The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-14

HOUSE.
The Speaker presented the laws of
Montana territory. Referred.
Also, a Geographic dispatch from
Denver, Colorado territory, announc-
ing the proceedings of public meet
ing in favor of the admission of Col
orado.
The House resumed consideration of
the bill establishing military govern
mentS in the South.
Mr.. Van Horn adverted to the bill,
arguing the ilegaity of governments
set in the lately rebellious States.
Mr.. Stevens withdrew the motion to
re-commit, in order TO submit some
amendments, which he explained.
Among them was a substitute for the
second section, by which Congress di-
rectly detailed i've general officers TO
command in military districts proposed
to be organized.
Congress to undertake to detail army
officers.
Mr.. Stevens said he had tried vaiuly
to satisfy the views ofgentlemen around
him but finding he could not he with
drew the proposition to amend.
Mr.. Boutwell, closed the debate argu-
ing the necessity and propriety of pass
ing the bill. In the course of his re-
marks he said If it should happen that
the Supreme Court should declare, as il
possibly might, the ten States lately in
rebellion were States in the Union, and
entitled to all the rights and privileges
of States, and should base their decla-
ration on any act of Congress; then
these States were restored as far as the
judiciary could restore them, to their
position in the government, and moth
ing remained to Congress and the peo-
pie except 10 accept that conclusion as
binding, or enter into an indescribable
and dangerous controversy with the
chief judiciary of the land. If, how
ever, this bill became law, and put in
operation, the Supreme Court would
have no capacity to see in those ten
States any civil government. therefore,
for Judicial purposes il could see no
State, and Congress would keep IN its
own hands the political reorganization
of those States.
In reply to a question by Mr.. EId-
ridge, he said 1t was competent for
Congress to declare that the late rebel
lious States should be governed by
military law, and that the pretended
State governments had no power to
issue writs of habeas corpus or to do
any other act of government except by
power derived from military authority
Mr.. Schenck, having had five min
utes allowed him, declared his assent
to the prOpriety of extending martial
law over the States that were in rebel
lion, and his opinion that at the same
time Congress ought TO indicate to the
people OF these States what thew were
required to do in order that they might
have civil governments and be repre-
scented in Congress. That he under
stood to be the object of Mr. Blaine's
amendment, and he therefore sup
parted it.
At O'Clock Mr.. Stevens moved the
previous question.
Mr.. Bingham appealed to the House
not 70 second it, and thereby cut of all
amendments.
The House refused and the debate
proceeded.
Mr.. Bingham, while approving the
general purposes of the bill, said that
Congress could not by direction or in
direction, make a State Government
for the people of any State. That was
matter which belonged to them,
State Governments had 10 be establish
ed, not by act of Congress, but bv the
voluntary act ofthe people themselves,
He desired to give the people that op-
portunity. That was the object of his
amendment. He had thought the gen
tlemen who sustained this bill were for
manhood suffrage, but it seemed they
were only for manhood suffrage confin-
ed to minority of people in a State.
Was it not enough TO clothe the eman-
cipated slaves with the highest right
ever exercised by a citizen of this re-
public; or had IL come to this that Con-
SrSSS WIS not only 70 clOtle the eulaQ- |
cipated slave with the elective fran
chise, but also to give him the whole |
political power of State, to make a ma
jority of white men his subjects for
life and compel them to pay the ex-
pense of the administration. There
was not an emancipated slavein Amer
lea that would ask any such legislation
at the hands of Congress. They only
asked equal rights and equal protec- |
ton.
Mr.. Blaine moved to recomu1it to the
judiciary Committee instead of that on |
Reconstruction, with Instructions to re- I
port back Immediately with his. !
lBlaine's) amendment added as the 9Th |
section. BE moved the previous ques- |
ton, which was seconded.
Mr.. Spaulding moved, as test ques-
ton, to table the bill and amendment.
intending, however, to vote himself |
against the motion. The vote resulted |
yeas SO, nays n5-a strictly party vote. |
The main question was then ordered |
50 against T6, on Mr.. Blaine's motion to
refer, with Instructions, to the Jn6ici- I