Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-02-22
Thiriy-Ninth COngress--second Session
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is.

| UAshANuiOS, Il eu- To-
In the Senate to-day several petitions and
memorials were presented, and among them
one from the citizens Of Arkansas asking that
similar bill to that passed by the house for
the government of Louisiana for the
organization Of the civil government Of Ar
kansas.
On the announcement Of the passage by the
House Of the bill to establish civil government
IN Louisiana, Mr.. Wade moved to postpone all
I previous orders and Immediately take up the
Louisiana bill as very little of the session was
| leff, and he hoped they would proceed to imme-
diate action. 1t was agreed to but unanimous
consent being necessary for consideration of the
bill, and Mr. Hendricks objecting. it went over.
The bill to punish larceny Of government
property by fne Of Eve thousand dollars, and
Imprisonment not lees than one year nor more
than. ten years. orIboth, was passed.
Mr. Poland from the judiciary com reported a
bill pspyiding that persons held upon process or
executions issued from the u s. courts shall be
entitled to their discharge in the same manner
as If arrested upon similar proctss Of state
courts Of the same district
The House bill (Mr Steveus') for the efficient
government Of the insurrectionary states was
read for the first time, and Mr. Sumner moved
to proceed to its consideration, but Mr. McDou-
gall objected, and it went over.
HOUSE
Discussion was resumed on Mr. Stevens bill
for establishing military government in the
Southern States, Mr. Boutwell, closing the debate
in support Of the bill.
In the course of his remarks he said if it
should happen that the Supreme Court should
declare as it possibly might, that ten states late
ly in rebellion were states in the Union and
entitled TO all the rights and privileges Of states
and should base that declaration on any act Of
Congress, then those states we're restored as far
as the judiciary could restore them and
nothing remained to Congress and the people, but
10 accept that conclusion as binding or enter
into dangerous controversy with the chief judi
cisry of the land.
If however this bill becomes q law and was
put in operation, the Supreme Court would have
no capacity to see in those ten states, any civil
government and Congress would keep control in
its own hands.
In reply to a question Mr. Boutwell, said the
power Of Congress to suspend the hGbeas corpus
was not confined to the period of rebellion or
invasion. The power arose at such periods but
did not cease to exit till, in judgment of the law
making power, the cause Of rebellion or invasion
had passed by, and no longer remained.
After Mr. Boutwell's speech vote was again
taken on ordering the previous question and it
was refused by % majority.
At two O'Clock Mr. Stevens obtained the floor
and moved the previous question.
Mr.. Bingham appealed to the House not to
second the question.
The House refused the previous question by
yeas A nays 20.
Mr.. Bingham thanked the House for refusing
the previous question and giving the opportu-
nifty to present his amendment.
Mr.. Blaine moved the bill be referred to the
Judiciary com. and with instructions to report
back Immediately the bill reported by Mr.. Ste
yens, with his (Blaine's) amendment added Is
the sixth section.
The previous question was seconded on this,
and the yeas were So, and nays 90.
Mr.. Spalding said in order to test the sense Of
the House on the question he would move to lay
the bill on the table, and the amendments, al
though he should vote against it himself Il
was rejected. yeas 80, nays rs. The question
then recurred on referring to the judiciary, and
Mr.. Stevens SAID being entitled to close the de-
bate he would do it now as he might not have
another opportunity in consequence Of the re-
commitment of the bill. He then spoke at
length upon the necessity for action and the su-
pineness manifested BY Congress, and appealed
to the House to pass his bill without any Of the
amendments offered.
Mr.. Blsines amendment provides that when
the CONSTITUTIONAL amendment snail become part
Of the constitution and when any late conieder-
ate State shall have ratified the same and con-
formed its state constitution and laws to it in
all respects and the elective franchise shall be
enjoyed equally and impartially by all male
citizens except such as may be disfranchised for
participating in the rebellion, and the State con-
stitutions thus amended shall have been ratified
BY the popular vote Of the States and submitted
to Congress for ratification and approval, said
State if approved By Congress, shall be declared
entitled to representation in Congress, and
thereafter the preceding sections Of the bill
shall be imperative in said State.
A motion to refer il was defeated by SO to 90.
The bill was then passed by 100 to SO, and
at 4.30 p. m. the House took recess till 7.s0.
After the transaction Of some unimportsnt
business the House went into committee of the
whole with Mr.. Boutwell, in the chair, and con-
sidered the amendstory tax bill.
Mr.. Morrill,, chairman Of the committee on
Ways and Means, explained the bill and sub
mitted his views and those Of the committee at
length.
After passing some Of the minor sections Of
the bill the committee rose and the House ad-
journed.