The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-07-10
XLth 00NaRRSS-Extra Session.
WASHINGTON, July 9.


WASHINGTON, July 9.
SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner made an Intellectual attempt t.
call up his motion to reconsider the resolution
passed on Friday
The reconstruction bill was then taken up
Mr.. Trumbull took the floor and addressed
the Senate at length in explanation and adyo
cacy of the bill. He said the necessity for thi:
legislation arises entirely from what is con-
ceived to be a misconstruction of the recon
struction acts passed at a former session oil
Congress. If properly carried out in the spirit
in which they were conceived, it is believed
the additional act would have been unneces
sary. He proceeded to explain at length the
occasion and theory upon which these act.
were founded, and the necessity for such leg
islation to restore the lately rebel States t
their proper relations in the Union, Mr.
Trumbuil then adverted to the opinions of the
Attorney General, which he characterized a:
in many respects preposterous, and in conclu-
SION explained the provisions of the bill before
the Senate.
Mr.. Wilson regretted that the committee had
reported the second section of the Dill autnor,
izlng commanding generals to remove civil
officers instead of vacating all civil othces IN
the South, as provided for in the Dill winch ne
(Wilson) had offered. Ninety-nIne out OF a
hundred OF these officials are disloyal men,
There were no military officers in the South
to detail for civil duties as provided in this
bill, and if there were it would not be proper to
use them for that purpose. He moved to amend
the bill by striking out the second section and
inserting instead a section vacating all civil
offices in the rebel States and authorizing the
military comma nders to fill them by appoin t.
ments or reappointments.
Mr. Conkling denied the right to authorize
military commanders to appoint civilians who
were not and could not be subject to their au-
thority. The Judiciary Committee had con-
sidered the proposition suggested by Mr.. Will
son, and the right to enact it was at least doubt
full. 49,
After further debate Mr. Wilson's amend
ment was rejected-11 to q.
Mr.. Buckalew presented an amendment,
which he asked to have printed for future &C
ton, that on the election of members OF the
House Of Representatives each elector shall be
entitled to a number of votes equal to the
State is entitled. He may cast them all fol
enc candidate or divide them among the sew.
eral candidates. Ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Wilson moved to amend the second sec
ton by providing that the commanding gen.
erals may appoint civilians to offices vacated
under that section.
After a debate, at 40 p NJ, without action
on Mr.. Wilson's amendment, the Senate ad-
journed. l,-..s
The consideration of the reconstruction bill
was resumed.
MIR. Brooks, as a minority report of the re-
construction committee, addressed the House
in opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Wood then spoke in opposition to the
bill. He reviewed the history of the recon-
struction measure and of the action of the
President, and argued against the conStitu-
tionality of the law in general and in detail.
At the close of Mr.. Woods remarks Mr.
Stevens, of Penn, intimated his inter ton to
move now the previous question, first modify
ing the fifth section by striking out the words
nm ha shall tob o
and inserting instead the words "or ON arrest
for an offence punishable by dismissal from
the army or disqualified by sickness from the
performance of his duty" fr
Messrs. Schenck, Baker, Butler, Coburn and
Garfield, but Mr.. Stevens declined to permit
any OF them to be offered.
The House seconded the previous question
by vote of SO TO A. and Mr.. Stevens being
entitled to one hour to close the debate, yield
ed twenty minutes to MIR. Bingham, of Ohio
who addressed the House in support of the
bill. In conclusion Mr.. Bingham argued that
the disfranchisement complained of in the bill
was only temporary, and would not apply to
more than 10000 men, and that when these
States should become reinhabitated no disfran-
chisenent whatever would remain. 1t did not
become the gentleman from New York, Mr..
Wood to mouth about democratic principles
and yet claim that in South Carolina the mi
nority shall rule the majority. He claimed
into anything else than bill to carry out the
will of the nation. "a
Mr.. EIdridge, of Indiana, was allowed ten
minutes Of Mr.. Stevens time, and spoke
against the bill, and defended the President
against the charge of obstructing or impeding
the execution of the reconstruction acts.
Mr.. Stevens proceeded to close the debate
He said portion of the blame for the acts of
the President since Congress adjourned is
chargeable to the use of improper language in
the bill, and that was owing to indistinct
knowledge of the condition OF the country we
were legislating for. We have since all agreed
that the States lately in rebellion were con-
quered territory, and if we had treated them
accordingly we should have had very little
trouble in reconstructing this Government up
on the principle of admitting new States. Mr..
Stevens proceeded TO state what he considered
the real condition of the country, arguing that
the rebel States were above mere instruction,
and while they were not an independent ma
ton, they were entitled to all the privileges
and subject to all the liabilities of independ-
ent belligerents. That they should, after be-
ing conquered, claim to be still States with
in the Union, or have one right under the Con-
stitution which they repudiated and fought to
destroy, looked to him like bold absurdity
He charged that the President had exceeded
his powers and assumed to exercise legislative
powers in the conquered States. He argued
that Congress alone had power and authority
to direct what should be done in reconstruct
ing the rebel States, and that its power was
sovereign and complete. The Constitution
of the United States does not apply
to any territory, however acquired by
purchase, conquest or otherwise; it is the
property only of that substantive power, and
that power alone is governed by the Constitu-
ton. But the Constitution does not extend
for any purpose into any territory or con-
quered province. Why then talk of the Con-
stitution regulating the power of Congress in
province, in territory or in State when
conquered from legitimate States or illegii'
mate States. 1t may be asked how we would
treat the Confederate States of America
just as Congress chooses. They are
our property. Their citizens are our sub.
jects. Their lives, their liberties are sub
ject to the supreme will of this body, IL
ways controlled by the laws of nations, the
laws of war and the laws of humanity. There
is no other power or government,-there is nc
branch Of goyernment,-there is no power in
the government, except what have mention
ell, that has any right to interfere, or to say
one word on the subject
MIR, Stevens explained at considerable length
his testimony in regard to confscation and
the proper treatment of the leaders of the re-
bellfon. incidentally he justified the Mexican
government for its execution of Macmillan
and the traitors who had sustained the Empe-
ror.
When Mr.. Stevens concluded his remarks
there was considerable applause on the part of
the members.
The amendments to the bill offered yester-
day by MeSsrs. Wilson of Iowa, and Benja-
min, were severally agreed to.
Mr.. Wood moved to lay the bill on the table.
Negatived.
The bill as amended, with the modification
made by Mr.. Stevens to the fifth section, was
then passed by vote OF 119 to 81.
On motion of Mr.. Kelley, the Secretary Of
the Treasury was directed to report the
amount of revenue received from the tax on
distilled spirits from each collection district in
the several States and in the rebel States dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 3d.
On motion of Mr.. Hubbard, of n. Y, the
Secretary of the Treasury was directed to fur
nish any reports on file in his department re-
garding alleged frauds on the internal revenue
IN the fifth collection district of North Caro-
lima.
On motion of Mr.. Logan, the doorkeeper
was directed to retain the same messengers
and employees under him during the recess OF
Congress as were authorized to be retained by
the last Congress.
On motion of Mr. Van Arnum the Secretary
of War and the Secretary of the Treasury
were directed to inform the House what fur
Their legislation is necessary to facilitate the
payment of the additional bounty granted by
the act of July %, 1865.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania presented
petition from 1000 citizens OF Maryland II
favor of universal suffrage.
At 3 IL o'clock the House adjourned.
The Nashville Riot.
NASHVILLE, July 9.
The Mayor of Nashville had an interview
to-day with Col. Duncan, commander of tn,
post, touching the riotous conduct of the ne
negro military company sent to Franklin bJ