Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-23
XXXIXthCO Congress.
HOnSE.

\ OF lcbz. helerred 70 the Commlttee on IN
- Judiciary. rll
: Several resolutions were introduced in
structing the Committee on Ways and Mean
to enquire into the expedience of taxing to
, bacco in the leaf, and into the expediency o
reducing the tax on common leaf
Mr.. STEPHENS introduced a resolution
which was adopted, instrueting the Com
: mittee on Judiciary 10 inquire whether fur
ther legislation is necessary to compel com
plianee with the law requiring all rebels tC
{ take the oath.
Mr.. WILLIAMS introduced resolution
which was referred to the Committee OF Re-
construction, declaring that the leaders Of
the rebellion ought to be tried by court
martial or military commission, and that
it would be mexpedient to try them by a
civil court when the jurors in the South
would be the equals Of those accused Of the
crime. M o-
Mr.. STEPHENS, from the Committee on
Reconstruction, reported an amendment to
the constitution providing that represents
ton should be based on the whole number
Of persons in the States, and that where the
elective franchise is denied or abridard on
account of race or color, all such persons
shall be excluded from the basis of repre-
sentation.
Mr.. ROGERS of N. Y, from the Recon
struetionCO mmittee, opposed the amendment,
arguing that it is contrary to the principle
on which the government is founded, viz :
representation and taxation must 60 togeth-
er. 1t was the design to degrade the white
man. 100 -5t
Mr.. C0NKLING made speech IN favor
and justice of ii. r. 5efs =
On motion of Mr.. STEPHENS the further
consideration of the subject was postponed
/ till tomorrow. -
Mr.. RICE, of Me, introduced bill pro-
viding for the defense of the northeastern.
| frontier. Referred to- the Committee on
Foreign Affairs. lGlr
Mr.. JENCKS, of R. L, introduced bill to
regulate suffrage and elections in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Mr. Myers; Of Pa, introduced q bill pro-
vidihg that in all elections In the District of
| Columbia, to entitle a citizen to vote he shall
have resided in the District one year next
preceding the election at which this vote
is offered They were severally relesred 10
the Committee for the District of Colum bia.
Mr.. DONNELLY introduced a bill to pro-
vide for the payment Of officers and meIi of
the army who by cohfinementin rebel pris-
o1is or otherwise were prevented from being
mustered into the army for some time after
their appointment Referred to the Com
mitted on Military Affairs.
prescribe an oath Of Office to every person
elected or appointed under the government,
either in civil or military and naval depart
ments, excepting the President. They are
to swear or affirm that they will support the
constitution Of the United States and defend
it against all enemies, foreign and domestic, !
that they will bear true and faithful allie \
glance to the same, and that they viii well |
and faithfully discharge the duties deyolT-
ing upon them, so help them God. The sec
ond section repeals the act approved July |
2d, 1862, prescribing the oath of Office. Re
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary,
Mr.. VAN HORN, of N. Y, introduced |
bill for the construction of ship canal |
around the Falls of Niagara. Referred to
the Committee on Roads and Canals
Mr.. BRADFORD, delegate from Colorado, !
introduced bill providing for the admis- |
sion Of the State of Colorado into the Union. |
Committee on Territories.
On motion of Mr.. MILLER, of PennsyI- |
vania, a resolution was adopted instructing |
the Committee on Manufactures to inquire I
into the expediency Of reporting bill !
graduating the tax on cigars manufactured |
and sold within the United States, according |
to quality.
Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania, asked |
leave to offer a resolution instrueting the |
Committee on Foreign Affairs to inquire into |
loan on proper 5 rhs secuTtteyd ntted ss g EaSRatag
of Mexico to enable her to prevent the |
establishment of a monarchial government |
on her soil. He subsequently withdrew the
resolution, in consequence Of an opportunity
not being offered him to explain it.
On motion of Mr.. MYERS, the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, was instructed |
to inquire into the expediency of amending |
the internal revenue law SO as to levy a tax /
on tobacco in the leaf.
Mr.ASHLEY introduced an amendment I
to the Constitution OF the United States, |
providing that in the event or disability of |
both the President and Vice President of |
the United States, the Chief Justice and !
the oldest Associate Justice shall act as
President until there shall be a new cleo
tiOn. And also that when there shall be no |
Ell ction by the people the choice shall be |
made in Congress by the Senators and Rep
resentatives. This was referred 70 the Com 1
mittee on Judiciary. 70 v
Mr.. STEPHENS offered the following |
which was adopted:
WHEREAS, Several high officers have com
municated the fact that they have appointed |
to Office and allowed to act several rebels |
who could not and did not take the oath as |
required by law. Therefore, stI Z
ResolUed, That the Committee on Judicia-
ry be instructed TO inquire whether any |
legislative measure is necessary to enforce
obedience to law by all men without regard !
to rank or color. f-1 -- -.
On motion of Mr. WALKER it was re-
solved that the Committee on Military AT |
fairs be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pedieney of providing by law for the pay |
ment of the officers and privates Of the Un- |
ion army during the late rebellion, monthly |
pay from the date of their discharge until }
,.ot;o,, ,,os c,;trar of fIa aooat,faro or
resignation or until relieved from duty.
Mr.. GRIDER, of Kentucky; offered Sc
ries of resolutions, asserting that the State |
governments cannot be destroyed, tnat the |
Representatives from the South should be |
admitted by taking the oath to support the |
Constitution of the United States, and that |
there should be general kindness and |
cordial forgiveness for the past consistent /
with the highest attributes Of our nature,
and the protection and safety Of all. Also, /
that it is illogical to hold States in the Union |
to vote for the Constitutional amendment |
and not give them representation in Con-
gress, which is contrary TO the first princi-
Piles of our government, and inconsistent |
with the Constitution and the equal rights |
of all people. The resolutions were referred !
to the Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. STEVENS, from the Committee on
Reconstruction, offered the following joint |
resolution -s--
Resolved, By the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States of |
America, in Congress, assembled, two thirds |
of both Houses concurring that the following |
article be proposed to the Legislatures Of the
several States as an amendment to the Con |
stitution of the United States, which, when I
ratified by three fourths of said Legislatures, |
shall be valued as part of the, Constitu-
ton. Representation and direct taxes shall |
be apportioned among several States, which
may be included within this Union, accord I
ing to their respective numbers, counting |
whole No. of persons in each State, exciud- |
ing Indians not taxed; provided, that when
ever an elective franchise shall be
denied or abridged in any State on account
of race or color; all persons Of such race or |
color shall be excluded from basis of repre-
sentatiOn. "
Mr.. STENENS supposed that the mem
bers had been considering this question for |
six weeks. There were twenty-five States i
whose Legislatures were IN session, some Of |
which would adjourn in two or three weeks.
II was therefore very desirable if the pro-
posed amendment was passed at all, that it I
should be passed g once, so as to be acted
upon by the Legislatures before adjourn
ment. 1t is proposed that if any class Of
persons were excluded, the States to that |