Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1867-01-08
PROCEEDlNEs or CONGRESS

Toner Wells report on the Tariff bill was re.
terrcd TO the commitlee. Mr.. Summer otfrr
cd resolution directing the Judiciary Com.
mittee 10 inquire il any legislation is neees.
sary To- prevent the sale of persons into
slavery as punishmcnt which was adopted.
Mr.. Sutpner also presented resolution in.
STRUGGLING the Judiciary Committee to inquire
IT further legislation is necessary to prevent
the enslayement Of Indians in New Mexico,
NJ any system OF peonage. Mr.. Sumner
said i, was carried to very great extent,
and the United States officers were gully d
II. The resolution was referred. The dis
cussion Of the Nebraska bin was laid over
until Monday.
The bill to repeal the thirteenth section Of
the Con6scasiou bill was called MP aud post.
poned.
In the House, Commissioner Wells Tar
III bill was presented. The regular order
was Stevens bill Tor the reconstruction OF
the rebellious States, and was read by sec
tons. Mr.. Bingham made an effort to ar.
rest its consideration. The bill making ap-
preparation for the support of the Military
Academy for the year was made the special
order for monday. Mr.. Paine, Of wiscon-
sin, introduced bill for the reorganization
Of the militia in the St ties and Territories
II provides that all able.bodied citizens
over eighteen years Of age shall be enrolled
within sixty days Of the passage Of the bin.
1t also provides for National Guard oftwo
regiments in each Congressional District.
Among the qualifications is tina. Of loyalty.
The officers 10 be elected by the troops and
commissioned BY the Governor. The latter
shall exercise authority over the National
Guard, and no State be permitted to organ
ize any other troops. No Governor shall
exercise authority over troops unls IS he has
taken the iron-clad oath. Congress may
order the National Guard into service to
repel Invasion or suppress instruction also,
to al in the execution OF the laws OF any
States, and the suppression OF insnrrection'
therein, at the request Of The Legislature OF
such States. Refusal to serve subjects the
Offenders TO penalty as descrters. 1t pro-
vides that the National Guard shall be- ONE
part Of the regular army in time OF war
Bill referred. Mr.. Kelly reviewed the Sec.
rotary Of the Treasury's report on the imam
ces, ta7orine repeal of the FIVE per cent.
tax on manufactures, and opposing the idea
that debts should be paid by the generation
creating them.
The House then proceeded to the consider
alton OF the bill reported BY Mr.. Stevens on
the 3o,h of April, 1866, from the Joint Se-
lect Committee on Recons ruction, to pro-
vid for restoring to he States lately in in
surrsc,ion their full political right; the
question being on y substitute proposed
therefor by Mr.. Stevens on the 10th of De-
cember 1866.
Mr. Stevens supported the substitutes. |
l. Tx l,.s, l..n,u,Av af ,b., Sup
Court rendered the action necessary. 1t
had taken away tie protection of loyal men.
black and white. 1t had unsheathed the |
assassin's dagger. If true loyal people of
the South we're in terrible peril, this bill
enabled loyal men to form governments to !
protect themselve. One of the most afro |
cious murdersrs ever le, loose, watsan, hal |
been liberated under this decision. Cons
gress must eourageously provide for such |
cases. Speaking Of the President. he said !
hat, although he was Commander-in Chief, |
Congress was his commander, and pleas |
God he should be made to obey. The Pres |
dent and his straps should know that this |
was a Government Of the people, and that |
Congress was the people. tuless impartial
suffrage were introduced in the rebe, States,
every one Of them would be sure to send a |
solid rebel reprt senta,ion, and cast solid !
rebel electoral vote. They, with their kin. |
lred copperheads Of the North, would always
elect President and control Congress and |
he people.
Mr.. Stevens modified the third section.
Mr.. Ashley moved that the amendment be |
ordered to be printed.
1t declares the acts Of the so-called State
void, and makes all males
over twenty-one years electors. Ii also i'm
poses an oath, declaring that the pers n
was, ON the 4th of March. 1864, willing to
comply with the requirements Of the Presi
dents proclamation Ct December Sth, 1863
was at all times therefore opposed TO the
Of the rebellion; never treated
Federal prisoners otherwise than as lawful
prisoners of the war, and will henceforth bear
faith and allegiance to, the United States
Government.
II imposes upon delegates elected to the
Stale Conventions provided tor an add
tional oath that they have never voluntarily
borne arms againts the United States, aud
had never held any office, civil or military,
under the Co. federate Government
Ii the Convention agree to adopt the
amendment, it is then to Sc
lect Eve citizens. distinguished for their
LOYALTY and fidelity TO the Constitution and
Union, who are to act as Provisional Com.
mi,tee of public safety for the State until |
constiiut onal S ate Convention shall assem-
bic and elect Provisional Governor.
Il shall adopt an ordinance forever and
irrevocably making all persons free and
equal before the law; free schools; repu-
dating debts incurred for rebellion, and
excluding from office rebels who held revo>
lutionary appointments.
Martial law may be declared by Pro
yisional Governor, and the habeas corpus
act suspended.
Mr.. Pike said there were three plans lst,
the Presidents policy I'd, the let-alone
policy, and Sd, the saperseding policy, es-
tablishing loyal governments. The first
had been condemned by the people. The
second plan might work if the States would
act, but they had refused. He would admit
each State when it did justice to all. He
would not wait for the decisions OF the Su.
preme Court, which are proverbially m
fortunate.
Mr.. Bingham moved to recommit, and
the House vent into Committee Of the
Whole.
In the House on the Sd, he Speaker laid
before il the report Of the Special Commits
sioner Of Revenue; Wells. The Secretary
CT the Treasury, in communicating his re.
port, states that the opinions of the Com.
missioner, with very slight exceptions, have
his hearty approval.
Mr.. Wentworth offered = resolution to
prevent the Supreme Court from releasing
consprasors by the late decision.
Mr.. Bundy introduced bill to create four
Territories in Texas.
In the House, on the It'll, Loan, Of Mis-.
souri,, offered resolutions in substance that,
TO secure the frni 9 Of our victories dnring
the war, it is the imperative duty Of the
Thirty-ninth Congress. without delay, to &C.
complish the following objects /:
First, the impeachment of the officer now
exercising the functions Of President Of the
Tinted States and his removal from that