The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-05
CONGRES 9IONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. {

WASHINGTON, Dec. D.
SENATE.-Howe, of Wis, appeared in
his seat, to-day. for the first time.
The Chair iaId before the Senate COM
municatIon from the Legislature of Ne
bra5ka, transmitting joint resolution
ratIfying the amendment, proposed by
Con gress. to the Constitution.
On motion of Sumner, it was resolved
that the President of the United States
ate, If not Incompatible with public inter-
ests. copies of any correspondence between
the Government of the United States and
Great Britain, relating to the claims OF
these Governments on each other
Drake offered the following concurrent
ResoEUed By the Senate (the House Of Rep
TeSentdtiueS c01lcuTTfng), That the Presi-
dent of the United States,-i in declaring i'll
his annual message TO the two Houses of
Congress at the present session, that the
acts heretofore passed at the present SeS-
sion by these Houses relative to the recon-
structlon Of iLsurrectionary States, are
not only Objectionable for their aSsump-
ton OF ungranted power, but many of
their provisions are IN conflict with the
direct prohibitions of the Constitution.
and that those acts are as plainly uncon-
stitutional as any that can be imagined,
has transcended the just limits of his con-
stitutionaI prerOgative to give to Congress
Information of the state of the Union
and recommend to their consideration
such measures as he shall judge to be
necessary and expedient: that the
use of such language by him in his official
character is, in our judgment, calculated
to derrogate from the rightful authority
OF the iaw-making power of the nation,
and incite insuboTdination if not violent
resistance to the laws, which it is his duty,
as President, to take care shall be faith
fully executed /; that, as between the Con-
greSS and the PreSident, the former is the
exclusive and final judge, in the first in
stance, of the conformity of its acts to the
constitution; and that when any act mas
over the Presidents objections, any SubSe-
Quent official announcement OF 1t by him
as unconstitutional in the absence of any
adjudication to that effect by the supreme
Judiciary of the nation, is a departure
from official propriety, and breach OF
official obligations, justlfying and calling
for distinct reprehenslon on the part of
the Senate and House of RepreSe natives.
Ldld on the Iaole, "a anu 3S o[oereo pIlhn5ea.
ing, reported a resolution to print the
Presidents Message and Reports.
Howard hoped the resolution would be
laid over. Under present circumstances,
he could not vote for printing the Presi-
dents Me sage. He did not think it
worthy OF that attention. He considered
it a wantOn libel on Congress, so far as it
alluded to the Reconstruction policy of
Go 'gress and those who voted for 1t, and
he would not vote to circulate the Mes
"a ge. 1t was an insi itou, indication to
the rebel States to use violence in resist
ance to that policy. 1t was unconstitu-
tiopal and revolutionary.
Considerable debate followed, participat-
ed in by sumner, Anthony, Wilson, Bucka-
lew, Dixon, and others; the two latter in
defense of the me ssage.
Pending the discussion bills were intro
Quce0 Dy IromDuIl, 10 make nYe Judges OF
the Supreme Court quorum. Passed.
Also, a bill by Wilson, amending bill
for the government of the Southern States,
by allowing a majority of those voting,
instead OF those registered, to call d con-
vention. Referred.
A com mmun cation was received from the
President, inclOstng tAe correspondence in
the case of Mr.. Motley.
Edmund's bill, pledglng payment in
coin, was taken up and debated until half
past two, when the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session.
HOUSE-The galleries were crowded in
| expectation of the Impeachment question
coming up before the House.
On mo ion of Kelley, the Secretary of
! the Treasury was directed to report the
| amount of funds in each National Bank,
! on the lSt of each month, from the 30th of
June, 1865, 10 ihe lst of OCTOBER, 1857.
Cutlom offered a resolution tnat
WHEREAS, The British Government
| claims exclusive authority to determine
! the question of the validity of American
citizenship,
| Res0Ired, That the United States Gov
| ernment recognizes no gradatiOn of age in
American citizens, and !ec lareS all Amer
| lean citizens, whether native or natural
/ lied, entitled to receive protection from
| the United States Government, and no
! claim made by any foreign government,
! over American citizens, shall be recOg-
! nlzed as destroying or weakening the
right OF sucn cItiz n 10 the protection ol
| the United States.
Tesoired, That the United States Govern
| ment will, at all hazards. protect the
| rights of ali its citizens, W whether at home
| or abroad. and IL IS The duty of the PreSl.
! dent TO see TO II that American citizens
/ native born or naturaiized. who may be
/ in other lands Oh wful pursuits. shall
4 ucl De uDlawfully deprived OF their liber-
ties Or subjected 10 military service, Ol
I otherwise deprived of sights as American
citizens. Referred % Committee on For
eisa Relations.