Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-01-18
Thirty-Nmth COngres..--SecOud Session.

WASHINGTON. Jan. s.
Mr. Elmunds presented petition against the
,urtsilueAt Of tie currency or Immediate return
20 specie payments by act Of Congress. Mr..
Elmunis said he did not agree with the views
Of the petitioners.
Mr. Williams reported from the Finance Com
nittee resolution appropriating $4,000 to de-
fray the expense Of the Joint Committee Of Re-
trerchmcnt, which was passed.
The Nebraska bill vas taken W, the question
being on Mr. Eimunds' amendment providing
that the act shall not take effect till there shall
be 10 denial of the elective Iehise in Nebras-
ka OF account Of color.
Mr. Elmunds replied to the arguments urged
against his amendment, asserting the right OF
Congress to impose the conditions Of his amend
ment.
Mr Doolittle asked Mr Eimunds whether,
the Constitution as proposed to be amend
ed, or as il stands, does not recognize the rights
# the States to regulate the question Of suf-
frage.
MIR Elmunls said there was nothing in the
Constitution to prevent Congress from enforc-
ing equal rights in the Territories Of the United
States.
Mr.. Howard said that the taking from new
States the right 10 regulate their own Affairs
would be tyranical and desperate.
Mr., Eimunds considered all power despite
il the same sense. He referred to several fun
damental laws which Congress had made, and
in opposition to which, be said, they could not
form State. Congress in creating 4 corpora
ton by charter could net afterwards violate
that charter, and, therefore, Congress could not
take from Ohio the right to deny suffrage 10
whom she would; but Congress could impose
upon a new corporation or a new State any con-
ditious that it chose, and they could accept
or not.
Mr.. Fessenden said if Nebraska had
not elected Senators and Representatives.
already, and had come here asking admission,
this proposition would be well enough; but
when these men had been elected, their appear
anee here would be no evidence that the State
had accepted those conditions.
Mr.. Eimunds said the admission Of members
who had no right to be here, would be no new
thing. After members had been expelled for
that reason, no harm, however, could result
from this Mr. E1munds argued the point az
length.
Mr. Doolittle denied that Congress created a
State. States were seli-foTming. Congress
merely recognized the fact that they we're ut 10
be admitted. Nebraska must be admitted on the
same footing with other States, and with Ike
powers.
Mr. Eimunds insisted that the act Of admis-
sion created the State, and not the people Of a
Territory.
JANUARY 9TH.
The Nebraska bill, after considerable backing
and filling on the Eimunds amendment was
passed with the amendment
Mr.. Edmunds presented petition in favor Of
the tariff bill passed last session, and it was re-
ierred 10 the finance committee.
Mr.. Wade then called up the bill for the ad-
mission Of Colorado, which was similar 70 that
Of Nebraska.
Mr.. Eimunis offered his amendment, which
was adopted.
Messrs. Hendricks and Doolitile opposed the
admission, but after some discussion the bin
passed by a vote Of II nays against % yeas
Mr. Wade called up bill annulling all laws
enacted in territories making any distinction in
the exercise Of the elective franchise or othe-
civil or political rights on account Of color
Pending It's consideration the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Kass chs ill was passed By the House.
Jan 5, making it felony 10 sell any person into
slavery on any pretence whatever. IL seems
that in some Of the Southern States an attempt
has been made to preserve slavery by selling ne
groes convicted Of crimes or petty offences, and
the design Of this bill is to prevent this. tn
held that the reservation in the COusi .utional
Amendment, and also In the Ordinance Of 1877,
IN cases Of conviction for crime, means that
couyicts may be imprisoned, but not sold into
slavery. This Interpretation has always pre-
yailel in the States formed ont Of the territory
embraced in the Ordnance Of 17S7.
Mr. Lane reported favorably the House bill
relative to the pensions Of the widows Of Reyo.u-
uonary soldiers married to such soldiers before
the year 1900.