Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-03-08
XXXIXth CONGRESS- First Session.
WASHINGTON. March 7. 1866.
SENATE.

Mr.. WILSON offered resolution, which was
adopted instructing the committee the Judiciary
to inquire what legislation is neces sary to protect
officers Of the army from arrest and prosecution by
civil courts for acts done in obedience to orders
from superior officers while in the United States
Mr.. SPRAGUE offered a resolution, which was
adopted, instructing the committee on Foreign Af-
fairs to report bill for the appointment Of a Com
mission of two judicial officers one from the army
and one from civil life, to examine the subject of
cholera preventives and to attend the Cholera Con-
Mr.. DAVIS called up resolution offered By him A
few days ago. calling for committee to investigate
cotton frauds. He now offered q substitute for his
original proposition, providing for a standing com
mttee of the Senate on the subject Of exercise of
power of which majority shall be composed Of OPP
Mr.. TRU MBULL caused to be read letter from
General Brayman in reply to accusations of official
corruption made against him in letter from VIM.
Burnett, lof Cincinnati, alloping Burnett to have
been guilty of frauds at NatchcE, and asking for
full investigation Of the matter.
At one O'Clock the Constitutional amen lment was
taken up
MIR. SUMNER took the floor in opposition to it.
and spoke at great length against the proposition.
To his mind it was most utterly reprehensibe and
unpardOnabe. The same sentiment which led us to
bail the abolition of slavery with gratitude as ri-
umph of justice, should make us reject with indig-
nation devise to crystaize into organized law the
dissentment Of race. 1t was with infinite regret
that he differed with valued friends about him, but
he could not do otherwise. He should speak rs
frankly as on other occasions, in exposing CRIME
against Kansas or in favor Of that enactment which
turned the whole North into hunting ground, where
man was game. This attempt was on larger scale
and more essentially bad. Such measure, so OBJ
noXous to every argument OF reason, so pcrilous
to rational peace and so injurious to the good
name Of the republic, must be encountered
as we encounter n public enemy. Mr.. Sumner
spoke of the part tho negroes had taken in the war;
and SAID tho Republic was solemnly pledged to
these beneactOrs by ties of gratitude and by open
promise in the face Of the civilized world, Treason
must be made odious: All who had been untrue to
the Republic must for a certain time be excluded
from partnership of the Government, SHd all who
have been true must be admitted into partnt rship
according to the sovereign rule Of the Constitution
which knows no distinction Of color. In the one
reconstructon is easy, in the other impossible.
He considered this not an amendment, but a detr-
mont to the Constitution, and its avowed purpose
uncertain, loose, crooked and rickety; Were it
adopted, you would declare millions of fellow citizens
had rights which white men are bound to respect
thus repeating in different form an abomination
which has blackened the name Of Taney. Adopt it
and you will still create new war ofTace upon race,
The amendment was as hardy as was gigantic, for it
takes no account of the normal sense Of mankind
took account of the law Of gravitation. 1t was
paragon and master piece of ingratitude. showing,
than any other act of history, what was so of
len charged, that republics are ungrateful. Adopt
it and you ix stigma upon the very name of re-
pubcs.
After quoting Otis, Franklin and others on the
subject Of taxation and representation, Mr.. Sumner
stated his objections TO the pending proposition and
summed them up as follows "a
MIR, President, such is the argument for the re-
lection of the amendment. You have seen, first,
how this proposition carries into the Constitution
itself idea Of inequality of rights secondly how
it is an express sanction of the yran-
ny Of taxation without representation; third, how
it is concession to State rights at q moment when
we are recovering from terrible waged against
the United STATES in the name of State rights;
fourthly how is the Constitutional recognition Of
an oligarcby arstocracy, caste and monopoly found
ed on color; filthy, how it embodies the wretched
pretensiOn of awhite mans Governments sixthly,
how it assumes (and what farce in Constitutional
law) that color can be qualification for an eector;
seventhly, how it positively ties the hands of Con-
sress in fixing the meaning Of Republican Gov
ernment, SO that under the guarantee clause it will
be constrained to recognize an ogarcby arisocracy,
casle and monopoly, together with the tyranny Of
taxation without representation, not inconsistent
with such Governments eighthly, how it positively
ties the hands Of Congress in completing and com
summating the abolition of slavery in pursuance of
the 50 cond clause of the constitutional amendment
that it cannot for this purpose interfere with the
denial of the elective franchise account Of color
ninthly, how IT, in States In rebellion gives perma
nent power loyal oitzensj aud tenthly, how il
shows the South in unmistakabe characters that il
is compromise Of human rights the most immoral
indecent and utterly shameful Of any in our history
All this you have seen with cain and sorrow trust
Who that is moved 10 sympathy for his fellow man
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