The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-01-31
XXXIX~ GONGRESS-lstS Session
WASHINGTON, Jan. is.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner presented the petition of
persons resident in this city, asking for
impartial suffrage.
Mr.. Harris presented a protest Of the
citizens of st. Senore County against She
renewal of the reciprocity treaty. Re-
ferred to the committee on Finance.
Mr.. CONFESS presented q protest of the
California Legislature against the sale Of
the mineral lands of the United Statcs.-
Referred to the Committee on Public
Lands.
The bill to enlarge the freedmen's bu-
reau was then taken up.
Mr.. Salisbury then spoke in opposition
to the bureau. asHasng
Various gentlemen expressed their
views in relation to the amendment,
Mr.. Ortiz of Indiana, and Mr.. Sloan Of
Wisconsin briefly explained the amend
ment they desired to offer separating tax
alton from representation.
Mr.. Brooks Of New York made a few
remarks and caused to be read a petition
from Susan B. anthony, asking that the
right of suffrage be given to women.
Mr.. Harris asked Mr.. Brooks if be was
in favor Of it.
Mr.. Brooks replied hat he was if me-
groes were permitted to vote, as be pre-
ferred his own color and white women
above the negro. 80
The remarks of Mr.. Brooks were re-
ceiyed with loud applause from the gal
@leries, which the Speaker checked, say
ing he would use the utmost means to
preserve order. Appreciation or disap.
probation were alike censurable. sf9
The bill to enlarge the powers Of the
F%reedmen's Bureau was then called up.
Mr.. Salisbury said he had not intended
when he came to the Senate this session
to participate in the debates relating to
slavery, but the Senator from Illinois,
Mr.. Trumbull, had said the other day
that it was a necessity in Delaware for
the operation of the bureau although the
Freedmen's Bureau as originally estab-
lished was only intended, according to
its provisions, to extend to the States Tin
revolt. Yet we cannot shut our eyes 10
the fact to what an extensive burden it Is
to become. One thing We know, aud
that is that thousands of the negroes
have been supported out Of the treasury
of the United States and the white peo-
pie of this country are taxed to pay that
Expense.
For the first time in the history of the
country has this thing occurred, that the
great mass of the American people have
been taxed to support In idleness a class
of people too lazy and too worthless to
support themselves. Look around at
these galleries at any time of the day,
and you will see the benifciaries Of this
bureau croyding them and listening to
the debates of this body, How many Of
the Woodworking white men Of the coun.
try are there who can afford to come to
: Washington, and sit day after day, week
b after week, and month after month, lis.
tening to your debates? They cannot
S afford to do it, but under the protecting
care of this Freedmen's Bureau, your
galleries can be crowded every day with
negroes listening to our deliberations, but
doing nothing to support themselves and
. being supported out of the taxes levied
upon. the white people of this country
The bill! under consideration proposes to
enlarge the powers of the Freedmen's
{ Bureau; it does enlarge them wonderful,
iy. / think Lean demonstrate mathemat.
ically that this bill gives to the President
Of the United States, and to those con-
nected with the discharge Of the duties
of the bureau, the power of spending al
! least two hundred and fifty millions Of
dollars.
s Mr.. Salisbury then reviewed the differ
ent sections of the bill, alleging that i
: gave power to a dangerous extent to the
President, as we'll as incurring immense
expense to the country. 1t provided fol
, an agent of the Bureau in every county
Z There were one thousand six hundred ans
se~venty.eight counties in the United
! States, aud in every oneof these an agenl
! at fifteen hundred dollars a year wouls
} come to S2,5l7, 90; seyenty.tvo clerks, O
: assistant commissioners, at 81 200 e yea
would cost sS6,490; and three thousand
two hundred and fortytwe clerks fol
agents in addition to all this, making
a total, for officers alone, of 81 .34,20Q. II,
believed that Legislation of the character
now under consideration would result il
the election of the Democratic party ant
Democratic majorities in both houses O
ln---- n -
%ocratic party was for it to stand firmly t.
its principles.