Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-17
HGfES0.

Mr.. Spaulding asked leave to introduce
a resolution that the Judiciary Committee
report to the House an opinion, in writing,
respecting the necessity of obtaining any
further sanction of the constitutional
amendment than three-fourths of the States
actually represented in Congress.
Mr.. Finck objected, and the resolution
was not received.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the Secretary
of the Treasury was directed to furnish in
formation in reference to the disposal Of
United States bonds, etc, as required by the
act of April 18th, 1862, viz: ,.
Mr. Julian, on leave, introduced a bill
to extend the provisions of the act OF
August 4th, 1864, granting the right Of
way for all rail and plank roads, for five
years. Referred.
The House considered Stevens bill for
the reconstruction Of Rebel States.
Mr.. Paine spoke at length in opposition
thereto He denounced the present State
governments as piratical ones, which, up to
this time, had feastcd off the souls Of An
drew johnson, and his Northern and South
ern satellites, but would henceforth rest on
the soul of the rash young gentleman from
Pennsylvania, (Stevens) 1t would really
seem as if he (Stevens) had sometime long
er for the Presidential bread and butter.
Mr.. Bingham opposed tho measure, be-
cause he recognized the power of the people
70 establish guarantees and safeguards.
He believed the safety Of the people de-
pended upon the incorporation into the
constitution of the great amendment pro-
posed bv the Reconstruction Committee
That did not prevent further constitutional
egislation, but this bill neither stood with
The constitutional amendment nor with the
tuty of Congress to give due protection TO-
dtizens of the United States within the
cisorgapized States Let the future safety
di the Republic rest upon the irrepealable
of arantee imbedded in the constitution,
gud not upon repealable legislation for the
9nurgent States. He would have the late
insrebellious States 20 on and perform acts
for the ratification of the constitutional
amendment. even though they we're not
regularly Organized States. The ratihca-
ton of their acts subsequently by Congress
would Iegalize them. As to the Supreme
Court. its powers were very limited. lts
mowers rested upon the will of Congress,
and could readily be taken away. This
bill was very ofensiveto him. It attempted
to restrict the right Of petition, which the
constitution expressly forbade.
II looked as if drawn by a crowned des-
not. It declared that all persons who were
In rebellion, and had once taken an oath to
the constitution CT the United States, were
no longer citizens Of the United States, and
could not become 50 except through the
| forms of naturalization. He submitted
| that Congress had no colorado authority
/ for declaring, first, that million OF people
| Of this country are no longer citizens, ana,
! second. that they could take no steps ioI
Organizing State governments until Con-
| gress passed an enabling act permitting
! them 10 do so. In answer 10 a question as
| 10 what remedy he himself proposed, be
said he wished the measure referred to tbs
! Joint Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Bingham also objected to other pro.
visions Of the bill. One of which declared
that no person should be deprived OF bis
| right of vote for any other crime than tres
so1 or insurrection. BE said it was de
| claring. in effect, that thieves, robbers
murders and midnight assassins should
never be deprived Of the elective tranchis,
on account Of being convicted OF suct
I crime. While he was willing 70 assist Al
rigL .ful powers Of this government %
] would never consent to Incorporate IN thi
statutes Of this nation a provision tina
would deprive the people Of the right o
altering or amending their legislation,
provision which this bill contained. Con
gress had not even the color Of right L
pass such a law.
Mr.. Bingham also opposed Mr.. Ashley
bill as 4 departure from the constitutional
. amendment.
Mr.. Dawson followed in an argument t
show that the Presidents policy was th
true solution OF the constitutional dim
culties
The House wen. into Committee Of To
Whole on the legislative Appropriated
bill