The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-03-10
CONGRESSIONAL.

Chicago. March 1.-The Trihune's Wash
ington dispatch says: The principal feature
of the proceedings of Congress yesterday was
the discussion of Bingham Constitutional
Amendment, in the House. Mr.. Davis. of
New York, a moderate Republican. spoke
for an hour and a half against it, taking in
some respects the ground occupied by the
President, viz That such important cues
tions, affecting the interests of the whole ma
ton, ought not to be legislated upon while
eleven States were uarepresented. He urged
the necessity of action between the Legi>la-
tive and Executive branches Of the Govern
ment, and announced himself an admirer Of
the President and his general line of policy.
Dir Woodbridge, of Vermont, followed in
a very brief speech. in favor of the position,
and spoke with force and clearness.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, closed the debate.
answering the objection urged against the
Amendment, saying it was nothing more or
less than a position 10 give Congress power
to enforce the guarantee of the bin of rights.
He deplored temporizing. and demanded that
the issues of the hour be met in a manly and
r~esolute spirit. One brave deed that would
commend itself to the natural instincts.of the
people would be worth fifty makeshifts.
Considerable consultation has been held
for two or three DAYS on this amendment.
and as a result of which it became apparent
that it could not be carried by the requisite
two-thirds vote at present. Many Eepubli
cans are opposed to it on principle, and
many think it expeaient not to make any
more amendments until the Senate has aetel
on one or both of those which have already
been sent to it. Perhaps it may also be adj
ed, there is a growing feeling that amend
~, a,,{c -,n1 - xx-1-J.ao y > al nraat- -
was certain that this amendment could not
pass the House at present, and Il. Conklin,
of New York, therefore moved to put it over
till Tuesday, April Cd. Before a vote could
be taken on this motion, Eliridge, of Wis
%consin, moved to lay the whole matter on the
table indefinitely, but the motion was de-
|feated by Al TO Ito. The question was Ia
ken on Conklin' s motion, which was carried
by IL to 81.
Washington, March I'm tho Senate,
Mr.. Nesmith introduced a petition from the
officers of the Pacific squadron, asking an in
crease of pay. Referred to naval committee.
Mr.. Sumner presented a petition of the au-
thors and publishers of the country, asking
for an international copyright law between
the United States and Great Britain, which
was referred to the committee on foreign re.
%lations.
Mr.. Lane offered a resolution i~nstrueting
the Judiciary committee to inquire into and
report on the policy Of passing a law calling
a National Convention to consider the amend
ments to the Constitution, which was order
ed printed.
The bill granting lands in aid of the con.
struction of a road from Springfield, No., tc
the Pacific, passed.
Mr.. Sumner presented the petition of JOIN
Andrews and others, asking that a change
be made of electing the President of thu
United States, SO as to abolish electoral dele
gates and elect by the popular vote. Th'
House concurred.
Washington, March 3.-The Senate re
manned in session until a late hour last nigh
and finally passed the House resolution no
to admit the Senators and Representative
from lately rebellious States till Congress
declared each State restored to the Union
ayes 90, noes 18. The following were thu
lConness, Cragin. Cresswell, Fessenden, Eos
Kirkwood, Lane of Indiana, Lane of Kansas
Morrell. Nye, Pumeroy, Pollard, Ramsey
Sherman, Sprague, Sumner, Trumbull, VII
liams, Wade, Wilson and Yates-29. Noes
Buckalew, Cowan, Davis, Dixon. Doolittle
Guthrie, Hendricks, johnson, McDougall
Morgan, Nesmith, Morton, Riddle, Sauls
bury, Stewart, Stockton, YanWinkle, Willie.
Absent, Foote, Howard and Wright
The above division was the same as on tn
Question of passing the Freedmen's Bill owe
the veto, with the exception of the absenc
of Howard, who would have voted aye. TIL
result shows how compact both majority an
minority are.
Mr.. F~essenden, in the course of his re
marks took occasion to reply to the charg
that the reconstruction committee wereneed
lessly delaying, and as chairman of tina
COMMITTEE his declarations are official. H
said the members of the committee were des
ignated December 2lst. Congress then ad
iourned to January S. Immediately ate
the reassembling, a resolution passed bet
Houses. calling on the President for infor
nation about the provisional governments
and the process of reorganization under hi
lplan, but no response ofany kind had bee
made. After having waited a respectfu
time, meanwhile the two Houses having re