Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-03-20
CONGRESS.
Ree0nstruefi0a snd fhe Treasury De.
partHeHt-Re Report of the Virginia
Legislature Committee,
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March 16.-Mr. Sher-
man, from committee on finance, re-
/ ported q concurrent resolution that the
/ joint committee on reconstruction be in
/ strueted to make careful and minute
| examination Of the methods adopted BY
/ the treasury department Of printing
! bonds, notes, and securities, and what
! guards have been adopted to protect the
/ interest of the United States, and what
additional guards are necessary aud
/ whether there have been any fraudulent
| issues of bonds, ustes, or coupons. II
so by whose fault or negligence; and
| further to examine into the official con-
| duct of thoRe charged with the printing
Of the legislature, and issuing OF notes,
bonds and securities of the United States,
and that said committee have power to
send for persons and papers, and to ex-
anime same and take testimony, and to
report at next session Of congress.
Mr.. Sherman said the house and sen
ate had eaah agreed to a separate speclGl
committee for this purpose, but he
thought the investigation could best be
made by joint committee like that on
retrenchment. The treasury department
desired the investigation, to set at rest
false reports circulated for speculative
purposes, regarding fraudulent issues of
bonds.
Mr.. Williams called up the joint reso-
luton OF the house in regard to the coin
taken from the Richmond banks, and
now on special deposit in the treasury,
which was passed.
The reconstruction bill was taken up.
Mr.. Howe moved TO amend by striking
out the words, " and II the aaid copsti-
frf huil ha a cd h.Ta r., H.,
in conformity with the provision of the
act to which this is supplementary" ,"
and insert in lieu thereof "a and il said
constitution shall be approved by con-
gress."
Mr.. Trumbull said the bill had been
amended since it was reported to en-
body this provision.
Mr.. Howe withdrew his amendment,
and then moved to strike out the words,
"shall be entitled to all the prerogatives
Of 8 state"
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Howard moved an amendment,
substituting q new oath for that in the
bill, which, after debate, was also re-
jectei.
Mr.. Sumner moved to aIlend the
fourth section, making the result of the
vote on the ratification of the coustitu-
tion depend on Q majority of registered
electors instead of majority Of quail
fed electors.
The amendment was rejected-nine-
teen against twIpty-five.
Mr. Morton moved that the fourth Sec
ton Of that constitution shall be adopted
when voted for by the majority of votes
cast. The amendment was adopted,
twenty-five against twenty-One.
Mr.. Edmunds moved an amendment
that st least three-fifths OF the registered
voters shall vote on the question Of rati-
fication.
Severalother amendments were offered
and rejected.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment, as
an additional section, that the duties i'm
posed by this act upon the commanding
officer EfRy, by his consent, be trans
ferred to.the governor, upon his taking
the oath prescribed by the act Of July,
1852. The amendment was rejected.
The bill was then, at T,I5, taken out by
the committee Of the whole, and reported
TO the senate.
Mr.. Drake renewed the amendment
voted down Thursday, providing that a
vote shall be taken in each state for and
against state convention TO form con-
stitution, and, according to the result of
this vote, convention shall or shall not
be held.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Edmunds moved 10 amend by
requiring that q majority of registered
voters shah vote on the question Of call
ing q convention.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Sumner moved an amendment, as
a proviso, that the constitution of each
state shall require the establishment and
maintenance of system Of common
schools, open to all without regard to
color.
The amendment was disagreed to !;
yeas 20, nays 20,
The question was then taken on pas
sage, and the bill passed-yeas IS,
nays 2.
The negatives were Messrs. Buckalew
and Hendricks.
Mr.. johnson voted aye. The other
democrats were absent.
The following is the report Of the COM
mittee of the Virginia legislature recently
sent to Washington, made yesterday to
the senate of that state:
"YOur committee, acting under a resO-
luton appointing them to confer with
the government at Washington as to
called by the general assembly of Vir-
ginia would be considered and recognized
as legal mode of holding q convention
under the act Of congress passed March
., 1867, have thehonOr to report that they
repaired to Washington and were po-
litely and kindly received b5 the
authorities, and invited by prominent
meWbers Of congress to make sugges-
tions of amendments to the pending
resolution before congress, being supple
mentary to the act aforesaid which sug-
tions they made, and if adopted will
materially soften its terms and render
them more conciliatOry. Your commit
tee entertain the opinion that conyen-
ton bill passed by the general assembly
of Virginia so far as in conformity to and
not in conflict with the act of congress
aforesaid, would be recognized by the
authorities IS tending to produce bar
rnony. Your committee are further sat
isfied from this interview with the au-
thorities st Washington, thst the de-
monstrations made by the legislature nf
Virginia in favor of framing a constitu-
tien as required by law, promptly and in
good faith, Is having the most salutary
effect in softening the asperity Of prevail
ing opinions, and changing the tone of
sentiment towards the people of the state,
and that the desire expressed was that
we should at once comply with the con-
ditions imposed and thus be restored to
our rights in the union, with representa-,
tives In congress. [Signed.
GEO. W. BOILING,
KErS Chairman
JOHN II. LEE