Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-24
XXxIxTH CONGRESS.
Resolution Providing Against the Admis-
sion of Southern Representatives.
SPEECH OF MIR. FEssENDEN,
Indiana Contested Election Case,
MIR. VOORHEES, LOSES HIS SEAT.
WASHINGTON. Feb. %
~ a
SENATE.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.

.SPIedu VI hSlAIlc clOIera " OuI suOLS. heIerreQ
to Committee on Commerce
u, Mr.. Sumner presented petition of citizens of
Philadelphia, asking that Congress prohibit any
State from making distinction in its laws account
OF race color. Referred to Committee of Fifteen
- Also, petition from Ephraim Jones of Long Island
new Jersey calling the attention of Congress to the
15th article OF the Constitution, prohibiting any citi
zen Of the United States from receiving an office of
Enst OF profit from foreign mower, and declaring
tat saGh Fhc 90, shall thereby cease to be citizen
o1 me United States The petitioner asks that this
Proysl9n be carried out in regard to all persons who
held office under the rebel government Referred to
committee on the Judiciary.
RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPH
-. LINES.
- Mr.. Dixon, from the Committee on Postoffices and
noads, offered resolution that the Pustma aster
Sienerai pc requested to communicate any informa-
oh IN ms possession IN regard to the feasibility of
estaohshlng teegraphic lines along the mail routes
an1 opening them TO the public at minimum rates.
Mr.. Brown advocated the establishment of tele-
graphlc lines under the control of the Government;
II would break up the extorton now practced by the
companies; it would save the Government the i'm
mense cost which It is under in telegraphing its
BUSINESS 1t would break up the monopoly Of news
New ork. and full and fair report of the proceed
lngs OF Congress could be had. Dispatches to the
press could be sent as cheaply by telegraph By the
posi-! and the SIMULTANEOUS appearance of dispatches
similar IN character all oyer thetcountry to effect the
markets. and control the public conscience. He
spoke Of the American and Union lines and the AS
sociatd Press of New York as great monopoiies and
said the latter directed everything for its own bus-
ness Mr.. b contended that with these lines in the
q
FACILITATED and the public benefited,
The resolution was then adopted
BILLS INTRODUCED,
Mr.: w lson introduced bill to continue in force
the Dill tor the continuance of the bureau for the
relief Of freedmen. Referred to Committee on Mill
Mr.. Pomeroy introduced bill to reimburse the
State of Kansas for monies expended raising troops
to repel invasions. Referred to Committee on Mill
BASIS OF REPREsENTArroT. ....
inc unhnlshed business being the Joint resolution
which Mr. Nye of Nevada was entitled to the he oor
RESOLUTION PROVIDING AGAINST ADMISSION OF SOUTH
=. ERN REPRESENTATIVES.
MIR. EeSSenden moved to postpOne This and all
other prior orders and take up the House resnI1ton
providing against the admission of Southern Repre-
Mr.. Sherman hoped this resolution would not be
taken up. 1t had but Just come here 1t was in
trodueed into the House on Tuesday, and passed
AMIDST great excitement twas now proposed to pass
1t here under the excitement Was the business
OF this great nation to be postponed for the purpose
OF getting into political with the President?
Although he did not expect that his voice would be
sunclent STILL as one OF the Senators from Ohio he
protested against it. Why the use of declaring their
power? IT would be better to exercise it. resolu-
senator from . Nsns aims Sad Ra5 od iat winter IN Ihs
the Constitutional Amendment, that it was important
10 nave action upon 1t at once and now he proposes
to lay it over. In his (Mr. 81 Judgment the issue
between Congress and the President was wide enough
and deep enough now without increasing it. This
resolution would have practical effect-a succeed
u.
Mr. tessenden said, after the President of the
United States had told them that they had no pOter
IN ehs matter was 1t not time for them to settle the
Wrangle with the President.
Mr. Sherman-l did not use the word wrangle.
Mr. Fessendenm,I beg the Senator's pardon, he did
Mr.. Conness-That was the word
Mr.. Fessenden-I have no desire to get into a
Kransle with the President, have personal in
The Senator from Ohio is one of the Youngest mem.
5ers OF this body and he does not to labor un-
der any great excitement and | think those of us
who are bald-headed and grey-headed can discuss
the matter also without excitement.
Mr.. Sherman-Mr. President, the Senator says l
used the word wrangle perhaps did. but did no
mean to use such word in the Senate l do thinl
though that the events of yesterday are too fresh
the minds of all for US to take up the matter calmly
dent and would not wish any other Senator to Jus
now. We all know that this resolution was intro
daced into the House almost at the very moment
passed through without debate. He did not think i
should be passed on at once but hoped it would la!
over for few hours.
Mr.. Howe said if there was great excitement il
the puohc mlnd he was not responsible for it. H
was }9St as competent now as he was last week, O.
would be next week to decide upon this question
Inc Senator from Maine, who was chairman of th
Committee on Reconstruction, had given notice be
lore Yesterday that ne would call up the resolution
to-day. The President had yesterday said thing
which seemed to deny certain prerogatives to tht
Senate, but he, as an individual Senator should as
sert has dignity, against either the highest or th,
lowest he Gid not know that these utterances WoulC
alter the prerogatives which belonged to them.
