Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL,

SKnAfR--Issterday afternoon. the Recon
sIuchon bill being under consideration
Mr.. Sherman, replying to Mr. sumner, and
10 an assertion that he had come to Mr.. sum
neIs platform, said he had done no such thing.
the Southern people from participation in the
government OF their own States. He was will
ling to exclude the leading rebels, but net the
Mr.. Wilson said he regarded this as a great
measure, and yet he should not vote for II with
o.t regret be thought it ought to turn every
ehisipg clause in the House amendment He
regretted that il had been inserted, but weuld
vote for it Notwithstanding. He would say also
that just as soon as the Southern States were
reconstructed properly he wsuld vote to
peal the disq uaiicatons In the third section OF
tie constitutional amendments.
soliciIude fer the condition of the country con-
sequent upon the exclusion of the Southern
States from their right OF representation in this
oooy mat want words to express. The view
that have entertained is that in their resent
condition they entitled to he represented
But the Cor gress of the United States, from the
termination of the rebellion TO the present
time, have taken a different view, and have
lost all hopes OF seeing them at early day, if
at any day, with the consent OF Congress, rein
stated in their original condition. Nothing
| can be worse than the state in which they
are now placed; desolation around them all
| rights denied them OF a political character;
and on the floor OF the Senate, to say nothing of
snoth, r branch of the Government, their char
| acter as men has been aspersed in terms which
have caused me nothing but the deepest re-
gret If had my own way, / would at once
receive them in this Chamber, with a heart
| fun Of con viction that they would be true 10
| their duty TO the country, and that they would
promote its permanent interest. But have
not my way. / am obliged, therefore. to
| quIesce in the decision of that majority OF
Congress, however erroneous or unjust 1 may
| believe that decision TO be, provided L believe
that it will end in a comparatively short time
in restoring the Southern States to the brother
| hood OF States. / am unwilling that this Con-
II hall aA, ,hA
| some measure that holds ont a hope. however
| distant. that this may be the result of our de-
liberations; and believing that this will be done
| by The adoption OF the measure as 1t now
| stands before you, shall give it my vote, aot
| because L approve Of il in the abstract or in
| the particular, but because L think L see in
| 1t a mode of reScuing the country from the
| perilous predicament in which il is now
| placed.
| Mr. Stewart congratulated Mr.. johnson that
be had progressed so tar toward universal suf-
| frage and universal amnesty as to vote tor this
| bill.
| After further debate, in which Messrs Hen
| dricks, Buckalew, Cowan, and Howe par
| 'icipated, the Senate took a recess until 30
y. m.
| At the evening session, Mr.. Trumbuil called
up the joint resolution of the House authoriz-
ing the employment of a United States vessel
for the tran portation of conribu tions of food
and clothing for the destitute people OF the
South. Ii was passed.
| The reconstruction bill was taken up
Mr.. Doolittle offered an amendment TO the
House amendment, as follows:
Add to the last section the following pro-
viso:
Prorided, That nothing in this act contained
shall be construed to disfranchise any persons
in either Of the said States from voting hold
| ing Office who have received pardon and am
nesty in accordance with the Constitution and
laws.
Mr. Doolittle took the floor in support OF his
amendment, prefacing with some remarks on
the condition of affairs in the South, and a
denial Of the statements made by certain Rad-
zeal Senators as to crime and lawlessness exist
| ing there.
Mr. Sherman said that If the House amend
ments were too harsh the Southern people had
the Democratic party in the House TO thank
for it. 1t was fact very well known that a
majority Of the Union party were in favor of
the Senate amendment A minority of the
ted TO defeat The acceptance OF this proposition
in the House, and lett 1T open to further amend
ment with the result now before the Senate
MT Hendricks defended the action OF the
Democrats in the House
Mr.. Doolittle's amendment was then re-
ee.esn The smendmenIs Il as Of the House were then
days
Adjourned at 1850 Pm.
HoUsK.-Yesterday afternoon
House bill directing the Secretary OF the
Navy to distribute as prize money $4,000, the
value Of the piratical steamer Alabama, TO
COmmodore Winslew and the officers and
crew Of the Kearsarge, which destroyed the
Alabama on the 18th OF June, 1864, was passed.
Mr.. Bingham moved to amend the army ap-
proprlation bill by striking out all after the
first sentence. Rejected-yeas 50 nays 81.
The vote was then taken on striking out the
whole Of the second section. Rejected-yeas
Al, nays Sc.
The bill was then passed-ysas ss, nays 81
including the second section, which is in these
words:
Sec q And be Il further enacted, That the
headquarters Of the general Of the army OF the
United States shall be at the city Of Washing
ton. and all orders and instructions relating 10
Secretary of War shall be ISSUED through the
general Of the army, and, in case of his inabil-
ity, by the next In rank. The general Of the
army shall not be removed, suspended, or re-
heyed from command, or assigned to duty
| elsewhere than at said headquarters, without
the previous approval OF the Senate; and any
orders or Instructions relating to military op-
erations issued contrary TO the requirements
OF this section shall be null and void; and any
officer who shall Issue orders or instru ctions
contrary to the provisions Of this section shall
be deemed guilty OF misdemeanor in office;
and any oficer OF the army who shall trans
init, con vey, or obey any orders or Instructions
| tion, knowing that such orders were so issued.
shall be able to imprisonment for not less
than two nor more than twenty years. upon
! conviction thereof in any court Of competent
The bill was then discussed and amended,
| and at 80 the House took q recess till 73O,
the bill being disposed Of TO near the end of
| At the evening session. several bills granting
| invalid pensions were passed.
The House then went inte Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, Mr.. Bout
well in the chair, and resumed the considers
tion OF the tax bill.
Mr.. williams moved to strike out the para
| graph to amend section 103 of the act OF June
80, 1864, by striking out the words until the
| 3Uth of April, 1867" The effect OF the para
| graph Is to remove the Limitation OF time on
the right Of railroad and steam boat companies,
&c. to add the tax to the r rates of fare. The
effect of the ame endment offered by Mr.. Will.
liame IL to terminate that right on the Both Of
April next.
Mr.. Williams explained that his amendment
| would carry out the principle established by
the committee in reference to gas companies.
Messrs. Woodbridge and Davis opposed the
amendment
The vote was taken by tellers, and presented
rather an amusing scene In the active efforts OF
the members who were friendly to the railroad
interests to induce others TO vote against Mr..
Williams amendment. There was so much
excitement and confusion, and there were SO
many changes Of votes, that there had to be q
second count, which resulted in the defeat OF
the amendment-46 to 81.
Mr. Hooper offered an amendment, the effect
of which Is TO relieve ferry boats OF the tax Of