Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-05
XXXIXth CONGRESS--lst Session.
WASHINGTON, June 4.
SENATE. .F

-... ' SENAIEs ...
The Postmaster General sent in a response to the
inquiry as to the cost, practicabllty, &c., OF con-
Meeting National Telegraph system with the Post
AT At one o'clock the Reconstruction resolution was
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communica-
tion from the Postmaster General, in response TO
resolution adopted some months ago, oallDg Tor IN
formation as to the cost. practicabllity &c OF es-
tAblshipg National system OF telegraphing in con-
nection with the PostOfice Department. Referred
to special committee ON the subject OF National
Mr., HENDRfCKS, from the committee on Naval
Affairs reported a resolution to restore Lieut.. Com
mander Richard M. Law, of the U. 5. Navy, to the
active list which was passed.
Al one O'clock the Reconstruction resolution was
taken up. The question was upon the adoption oi
the following amendment:
SEC. 4. The ObliPations Of the United States In.
Cured in suppressing insurrecOn, or in defense Of
the Union or for payment Of bOunt!es or pensions,
incident thereto, snail remain inyiolate,
Mr.. HENDRICKS took the tiOor and delivered
speech against the pending proposition. de com
menced VITA review Of the proceedings by which
the measure was agreed upon in the Senate caucus,
charaeteriEing them as most extraordinary and un-
usual lie did not believe that the people would in
dOrse any such caucus proceedings; tney would de-
mand TO know why such proposition was adopted,
and presented to them for ratification. lie did not
believe that the present was the proper time for
amending the Constitution. eleven States being
denied representation in Congress.
This section he said, is unjust to the South and
West II ID was proposed to change the basis of
representation in the House, why not change il in
the Senate also. This was prohibited by the Con-
stitution; but the power that made could unmake.
1t was manifesily unjust TO the Northwest that the
New England States had equal power IN the Senate
with the six great States OF toe est. The I'd section
was penal and contrary TO acourse dictated bywsdom
or BY magnanimity to- a fallen foe The fourth and
th sections we're unnecessaTJ,e es the National debt
would never be repE5 ated and the rebel 1euS 7c-ld
never be paid. HecharacteriseG tie whole measure
not necessity Of the Government but mersi{
part Of political programme. AT the close of Mr..
Hendricks remarks the pending amendment was
adopted. '-
Certain verbal amendments to the fifth section
Mr.. VAN WiNKLE submitted an amendment as
a new section, that every person mentioned or de-
scrbed in section three Of this artcle, who shall
have engaged in insnrrecti0n or rebellion against
the United States, and against whom. no pr0secu-
ton for treason has been instituted, SHALL at the ex
piration Of that time. upon taking an oath 70 sup
port the Constitution Of the United States, be ex-
emPted from al pains RenSSlses Snd liabilities for
Mr.. DAVIS demanded the yeas and nays on the
amendment, with the following result .G,E
As-4Messrs. Cowan, Davis, Doolittle Guthrie,
NAYs-Messrs. Chandler, Clark, Conness, Cragin,
Edmunds, Fessenden, Foster, Grimes, Harris, Hen
derson. Howard, ,Hoyes Kirkypod, Lane Of Indiana.
Morgan, Nye POLAND, PomeHrey, Ramsey, sherman;
So the amendment was disagreed TO. ~
Mr. HENDERSON offered the following:
Strife out of section of the proposed amend
ment the following: "But whenever in any State the
elective franchise shall be denied to any portion Of
It's male inhabitants. being citizens Of the United
States not less than twenty-one years of age, in
any way abridged except for participation In rebG-
lion or other crime, the basis of representation III
such State shall be reduced IN the population
which the number OF such limRle citizens
shall bear to the whole number OF male citiSons no.
9-..b-ciye.