The national Republican., 1867-07-06
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
Fortisth Congrsss-second Session.
FRipAr, JuLr s, 1867.
SENATE

FhiDAst sttnaTt sgIr : 1867 81
MsssrpL Patterson, Of New Hampshire, an
Van winkls, Of West Virginia, absent OF
Wednesday, appeared in their seats.
Aftsr prayer BY the Chaplain, and the readinl
Of the Journal Of Wednesday,
Mr.. Anthony, from the COMMITTEES to wal
upon the President and inform him Of the pres
snee Of . quorum In each House, reported tha
the committee had performed Its duty, and hai
been informed by tho President that he had nj
concentration 10 make.
Mr.. Anthony offered the following resolution
Resoivsd, That the business Of this session
should bs confined 10 removing the obstruction
which have been or arc likely to be placed In th,
struotion heretofore adopted BY Congress; I,
giving TO said acts the scope intended BY Con
gres whom the same were passed; and that fur
ther legislation at this session on the subject o
reoonstruction or on other subjects Ia not sIpe
dent.
Mr.. Fesssndsn suggested that the word
'should' had better be stricken out.
Mr.. sumner asked II the Senator desired tc
press the adoption Of that resolution to-day.
MIR. Anthony said he desired Its present con.
sideration.
Mr.. Sumner said he would not object to |. I.
present considsration, because he would no,
needlsssly throw any barriers In its way, but OF
the proper time he would have something to say
on II.
The Chair. The question is on agreeing to the
resolution.
Mr. Sumner. Before q resolution 90 open to
criticism, 90 doubtful In point Of order, and 90
plainly contrary TO the spirit Of the Constitution
Is brought under consideration, think the Sen
ator who brings 1t forward should enlightsn US
with regard TO Its object sae th> reasons in Jus
tihcatisn Of 20 extraordinary . p. p.oposition. I
appeal to my friend TO be good enough to lot us
know his reasons for such q proposition.
Mr.. Anthony supposed the reason was 90 ap.
parent that no explanation was necessary. At
the nrst session Of the Fortisth Congress reso.
luton was passed which contemplated q session
In July, provided Senators and Representatives,
acting upon their individual judgment, should
come here In sufficient numbers to form q quo
rum; and In the event quorum was not present,
both Houses should then adjourn without delay.
A quorum would not have assembled had II not
been evident that some amendment was neoes-
sary to the reoonstruotion bill. He [Mr. A. did
not state this as an opinion Of bis own, but as an
actual fact, which he had learned In conversation
with Senators. He believed Congress was here
In obedience to the public sentiment. Public
sentiment demanded that there should be ses
sion to pass an amendatory reconstruction bill,
TO make that bill precisely what Congress in.
tended It should be, and not what II had been
construed by the Attorney General. Whether
that construction was perfectly fair, or merely
technical, he Mr.. A. not being q lawyer, would
not say but he would say that II was not the
which Congress intended. The
.ame purpose which requires Congress to meet
for this purpose requires that II should confne
itself to that business.
Mr.. Sumner said he was unable to learn
from Mr.. Anthony's remarks any sufficient rea.
ION for the passage Of such q resolution. He
offered as . substitute for that resolution the
Re,oiSsd, That the Senate will proceed under
Ito rules to the dispatch Of the public business
requiring It's attention. and to this end all Pc
litions and bills will bs referred for considers
lion to the appropriate committees, without un.
In advance to limit the action Of Con.
sress to any special subject and deny hearing
IN all other subjects.
Mr.. Sumner proceeded to address the Senate
It length upon this resolution. He contsnded
bat there were several important subjects de-
handing attention. First, there were the In.
iian difficulties, which required great attention.
Then there were two very important treaties
me with South America and one with Russi.,
which had recently been concluded, and which
equirsd appropriations Of money to carry them
nto execution.
Mr.. Anthony said the Senate could not origi.
iate an appropriation bill, and the House had
dopted a resolution not to consider anything
ut reconstruction measures.
Mr.. Sumner said the Senate could originate
uch q bill as would be required In this case. It
ad often been done SO; but more important
han any other subject was the bill for universal
ufrsge, designed especially to protect the freed
len in Maryland and Kentucky.
Mr.. Pomeroy did not believe It would be wise
D pass Mr.. Anthony's resolution, although he
as not In favor Of entering into general legisla.
on. II was not known what emergency might
rise while Congress was In session.
Mr.. Yates desired TO say that he did not wish
Is vote in favor Of Mr.. Anthony's resolution to
. construed as indicating opposition to univer-
Il suffrage or other necessary legislation; but
. did not think 1t would be well to proceed with
lat subject now. Congress met for particular
bject, and he was in favor Of oonhning Its at
milton to It at the present session.
Mr.. Wilson said he, this morning, called upon
10 Secretary Of War, and, In conversation with
lat officer, learned that there would be no ne.
'ssity whatever for legislation designed to Affect
10 War Department, except a single matter, |
hich the Secretary would send In on Monday,
nd that was an appropriation to carry out the
act In the Southern States.
Mr.. Sumner again took the floor In opposition
Mr.. Anthony's resolution. He urged the pass.
Iaryland, Kentucky, Connseticut, Psnnsylva. |
10, and Ohio, and all other States. II was use. |
90 to assert that there was q republican form Of
'vernmsnt where suffrage was denied to men on
,oount Of color.
Mr.. Ross, while not agreeing with the general |
opposition that nothing not absolutely necessary
iould be taken up, was opposed to Mr.. An. |
Iony's resolution, because he believed II neces.
Iry that some legislation should be inaugurated |
quell tho Indian disturbances In the West A |
eat may things were required to be done to |
Ippress Indian hostilities, which could not be |
'ne without the concurrence Of Congress.
Mr.. Upton spoke Of the necessity for legisla. |
on to put an end TO the frontier disturbances. |
he could control the legislation Of Congress
day, he would prevent any army officers from |
ling west Of the Missouri river; he would offer |
premium for savage Indian scalps, and he |
ould authorize the formation Of volunteer |
rces on the frontier.
Mr.. Wilson was sorry to hear Mr.. Upton |
'eaking OF Offering premium fnr Indian sealps. |
9 did not believe such language At to be used |
this Christian country. 1t created the i'm
'ession that the wrongs were not all committed
I the Indians, He repeated that the Secretary
War had informed him that no legislation on |
70 subject Of the Indians was necessary.
Mr.. Upton resumed the floor In denun citation
the atrocities Of the Indians on the frontier,
i'd again hoped there would be a reward
Tered for Indian soalps.
Mr. Pomeroy moved that the further considera.
on Of this subject be postponed, to enable the
mate to take up the resolution of thanks to
en- Sheridan Just passed by the House.
MI Sumner said II Mr.. Anthony's resolution
Is passed the Senate could not act upon the |
anN nE Nk..l l.. A. A.. l.