The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-01-31

judiciary committee, declined t, say what
they were doing, and contradic' ed IN too |
the statements made in the newspapers
purporting to give details OF the inve,tIga |
ton. lie virtually sustained the correct
ness of these dispat ches. which have al |
along declared that not a witness had beer
summoned nor one examined The ques
tion of ordering a special committee wa
laid over TIL Monday Lext, aud then the
subject was dropped.
The interest manifested in the recon.
struction question was again evinced tn
day By large attendance Of spectators in
the House Hundreds were unable to ge'
IN the galleries, while the floor Of the
House was at one lime so crowded that il
WAS cleared of all persons except those
privileged to be present The debate
however. was not very exciting. most OF
the speeches beng read from manuscript.
At p NJ Mr. Stevens modified hi
enabling bill. which was under considera-
ton, by striking out the section which
was claimed to acknowle dyed the validity
% the present southern State governments
AS modified it provides that only loyal PEG
pie. white and black. shall eloct delegates
IN the ten southern States on the lst Of
May next. to the State conventions, which
conventions are to form State Constitutions.
giving al! persons except those who have
been in rebellion, equal civil and political
privileges. This Constitution is to be
submitted to Congress. and if accepted the
State is to be entitled to representation.
The judge of tn, Supreme Court OF
the District Of Columbia are authorized b.
the bill to appoint a commission, who in
turn are to appoint in the State Judges
and Registers OF election.
Mr.. Stevens desired that the House
should have still further opportunity to
amend. but Mr.. Bingham, Of Ohio. insist
ed on his motion. made some days since,
to recnmmit the whole to the committee
on reconstruction. He WIS willing, how
ever he said. to make suggestion to Mr..
Stevens relative to the disposition OF the
| bill
At this remark NJ Stevens jumped up
in his seat aud said, excitedly, to Bing-
/ ham:
Il will not take your counsel, recognize
your authority, nor believe one word YOU
sty."
The speaker promptly called Mr.. Ste,
sens To order The recommi'ment Of the
bill, Mr.. Stevens contended all along, was
equivalent to Its defeat The vote was
then taken, and the entire subject was
sent to the committee on reconstruction.
which its friends claim is its certain death.
The vote on referring was IS to 60. Most
all of the leading Republicans voted FIJI
the reference
Jan. 29.-The President to day return
ed to the Senate. with his objections, the
bill for the admission of Nebraska He
refers to the Fundamental condition prece>
dent, that suffrage shall be allowed with
ont distinction OF race or color. This con-
lition is not me ltioned in the original en-
aiding act and was not contemplated at
the time of It's passage; was not sought
by the people themselves has not been
applied before to the inhabitants of any
State asking admission and is in direct
conflict with the Constitution adopted by
the people and declared In the preamble to
( be republican in its form Of government
for in that instrument the exercise of the
elective franchise and right to hold Office
are expressly limited to white citizens of
the United States Congress thus under
takes TO authorize and compel the hegisla-
turc 10 change Constitution which it i
declared in the preamble has received the
sanction Of the people, and which by this
| bill il ,ceptel ratified AMI confirmed by
the Congress Of the nation.
The President proceeds to show that the
/ first AMI third sections Of the bill exhibits
vet further incongruiiy II, he says
! Congress is satisfied that Nebraska at the
pre>enttlme possesses sufficient population
to entitlc her to full repre- Sen;ation in the
councils of the nation, and her people de
sire State government, good faith would
seem to demand TINT she should be admit
ted without fur'her requirements than
those expressed in the enabl NJ act. Will
all of which it is asserted ~ The preambl,
I Iar hal, III,