Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-02-21
WASHINGTON. Feb. 20.
SENA NATE


PETITIONS PRESENTED.
Hr Mcpherson presented the petition of 200 cti-
action of the President, in restoring and recog
nizng the Constitutions of the rebellious States
without the consent of Congress- and ask Congress
equal rights to all without distinction of race or color
Referred to Committee on Reconstruction.
MIR. Morgan presented the memorial of the Union
League Club of New York, giving their views on the
restoration of the late rebeous States. Referred
Committee of Fifteen.
Mr. Sumner presented petitions of citizens of New
jersey, Wisconsin and Kansas, praying Congress to
guarantee by law republican form of government
IN all the States. Referred to Committee on Recon
struction.
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
amendment to the Constitution. to the effect that
the President of the United States shall not be again
and Sqns IN e Gea G s Of be 5 % that hat
Vice President shall not be again eligible.
nj Mr. \ Wade said this was no new thing with him.
should not use them for his future advancement
Washington was Of the opinion that the temptation
to abuse these more than regal powers should not be
afforded. Every succeeding President had been of
the opinion. What is in regard to the present
case? The present Chief Magistrate for months
after he came into office expressed the opinion that
treason was crime and must be punished He
stated this to all the delegations which visited him.
But. not one has been punished Something is
wrong.
Is that the way to make treason odious? He has
put In high places many OF the most defiant rebels
in his efforts to destroy the Union, We have heard
much about his plan; what is it ? To bring these
rebel States into full communion. He (Mr. W. laid
down the rule that any who wanted these white
washed traitors to in and deliberate with is
no better than whitewashed traitor himself. If
Jefferson Davis were in the same place he would ask
no more or no less.
He alluded to the traitors on the floors of Congress
in the past, and said they could be crushed in the
field, but here by the help of their serf, the Demo-
cratic party, they had all their own way. If they
had not committed the bunder of withdrawing. they
might have voted down all supplies for the army,
and the Democratic party had even attempted to do
amendment up at a1 early day and have the ser Sc
of Congress upon it. Let them have the nerve and
resolution to carry It through.
to be printed and laid on the table.
PROTECTION TO CHILDREN OF AFRICAN DESCENT.
of African descent from being enslaved contrary to
the laws Of the United States. Referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Chandler offered resolution that the DipIo-
matte gallery be opened for the wives and families of
Senators. Objection being made, the resolution
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, it was
Resolred, That the Committee on Reconstruction
federate States had complied with the terms of res
| toration laid down by the President.
Mr.. Sumner said some six weeks since the Senate
had addressed to the Executive inquiry precisely
similar to this resolution The President had in his
hand all the correspondence including that with the
to himself, he had declined so far to respond. lie
did not object TO the resolution but would advise
| this information.
THE FREEDMEN's BUREAU BILL.
The unfinished business of yesterday being the bill
to enlarge the powers of the Freedmen Bureau re-
turned by the President with his objections, then
The Chair stated that the question was, shall the
bill pass notwithstanding the objection of the Pres
ident, upon which Mr.. Davis of Kentucky. was en-
Mr.. Davis read the bill through. and said that it
created army of four thousand Office holders that
fifty millions or FIVE times that much could be ex-
DeQund under and
Of land would be required. 1t would override
all State legislation M 21 lengthy argument vas then
entered into by Mr. Davis to prove that the act in
question was agrant violation of the Constitution,
and an nracon of the reserved rights of the States.
The points similar to those brought forward in
| the former speeches on this bill made by him.
Mr.. Trumbull said 1t was with surprise and some
sage Of the President in returning The bill in ;nes-
to? vi his objections II vas his Mr. Trambul 81
ernment should harmOnize in the plan to be adopted
for the restoration of the rebel States. In his mes
sage at the commencement Of the session, the Presi
dent had expressed the same hope. 1t was with
prise then that he read the message of the PnMdent
that the bill was unconstitutional and at valance
with the institutions of the country. Having taken
active part in the preparation and passage Of this
bill he felt called upon to reply to some of the obec
tions that were urged.
charged 1t was merely amendatory and additional to
what had already been done. In those States even
now, martial law prevails, and all States liable
to be set aside This bill not intended to be per-
manent, not intended to interfere with the do
nestle affairs OF the States not intended to provide
for four millions of emancpated slaves, but only for
the INDECENT ones, until they made able to sus-
tain themselves. The war had made thousands of
people homeless, particularly in Tennessee and they
tlocked around our armies and supplied with
food. 60 with the freedmen. Congress invited them
| to como into our lines. They came many of them
provide for. On the Sd of March, 1865 Congress had
passed act to systematic the matter and appoint
cd officers in the army to carry out its provisions and
now there were many less helpless ones than there
would have BEEN and millions had heen saved to the
Government. Since the passage of that act, by the
Constitutional Amendment four millions slaves had
become free, many of them destitute not only OF
clothing but of food.
He would show that the Freedmen's Bureau had
not taken of 100000, charged. but only
taken care and provided homes for refugees and
more white refugees had received assistance and sup
port than blacks The President says there is no i'm
mediate necessity for the proposed measure the act
already in operation found stringent enough in
time of That act was to year from the
end of tho rebellion. They all knew that so far as
the conflict of arms was concerned, the ceased
when the last rebel army surrendered in May last,
but the consequences of the far from ended
When that act passed, most of the States affected
were under rebel control, and he wanted to know If
it was not proper to extend the operations of the
bureau to the aid Of the helpless and oppressed in
those States.
lie desired to speak respectfully Of the Presi-
| dent but he would like to know what clause
of the bill authorizes the extension Of military
| jurisdiction all the States where refugees
might be. 1t misrepresentation. The Blu
reau was made a part Of the War DEPARTING
| and did not differ from any otho" "~