Mr. Doottle took issue with the remarks of the Sen
ator from Maine (Mr Fessenden,) that the President
denied the right of Congress to pass judgment upor
those applying for admission to that body. He (Mr
~ 1ad never seen any Language of the President
that the President held the same position on thi
matter as President Lincoln.
Mr.. Trumbuil interrupted Mr. DoOlittle, by calling
him to order.
The Chair asked that the point of order should be
kill
order TO dlscussthe merits OF question when it wa
on motion to take up.
The Chair sustained the point.
MIR. johnson asked whether there was any differ
ence IN the latitude allowed to a Senator on a mo
tlon to take up, when he was opposed to or in favo
OF taking up the resolution.
Mr.. teSsenden said the Senator from Wisconsin
had mlsapprehended his remarks.
MI Doeilttle said he certainly had understood tht
fere with the rights of Congress- He did not wish tC
elaborate on the merits of the question: but only
repel the charge against the Presieent.
Alter some further discussion, the question was
taken by yeas and nays, and resulted as follows:
= Ayes-Messrs: Anthony. Brown, Chandler, Clark
Grimes Harris, Howard, Howe, Kirkwood' Lane ot
Indiana, Morrill,, Nye Poland Pomeroy Ramsey
S%qp1ner, Sumner Trumbuil. Wade, Wiley. Williams and
Nays--Messrs. Buckalew Cowan, Davis. Dixon
Doolttle, Guthrie, Hendricks, johnson, Lane, O.
Kansas, McDougall, Morgan, Nesmith, Norton. Rid.
die, Salisbury, Sherman, Stewart Stockton and Var
Winkle-l9. ~
SO the resolution was taken uD
,o Mr tessenden said that on the 18th of February
1900, his friend from Maryland (Mr. Johnson made
a report from the Judiciary Committee adverse tC
the reception OF the delegates from Louisiana, on
the ground that the local laws were not in accord
ance with the guarantees required &c There wa,
no complaint made about such declaration at thai
time, but now when we propose to make similar
declaration, it is protested against Mr. FessenGen
here sent to the clerks desk a copy of the Laid
Chronicle OF this morning and requested the clerk
read from 1t the Presidents speech of yesterday
r. Ea nf thaD ~
sion TO the Reconstruction Committee and said sure
ly the President could not have examined into the
resolution appointing this committee. It was sim
PIE resolution to enquire into the condition of those
States and whether they entitled to representa-.
ton. He did not intend to reply to the President
but of the complaints that were made from otha,
quarters in regard to this matter read from the
Presidents speech that when the States have com
Piled with the Constitution and given sufficient
evidence 0! Inen loyalty; then he would extend to
them the right hand of fellowship. That is eSactiy
our position,
Mr. Sqmner7-There is no difference On that point
MI. When?" is the only question
and Congress has seen proper TO enquire and foI
this purpose has appointed the Committee of Fifteen
It's the servant of Congress- and is it right to call il
Central Directory" lie considered himself as a
servant of Congress in the matter, and the reason
why they had not come to a conclusion in it, was be-
cause Y was one OF great importance. The President
mad tald down the prelmlnaries for restoration and
Slth all respect to the Executive, he would assert
ther right to dispose of it.
WITH respect to the veto message Of the President
he would say that he had particular attachment tc
the bill, and certain of the reasons in the message
were suGh as to commend themselves to every one
but the PRESIDENT after discussing the bill passes tC
the consideration OF other subjects aud treats then
in such manner, that he (Mr. F. did not see hog
any senator could consistent with his sef-respect
do otnerwlse than vote to sustain the bill
he contended that the paragraph in the message
reteFng 10 the representation in the Senate although
II dld not say So In so many words laid the founda
ton for the rule that Congress could NOT mass any
law affecting those States until they had Representa-
tlyes IN Congress. What would the Senator from
Wisconsin say to that?
Mr.; Doolittle said he did not wish to interrupt hi,
TREND IN fhe course of his argument but he thought
thaI the PRESIDENT only meant TO suggest the pro.
prey Oh having those States represented before egs
latlon was made affecting them
Mr.. Eessenden-But he makes it the ground of hi,
veto he (Mr. certainly understood the Presiden
70 hoio tne opinion that it was his province to de-
clare when and upon what conditions thesn State
are to be restored, and the powers of Congress WA
only to examine the credentials.
Understanding these views to be foreshadowed ir
that veto message be could not as an honorable Sen
ator do less than what he did. He contended tha
OF Its own members and in order 70 close
on this subject, the Committee on Reconsfrnctio1 M
had brough IN this resolution Congress was
to say to the Executive. and to the country resnect
fully put nry that they were resolved to decide no
only upon the merits of the men sent here "a rene
sentatives. but of the merits of the states sendn
them i'
He had been proud of his position as a Senator .
the United states, and thought that the ambition
eny man might be gratifed with such n nosition
He thought that the people were representaI be-e
that the interests OF the people rested in them ha
1t was for them to decide on the destinies of tb
country; but if they were to be confined to simni,
inspecting credentials they would be shorn of thei
Executive which the Constitution designed He he
Geved that the President was a friend 20 b;s conn