorities Of the city Of Philadelphia the title to
League Island, In the Delaware river, and adjace
marsh land, including the whole of the creek known
as the Back Channel from the Schuylkill to the |
Delaware river, and all the riparian rights and
privileges Of said League Island, adjacent marsh,
and Back Channel, together with so much OF the |
opposite shore Of the Back Channel from the |
League Island shore shall, in the opinion of the
Secretary Of the Navy, be ample TO enable the Gov
eminent to have the sole and exclusive use of said
Back Channel and both shores thereof; the said |
island and appurtenances TO DO held for naval pur-
poses by the Government Of the United States pro-
yidsd that the said League leland marsh adjacent,
and Back Channel, with its shores, as aforesaid,
shall not be received accepted until the title to
the whole Of the same, as herein described Is com
plete and indefeasible, nor unless the acceptance
thereof shall be recommended by board Of officers
to be appointed by the President and provided fur
ther that, If League Island be selected, tho navy
yard at Phlladelphia shall be dispensed with and |
disposed Of by the United States as soon as the |
public convenience will admit.
Mr.. Anconh, of paly asked leave to introduce
concurrent resolution authorizing the President Of