The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-28

States this winter.
The Tariff bill was resumed. The amendment
of Mr., Davis to increase the duty on hemp was
disagreed to, and the bill was then taken ont OF
the Committee of the Whole and reported TO
the Senate the next question being on concur
ring I'm the amendments adopted in committee.
Before proceeding any further than this the
Senate went into Executive session at o clock
z. M, and soon after adjourned.
House of Representatives.
The House proceeded to the consideration Of
Mr.. stevens Reconstruction bill. on which Mr..
Ross Gll addressed the House. stating his OBJ
lection to IL ns unconstitutional and adverse to
the principles enuncated by the Republican
party during Ihe war, and as being unWlse ana
ineXpedient
that enunciated the other day by Mr.. Raymond,
that all the acts of the Republican party were
done, not under the Constitution. but IN ac-
cordance with some public sentiment, which ne
had denominated "The unwritten Constitu-
ton" The bill before the House was at vari-
ance with the solemn pledge given by the
House, in what was known as the Crittenden
resolutions, defining the objects and purposes
for which the war was to be prosecuted. IL was
at variance with the course of Congress in
allowing Senators and Representatives from the
Rebel States to hold their seats until their
terms expired. 1t was at variance with the act
assessing direct taxes on the Rebel States, and
it certainly could not have been contemplated
to impose taxation without representation. II
was at variance with the act of 1862, apportion-
ing Representatives who were apportoned to
the States that are declared by this bill as out
The action of the Supreme Court was against
the bill, inasmuch as it took up and disposed of
the suits returned from those lately Rebel
States, and that action was in conformity with
the act of Congress establishing Circuit and
District Courts in those States. The bill was in
conflict with the declaration of our Govern
ment to the French Government, that the
seats of Southern Representatives in the Con-
greSs of the United States were still vacant and
waiting TO be occupied by them. Referring to
Mr.. Scofleld's attack last Saturday on the Sec
retary of state, he expressed the idea that Mr..
Seward who had furnished brains to the Re
publican party for twenty-five years, should
have been treated with more respect by mem
was was in conflict i with Mr.. LincoIn's prociama
tion, in which he had announced that he would
proclaim the emancipation of the slaves IN all
States which had not representatives in Con-
gress on the first of January following.
Mr.. INGERsOLL Ill.) interrupted to say that
though MIR. Seward might have been the leader
of the Republican party, yet that was before he
had got his head hurt, but that since he had got
his head hurt he had been fit leader of the
Mr.. Ross, without stopping to notice the in
terruption, proceeded with his argument against
the bill. He believed the calm and dispassion-
ate opinion of the House would be that the bill
was unworthy of an American Congress. The
war had been Waged to save, not to destroy, the
union of the States; but according to the theory
of this bill, the war had struck from the ma
tlOnal banner ten of its stars. lie never could
ments of Generals Grant and sherman We're
against this bill Some army officers might
favor it, but they were officers whose military
deeds during the war had been the hunting OF
cotton and silver spoons. Another objection to
the principle of declaring the Rebel states con-
quefed provinces was that, If they were con-
QueIed provinces, the General Government
would be responsible for their debts. He recog-
nized in the party most opposed TO the repre-
sentauon Of the Southern States in Congress tho
operation of the feeling in support OF high
tariff.
The representatives allotted to the ten States
excluded were only fifty, so that even If they
were in their seats, the Representatives OF
other States would outnumber them nearly
four to one. What danger, then, would there
be from that source? After 1870 they would be
outnumbered five 10 one. The including of the
colored people in the basis Of representation
would not ada much to the southern Repre-
sentatives, b cause, if there was any truth in
the reports Of outrages upon colored people in
the South, 90 industriously circulated, there
would be an emigration of negroes from the
south to New England like to a flight of doves,
and the represen tation of New England would
be increased, lie deprecated the assaults made
in the House upon Judge Davis Of the Supreme
Court and upon The Pres .deno OF the United
If Congress could depose the President and
paralyZe the Supreme Court, civil government
would be destroyed in this country. He
thought he saw among the leaders OF the Re-
publican party types OF The Robespierres, the
Dautons and the Marats of the French RevOlu-
tion. He appealed to Congress to let well
! enough alone. "Rather bear the ills we have
| than to fly to others that we know not OF" AS
| to the proposed Impeachment OF the PRESIDENT
| he almost thought that he ought to be I'M
| peached for having so many dlsunlonlsLs In
! Office,
| MIR. STEVENS tPa), at the close OF Mr. Ross
| speech, rose and said he would mention the
| conclusion to which ne had come in reference
| to the management of the bill. He would not
| attempt to take vote to-day, as there were
| several gentlemen who wished to speak, but he
| desired when the House adjourned this even
| ing to have the floor, that on Monday nc
| could call the previous question. Before doing
| So however he would invite the gentleman
| from Ohio, Mr.. Ashley, 10 withdraw his substi
| tute, and would also invite his colleague, Mr.
| Bingham, TO Withdraw his motion to refer K
| the Joint Committee on Reconstruction, anC
| then the bill could he discussed and amended
| under the five minute rale, as If IN Committed
| OF the Whole.
| MIR, ASHLEY hoped the motion 20 recommi
| would not be adopted, That would be a declara
| ton on the part OF the House that no actor
| might be expected during the remainder OF thi
! Congress on the great question OF reconstruc
ton, He accepted the suggestion Of the gentle
man from Pennsylvania, and now Withdrew
| his substitute, and he would sustain the motion
| that the bill be considered in the House unde
the five minute rule, that II might be perfected
| and sent TO the Senate withiu tine next two OF
| three days. Allowing ten days within viii
the bill, ii etoed, might be recOnsidered, therl
were but twenty working days left OF thi
| session.
Mr.. CoNKLING IN. " asked Mr.. Ashley wha
objection there was to having the bill commit
| ted TO a committee which was familiar with tht
subject, and which had right TO report at an,
| time.
MIR. ASHLEY replied that the Reconstructior
| Committee had had no meeting this session. al
a. 4. g.