Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-20
CONGRESS-

resolution that the judiciary Committee be
instructed to inquire into the probability OF
amending the Constitution as to limit the
service of the President to one term of six
years, and abolish the Office of Nice-Presl-
dent, and provide for the election OF Presl-
dent by a popular vote. The resolution
went over. The Bankrupt Bill was consid-
cred and passed, % to 20. \ bill to increase
the pay Of army officers was reported, but
not acted upon. Mr.. Wilson offered joint
resolution to facilitate the settlement OF
claims for quartermaster Is stores and subsist-
ence, and supplies furnished the army in the
Southern States. The resolution names a
commission for each state, Gen. Wells of
Waterbury, Vt, having one Of the proposed
commissions for South Carolina. 1t was re-
ferred to the Military Committee.
HoUsE.-The Louisiana reconstruction bill
was taken up, and after "a debate in which
most Of the time was given to the Democratic
side of the House. was passed by vote of
il3 to 4S, Messrs. Baxter, Morrill,, and
Woodbridge. voting for it. Mr.. Stevens
military reconstruction bill was debated I'M
til the adjournment.
Feb. I3.-SENATE.-Thc Louisiana recon-
struction bill was received from the House,
but was not considered. The resolution Civ
ing the widow of Senators Collamer and
Foot the increased salary, were passed. Mr.
Wade caused a telegraph message from
citizens ofColorado, to he read, which stated
that the people of that territory desired to
be admitted state. \ bill passed appro-
priating $50 900 for the temporary relief of
the colored people of the District of Column
bia.
HOUsE.-Mr. Stevens reconstruction bill
was debated at length. Mr.. Blaine offered
the following amendment
.Section-: and he II further enacted, That
when the Constitutional Amendment propos-
ed as article fourteen, by the thirtv-ninth
Congress, shall have become a part of the
Constitution of the United States and when
any of the late so-called Confederate States
shall have ratified the same. and conformcd
its constitution and laws thereto in all re-
spccts, and when it shall have provided by
its constitution that the elective franchise
shall be enjoyed equally and impartially by
all male citizens Of the United States. TWEEN
ty-one years old and upward. without rega rd
to race. color. or previous condition servi-
tude, except such may be disfranchiscd for
participating in the late Rebellion, and when
said constitution shall have been submitted
to the voters of said state, as thus defined.
for ratification rejection. and when the
constitution. if ratified by the popular vote
shall have been submitted to Congress for
examination and approval. said state shall
If it, constitution be approved by Congress
be declared entitled to representation i'll
Congress. and Senators and Representatives
shall be admitted therefrom on their taking
the oath prescribed by law. and then and
thereafter the preceding sections of this bill
shall ho
This amendment was rejected by a vote Of
80 to %. Mr.. Woodbridge voting for it, Mr..
Baxter and Mr.. Morrill, not voting The
Democrats generally voted against it. The
bill was then passed 100 to %. Messrs Bax-
ter and Morrill, and Woodbridge voting for it
The House considered the tax bill until the
adjournment.
Feb. 4.-SENATE.-The demand loan-bill
was passed. 1t is as follows
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled. That for
the purpose Of redeeming and retiring any
compound-intercst notes outstanding. the
Secretary of the Treasury is hereby author
lied and directed to issue temporarv-oan
certificates in the manner prescribed by sec
ton four of the act entitled :. An Act to au-
thorizc the issue of United States notes and
the redemption funding thereof. and for
funding the floating debt of the United
States, approved February .. 1862 bear
ing interest at a rate not exceeding three per
cent. per annum, principal and interest pay
able in lawful money ON demand and said
certificates of temporary loan NAV consti-
tute and be held by any national bank hold
ing or owning the same. az part of the re-
serve provided for in sections thirtv-one and
thlrtytwo of the act entitled :. An Act to
provide a national currency secured bv Il
pledge of tnited States bonds and to pro
vide for the circulation and redemption
thereof. approved June 3 1864 provided
that not less than two-ffths of the entire
reserve Of such bank shall consist of lawful
money Of the United States and provided
further that the amount of such temporary
certificates at any time outstanding shall not
exceed 800. 600
The bill to establish national cemeteries
for the burial of Union soldiers was passed
The bill directs the Secretary of War to
cause such cemeteries to be enclosed bv a
substantial iron stone fence, and each
grave to he marked with headstonc or
block. with the number of the grave inscrib-
ed thereon, corresponding with the number
opposite the name of the party in the regis
ter of burials To be kept at each cemetery
The iouisiarII reconstruction bill was dis
cussed- but no action was had upon it,
IiOUsE.-A committee of conference upon
the disagreeing votes on the tenure of office
bill was asked for. The bill to reimburse
the loyal states for debts incurred in raising
troops, was taken up The bill provides for
an issue of five per cent. twenty wears bonds
for Sis. 900 900. After considerable de-
bate the bill was referred to the Committee
of WAYS and Means. The tax bill was con-
sidered until the adjournment, the House
agreeing To- exempt butter and cheese from
the revenue tax.
Feb. 15.-SENATE.-Mr. Stevens recon
struction bill was taken up. The :. Blaine
amendment : was offered as an amendment
to the bill, and was favored by Messrs Sher-
man, Fessenden and others, and opposed by
Messrs. Morrill,. Howard and others. but no
vote was reached. Mr.. Wilson introduced
reconstruction bill, which provides that when
the Southern States pass the Constitutional
Amendment. secure impartial suffrage and
provide for the equal protection of all their
inhabitants, amending their state constitu-
tions so as to secure these results. and ratifv-
ing such amendments bya popular Congress,
NAV declare them entitled to representation
ordered printed
HorsE--The bounty bill debated and
passed. 1t provides bounty of 1888 per
month for the time served by soldier, local
bounties TO be deducted. 1t was estimated
that the bill would take SIS, zoo. 900, to
800 900 900 out of the treasury. The east
ern members &c nerallv voted against the bill.
objecting to the provision deducting local
bounties Messrs Baxter and Woodbridge
voted in the negative. Mr.. Morrill, alb