Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-02-13
Congressional Summary and
Washington News.
WASHINGTON, February Z.
SENATE

WASHINGTON, February Z.
ENATE
Mr.. Chandler reported from the Com
mlttee on Commerce in favor of concur
ring in the House amendment in the act
amendatory to an acttO prevent smuggling,
&c. The amendments were e~oncurred in.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported without amendment, the
House bill, suspending the operation act of
1864, authorizing the appointment of a
Commissioner to award the $500 compen-
satiOn for slaves taken in the volunteer
service, and also discharge the Commits
sioner appointed under said act.
Mr.. Trumbull also reported from the
same Committee the House JOINT resolution
to prevent corporal punishment in the
late rebel States, with amendments making
it read, ''that it shall be the duty of Off
GERS Of the army and navy, and of the
Freedmen's Bureau to prohibit and pre-
vent manning or whipping of the person,
as a punishmentof any crime, misdemean-
or or ~offense, by any pretended civil
authority in any State lately in rebellion,
until the civil government of such State
shall have been restored and recognized by
Congress"
The House took up the bill, reported
yesterday from the Reconstruction Com
mittee; TO provide for the more efficient
government of the insurrectionary States.
After some discussion as to how long the
debate should last it WAS closed without
action
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, rising to the per-
sonal question, sent to the Clerks desk
and read the correspondence from the
Cincinnati Commercial, protesting to give
Mr.. Ashley's impeachment resolution
The reading caused much amusement
Mr.. Ashley said of all the falsehoods
manufactured and sent from this city by
reckless, stupid maligners, this story was
the most silly. he had never had up to
the time of offering the resolution, any
correspondence or conversation with Gen
eral Butler on the subject, nor had he
known what his views were except from
newspaper reports. He had his own views
since his first interview with the President.
The first gentleman to whom he had it
read was Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, and
no one would accuse him of the want OF
friendship for General Grant. He had
also shown it to Mr.. Stevens and two or
three other gentlemen. Certainly nothing
Mts llEku6I 4IOlA AlS AOA6AS IA Vi ~
he had consulted, than the idea of stabbing
General Grant in the dark. 1t was well
known that no officer of the army u
be impeached. Therefore, the story on
that point was SO stupid as to be only
worthy of contempt. As TO the language
alleged to have been used to him by his
colleague, Mr.. Bingham, no such language
was ever used. He would not have risen
to a personal explanation on his w ac-
count, but he had yielded to the Judgment
OF others.
Mr.. Stevens resuming the floor on the
bill to provide for iRsurrectionsry States,
prefaced his remarks by stating the refer
ence made to him in the correspondence
Just read, was wholly false. He supported
the bill, and SAID he would move the pre-
yious question at l tomorrow.
Mi. LeBlonde said the adoption Of this
law would be the death knel of civil lib
erty on this continent, and the establish
ment of military despotism over the coun-
try. He opposed the billas unconstitution.
al.
Mr.. Farnsworth said if civil liberty
meant the rights to slaughter and destroy
at pleasure, then he trusted this was its
death knell. The bill was framed for the
purpose of protecting all people in the in
surrectionary States, and the necessity Of
it was found IN the fact that there was at
present no protection in the ~disorganized
States afforded by the courts and civil tri-
bunals. 1t is believed the bill was in ac-
cordance with the views of General Grant.
Mr.. Bingham, rising a few moments be-
fore the hour OF recess, declared that he
was not going to yield to the proposition
of Mr.. Stevens that one rod of territory
within the lines of the ten States was con-
ouered territory. Voices from the Dem
ocratic side "That's right."1 A govern
ment did not conquer territory that owed
it allegiance.
Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio, spoke against
the bill as unconstitutional.
Nj. Bingham said by these States hay
ing entered into rebellion and broken of
their constitutional relations with general
government, the unlimited power for COM
defence throughout the insurgent
states was -exercisable by Congress and re-
manned there.
MI. Maynard asked what effect the bill
would have on existing governments in
the South.
Mr.. Bingham replied that the State
governments would exercise their functions
by sufsrance of the nation, and only to
the extent that those commanding officers
might permit. He did not suppose it was
intended to deny, by this bill, to those
organized governments, the right to go on
and enforce simple contracts between man
and man. He did not suppose it was in
tended to enforce contracts or the law o.
marriages and divorces through court mar
tials or military commissions.
MI. Ingersoll maintained there were
two sorts of States-geographical and
political. The late insurrectionary States
were geographical States, but were not,
under the constitution, political States in
the Union. No one need fear the vote for
this bill, lest it might make matters worse
in the South, for things there were as bad
as they could be. He had no fear of trust
ing the power in this bill to Grant, and
was confdentit would be exercised firmly,
wisely and j~udiciously.
Mr.. Trimble gave notice of an amend
ment he proposed to offer, that no person
should be held for a capital or otherwise
infamous crime, except by presentimeat of
the Grand Jury, &c.
SENATE.