The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-07
THE THIRTY-NIsTH CONGREss.

THE THIRTY-NIsTH CONGRESS.
The Principal work Performed by 1t
Specification OF the Leading Aets
Passed.
In order that our readers my see for
themselves the work done, we present
below a brief statement of the leading
measures of the session.
l. The bill establishing universal
and impartial suffrage in the District of
Columbia without distinction of race
or color, has become a law over the
Presidents veto, and the first election
has been held under it, and has result
ed in a Republican triumph. -,
2. In like manner the bill establish
ing universal and impartial Suffrage In
al! the territories of the FePupncI mas
been enacted into law over the veto,
and thus terminates the Yalldlty OF all
territorial laws that dlsfranchise man
ON account of race or color. By the
operation of this bill the colored man
will have "a right to vote in Colorado
despite the unfriendly statutes of the
territorial Legislature, and all efforts to
disfranchise the colOred citizens in ter
ritories like New Mexico, Montana,
Arizona and Idaho are rendered USE
less. This act will not enfrauchise the
Chinamen in California and Nevada,
but it will have the effect OF attracting
them from those States to the gold
mining territories, where they will be
voters.
3. The Military Reconstruction bill,
of which we have heretofore spoken at
length, has become a law over the veto.
1t establishes military protection for
| freedmen and Union men at the south,
fixes terms of readmission for the reb-
ell States, declares the existing govern
ments OF those States provisional, and
o. Nl,Y
/ to every adult colored man in all the
elections therein.
| 4. A bill to regulate the tenure of
national civil offices has become law
over the veto. 1t puts an end to the
capricious removals for political rea-
sons that have disgraced the present
Administration, and renders the offici-
al no longer mere dependent on the
Executive pleasure. 1t deprives the
President OF much of the power he has
welded for corrupt purposes.
.. The amendatory Tax bill has be-
come a law, with the Presidents sig
nature. 1t reduces the income tax, the
manufacturers tax, and many other
impOsts, to the extent of at least seven
ty millions per annum.
Gan amendatory Tariff bill has been
passed relating mainly to the duties
on wool and wooden goods, and in
tended to benefit chiefly the West.
Z. Nebraska has been formally adj
mitted as a State, despite Presidential
veto.
8. A bill has been passed authorizing
an issue of loan certificates at little
tent of fifty millions of dollars, to pro-
vide for the redemption of the accruing
| compound interest notes.
.. An act has been passed providing
for the suppression of the abominable
institution OF peonage in New Mexico
and other territories.
10. Payments to Shareholders for
slaves enlisted as soldiers have been
directed to be stopped.
IL. a national bankrupt law has been
enacted.
II. All future danger OF a Legislative
interregnum, such as happened in 1851,
at the outset of the rebellion, has been
Obviated by the passing of an act pro-
viding for the meeting of every new
Congress on the first day of its term,
March 4.
10. An act has been passed establish
ing a department of education as a part
of the national government.
There is no installing the general
drift of :his legislation. It is in the di-
} rection of lower domestic taxation; the
encouragement of home industry; the
elevation of oppressed races; the ex-
tension ofdemocratic republican rights;
the Limitation of Executive patronage,
power and influence; the protection oil
life, liberty and property in the rebel
lious regionsi the guardianship of the
public liberties against governmental
usurpatiOu; the preservation of our
representative form of government in
tact, and a prudent policy in the public
finances. II the succeeding Congress
shall be able to do as much good as
this the hRnRtieinl aff hEa fsalt
the remOtest bounds OF the republic.