Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-19
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.


which was referred to the Committee on
Appropriations.
A resolution by Mr.. Hendricks was
adopted, requesting the Secretary of the
Treasury TO inform the Senate what have
been.the monthly expenditures of the War,
Navy, and Interior Departments since
July, 1865.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on Con-
ference, on the bill to facilitate the pay
ment Of soldiers bounties, reported certain
verbal amendments, which were con
curred'in.
Mr.. Hendricks called up the bill to
amend the act relative TO recording the
conveyance of vessels, which was passed.
The bill was laid aside, and the Chair
submitted communication from the Gen
eral Of the army, enclosing copy of tel
egram received from Gen. Meade, COM
mander of military district The tele-
gram, dated January II, 1866, was read.
II stated that if the bill before Congress,
directing military commanders to fill offices
with those qualified to take the test oath,
was passed, its execution viii be entirely
impracticable Referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, from the Com
mittee on Conference and Consular Appro-
priatior Bill, made report recommend
ing the Senate to recede from certain
amendments and concur in the amendment
providing that all monies above one thou
sand dollars received as fees at the office
of consuls, vice consuls, or commercial
agents, shall be paid into the Treasury,
and report cOncurred in.
The Senate took up as special order a
bill to exempt certain manufactures from
internal revenue. The bill was passed in
Committee of the Whole and was reported
to the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman gave notice that he would
press q vote on the bill tomorrow.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported bill to modify the test
oath in the case of X. K. Butler, of Ten
nessee, 20 as to allow him to take his seat
in the House Adjourned.
House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Broomall, of Pennsylvania, moved
10 reconsider the vote referring to the Jul
dietary Committee (the bill was introduced
by him July IL, 1867, } to guarantee the
several States of the Union a republican
form of government.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, made an
argument in favor of universal and impair
tial suffrage as the only foundation on
which the government can stand. He
said: You must build all your science of
government on that, and when you attempt
to depart from it, you forget that you are a
man that you have become tyrant, and
deserve the execration of the human race.
There is no other way, but by universal
suffrage, in which you, and |, and every
man can protect ourselves against the in
Justice, the inhumanity, and the wrongs
which would otherwise be inflicted on us.
We have got to point in this nation when
we can adopt that great and glorious prin-
ciple and no man dares to say that we
shall not adopt it."
The bill is as follows
Whereas, The form of government of
several of the States of the Union is not
republican in this particular: that by the
Constitution and laws of such States politi-
cal rights are made to depend upon parent
age and race, and are united in certain
families to the exclusion of others equally
loyal citizens of the United States and
whereas, it is the constitutional duty of
the United States to guarantee to every
State a republican form of government
therefore
Be il enacted, etc, Chat all provisions
and enactments in State Constitutions and
laws which make distinction in political
and civil rights among citizens of the
United States, or deny such rights to any
such citizens on account of parentage, race
or color, are hereby declared TO be void
and of no effect.
Sec. g And be it further enacted, That
if any person shall prevent any qualified
citizen of the United States from exer-
cising the right of suffrage at any election
in any State, under pretense that such cit
izen is disqualified by the Constitution and
laws of such State on account of his pa
rentage, race, lineage or color, such person
shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor,
and on conviction thereof in the proper
court, shall be sentenced to pay fine not
exceeding $4,000, or undergo imprison-
ment not exceeding five years. or both, at
the discretion of the court.
Universal suffrage, operating in the face
of every man to be governed by the votes
cast, is one of those doctrines planted
deeper than granite, and upon which our
fathers laid the foundation of their i'm
mortal work-the work of universal lib
erty-which will last Just az long as that
immortal doctrine shall last, and no longer
Mr.. Stevens, having announced his
propositions, asked the Clerk of the House
to read his prepared speech in advocacy
of them, which was done. Mr. Stevens
remarks were delivered with a clearness
and strength of voice not before manifested
this session. He closed by offering the
following as a substitute for the bill:
Be it enacted, etc, That every male
citizen of the United States above the age
Of, twenty -one years, who was born or natu-
rallied in the United States, or who has
declared his intention to become natu-
rallied, shall be entitled to vote upon all
national questions that may arise in any
State of the Union where he shall have re-
sided for the time of thirty days, and no
distinction shall be made between such
citizen on any account except for treason,
felony or other infamous crimes not below
the grade of felony at common law.
Mr.. Bromall withdrew the motion and
the bill aud amendments remain with the
Judiciary Committee.
Reconstruction, reported a bill TO admit
the State of Alabama to representation in
Congress, which was ordered to be printed. |
He wonld ask TO have it considered upon
tomorrow. The bill is as follows:
Whereas, The people of Alabama, in pur-
5uance of the provisions of an act of Con-
gress entitled an act for the more efficient |
government of Rebel States, passed March |
2 1867 and the acts supplementary |
thereto, have framed a Constitution of |
State government, which is republican in |
form; and whereas, at an election, COM
mencing the 4th day of February, 1868. a
large majority of legal voters of said State
voted at said election for the adoption of /
said Constitution, therefore,
Be it enacted, That the State of Ala
oama shall be entitled to representation
IN Congress as soon as the Legislature of |
aid State (the members of which were
elected at the election mentioned in the
preamble of this bilD shall have duly
-atified the amendment to the Constitution
If the United States proposed by the
hirly ninth Congress, and known as ar-A
icle II, section 2 that il shall be the duty
If the Commanding General of the mill
airy district in which Alabama is included