Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-10
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
senate.
WASHINGTON, July 9. Immediately after
reading the journal, the Senate took up the
reconstruction bill reported by Mr. Trum-
bull yesterday. Mr.. TrumbuIl addressed
the Senate at length in support of the bill.
He said: think all will admit that for
some period, some make it shorter than
others, but for q month or year the military
have had authority to preserve peace and
govern the country as far as necessary for
that purpose, till civil governments could
be inaugurated Now, how this military
government could be continued is q ques-
ton left in the discretion of the sovereign
power of the United States, exercising its
authority in support of our institutions in
sub0rdination to the constitution. | agree
that this military power should not be
continued day longer than is necessary,
in subordination of civil government in
those Rebel States which are loyal to the
Union and true to the constitution but
how long that is TO be, is to be decided by
circumstances, of which the sovereign gov
eminent, the Congress of the United States,
is TO judge, not the executive nor judicial
tribunals. 1t is a question over which iu-
dicial tribunals can have no jurisdiction.
They can't try political questions; they
will be bound by decisions of other de.
partments of the government. This mill
tary authority was continued by the Presi-
dent of the United States ia the absence of
any legislation by Congress, and rightfully
continued. The President of the United
States then, when this military rover was
in existence, undertook to inapsdrate civil
governments in those States. Had the
civil governments which he undertook to
inaugurate, remained true to the country
and loyal to the flag, they would have been
recognized and this whole question settled;
bGt unfortunately the enemies of the coun-
try, the very men who set up hostile gov
ernments, which cost so much money and
blood to overthrow, took possession of the
new governments, and the Congress of the
United States, finding this to be the con-
dition of things, and that the President
had Withdrawn the military power and left
these governments in the hands of the very
men who had controlled them during the
war, decided they were not legal govern
ments, but provisional merely, and abso-
lutely mil and void, and existing by suf-
ferance only. Congress then proceeded to
declare that there being no legal govern
ments in those States, military power should
be restored and should be exercised over
those States until civil governments could
be set up therein.
Mr.. Trumbull then adverted to the opin-
ion Of the Attorney General, which he
characterized as in many respects prepos-
ferrous, and in conclusion explained the
provisions of the bill before the Senate.
Mr.. Wilson followed, advocating, in
place of the second section of the bill, a
provision to vacate all the civil Offices in
the South.
House of Representatives.
Soon after meeting, the consideration of
the reconstruction bill was resumed.
Mr.. Brooks, of New York, spoke at
length in opposition to the bill, as an utter
violation of every natural and national
law. There was no parallel in history ex-
cept Duke Alva.
Mr.. Garfield, referring TO Mr.. Brooks
allusion TO the aggrarianism of Senator
Wade, reminded him and the House that
the Senator had disclaimed the sentiments
imputed to him.
Mr.. Wood spoke in opposition TO bill,
as unconstitutional generally and in detail.
Mr.. Stevens intimated his intention to
move the first question, modifying the 9th
section by striking out the words ''or unless
he shall consent to be relieved" and insert
ing the words cor on arrest for an offense
punishable by dismissal from army, or dis
qualified Icy sickness from performing his
duty"
Several amendments were proposed by
Messrs. Schneck, Baker, Butler, Coburn and
Garfield, but Mr.. Stevens declined to permit
them TO be offered.
The House seconded the previous ques-
ton by vote of SO to Al. Mr. Stevens being
entitled an hour to close the debate, yield
ed twenty minutes to Mr.. Bingham, who
addressed the House in favor of the bill.
The debate closed by a speech from Mr..
Stevens. The bill then passed-yeas
l19, nays 81. After some unimportant
business the House adjourned.