The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-14
Proceedings of the River Con-
Vention.
SPEECH OF MR.. ABBOTT.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
GOLD CLOSED 1876 3-4.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
Wtsu1xcrnv Fab

WASHINGTON, Feb. l3.
A petition was presented from the citizens
OF Arkansas, asking that similar bill to that
passed By the House, for the government of
Louisiana, be passed for the organization Of
civil government in Arkansas. Passed.
Mr.. DEMPSEY offered resolution for
printing 5000 copies of Gen. WarreA's re-
port of the survey OF the Upper Mississippi.
Referred.
Mr.. MORRILL, reported. from the Com~
mittee Military Affairs, without amend
ment, the bill TO regulate the disposition OF
the unclaimed colored volunteer bounty fund,
now in the custody of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau.
Mr. WILSON, from the Conmtte on Mil
itary Affairs, reported bill for the payment
of the additional bounties, authorized by
law. TO soldiers who have lost their discharge
papers. with an amendment. The amend
ment provides that in cases where the claim
ants discharge certificates is alleged to have
been lost or destroyed and where the claim
ants application for arrears Of pay and boun-
ty, prior to the act Of Jaly 2Sth, 1896, have
been settled BY tue Auditor; and where there
Is proof of the loss of discharges, claims for
said additional bounty may be settled by the
Auditor, as in other Ike cases; settled
subject to the regulations prescribed by the
Secretary Of the Treasury.
MT IOA AhD ffFofttl. WITHOUT dmeUuS
ment, bill authorizing the payment of the
rewards offered for the capture of JEFF.
Davis.
Mr. MCINTYRE presented joint resolu>
tion from the Wisconsin Legislature, asking
for grant Of land 10 ad in the construction
of the Green Bay d Lake Pepin Railroad.
Referred.
Mr. MILLER asked leave to offer areaolu-
ton declaring il incompatible with the policy
of the protective svstenof the United States.
ani detrmenta. TO the fundamental interests
of the country, to admit, under any pre,ext
whatever, free OF duty foreign iron, whether
manufactured for Railroad purposes or other
wise.
Mr.. SSBRENNER objected
The SPEAKER presented telegraph de-
.patch from Denver. Colorado, announcing
the proceedings of public meeting, in favor
of the admission Of Colorado.
The House resumed the consideration Of
the bill for establishing military governments
in the South,
Mr. VAN HORN advocated the amend.
ment.
Mr.. STEVENS Withdrew his motion to re-
commit, in order to submit some amendments
which he explained. Among them was
substitute for the second section, by which
Congress was directed to establish five gener
al officers. to command in the military dis
trets proposed to be organized.
Mr.. GARFIELD suggested that it was not
for Congress to undertake to detail army oth
GERS.
Mr. STEVENS said he had tried yainly to
satisfy the views Of gentlemen around him,
but finding he could not, be withdrew his
proposition 10 amend.
Mr. BOUTWELL, closed the debate, argu
ing the necessity andpropriety of the pa ssage
of the bill la the course Of his remarks he
said that If the bill became a law and was put
in operation, the Supreme Court would have
no capacity to set in those ten States, aud
Congress could keepin rs own hands the po-
liticai reorganization of those States.
Mr.. SCHENCk, having had five minutes
allowed hi-n declared his assent 20 the pro-
priety OF extending martial law over the
States lately in rebellion, aud his opinion
that at the same time, Congress ought to in
dieate to the people OF these States what
they we're required to do in order that they
might have civil governments and be repre-
sented in Congress. That he understood it
to be the object Of Blalue's amendment. and
therefore supported it.
AZ two o'clock Mr.. STEVENS moved the
previous question.
Mr.. BINGHAM appealed to the House not
10 second IL, anu thereby cat Oh ali aihenu
ments.
The House refused by vote Of 81 to 10.
The debate proceeded
Mr.. BINGHAM, while approving the gen
era purpose of the bill. said that Congress,
could not, by direction or indirection, make
o State government for the people of an,
State That was a matter which belonged tt
them. State governments had to be estab-
iished, not by act of Congress, but by th'
voluntary act Of the people themselves, HI
desired TO give the people that oPportu
nifty. That was the object of his amend
ment.
Mr. BLAINE moved to re-conmit the bill
to the Judiciary Committee, iniead of tn,
Committee on Reconstruction, with instruc
tions to report back Immediately, with hi
TBlaines amendment added as the 9th sec
ton. He moved the previous question, whicl
was seconded BY 50 to 53
Mr. SPAULDING moved, as test gues
ton. to table the bill and amendments. in
tending himself to vote against the motion
The motion resulted 80 to ll5-a strict part
vote.
The main GnessiQn vas then taken up O.
Blaine motion to refer With instructions.