Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-16
CONGRESSIONAL.

| HCOUeSUuy, July o-IuC OChaVO "o WV
| launched upon the reconstructlonquestlon. The
proposed reference of some petitions presented
by Mr.. Sumner from parties concerned IN the
rebellion asking to be relieved ofcertaln dis
abilities was opposed by some Senators on the
ground that it was not expedient to enter upon
general business at this time, and they were
laid on the table. A resolution was adopted
calling for all orders, instructions, opinions, &c,
relative to the duties ofthe military commanders
in the South, and several others submitted but
not acted on, seeking information relative to
Mexican affairs: after which no less than four
bills were introduced on the subject of recon
struction, by Messrs Wilson, Edmunds, Frel-
inghuysen, aud Drake, all either vacating the
| civil offices or authorizing the commanders to
do so, giving further powers as to registration,
and placing more absolute limitations upon the
Executive. Mr.. Sumner also brought forward
his general negro suffrage bill for the whole
country, amended so as to impose fine and I'M
prisonment for refusing to count such vote &c.
The evident disposition, however, is to entertain
only the reconstruction business in the Senate
Having appointed committees to wait upon the
President, both houses adjourned until the
9Th.
In the House of Representatives, when the
administration OF the oath to new members was
in order, and after some of those from Rhode
Island and Connecticut had been sworn In, and
|
made by Mr.. Schenck to the admission OF Hon.
John d. Young, of the 9th district, and the
| protest of Hon. Samuel Mckee, the former
member from the district, and others, was pre-
scented, charging Mr.. Young with having aided
the rebellion, &c. A similar protest was made
by Mr.. Logan of Illinois, against the admission
of Hon. L. S. Trimbe, and by Mr.. Benjamin,
of Missouri, against the admission of j. Proctor
Knott, both Of Kentucky, and on the same
grounds 1t was moved by Mr.. Schenck that
MIR. Young be now sworn in and that his ere
| dentlalS, with the protests, be referred to the
committee on elections but Mr.. Logan went
further, and moved that the credentials of all
those claiming seats from Kentucky be SO referr-
| ed the parties in the meantime to be excluded
Finally, resolution was adopted referring all
the credentials from Kentucky, except those OF
George M. Adams, of the It'll district, against
whom no charges were preferred. A protest
| from Connecticut against Hon. VIM. III. Barnum
Of that State, retaining his seat on account of
| bribery In his election, was also presented and
referred to the committee on elections for inves-
| tigation.
A resolution was adopted to raise joint
committee, similar to that of the last Congress,
| to report what further legislation is necessary
on reconstruction, and another providing that
| the table, All orders, &C., of the military
commanders in the South, and copies of cor
respondence with Mr. Campbell, Minister to
| Mexico, were also called for.
| Friday, July SIN the Senate, resolution
was adopted-by vote of twenty-three in its
favor to nine misunderstanding THAT the leg
islative business of this session should be CON
| fined to removing the distractions which have
been or likely to be placed in the way Of the
fair execution of the acts ofreconstruction here
| tofore adopted by Congress, to giving to said
acts the scope intended by Congress when the
same were passed, and that further legislation
at this session on the subject of reconstruction
| or on other subjects is not expedlent." Messrs.
Wade, Sumner, Harlan, Chandler, Ross,
Thayer, Howard and Upton all spoke against
the resolution. Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill
constituting the Reconstruction acts of last Con-
gress. 1t recites that the taking Of the oath
| prescribed by Congress shall not be conclusive
evidence Of the right to registration, and the
registering officers may examine persons under
oath. The Senate adjourned until Monday.
In the House of Representatives, resolutions
rendering the thanks of Congress to Generals
Sheridan, Sickles- Pope and Schofeld were
passed. the Republicans voting solidly in favor,
aud the Democracy against them A letter
from Mr. Joseph J. Stewart, knoWledging the
legal election Of Col. Phelps, and Withdrawing
from the contest in the Third District Of Mary
land. was referred to the Committee on Elections.
-
quire whether, under the Constitution, Con-
gress has the power to prescribe the quaifca-
tons Of voters in the several States, and, ii
deemed expedient, to report a bill prescribing
the same The credentials Of the members from
Kentucky we're referred to the Committee on
Elections Adjourned until Monday.
Monday, July S.-The Senate, by a vote OF
thirty six to FIVE, refused to take up the joint
resolution thanking Generals Sheridan, Slckles,
Schofeld, and Pope.
| Mr.. Grimes thought it would be very pfema-
ture to pass these resolution at this time.
The following is the sixth section of the re-
construction bill reported by the Senate Judi
ciary Committee:
SECTION 6. That the true intent and meaning
of the oath prescribed in the said supplementary
act is, among other things, that no person who
has been a member of the Legislature of any
State, or who has held any executive or judicial
office In any State, whether he has taken an
oath to support the Constitution Of the United
States or not, and who has afterwards engaged
in the rebellion or insurrection against the Uni
ted States, or given aid orcomfort to the enemies
thereof, is entitled to be registered or to vote
and the words ececutiUe or judicial office an dny
State, in said oath mentioned, shall be constru-
ed to include all civil offices created by law for
the administration of the several laws OF the
State.
| I1OCSE.-A ldTSc uuulUCI VI piiio nO1O AZ
troduced, and referred without debate
The Committee on Elections reported that no
person who had given aid and comfort to the
rebellion should be allowed to be sworn in as
members of the House, but the disloyalty of the
constituents or the illegaity Of elections should
not prevent member holding a certificate from
being sworn in. The report was laid on the table
and ordered to be printed,
A resolution calling for the proceedings of the
Cabinet on reconstruction was passed-ayes,
1913 nays, 26.
Mr. Butler moved that special committee
of five, with power to send for persons and
papers, should appointed to investigate the as
sassination of Lincoln, and that the committee
be empowered to promise the protection OF the
House to accomplices who have not been tried
or sentenced who may give valuable evidence.
The rule was suspended, and the resolution
passed.
Mr.. Stevens, from the committee of nine, in
troduced the following bill:
An act supplementary to an act entitled An
act to provide for the more efficient government
of the rebel States, passed 1Narch I'd,
eighteen hundred and sicty- seeen, and the act
Supplementary thereto, passed March 23d,
eighteen hundred aud siIty- seven.
BE at enacted by the Senate and House of Re
personalities of the United States Of america
IN Congress assembled, That it is hereby de-
clared to have been the true intent and mean
ing of the acts of March second and March