The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-07-16
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, July 10.


SENATE took his seat.
The Chair presented an invitation
to the Senate to attend the dedication
ceremonies of the >Antietam Cemetery
on the 18th inst.
A special executive session took
up the House joint resolution appro-
priating 81 ,675 900 to carry out the re-
construction acts, which was consid-
cred and amended.
On motion of Buckalew, by reduc-
ing the amount to 81 600, 900, the bill
as amended was passed. 4s,g&
The House bill for the relief of
certain soldiers and sailors charged
with desertion. was debated and re-
ferred to the Military Committee.
A communication was laid before
the Senate from the President, trans
mitting all orders. opinions, &C., sent
to district commanders, and estima-
ting the amount necessary to carry
out the work of reconstruction.
Mr.. Howard, referring to that por-
ton of the message in which the
President alludes to the assumption
by the United States of the debts of
the rebel States incurred before the
war, said that it was all moonshine
and designed for party purposes.
Mr.. Hendricks said the President
had not expressed any opinion on
that subject. He merely made the
suggestion whether, ii the Southern
States were to be treated as conquer
ed provinces, would the United States
assume xhe debts of these States.
Mr.. Eldridge offered a resolution
reiterating the allegations in the Gin
cinnati Commercial, that the expenses
of the wine and liquors consumed at
banquet given to the loyal portion
of CONGRESS last winter, are unpaid,
and declaring that they should at
once be paid out of the funds raised
for evangelizing the colored race, now
in the hands Of the Republican Ex-
etutive Committee. 1t was reected.
Governor Morton, of Indiana, two
years ago, in a speech endorsed the
Presidents policy:
Mr.. Sumner said that as to question
Of law there was nothing surer than
that the rebel States were responsible
for all their just debts. The States
still existed, and their just obligations
incurred by them could not be evaded.
MIR. johnson thought it was not ad
missable for the President to express
a political opinion on the subject Of
public finance at the present time,
when the debt was so large aud the
people so sensitive on the subject of
It's Increase. He did not believe the
President was correct IN his assump-
tions. The Southern States still ex-
| listed as States and not as conquered
provinces.
Mr.. Hendricks did not think the
Government of the United States
could rightfully be bound to pay the
debts of the Southern States con-
tracted before the war. The object Of
the war, as avowed by Congress, was
not the conquest of these States. but
the suppression of the rebellion. In
the event, however, of the entire alb
sorption of the States by the Federal
Government, it would be a practical
/ question of great moment, when these
States obligations would not rest on
the General Government.
MIR. Havard again took the floor in
opposition to the views of the Presl-
dents message, which he said was
calculated to alarm capitalists all over
the country
Mr.. Wilson said this message was
in perfect keeping with the action OF
the President during the last two
years. The President had, during
that time, lost no occasion to allude
to bonded aristocrats, and say what
he could in disparagement Of Con
gress and everything connected wIth
It's policy of reconstruction. The pol
icy of Congress would increase the
value of the national debt and the
debt of the rebel States.
Mr. Fcszenden was glad the message
met with response or endorsement OF
the part OF the Senate. He regretted
that the President had sent in such ;
document, as it might have a bad ef.
feet, were it not that all intelligent
people would see through its 1alla
cies, that it had been a war of con
quest against the southern States, s
that the doctrine Of conquest coulc
be made applicable
Buckalew dehied that the Presi
dent advocated the assumption @
the rebel debt, when simply suggest
ing that. upon the theory and doe
trines which prevailed lately ia Con
gress, such a state Of facts must b
brought about.
Thayer condemned the position 0
the President as asserted in his mes
:, sage, as another attempt to throw a
obstacle in the way of reconstruction
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