Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-01-17
WAsnlNnrnN. Ian. l0.

ectte, offered the petition OF the color
ed citizens Of Savannah, asking Cor
the right of suffrage, Referred.
Mr. Fesscnden, OF Maine, from the
Finance Committee, reported the
House bill! authorizing the Secretary
Of the Treasury TO appoint assistant
assessors of internal revenue.
Mr.. Fesscnden explained that at
present the assistant assessors were
appointed by the assessors, and the
bill proposed TO change this and give
the appointing power to the Secretary
Of the Treasury.
Mr.. Sumner said he would vote for
the bill, but with the understanding
that the Secretary of the Treasury, in
making these appointments, would
obey the laws of Congress in requiring
the oath to be taken by all appointees,
and would pct IN his own authority
relieve certain persons from taking
the cath.
I'VE all know" said Mr.. Sumner,
"that the Secretary Of tho Treasury
has Undertaken to do that, object to
tho exercise of any such power by
that functionary, and ! shall insist
that any appointments made by him
under this act shall be made also with
reference to all the existing laws of
Congress, that whosoeyer enters upon
duties under this act shall take the
oath required by Congress-
AT the request OF Mr.. Fessenden the
bill was laid over for the present.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, asked TO take
up the Senate bill No. !, to regulate
the elective franchise in the District
OF Columbia.
The bill was read. II provides that
each and every male person ofthe age
of twenty-one years and upwards who
has not been convicted ofan infamous
crime or offence, and who is citizen
Of the United States, and who shall
have resided in the District for the
period Of six months shall be entitled
to the elective franchise The bill
was recommitted TO the Committee
on the District, on motion Of Mr..
Yates, of Illinois.
Mr.. Howe, Of Wis, offered joint
resolution declaring that,
Whereas, the people Of the eleven
insurrectionary States have declared
their independence of the United
States, and have made war against
the government, and abolished the po-
litical functions guaranteed to them
And whereas, military tribunals are
not suited TO the wants of these pco
pie, therefore provisional governments
should be instituted suited to their
wants and necessities.
Mr.. Howe proceeded, having argued
against the doctrine of State rights,
to demonstrate that in seeding the
Southern States had destroyed their
existence as States. He denied the
doctrine of the indestructibility ofthe
State Government. State Govern
ments were things of human origin.
and were made and unmade by men.
he denied the right of the President
TO restore the rebel States. The Pres
ident's duties were executive. nothing
else. The President could not trans
fer an old musket from one man to
another nor fix tho price Of an acre
Of public land. Speaking Of the effect
Of restoring the civil rights Of the
States lately in rebellion, Mr.. Howe
said it would add fifty-eight members
to the House and twenty-five to the
Senate. The right Of the President
to control the question would give
him the power, if disposed, to work
for his own reelection, and TO add to
the vote of the electoral college more
than one-third of its present number.
The responsibility devolves upon Con-
gress to say whether the functions of
the Southern States should be restored
and, for one, be (Mr. Howe would say
no, Congress had not been asked to
restore these functions. The election
of members Of Congress was taking il
for granted that these functions had
never been suspended, and not asking
for their restoration.
Mr.. Howe stated his reasons for op-
posing immediate restoration. The
people Of the South were unwilling TO
dojustieeto the freedmen. They were
not loyal, and they would not abide
by the results Of the war He would
say to the President that he, and those
with whom he acted, would stand by
him If he would stand by the United
States. In conclusion, he advocated
the appointment Of Provisional Gov
ernors and Judges for the lately re-
bellious States, giving TO Congress a
veto upon all acts calculated TO Cypress
any class. He would give them dele.
gates to Congress alse. This was the
only feasible plan, for the Southern
States were unfit for self-government.
and anarchy would ruin them. This
plan he believed to be the only one
calculated to insure the safety and