Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-07-12
Congress Session.


In consequence of the opinion If At
torney General Stanbery, explaining away
the reconstruction act Of Congress, there
was considerably more than quorum
present in both houses of Congress on
Wednesday of last, the provisional day to
which Congress had adjourned. In the
Senate 80 senators were present, and in
the House l27 members answered to their
names. though all the democrats except
four retired before the roll was called hop
ing thereby to prevent a quorum from
being present, but it was of no use, and
they afterwards took their seats. The
Kentucky delegation consisting mainly of
old rebels, who continue to be such, were
brought up standing by refusing them ad-
mission till their cases could be inquired
into. Some of them will doubtless be
admitted, but others of them are unmiti-
gated rebels, whose loyalty is no better now
than when they were in the service of the
Southern confederacy in its plamiest days.
A general feeling prevails among the
members in favor Of brief session, or
one long enough to pass supplementary
reconstruction bill sufficient to head off
Stanbery's opinion. On this point, how
ever, shere is some difference of opinion
and though majority favor this feeling,
Messrs Sumner, Wade, Drake, Upton &c,
favor a longer session. Mr.. Sumner wants
to call up his universal national suffrage
bill, while some of the Western Senators de-
sire action on Indian affairs. Messrs Fes-
sender and Sumner, had a bill on this
matter the first day of the session, and a
vote having been passed that no other
subject but reconstruction should be acted
upon, Mr.. Sumner presses motion every
day to recind that vote and declal es bis
purpose to do SO for some time.
In the House resolutions of thanks have
been passed to Gen. Sheridan, Pope and
Sickles for the able, loyal and faithful
manner with which they had performed
their duties under the reconstruction act
of Congress. and that they had construed
that act in accordance with views of Con-
gress, and eighteen democrats put them
selves on the record against the thanks,
and Mr.. Noel, democrat Of Mexico. moved
to suspend the rules that he might offer a
resolution of thanks to Lucy Stone for her
late gallant campaign in Kanzas, in favor
of woman's rights [Laughter.] The de-
mocracy Of late have happy faculty when
they get in tight pinch, of taking refuge
behind Lucy Stone or some other advocate
of woman's rights.
The condition of these forlorn eighteen
were such that Gen, Schenck of Ohio,
came to their relief, and rising in his seat,
and assuming an air of comic gravity, he
said:
"We have passed to-day resolutions of
thanks to three or four commanding Off
GERS of military districts for the manner in
which they have carried out the clear and
obvious intentions of Congress, and for the
exposition they have made Of the purpose
of Congress. think it scarcely fair that
gentlemen on the other side should not
also have an opportunity of taking some
notice Of the champion who maintains the
opposite view Of the question. there
fore offer the following"
ResolCed, That the thanks of this
House are due, and are hereby rendered,
to the Rev. Petroleum v. Nasty, p. NJ,
of Confederate Cross Roads, which is in
the State of Kentucky, ard the Hon. Hen
ry Stanbery, for their full, long and able
expositions made from time to time of the
views and policy of the President of the
United States on the subject of reconstruc-
tion." Laughter.
Mr.. Stevens reported supplemental
reconstruction act on Monday, but no vote
was taken. 1t is expected that this bill
or some other very like it, will be passed
in both houses, 60 TO the President, be
vetoed, and then passed over the veto.
Y