Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
Special to ST. Louis Republican
SENATE.

mentarv reconstruction bill which was
read at length.
KIr. Drake said he had several amend
ments to offer. The first was to insert
in the fifth section q provision that at
the election provided Tor in the pTeced-
ing sections, the registered voters OF
each state shall vote on the question Of
holding a state convention and forming
q constitution. Those in favor Of the
convention shall have written or printed
on their ballots, "for a convention -
those opposed shall have against q
convention - written or printed on their
ballots. The persons appointed to super
intend the elections shall make returns
Of votes fof sad against. The command
ing general, to whom ths same shall be
returned, shall ascertain the total vote,
and il q majority of the whole number
OF those in any state shall have voted
for such convention il shall be held. If
a maiority shall have voted against the
convention 10 such convention shall be
Mr. Drake said he didc.iot like the
provision af the bill as reported on the
subject He did not think the iBdivid-
uals elected as members OF the cOnven-
ton should have it in their power to
make an Official expression of what
they choose to declare to be the wishes
Of the people, but that the people them
! selves should 10y their votes declare their
| wishes on the subject.
Mr.. TrumbuH said the judiciary com
mittee had considered a proposition sim
/ liar 10 that introduced by Mr.. Drake,
] but had considered il was best as the bill
now is. Frauds were effectually guarded
/ against by provisions that the cOnStitu-
/ ton must be ratified by 2 majority OF
registered votes. He hoped the bill
/ would be passed as ii came from the ju-
/ dietary committee. If many amend
ments were adopted it would be incon-
gruous.
Mr.. Drake replied, arguing the neces-
/ sity for guarding the southern people
/ against the possibility Of q betrayal into
I the adoption Of a constitution against
their wishes. The very men who hsd
misled !his people during the last six
years were now ready TO mislead them
again.
Mr.. Howard supported the amend
! ment as necessary TO get the full eXpres-
/ sion Of tie popular vote.
Mr.. Fessenien favored and Mr.. FIRE.
! linghuysen opposed the amendment.
/ Mr.. Norton was opposed 10 submitting
| the question of convention or no con-
ventiOn to "Tebelsn at ell il the be-
ginning. If two-thirds of the lawful
| voters Of the south were not in favor OF
/ a convention LET them stay at home, hut
! let them not be able TO defeat the work
I OF reconstruction. Let the convention
/ be held and the constitution framed. It
/ is quite enough for them to have voice
in The ratifying Of the constitution after
/ it is framed.
/ Mr.. Howard contended for the 'ght Of
congress at such time and in such man
/ ner as il saw fit to restore the rebel
states. He was not in such hurry TO
complete this work as to admit state
/ without clear and fair expression Of the
viii of the majority Of its citizens. a
minority government could not exist in
! this country, and if any state contained
| a msjority opposed TO returning to the
union be was in favor of keeping il out
I till do0msGay or until its people had re-
pented in "dirt aud ashes of their
crimes.
After further debate the amendment
was rejected.
Yeas-Messrs. Cameron, Chandler,
| Drake, Ferry, Fessenden, Fowler Hsr-
| Ian, Howard, Howe, Morgan, Morrill,, Of
Maine, Morrill,, Of Vermont, Patterson,
Of lyew Hampshire, Sumner, Thayer,
Upton, Wade-l5.
| Nays-Anthony, Bnckalaw, Cole,
Conkling, Conuess, Corbett Cragin,
I Davis, Dixon, D0olittle, Frelinghuysen,
/ Grimes Henderson, Hendricks, Johnson,
/ Morton, Patterson, of Tennessee, Ram
sey, Ross, sherman, Sprague, Stewart,
/ Trumbull, Van WInkle, Williams,
Mr.. Drake msved to amend the fourth
section, BY adding the following:
/ Provided that no such constitution
! shall be considered,as emitting any state,
/ for which it is framed, to such represen-
/ tatiOn, unless it provides that all elec
I tiJns for state, county or municipal Off
/ GERS, the electors shall vote by closed
/ ballot, and that such mode of voting
| shall never be changed without the as
/ sent Of congress.
/ A debate Of some length followed,
during which Mr.. Drake expressed his
( belief that congress would have the right
I 10 thrust out senators and representa-
/ tives where states formed under this con-
stilution with this provision in it, and
f. who afteTwRrd violated it.
Mr.. Morton said he would vote for Mr..
| Brakes amendment If the clause refer
ring TO the future were omitted, and pro-
| vided simply that voting by closed bal
| lots shall be provided for in the cOnstitu-
ton. He believed it very important
I that the voting should be bY closed bal
lot, but doubted the right Of congress to
Impose a condition Of this kind which
should be binding in the future.
Mr. Henderson spoke against The
| amendment,
After further debate and without &C.
tlon the senate went into executive ses-
sion and aftorward adjourned.
! WASHINGTON, March l5.-On motion
/ OF Mr. Grimes, the senate, after some
debate, agreed TO hold an evening session
I today.
/ The supplementary reconstruction bill
I was taken up. The question was on
/ brakes amendment, which was modi-
fed by the mover SO rs to read, " that
constitutions of states referred to shall
provide all voting for state, county and
municipal officers shall be by ballot"
The amendment was disagreed to.
Mr.. Fessanden moved an amendment,
the effect Of which he explained yester-
day to be that convention to frame a
constitution shall be called only upon
legal expression in favor Of being trans
mitted from the provisional government
to the commanding general He moved
TO strike from the first section the follow
ing words
That before the first day OF Septem-
Der, 1857, the oOmRqnding general 10
] EACu ulolA itt ArhAbuk4lF Au ACT 70 Ai4O-
, vide for the more efficient government
Of rebel states, approved Marcd .,
1857, shall cause registration, etc. and
insert in lieu thereof the following !:
"That before the convention shall be
holden for the purpose Of framing state
constitution, under and by virtue Of the
act to provide for the more efficient gov
eminent Of the rebel states, approved
March 2, 1867, the commanding general
ip each district defined Ia said act, shall
cause a registration, etc" Also to strike
, rom the second section the following
. words:
WThat after completion Of the registra-
lion hereby provided for in any state at
sneh tine aud phases therein as the COM
landing general shall appoint and d.
: raot of which at least thirty days public
I ,'otiee shall be given for the purpose OF
5 esta6lisbine q constitution and civil gov
er,n,ent . for such state loyal 70 the