Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-17

of three-handed compromise, which.
after degrading the constitution, re,
nounced benificent power, and lastly,
borrowing an example from the times
of Pontius PLATE, turn out a whole race
to sacrifice. He then proceeded to his
argument on the powers of Congress to
procure equal rights to all, and began
by expressing a heartfelt aspiration
that the day might soon come when the
states lately in rebellion could be receiv-
ed into the copartnership of political
power and fellowship of the Union. He
saw full well that it was vain to expect
this day which was so much longed for,
until we had obtained that security for
the future, which was found only
in the equal rights of all, whether
in the court room or ballot box.
The powers of Congress on this sub
ject were as ample as they were benefi-
cent; from four special founts they
flow, each sufficient for the purpose, all
four swelling into an irresistible cur
rent, and extending to one conclusion:
LIST. the necessity OF the case by which,
according to the analogy of the terri
tories. disloyal States, having no local
|
of Congress. I'd. the rights of war,
which do not expire or lose their grasp,
except with the establishment of all
needful guarantees. 3D., the constitu-
tional Injunction to guarantee repub-
lican form of government, and 4th, the
constitutional amendment by which
Congress, in words of peculiar energy,
is empowered to enforce the abolition
of slavery by appropriate legislation.
All these powers lead to the jurisdiction
of Congress over this whole subject.
WASHINGTON, Feb 6-SENATE.-
WILEY, of West Virginia, offered a
resolution, which was adopted. in
structing the committee on judiciary to
inquire into the expediency of report
ing a bill to provide for the payment
of loyal citizens of the late rebelliOus
states, for quartermaster stores taken
from them and used by the army of the
United States, so as to place such
claims upon an equality with those OF
citizens of loyal states.
SUMNER, from the committee on for
eign relations, reported bill to author
ize the appointment of a diplomatic
representative to the republic OF Domi
MICA.
. DooLITTLE, of Wisconsin, offered the
following, which he said he intended a:
a substitute to the house proposition
Strike out all after the enacting clause
, and insert the following: After the cen
, sus to be taken in the year 1870. ano
j, each succeeding census, Representatives
shall be apportioned among the seyera
states which may be included within the
| IN lan ila1. IN
, each state of male electors over twenty
one years of age, qualified by the laws
therereof, TO choose members of the
most numerous branch OF its legislature
and direct taxes shall be apportioneC
; among the several states according tC
the value of real and personal texablt
property, situated in each state not be
longing to the State or to the United
, States.
SUMNER resumed the floor in contin
uat ION of his speech, commenced
yesterday.
HoUsE-The speaker laid before the
house the report of the q. S. revenue
commission upon the property in th'
funds, the financial system, &C., sink
ing fund and taxation in general. by
Samuel S. Hayes. Tt was referred Il
the committee on WAYS and means.
, The House resumed the consideration
of the Senate bill to enlarge the power,
of the freedmen's bureau. The House
first voted on the amendment of Mr.
Smith, to the original bill, namely, tina
none of the provisions of this act shall
extend to or be in force in the State O
|, Kentucky. This was rejected by vote
of 81 against 131.
The house considered the substitute
offered by Stevens, namely, nearly all tht
original provisions of the bill are retain
! ed in the substitute. The principa
notifications made are as follows: III
the fourth section, authorizing the Presi
dent to reserve from sale or from settle
ment under the homestead or pre-emp
ton laws, and to set apart for the use
of the freedmen and loyal refugees
male or female, the unoccupied public
lands in Florida, Mississippi, Alabams
and Arkansas, and from the confiscated
lands of the enemy, not exceeding in al
three millions of acres of good land to
be allotted and assigned in parcels not
exceeding 40 acres each to loyal refugees
and freedmen, and in the fifth section,
providing that the occupants
, III tnO MAJ N6Il.
Sherman's special field order, dated
January 1865, are confirmed in their
possession, and that no person shall be
disturbed in or ousted from said pos.
sessions unless settlement shall be
made with said occupant by the former
owner, satisfactory to the commissioner
of the freedmen's bureau, provided that
whenever the owners of lands occupied
under Maj. Gen. Sherman's field order,
shall make application for the restora-
ton of the lands, the commissioner is
authorized upon the agreement aud
with the consent of the occupants to
procure other lands for them by rent or
purchase, not exceeding 40 acres for
each occupant, or to set apart for them
out of the public lands assigned for that
purpose, 40 acres each upon the terms
and conditions set forth in the Attn sec
| ton.
The substitute of Mr.. Stevens was re-
jected by a vote of 81 to 126.
The house then voted on the substi-
tute reported from the committee on
freedmen's affairs for the senate bill.
1t is nearly the same as the Senate bill,
with the following exceptions LA@
The substitute provides that the act
shall extend to refugees and freedmen
| in all parts of the United States.