New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-07

be to cripple our commerce in the States and on
the high seas.
G. Mr. Spalding of Ohio, did not regard the bill as
proposing legislation for the whole country, but a.
a gratuity to the ship-buidiDg interest. IL was
designed to punish portion of our citizens for
having sought protection for their vessels during
the continuance of the rebellion.
The Secretary Of the Treasury had informed tne
House that 100000 tons had been transferred To
foreign flags leaving 10000 tons in the hands Of
our citizens. We are now in want Of vessels to &c
our carrying trade on the ocean. He desired an
amendment to the bill! providing that al vessels lei
owned wholly by citizens and residents Of the
United States shall be entitled to American regis
ters under such restrictions and limitations as the
Secretary of the Treasury shall see hit to impose
Mr.. Blaine, of Maine, said the owners of nearly
eight hundred thousand tons of shipping during
the rebellion took refuge under foreign flags, and
now after two-thirds of our shpowners had stood
by the flag those gentleman come back with their
rockets filled with British profits acquired under
the protection of the British flag. The idea of the
gentleman from Ohio was something like this
| namely: They have put themselves in the attitude
of Southern rebels with the rights of belligerents
outside of the Union and the rights of citizens in
the Union, 1t would be disgrace to Congress to
turn their backs on the loyal ship-owners.
Mr.. Banks, OF Massachusetts, remarked that the
measure under discussion was not final but pro-
visional. He said in substance that man who
had deserted his flag and ran away from the peril
should not resume his high privileges except by
the authority Of the law
Mr.. Thayer, of Pennsylvania, regarded it for the
best interests of the country that we should have
a large mercantile navy. He was at a loss to con-
ceive how any man could vote for the destruction
! of any part of it.
Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois, in reply to Mr. Thayer
said: This bill was but carrying out the policy of
the government from its earliest foundation, and
| that the Committee on Commerce had carefully
considered the subject in view of the letter of the
Secretary. Rebels, secessionists, and copperheads
too, should not enjoy full privileges if they desert
tyair pltpfrx in fko rf
Mr. Garfield remarked that the member from
Massachusetts (Banks) had said this was the pro
position to operate on men who had deserted thelr
flag. 1t was not however. a law against men but
against tonnage. He would vote with the gentle
man to discriminate rebels. 1t was the gentleman
himself who was disposed to change the policy OF
the government. The Secretary of the Treasury
was every day allowing these vessels to be regis
him from so doing.
The bill was then passed-09 yeas against s.
nays.
The House resumed the consideration of the
Senate bill to enlarge the powers OF the Freed
mems Bureau.
Mr. Donnely of Minnesota, argued that the
Bureau must afford the freedman education, so tina
he could protect himself when the Bureau wa:
withdrawn. We must legslate in an enlarged ma
tional spirit, and must not permit the oppression o
the South but we must do those things necessary
to the welfare of the South, whether she demands
them or not. After speaking generally on the
stracts of the Black Codes of the South, showing
that the freedmen would be speedily re-ensavet
if the government did not interfere. The right o
suffrage is necessary TO the negro for sefprotec
| ton, but education is even more necessary.
| Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio. after expressing his belize
| that the pending bill was necessary to the cond
ton of the freedmen said he not able to argue
with the President to the status of the State!
lately in rebellion but he did not admit that in any
large comprehensive sense these States are oal;
| of the Union. In the contemplation of the law Of
\ nations State is sovereign, and capable of doing
| all things a sovereign can do.
| The rebellion was commenced by individuals
and carried on by the combined action of the STATE
governments who threw theirp power into the scat
| to break up the government If State can levy
war and commit treason it was done not only b,
people but by States as States. He repeated wha
| he had heretofore said, that they had forfeited
their rights, but had not relieved themselves o
their obligations. He proposed to take counse
| from the spirit CT our institutions and to do al
that ehall be necessary to secure union in the fu
| ture forever and ever. BY the act Of enancipa
| ton four millions of persons have been added t.
| the population of the country, and it was justtha
| they should be protected in life, liberty AM
property. In the course of his remarks he agree
that Congress was bound by the Constitution tt
guarantee to every State arepubcan form of gov
eminent, and that the right of suffrage should b
| given to every individual! who, by education, ma
| be fitted to exercise it.
| The House then adjourned.