The New York herald., 1866-02-10

| Mr. DAVIS (dem) of KY offered a resolution declar-
made against the cotton agents Of the Treasury Depart
ment therefore, resolved, that committee be raised TO
investigate such charges.
Mr. SUMNER (rcp) Of Mass, objected to tha present
consideration Of the resolution but afterwards withdrew
his objection at the request of Mr. Sherman wn depre
Gated the habit OF making general accusations aad called
\ upon Mr. Davis TO make specific charges.
Mr DAVIS had been Informed, from various sources, OF
the truth OF these charges He had been told by friend
| of his who had means of knowing that within his own
! experience in the South there man connected
with the Treasury Department, within swoopof thou
sand miles, who had not been corrupted He would
agree TO subssanate the charges II the committee we're
| formed
| Mr. sHERMay said that the charge OF Mp Davis
very sweeping In its character The Secretary OF the
Treasury had told him that the most violent charges were
generally brought against the most faithful officers He
called upon Mr. Davis TO make specific charge and he
would guarantee fair investigation.
the majority Of which would be favorable to fair inves
tgation We had been told that General Dana while In
command the Mississippi had seized and appropriated
belonging to private citizen and used the pro-
ceeds for his own benefit He did not think II fair to-
| place such an investigation in the hands of who
wanted to stiae it, He would ask nothing more than
Mr. STERMAN said that while he was a member OF the
House he sanctioned investigation Of charges
| against democratic administration until they were
properly certified TO- He had no objection to the propo
ston OF Mr. Davis IL there reasonable ground Tor IT,
Mr. DAVIS said he would agree to prove other frauds
than cotton frauds II the committee raised He
government committed by federal officers In Kentucky
Mr. FEssEsDps trep) Of Me-, was afraid that Mr. Davis
|
with such jaundced eye that he would II charged With
the investigation proposed unintentionaily Do them In
justice He cond not therefore, agree with Mr. Sher
man that Mr. Davis might wah propriety he entrusted
with the conduct OF such an investigation while he Mr
Fessenden) had charge Of these cotton agencies He had
heard OF great many accusations against men, but they
were all uniounded Finally, he adopted rule to com
pei all charges TO be reduced to writing and after that he
| had heard no more complaints He could and no man
willing TO take the responsibility OF making charges
against these agents He believed the present Secretary
of the Treasury to be competent and faithful In the dis
charge OF his duties He repeed tho charge that Mr..
McCuoch had refused to do justice 10 any man. and he
opposed 10 these fishing committees being raised
general charges. He would favor Investigation on
specific charges or specific charge He hoped the com
miitec would not be appo nted until sometng definite
given to tho Senate on tho subject
Mr.. CosNFss, trepl OF Cal, moved the postponcmcnt
taking up the bill 10 extend tho e for the withdrawal
OF goods from public warehouses.
Mr.. McDouGiLL. tdem) OF Cal, offered amendment
to Mr. Davis resolution. 10 make II include in
vcsligation into all the charges aganst government Off
at Now Orleans and IN the Mississippi Department
Mr. McDougall, in the OF some remarks stated
that he knew Of IA who had been rejected by the
Senate for captain and quarermaser, who was nothing
but common gambler in California not worth $4,000
After hs rejection by the Senate he went down to New
Orleans, where bis brother was In command. He en-
by his will, which now in the Surrogates Court in
New York 1t was clear that he had mnde 1000 900
He supposed the Senate knew who he meant The name
OF Benjamin j. Butler was familiar 10 all.
Mr. CoSSEss moved to lay Mr. Davis resolution on the
table which was negatyed.
