Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-07-11
CONGRESSIONAL
SENATE

WASHINGTON, July 5.--Nessfs Patterson
(of New lIampshire) and Van Wrinkle
appeared in their seats.
Ma. ANTHONY, from tho committee
appointed to visit en- the President, report
ell that hr had ne communication to make
MI. EDMUNDS introduced An explana-
tory reconstruction bill, which provides
that the Boards of Registration shall have
power, and it shall be their duty, before
allowing the registration of any person, to
ascertain upon such facts or information
as they can obtain, whether auch person is
cntitled to be registered under such acts,
an@ the cath required by such act shall not
be conclusive on said question, and no
person shall be registered unless sal board
shall decide that he is entitled thereto, and
such Board, shall have power to examine
under an oath TO be administered by any
member of such b ,ari. any one touching
the qualification of any person claiming
registration.
SEC 3. That the werd officer In the
oath set forth in said act, shall be constru-
ell to incluee every person who has taken
an oath to support the constitutions eli the
[ nited States, other than Senators, mem
beers os Congress. and members of the Leg
islaturcs of the States, and no person shall
be entitled to be registered or entitled to
vote under said act, o. acts to which the
said act Is supplement, unless The require
msnts of said oath. and of said act as here
in corISl r1ied and amended. shall be fulfilled,
aRd the superintendent of election, under
the said acts, shall have power, and Il shan
be tAcir duty upon challenge of any reg
is,cred voter sumlPaHe6, to decide epon
said fact and information. Us nav ibe made
TO appear to them. whether said person
offering to vote and so challenged is under
the provisions of said acts, and this act.
entitled to vote, and receive or reject his
vote accordingly.
Ordered printed.
Nh. ANTHONY offered the Following.
ResOired. That tire business Of this
session should bc confined to rcreeing
obstacles which have been, or arc likely to
be placed in The way of j fair execution of
the acts OF Reconstruction heretofore adopt
ed by Congress, when the same was pass
ed, and that further legislation, at tktS scs
sion, on the subject Of recensrructios, or
other subjects, is not eXpcdient.
Mr. FESSENDEN suggested TO Dir. An
thony 10 strike out the word should"
Mr.. SUMNER offered as substitute the
following.
ResoIred. That the Senate will pro
ceed under this rule 10 the dispatch Of
public business requiring attention and TO
this end all petitions and bills viii be refer
ed for consideration 10 the appropriate
committees without undertaking in advance
to limit the action of Congress TO any
spccia! subject, and deny hearing on all
other subjects
Mr.. SUMNER addressed the Senate at
length upon this resolution. lie contend
ed that there were several important sub
jects demanding attention. First, there
were the Indian difficulties, which required
great attention; then there were two very
important treaties--One with South Amcri-
CT and enc with Rsssi,, which had recent
" been concluded, and which required
appropriations tC carry them into effect.
Mr.. ANTHONY said the Senate could
not originate an appropriation bil. and the
HGssc had adopted resolution not ;O con
sider anything brt reconstruction measures.
NJ SUMNER s:id the Senate could
originate such bill "a wouli be required
in this case. 1t had often done so: but more
important than any other subject was the
bill for universal suffrage, designed cspeci-
ally 10 protect the freedmen III Maryland
and Kentucky.
MIR POMEROY did not think il would
be wise 40 pass Mr. Anthony's resolution.
although he was not in favor of entering
into general legislation. Ii was not known
what emergency hight arisc while Congress
wss in session
Mr.. YATES desired Ia saw tia, lac did
not wish his vote in favor of the Anthony
resolution To he construed as Indicating
opposition 10 universal suffrage or other
necessary legislation, bat he did not think
il would be well to proceed with the sub
ject now. Congress met for aaparticuar
object, and he was in favor Of continuing its
attention to it at the present session.
Mr.. WILSON said he this morning called
upon the Secretary OF War aud in conyer-
sation with that officer lenarned that there
would lie no necessity whstever for lcgisla-
zion designed to effect the W ar Department,
ex cept in a single matter which the Sccrc-
tarywould sendin ON Monday, and that was
an appropriation to carry out the Recon
struction Act in the Southern States.
Mr.. SUMNER again spoke against the
Anthony resolution, and urged the passage
OF hi. Suffrage Bill. TO carry equal rights
into Maryland, Kentucky Connecticut,
Pennsylvania and Ohio and all other States
IL was useless TO assert that there was
republican form Of government where srf-
frage was denied TO r,cn on account of
color.
Mr.. ROSS, while agreeing wirh the
general proposition that nothing not abso-
sclutely necessary should br taken UP,
was opposed 10 the Anthony resolution,
because he believed it necessary that some
legislation should be inaugurated to quell
the Indian disturbance in the West
Mr.. Upton spoke of the necessity for
legislation 10 put an end to the frontier
disturbances. Ifhc could control the leg
islation of Congress to-day he would pre-
vent any army officers from going west Of
the Missouri River. lie would offer o
premium for savage Indian scalps, and
would authorize thc formation of volunteer
forces on the frontiers
Mr.. WILSON was sorry TO hear Mr..
Upton speaking of Offering a reward for
Indian ecalps. He did rot think such
language fit 10 be used in this Christian
country. 1t created an impression that the
wrong. were not all committed by the
Indians.
Mr.. Upton resumed the floor in de-
ANNEXATION of the atrocities Of the indians,
and again hoped bill would be carried,
making an offer for Indian scalps.
Mr.. Summers substitute Was then reject
ed-yeas, nays 26. Messrs. Chandler,
Ross, Sumner, Thayer, Tfp.on and Wade
voting in the affirmative.
Mr. ROSS moved 10 amend the Anthony
resolution by excepting such legislation as
may be necessary TO preserve the peace
upon the Western frontiers.
Considerable debate followed touching
the decision arrived at by the Republican
caucus on this subject, and finally the
amendment was rejected.
Mr.. POMEROf moved that farther
consideration orthis subjec. be postponed
to enable the Senate to take up resolu-
ton of thanks to General Sheridan, just
passed by the House.
After some debate il was disagreed to.
YEAs.-Chandler, Drake, Ferry, Fowler.
Harlan, Howard, Howe, Pomeroy. Ross,
Sumner, Thayer, Upton, Wade, Wilson,
Yates.--15. - - ii'i-i
NAYs.-Anthony, Bnckaiew, Cameron,
CottoH EppEtipn Crofvie H.