The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-03-14
what the Thirty-Ninth Con-
gress Has Done.

The second session of the Thirty-Ninth
Congress, urged to the work by the Repub-
lican press, has accomplished great deal.
More, perhaps, might have been done, but
the result is nevertheless gratifying, and
we shall look to the present Congress with
confidence and hope. In order that our
readers may see for themselves the work
done, we give below brief statement Of
the leading measures of the session
l. The bill establishing universal and
impartial suffrage in the District of Co.
lumbia, without distinction of race or
color, has become law over the Presi-
dents veto, and the first election held
under it has resulted in a Republican
triumph.
2. In like manner tie bill establishing
universal and impartial suffrage in all the
territories of the republic has been enacted
into a law over the veto, and thus termi-
mates the validity Of all territorial laws
.hat disfrauchise a man on account of
race or color. By the operation of this
bill the colored man will have a right to
vote in Colorado, despite the unfrieDdly
statutes of the territorial Legislature, and
all efforts to disfranchise the colored citi-
zens in territories, like New Mexico,
Montana, Arizona and Idaho, are rendered
useless. This act will not enfranchise the
Cinnamon in California and Nevada, but
1t will have the effect of attracting them
from those States to the gold mining
territories where they will be voters
3. The Military Reconstruction bill, of
which We have heretofore spoke at length,
has become law over the veto. 1t es-
tablishes military protection for freedmen
aud Union men at the South, fixes terms
of re-admission for the rebel States, de-
clares the existing governments of those
States provisional, and secures the right
OF suffrage forthwith to every adult colored
man IN all the elections therein.
4. A bill to regulate the tenure of ma
tional civil Offices has become law over
the veto. Ii puts an end to the capricious
removals for political reasons that have
disgraced the present Administration, and
renders the official no longer mere de-
pendent on the Executive pleasure. 1t
deprives the President Of much of the
power he has welded for corrupr purposes.
5. The amendatory tax bill has be-
come law with the Presidents signature.
1t reduces the income tax, the manufac-
turers tax, and many other lnposts, to
the extent of at least seventy millions per
annum. An amendatory tariff bill has
been passed relating mainly to the duties
On wool and woolen goods, and intended
to benefit chiefly the West.
6. Nebraska has been formally admitted
as State, despite Presidential veto.
Z. A bill has been passed authorizing
an issue of loaE certificates at little over
| three per cent. interest, TO the extent of
fifty millions of dollars, TO provide tor the
redemption of the accruing compound
interest notes.
8. An act has been passed providing
for the suppression of peonage in New
Mexico and other territ cries.
9. Payments to shareholders for slaves
enlisted as soldiers have been stopped.
10. A national bankrupt law has been
enacted.
II. All future danger of a legislative
interregnum, such as happened in 1861,
at the outset of the rebellion, has been
obviated by the passage of an act provi-
ding for the meeting of every new Con-
gress on the first day of its term, March
4th.