The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-12-22
Congrans.


MONDAY, Dec. l7.-Sendte. = Wade present.
ed the petition of citizens Of 1dria,,praying
for the retrocesson of tina 1.-THE District
of Columbia, on the gron , protection
can be obtained under Thea rginia.-An
animated discussion took pl -. .iIe repeal of
the thirteenth section of the Amnesty law (which
authorizes the President to pardon. lScnator
Trumbull argued that the President has power
under the Constitution to pardon before convic-
ton, as pardon is an offence not of conviction,
sustaining the position by English and American
authorities. He claimed that the repeal will not
affect the Presidents power to restore property
but that it was proper expression of the
sense of Congress as to the abuse of the pardon
ing power by the President
In the House OF Representatives Mr.. Washburn
of Illinois, introduced resolution which was
agreed to, directing the Special Committee on
the New Orleans Riots to investigate also as to
the frauds in the New Orleans Custom House, the
employment of Rebels there to the exclusion of
Union men, &c. Mr.. Harding, of Illinois, intro
duced a resolution, which was agreed to, decar-
ing that the House will give all aid and encour-
agement to the Executive in any effort to aid pow
ers battling for constitutional liberty, and that
the House approves of the'public voice in rela-
ton to the neighboring Republic of Mexico,
! which referred. Mr.. Moulton, of Illinois,
| introduced resolution instructing the commit
tee on Reconstruction to inquire into the expedi-
ency Of emitting and authorizing loyal citizens
residing in the late Rebel States to form consitu-
| tional State governments, and to provide for re-
storatiOn of such States to all privileges in the
| Union. The Committee ofInvestgaton in rela-
ton to the murder of Union soldiers in North
! Carolina were instructed to inquire also as TO the
cases ofloyalists in the Southern States who have
! been indicted or convicted for acts performed as
soldiers of the United States during the war
| Mr.. Schenck called attention to an advertisement
| of the sale of negro at Annapolis MARYLAND
! for larceny, and offered preamble and resolu-
/ ton referring the subject to the Corqaittee ON
the Judiciary for investigation. Mr.. Stevens
said that there was more of the old virus of slave
| ry in Maryland than any other State except, per-
haps, Kentucky, and that there was no such
thing in this State as a republican form OF gov
eminent, and that we needed reconstruction.
The resolution was amended and adopted. On
motion of Mr.. Ashley, select committee was
authorized to inquire whether any acts have been
done by any officer of the Government of the
/ United States which, in the contemplation of the
| Constitution, are high crimes and misdenieanors,
and whether said acts were designed or calculat-
ed to overthrow and subvert or corrupt the Gov
eminent of the United States or any department
thereof. MIR. Mckee, of Kentucky, introduced a
bill to protect loyal persons in States lately in re-
belon including Maryland, Kentucky, and Mis-
souri,. The House then went into the Committee
of the Whole on the Presidents Message.
TUESDAY, Dec l8-Senate.- "A memorial from
the Union League Of Norfolk, Virginia, protest
ing against the policy of the accidental President
of the United States, and asking for the appoint
ment of Judge Underwood as Territorial
Governor, was referred to the Committee on Re
construction. Mr.. Trumbull presented memo
rial from loyal citizens of louisiana, said to
comprise one-third of the loyal white citizens OF
the State, and signed by Governor Wells and
others, stating, that the present political organi-
cation of Louisiana is not republican or loyal,
| and asking that they be superseded and Pro-
| visional Government be established In present.
ing the memorial, Mr.. Trumbull said that If ii
was true, as alleged that the loyal people were
| unprotected and at the mercy of the Rebels it
was the plain duty of Congress to drive out the
usurpers witha strong hand. The power of Con-
gresS in the premises was absolute and it was
incumbent on them to extend the fostering hand
of the Government over the loyal citizens He
| (Mr. I was informed that taxes were now lev
led upon the people of the State of Alabama to
pay the salaries of Rebel officials Mr.. Howard
said the authority to do this might be found ia
the circular letter ofSecretary Seward authoriz-
ing taxes to be levied to pay the expenses of the
! Provisional Governors and the O. Institutional
/ Conventions Mr.. Trumbull said the cases to
which he referred went farther back than that
| Taxes had been levied to pay the salaries of Re
bel officials during the rebellion. The Rebel con-
| scription officer of Alabama had thus been paid
In fact, he had been informed that unless some
thing was done, the loyal people ofNorth CARROLL
ma, Alabama, Texas and other States would have
| to leave. How long, he asked, was the Congress
Of the United States to sit idle and let this state
of affairs go on The duty of Congress was to
interfere at once, and set aside these political or
CARNATIONS. The memorial was referred to the
! Committee on Reconstruction. The bill for the
admission of Nebraska was taken up, the pending
question being on the amendment of Mr. Brown,
| denying admission until civil and political rights
are secured to all, without regard to color Mr..
! Wade argued in favor of the admission and
against the proposed amendment as incapable of
accomplishing its object. Mr.. Sumner urged the
adoption of the amendment, and Messrs Cowan
and Doolittle addressed the Senate against the
bill.
House Of Representatives. The bill changing
the time for electing members Of the House was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The
consideration of the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial Appropriation bill was resumed and sew
eral amendments were adopted thereto.
WEDNESDAY, Dec l9.-Sendte bill for
the admission of Nebraska was taken up While
the bill was under consideration Mr. Howard, of
Michigan, took occasion to express himself as de-
cidedly opposed to any understanding that Con-
gress was committed to the doctrine that the
Rebel States should be re-admitted upon their ac-
ceptance of the Constitutional Amendment He
held that they must also modify their laws and
State Constitutions TO conform with the amend
ments to the Constitution of the United States.
House Of Representatives. Phelps, of Ma |
ryland introduced resolution, which was
agreed to, instructing the Commute on Ways |
and Means to inquire into the expediency of so
amending the Internal Revenue laws as to dis |
pense with taxes on gross receipts. Mr. Julian,
of Indiana; introduced a resolution, which was5
adopted, instrueting the Committee on Publica
Lands to inquire into the expediency of so amends.
ing the Homestead act as to require sll applicants
for such lands, after June l. 1867, to make oath
that they had not been ia rebellion against the
United States, and had not given aid and COM
fort to its enemies The House resolved itself
into Committee of the Whole on the Legislative,
Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill An
amendment striking out the appropriation for
the Presidents pardon clerk u was adopted. -
An amendment, providing that Collectors and
Assessors of the internal Revenue not appoint
ed to fill vacancycaused by death or resignation
should not be entitled to receive any salary or
emoldment Of their office unless confirmed by
the Senate. A prolonged debate arose on this
proposition, and it was adopted
Gas> The Raleigh IN. G. Standard, owned and
edited by the former Provisional Governor, Hol-
den, has no faith in the present State govern
ments of the South. It.says:
6 Let Congress commence de aoUo Let the
new governments be founded on the rock of Loy- I
atty, and not as the existing experiments are. on
the shifting sands of secession and treason Wei
think the loyal people of North Carolina are cons