Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-01-22
HOUSE.

.
Mr.. BAKER introduced Joint resolu-
tion declaring governments OF the late
rebel States OF military origin, and there
fore invalid, or valid only by formal recOg-
milton of Congress. Referred to the COM
mittee on Judiciary.
Mr.. BR0MWELL introduced Joint res
Olution defining the power of amending the
Constitution. 1t covers amendments now
pending and provides that only those States
represented by Congress, or recognized by
Congress as having right to vote upon
the amendments, shall have power to accept
or reject them. Referred to the committee
on Reconstruction.
Mr.. HILL introduced resolution sus-
pending the withdrawal of legal tenders
two years. Referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee.
Mr.. WILLIAMS asked leave to intro
duce bill defining and limiting the power
of the Supreme Court of the United States
to decide on the COnstitutionality of laws.
1t provides that such questions shall be
heard only before full Board of Judges of
said Court. Referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee.
Mr.. MORRIS, from the committee on
Ways and Means, introduced bill relating
to sales of gold from the Treasury, which
WAS pun NDOIl DuochSCs IL pIONluCo Iui =
davs' notice in New York and Washington,
requires sealed proposals and provides that
no proposal shall be considered unless ac-
companied by a certificate of deposit in the
United States Treasury of ) per cent. of the
amount of gold bid for which shall be re-
ceived in part payment or refunded if the
bid is rejected.
Mr.. DELANO amended by making the
notice six days. and the bill passed under
suspension OF the rules.
Mr.. BUCKLAND introduced q bill to
prevent further contraction of the curren-
cy. Referred to the committee on Banking
and Currency.
Mr.. WARD, of New York, offered a reso-
luton that the committee on Elections i'm
quire whether the Constitution and laws
were violated in the late election In Mary
land, and whether the President, or any
person under his direction, used, or threat
ened to use, the military power of the
United States to further such violation,
and if so, whether it was upon requisition
tee to have power to send for persons and
papers. Adopted.
Several other resolutions and bills of
minor importance were introduced.
Mr.. GARFIELD introduced bill to eX-
anime the Treasury and other Executive
Departments. Referred to the Ways and
Means committee.
Mr.. INGERSOLL asked leave to intro
duce resolution appropriating $25,00O for
distribution to the poor of the District of
Columbia, through Major General Howard
and the Mayor of Washington.
Mr.. WILSON objected.
Executive communications were receiv-
ed, transmitting the report of the Secretary
of War on the case of Colonel George St.
Leger Grenfel and other matters of minor
interest.
On motion of Mr.. FARQUHAR, the Sc
lect committee on the murder of United
States soldiers in South Carolina was d.
rected to inquire into the public whipping
of United States citizens in North Carolina,
particularly in Raleigh and its vicinity,
and the burning to death of citizens in
South Carolina when confined in Jail.
On motion of Mr.. KETCHUM, the COM
mittee of Ways and Means were instructed
to inquire into the eXpediency of prOvid-
ing any law for the redemption of one
cent, two cent three cent and five cent
coin at the Treasury and Assistant Treas
urer of the United States when presented
in sums of not less than $40.
On motion of Mr.. BANKS, the commit
tee on Library was authorized to contract
with Bierstadt tor two paintings-thor-
oughly American in haracter-represent
ing some prominent feature of scenery,
or important event in American History, to
fill the unoccupied panels in the House
Chamber. s-
The House proceeded to the discussion
of Mr.. Stevens Reconstruction bill.
Mr.. KERR, in opposition, sustained the
Presidents policy in reference to estab-
fishing State Governments in the South.
House took recess till half-past
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. TRIMBLE spoke against the recon-
struction bill as bill of attainder and eX
post iacto law.
Mr.. DODGE opposed the bill. He differ
ed entirely from general sentiment on the
Republican side of the House, thinking,
himself, that Congress had already COM
mitted itself against their view, that States
i'm rebellion were not States in the Union.
He had failed to find in either Stevens or
Ashley's bill the first thing that promised
peace, conciliation and harmony. He also
deprecated the impeachment of the Presi-
dent.
Mr.. HISE made an argument against the
bill. He declared himself opposed to Civ
ing any substantial cause for revolution
and resistance. His opinion was, there
never had been State out OF the Union,
and that none but States could govern or
be governed by a Congress of the United
States. The power was primary aud full
to admit States into the Union, but there
was no power conferred upon Congress,
or reserved by the States, to expel or to
take State out. The details of the bill
show that it contemplated the establish
ment of despotism in the South--a
despOtism in country where nothing but
a free representative Government had ever
existed, or could ever exist. He con-
tended that not for amoment was the rep
iesentatiye rights of the Southern States
ever destroyed. ---,,-, ...,- ,,sfy-sr
The House adjourned. 9-
Fran Gamada .-F- .H.e s.H