The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-02-02
CONVERSATIONS. PRocEEDINGs.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1, 1866.

| w AS1A&No4OSNN we - 1SNSs
/ .gse SENATE. ~ & o
On motion of Mr.. Brown, of Missouri
| It was resolved that the Joint COMMITTEES
On Recommendation be directed to in
\ ouire into the expediency of amending
Il the Constitution of the United States 81
1 as to declare with greater certinty tht
Il mower of Congress to enforce and de-
| termine by appropriate legislation al
the guarantees contained in that lnstru
ment, and more especially, LIST, tina
which relates Ito the people withouHdts
4 tinanishing them by color or race
and those who are to choose represen'
| tation. I'd. That which assures the
citizen of each State all privileges anC
immunities of citizens Of the severa
| States. Sd. That which enjoins upQr
the United States to guarantee to every
State republican form ofgoyernment
Mr.. Nesmith, of Oregon, offered the
following resolution, which was adopt
RESOLVED, That the Committee or
| Commerce be directed to inquire into
the expediency of making an appro'
priation for the improvement of the
navigation of the Columbia and VII
jeanette rivers, and report by bill OF
MIR. Poland, of Vermont, offered the
following, which was adopted:
ReSoLped, That the Committee on the
| Judiciary be directed to inquire as to
the expecliency of and consttutonalty
| of extending the jurisdiction OF the
courts of the United States over all suits
brought against any person for acts
| done under the authority, or in aid OF
the military forces of tho United States,
and also of all suits brought against any
person for any act done under the au-
thority or in aid of the so-called Con-
federate States, and report by bill or
otherwise.
| Mr.. Fessenden said he would, on
Monday next, call up the constitutional
amendment, which was passed by the
House yesterday, and would endeayor
TO keep it before the Senate until pass
ed. There were number of State Leg
islatures in session at present, and 1t
was desirable to get the amendment be-
| fore them at an early day.
Mr.. Howard called up the resolution
offered by him some time since recon-
mending the trial of JEFF. Davis. and q.
@. Clay by military commission for
completely in the assassination of MIR.
Lincoln and the violation of the laws
and usages of war. Mr.. Howard offer
ed an amendment to include with Da-
Wis and CLAY such others as acted in
concert with them Mr.. Howard said
that on the 2lst day of December he
submitted resolution of inquiry res
pecting the charges upon which. Davis
was confined and that in response to
this the President sent brief message
accompanied by two communications,
one from the Secretary of war and the
other from the Attorney General.
Mr.. Howard read extracts from three
of the documents, and proceeded to
controvert the position of the Attorney
General, that Davis must be tried for
treason in some one of the States where
the treason was committed. If there
INa aYrnatufinn said Mr. HnXgA ri
which has been more prevalent than
another among loyal people of the Uni
ted States, it is this that is due to our
dignity as nation, and to the obliga-
ton we owe to the Constitution OF the
nation that there should be an arralgn-
ment and punishment according to the
forms of law, of one at least ofthe ring
leaders of the rebellion. 1t was Davis
command that shed the blood and caus-
ed the death of more than quarter OF
million of lives, and the waste and
destruction of more than $500, OOO, 600 OF
property.
Mr.. Howard then entered into alegal
argument in opposition to the Attorney
Generals views. AT the conclusion OF
his remarks he said If there was no OBJ
lection he would like to have vote up
on his resolution.
Messrs. johnson and Salisbury an
| nounced their intention, to debate! the
resolution.
The expiration of the morning hour
prevented action on the above by call
ing up the bill for protecting all persons
in their civil rights. w
The pending question wasthe amend
ment of Mr.. Trumbull declaring all
persons in the United States, not sub
feet to any foreign power, to be citizens
of the United States.
Mr.. Trumbull's amendment as
amended declaring all persons born in
the United States not subject to foreign
powers, except Indians not taxed, &c
be citizens of the United States without
any distinction on account of color,
was then adopted. Yeas 81; nays 10.
Mr.. Davis took the floor against the
bill and addressed the Senate at1ength.
Pending the discussion the Senate adj
10uFned' HOUSE.
Mr.. Morrill, reported bill amenda-
/ tory of the law of March Sd. 1865. Dro-