Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-01-19
RT,sxyONaI.

-------- - CONGR RESSIONAL.
In the Senate on the lIth, petitions were
presented from citizens of Michigan against re-
newal of the Reciprocity Treaty, and from a
colored Baptist Convention for universal suf-
frage. The bill 10 authorize the Secretary of
the Treasury to appoint assistant assessors of
Internal Revenue was called up, and Mr.. Sum-
ner offered an amendment that the Secretary
should appoint nobody Who could not take the
oath required by law Mr.. FesSenden and Mr.
| Howard, commented on the admitted violations
of the law in this respect by the Secretary, but
suggested that an admonition to him should
take the shape of a resolution. Mr.. Sumner
withdrew his amendment.
Resolutions were offered providing extra pay
for certain officers and volunteers asking lnfor
nation about marching U. S. Troops through
| Mexican territory inquiring as to printing Oh
| fetal advertisements in the Washington papers,
| how much il costs and what law there is for IT,
and providing for printing 10000 copies OF the
Diplomatic correspondence. The first was laid
| over and the last two adopted. Mr.. Trumbull,
from the judiciary Committee, reported back
the bill to enlarge the powers of the Freednen's S
Bureau, and TO protect civil rights in certain
| States. Mr.. Howes resolution for the appoint
ment Of Provisional Governments for the rebel
States came up. Mr.. Reverdy johnson made
a very long speech on it, and the Senate there
after adjourned.
| In the House, resolutions were adopted di-
recting the Secretary of the Treasury TO report
| how much money had been spent on the Phila-
delphia Navy Yard, and inquiring into the ex-
| pediency of repeating the Utah Territorial Act
SO as 10 divide and distribute that territory un-
| der othe= Governments. Mr.. Stevens reported
the army appropriation bill for the ensuing fis-
| cal year, and it was made the special order for
next Thursday. Mr.. Morrill, introduced bill
for an increased tax on cotton, which was refer
red.
The bill to extend suffrage in the District of
Columbia was taken up and debated by Messrs.
Rogers, Kelley, Farnsworth, and Marshall.
| Without concluding the house adjourned.
18th In the Senate, the petition of the colored
citizens of Savannah for suffrage was presented
and referred. A resolution was passed to print
| 5000 copies of Gen. Grants Military Report
The house bill, authorizina the Secretary of the
Treasury to appoint Internal Revenue officers,
was reported and laid over.
| Mr.. Wilson Introduced bill for the renrgan-
zation Of the Regular Army, of which the fol-
lowing is a synopsis:
! The military peace establishment of the
United States to consist OF 10 Regiments of cav
| elry, 60 regiments of infantry, regiments of
artillery and such other forces as shall be provi-
ded by this bill In addition TO the five regi-
ments of artillery now organized, one regiment
to be composed of coloFed persons officers for
which shall be selected from the volunteer Off
GERS ofarlillery having served not less than two
years during the war, and distinguished for ca
| pacity aud good conduct in the field, the same
| organizations to exist as are now provided by
law for the 5th Regular Artillery. In addition
10 six regiments of cavalry there shall be two
white regiments and two cOlored, TO be officered
1 Ill
| vides ror 60 regiments of infantry, of 10 COM
panies each, as now organized. The nine regi-
ments of "a companies each consolidated so as
| to create, with the addition of four companies,
| % regiments of ten companies each, to be acom-
posed of men who have been discharged from
service on account of wounds received or disease
contracted in the line of their duty-officero to
be selected from the Veteran Reserve Corps or
other officers of the volunteer service who have
! beeu disabled in service. Ten regiments, the
officers Of which shall be selected from among
the officers of volunteer servee, who have
served two years during the war, and ten regi-
ments, TO be composed of colored men, to be Of
| fcered by officers who have served two years
with colcred troops; and the field officers to be
| appointed to the % regiments formed by con-
solidatiOn shall be selected from among the Off
GERS of the Regular Army most distinguished
for capacity, and the selections to be made
without regard to seniority or arm Of service.
The bill provides for one Lieutenant General,
five Major. Generals and ten Brigadier- Gener-
ais"
The hill to regulate the elective franchise in
the district of Columbia was taken up. 1t
gives the ballot to every male of q not felOn,
who is a citizen of the United States, or who
shall have resided six months in the District
Various amendments were adopted one 10 in
troduce reading as a qualification was objected
to and laid over, and the bill was finally recon-
mitted.
Mr.. Howe, of Wisconsin offered a joint reso-
luton for the appointment of Provisional Gov
ernments for the Rebel States, and spoke at
length upon the general question of Reconstruc-
ton. After an executive session, the Senate
adjourned.
In the House, MIR. Stevens reported the Ma
valappropriation bill for the ensuing fiscal year,
which goes in print to Committee of the Whole.
Resolutions were adopted concerning the tax on
tobacco directing an inquiry into the feasibil-
ity of deepening and widening the East River
channel; instructing the Ways and Mems
Committee to consider the expediency of abol-
ishing or reducing the tax on incomes concern
ing the injustice of South Carolina planters to-
ward the freedmen; looking to the removal of
tax on artificial limbs asking the President for
information as TO the confinement of Jefferson
Davis and the delsy of his trial. and calling for
an investigation into a Mexican Imperial Ex-
press Company organized fora contraband trade
between MaximilIan and the United States A
resolution to modify the operation of the previ-
GUS question went to the Committee on Rules.
A resolution pledging the House to support the
Presidents reconstruction policy was laid over.
Bills were introduced to punish counterfeiting
with death, and to build a Jail in the District Of
Columbia. A resolution heretofore offered
about Mexican matters was sent to the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs. Two resolutions touch
ing Reconstruction were consigned 10 the Com
mittee on that subject.
The House then took up Mr.. Wilson's bin
extending suffrage to the colored people in the
District of Columbia, and it was debated by
Mr.. Wilson, Mr.. Scofeld, and Mr.. Kelley in
favor Of, and Mr.. Boyer against, extension. Mr..
Wilson said
"Three Thousand five hundred and forty-nine
black men marched from this District in defense
of our country. They were true to the Govern
ment and why should we not be true to them
According 10 the census of 1860, there were IA
3l6 persons of color in this District since which
time the number has been increased. They
owned 81 ,250,000 worth of real estate. Their
church property is valued at $l25, 900. The
81 churches are supported at cost of $2l, ,00O
There are 1900 communicmts. The average
church attendance is g. 600 persons. They have
schools, literary and charitable institutions,
1000 can read and write
Mr. Kelley remarked that the President had
personally assured him he was in favor of me-
gro suffrage in the District, as well as in Ten
nessee. Without concluding the debate the
House adjourned. a 81 ft.if
Gov. Stone, of Iowa, delivered his in
a11O11ral for fhe second term last Thursday