The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-02-27
CONGRESS-.


Feb. 19-In the Senate, Ar Wilson intro
duced Joint resolution to disband the militia
force 10 the late rebellious States, and to FORBID
their re organization. lie read q letter from
Generals Thomas, Swain, Hartsuff and others,
Of the Freedmen's Bureau in the Gulf States,
showing the necessity Of the measure. MIR Sal
;sbnrv objected to the introduction Of the reso-
luton. saving that Congress has no right to dis
band State militia
The President sent in veto of the amend
ments to the Freedmen's Bureau bill, which
caused much excitement.
: In the House, Mr. Mckee introduced reso-
linton which was referred to the Committee on
the judiciary, proposing an amendment to the
Constitution to prevent any one who served in
any Office under the Confederacy from ever hold
ing Office under the United States
MIR Brommel introduced resolutions 6eclar-
ing that the States which did not reGounce
their allegiance to the Federal Government are
the only proper ones to adopt amendments to
the Constitution. Referred to the judiciary
Committee.
The House adopted, by large majority, reso-
lutions declaring that the rebellion deprived
the people of the South of all civil government;
that it therefore becomes the duty OF Congress
TO enable them to organize State Governments;
and that. the condition of these States fully JUS
titles the President in the suspension of the
privilege of the writ of Adbeas corpus: and the
President is also justified 10 maintaining military
possession and control, thereby emitting him to
the thanks of the nation for employing the war
power for the protection OF Union citizens ana
the freedmen in those States.
February 2O.-In the Senate, Mr. Wade Of
fered a resolution to amend the Constitution SO
4 ILL IL
for a second term. He advocated the amend
ment in a strong speech, abiding in very caus-
tic terms to the President who, he said, SO ia
from rendering treason odious by punishment,
bad hoisted into the most exalted positions many
of the leading traitors IN the South He said
that the policy which has been developed is
! grateful to the ears and hearts Of every enemy
| of the country, and was no less than that those
States should suffer nothing by the rebellion,
! but shall be admitted unwashed and red with
the blood Of our countrymen into full commun-
ion with the honest, loyal men of the Govern
ment, and into the Councils of the nation. i /
| MIR Wilson offered resolution, which was
adopted, iustructpg the Committee Oh Recon
struction to inquire how far the lately rebellious
States had conformed to the requirements of
the Presidents reconstruction policy.
! At one o'clock the unfinished business of yes
terday, which was the Freedman's Bureau bill
returned by the President, with his exceptions,
was before the Senate.
Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, made long argu-
mcnt sustaining the veto of the President.
Mr. Trumbull followed in opposition, after
which vote was taken on the bill, resulting,
yeas 30, nays lS-not tmo-Mirds rotc So
the bill did not pass. Among those voting in
the negative were Messrs. Cowan, Dixon and
Doolittle.
| tn the House. Mr. Stevens, from the Joint
! Committee on Reconstruction, reported joint
resolution, that in order to close agitation on
the question which seems likely to disturb the
action of the Government, well to quiet
! the uncertainty which exists in the minds of
the people of the eleven States which have been
declared to be in instruction, no Senator or
Representative shall be admitted into either
branch Of Congress from either of the said
States, unless Congress shall have declared such
States entitled to Representatives
Mr. Order obtained leave to read minority
| report from the Reconstruction Committee con-
Guiding with resolution declaring that the
State of Tennessee is entitled to representation,
and that her representatives be hereby admitted
on qualifying according to law:
Mr. Stevens said there was an earnest dispo
stion, until yesterday, to enquire into the con-
could not admit the State to representation, but
since yesterday there has been such a state >oi
things which has induced the committee to con-
slider it wholly out of their power to proceed
further without surrendering a great principle
aud without surrendering the rights Of this
body to the usurper of another power. He de-
manded the previous question
! Mr. Rogers, amid calls of order, declared
against the passage of this resolution under the
gag rule. Mr. Stevens objected to Mr. Gfidei
making the report. He said he could not con.
sent. for there earthquake around US
and he trembled and dare not yield There
was much excitement and calls to order during
the proceedings. Mr. Stevens having moved
the previous question the resolutioy, Messrs
Eldrdge, johnson, Chandler ADD others sought
to stave off vote by moving to adjourn etc
The questions were decided 10 the negative, by
yeas and nays.
Mr. Eldridge said he and bis friends would
stop these cilatory motions if Mr. Stevens would
withdraw the demand for the previous question
so that the resolution might be debated
Mr. Stevens said be sat here for forty eight
hours in 1861, when che Rebels went out and
be could stand it for thirty hours longer
The resolution was adopted, yeas 100, nays 40
February 2l.-ln the Senate, Mr. Fessendeu
moved that the regular order, which was the
constitutional amendment, be postponed. and
that the Senate proceed to the consideration OF
the resolution providing that until Congress
shall SO decide, no Senator or Representative
from the lately rebellious States shall be admit
ted to Congress. The motion was agreed to-
The concurrent resolution was then read the
first time, after which the constitutional amend.
ment was taken up