Mr. DAVIS knew Of several who bad gone into tho
army very poor and had come rich on very moderate
salaries He confessed that he had his prcudices on this
subject and that he would commence the investigation
with conviction that there great deal OF swndng
done. lie would not ask TO be upon the comm ttee II
raised All he would ask was a fair committee and n
fair nvcstgat such a committee and such an invcs
iigatlon would bring millions TO the Treasury.
rE coNsrirur osaL AmxNDMET-srkEtH or MR. JOHNSON
Pending this discussion the morning hour expired,
aud the Joint resol tion 10 amend the constitution OF the
United States taken up.
marks he about 10 make he would addrfss himself
first 10 the consideration OF the resolution In order to
ascertain ITS exact meaning secondly 10 the supposed
necessity which causes such an amendment ana.
thirdly, 10 s effect upon tho condition OF the country
IN tnls a. upon every o'ner case upon whnn
important that all should very distinctly understand
what the azure under consideration is The second
section Of the first Gle OF the constitution regulates the
mode In which n,aon and taxation 20 be
certained II makes both depend upon the same fact
Representation is 10 be agportoned according 10 mum
bers and direct taxation Is To be appooned In the
way Az the resolution was Grsi reported FROM the
mittee II stood " that way Upon the recommitment
tho provision which II originally contained In relation
direct taxation annulcd, and II now stands as pro
position to amend the constitution TO affect alone
the section Of the article OF the constitution
relates TO tho mode which the number o. renre
seniatyes Ia to be ascertaned The senate
ber that repr senation was based upon numbers with
exceptions The st exception Indians not taxed
the other was that that portion Of the people tho
Southern states which held In slavery not 60 he
taken into the account 10 s entire extent but only 10
the extent Of bree tbs OF the whole that as the con
stitution stands and slavery longer exits, the
Solhern States would be entitled to representation for
the whole number Of people there The ensct Of the
/
u 10 make change In the spending requirement
OF the const tuition excep, that 4 meets the provision
that three only Of certain class shall be counted
The for that omission % apparent There
are perso-s now in existence In any State Of the
Union who not TO be considered as men hut ~
property The provision in relation to the esiima.
ton Of three fiths instead OF the whole number
made because there did that time exist In tie
states class OF persons who held the double capacity
OF men and property, or to speak more correctly, who
were persons and chai,es There was great dsal,y in
far that class Of persons concerned, repre-en
tation to be ascerisned, and equal difficulty in
ascertaining far they were concerned. how the
provision as to taxation t0 be made. In those day
there no such objections seem now 10 10 insu
perable 70 the minds of senators the subject
compronising They 10 the copclusioD that the
good Of the country demanded that there should be
compromise and they proposed n compromise the pro
vision which now stand. aud that ~ for the purpose oi
representation persons held In slavery or involuntary
servtude shall be esteemed three minis men hnd TWO
relation 20 taxation They very wisely concluded that
was all important that sonie general rule should be
adopted that this the best rule, because promising
more than any other rule 10 arrive al just result Of
a.cerainng the number representatives and the quota
Of taxation Now, as far relates 10 the quota of iaNa
ton far relates 10 the quota Of representatives tho
state Of things Il. clearly changed There are no pcrson'
now, 30 10 speak who are three hfthz men and two
nfhs property We all STAND upon the Sano platform.
A. We came from naiu res God stand together upon
unity as ar a. relates 90 human rights; and u
trey unnecessary therefore 10 change the mode Of ar
portOning representation and TAXATION except for
other cause which did not enter into the estimation oi
the wise and great ones by whom the government vas
made and the constitution adopted In recommending
this particular provision Ths amendment 70 the
States you be- entitled 10 number ~ representa-
tives n proportion 10 yo0r number which u all right
Our fathers designed that when they made the
ment: aud under II the country has gone prosper
ousy. But say the amendment. further, 10 the
cise of your rght you think proper to exclude
from the privilege of suffrage any portion O! the
number OF that population account of color
that portion 90 be- deducted from the amount Of
bers which 10 regulate the number Of your Representa-
tivcs and rover In the government is corresTond
ingly decreased And h does than that u not only
says that there be by State legislation distinction on
Of color In the exercise of the elective franchise
only shall the number Of such persons who may bo
20 excluded from franchise be- deducted FROM the
OF persons which the number ~ yOui
Pan aenfu bflt eyer MAJ