The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-10
BY TELEGRAPH.
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June 9.
SENATE.

Mr.. Morgan presented the petition of
the Louisville Board of Trade, concur
red in by the New York Chamber of
Commerce, praying for II reduction OF
tax on whisky to 80 cents. Referred to
the Committee on Finance.
After the expiration of the morning
hour, the special order, being the Om-
nibus bill, l,( so. called was taken up. The
question was on the amendment to adj
init Alabama.
Mr.. Wiley made an argument in ia
vor ofthe amendment.
After some remarks by Mr.. Sauls-
bury, Mr.. Wilson's amendment to In
clude Alabama was agreed to by % to
24.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend Sec
lion 2, making it read as follows ::
THAT if the time fixed for the meeting
of the Legislature of either of said
States, by the Constitution thereof,
shall have passed, or shall have SO
nearly arrived before the passage OF
this act that there shall not be time for
the Legislature to assemble at the time
fixed by the Constitution Of said State
such Legislature shall convene at the
end OF twenty days from the time this
act takes effect, unless the Governor
shall convene the same" He ex-
planned its object to be to take from the
Governor the discretion of calling the
Legislature together or not, as he sees
fit, and require it by law to assem- BILE.
Amendment adopted.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend the Sd
Section to read that Section l of the act
shall take effect as to each State except
Georgia, when such State shall, by its
Legislature, duly rRtify Article ii OF
the amendment of the Constitution of
the United States, and as to the State
of Georgia, when it shall, in addition,
give the assent OF said State to the fun
damental Constitution hereinbefore
imposed upon the same. BE explained
that the Section requires the issue OF a
proclamation by the President an
nouucing its compliance with the
necessary condition before State can
be admitted into Congress. He had no
idea that the President would ever
issue any such proclamation, and
thereforesh he proposed TO dispense with
II entirely and declare those States post
Cdcto representation in Congress on
their adoption of the 14th amendment.
Mr.. Edmunds said that point had
been considered by the committee, and
they had decided TO let the usual course
be taken of allowing the responsible
itY to remain with the President OF an
uouncing the result. he dissented
from Mr.. Howard's opinion that the
President would withhold that procla-
nation. He thought the President
"Ouih run nO 5hGA 4ASA ACA AC " SA9
directed by law to issue it.
Mr.. Howard replied.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen suggested that
the purpose OF the Senators could be
attained by leaving the section clause
making it the duty of the President to
issue such proclamation within ten
days after the necessary official notitf-
cation of ratification. Both Senators
assented, and the amendment was so
modified and adODted,
Mr.. Sherman moved to amend by
striking out the clause imposing on
Georgia further fundamental condi-
tions of declaring null and void by her
General Assembly, certain provisions
of the constitution relative to debts
contracted prior to June Ist, 1865.
Some debate ensued, during which
Mr.. Morton pronounced the provisions
unconstitutional and dishonest, when
without action the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session, and afterwards adj
journed.
The House reassembled at n O'Clock,
that being the hour fixed for the OIL
cial reception of the Chinese embassy.
The attendance of members was very
large, and the galleries were crowded
with spectators.
The Speaker announced the appoint
ment of Mr.. Brooks, of New York, on
the Committee of Reception in place of
Mr.. Wood, who was detained at home
on account of illness.
s,The Clerk proceeded with the read
ing of the Journal, but in about five
minutes the reading was discontinued
by direction OF the Speaker, the Ser
geant-at-Arms having announced the
appearance at the principal door of the
Committee of the House with the Chi
nese Embassy. The Committee and
Embassy advanced up the main aisle of
the House, Schenck escorting Burhn-
game, Banks escorting Chi TagiD, and
Brooks escortiug Sun Tagin. The 9TH
er members of the En- bassy followed,
and all took positions facing the Speak
er. The Speaker, by u stroke of his
gavel, indicated that the members of
the House who had been on their feet
Schenck then presented the Embassy
to the House. and Speaker Colfax de-
livered an address of welcome.
Mr.. Burlingame responded:
Mr. SPEAKER:-On behalf of my as
soclRtes and myself, thank you for
this warm and unusual reception. It
tranBCendS all personal compliment it
is the greeting OF one great people by
another; 1t Is the occident and the orient
for the first time in that electric con-
tact whose touch makes the whole
world kin; It is the meeting of two civ
ilizations which have hitherto revolved
in separate spheres; 1t is q mighty rev.
olntion. Let US hope, sir, it will go on
without those c6nvulsions which are too
apt to make great changes in human
affairs; let US hope that it will be
achieved without the shedding of one
drop of human blood. We are for peace;
we came not with the beat of the drum,
nor martial tread, though representing
the latent power of eighty millions OF
men; we are the heralds of good will;
we seek for China that equality with
out which nations and men are de-
graded: we seek not only the good of
China, but your good, and the good of
all mankind. We do this in no senti-
mental sense. We would be practical
as the toiling millions We represent.
We invite You to broader trade, a
more intimate examination of the
structure of Chinese civilization; we in
vite you to better appreciation Of the
manners of that people, their tempe
rance, patience, habits of scholarship;
their competitive examinations, their
high culture of the tea and silk, and we
shall ask for them, from you, modern
science, which has taken its great de-
yelopmenr within the memory of man,
and the holy doctrines Of our christian
faith. 1t is for the West to say what
our reception shall be; it is for the West
to say whether 1t was sincere when it
continued for long time to invite
China to more intimate relations with
it, 1t is for the West to say whether II
is for fair and open policy or for one
founded on prejudice, and on that as
sumption Of superiority whichis justi-
fed neither by physical ability nor mo-
raEelevation. The people of the United
States, have responded through their
Executive and through this House
and through their Speaker, an unan-
unity and a nobility which makes