New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-10
NTH CONGRESS-IID SESSION.
SENATE. WASHINGTON March ., 1865.
QUALIFICATION OF MARYLAND's SENATOR.

QUALIFICATION OF MARYLANDS SENATOR.
Mr.. JOHNSON Dem, Md presented the ere
dentias OF the Hon. George Vckers senatOrelect from
Maryland The credentials were read, and Mr.. johnson
was about TO escort Mr. vickers forward to take the
requisite oaths, when Mr.. SUMNER ep Mass offered
resolution that the credentials be referred 10 the Com
mttee on the Judiciary to consider il the State Of Mary
land with lite existing Constitution has q republican
form OF government be able at this time TO select
and commission a Senator OF the United States. Mr.
Sumner read the first section Of the Constitution OF Mary
land providing for voting by white male citizens claim
ing that II is founded the principle Of exclusion and
Is arepubcaD and contrary to the principles on winch
our Government formed. according 70 tse solemn
declaration Of fathers All the States but south Car
Olira when the Constitution was formed, recognized the
principle that all citizens are entitled 70 suHrtge; ana
wien the Articles Of Confederation were framed an
attempt at exclusion on account OF color was eed down
He read from the writings OF Alexander Hamilton In the
Eeidis impression or opinion that the laws were TO
restore the rights that have been taken The
could longer be refused equal share OF representa-
tOI and he claimed that the necessary consequence OF
the freedom OF the negroes was their restoration 10 all
the rights OF citizenship Two hundred Thousand citizens
Of Maryland therefore, being denied their right Of rep
resentatOn he submitted that the Constitution of Mary
land could not be republican in FORM He then noted the
fact that in IA counties in Maryland, with total pOpula
tion Of 1881 elected IA Senators out OF the a. majority
out OF the body This system OF rotten bOrOughs also
antTepublican in form, and the Legislature thus com
posed having furnished commission 70 the gentleman
now presenting himself he Mr. sumner) thought Com
mtee Of this body should consider the question Of that
Constitution He might be alone in this, he had been
THAI reminded OF being other but he
ala not regard 1t now more than he did then, ana he
insisted that IL the duty Of the Senate 10 declare its
opinion On this question.
Mr.. CONFESS rep, Cali said that under the principle
put fortl by the Senator none but FIVE New Engand
He supposed that when his colleague came here from
California with his credentials he would be sent back be-
cause that state did not possess government republican
III FORM ana he presumed that the Senator offered the
resolution 10 Indicate how far he in the advance OF
ans m a o %as 0 ms TOGt
Mr. CONFESS Withdrew the motion az the instance Of Mr.
NGE rep, New, who called attention 10 the fact that
the present Governor Of Maryland was elected under the
Constitution of 1854 by which those who had been
Gagged in the Rebellion had been disfranchised snbse
quently, nnder an arrangement with the Governor
Registers were appointed, through whom even those
who had been Generals IN the Rebel Army allowed
10 vote without pardon ny inns fraudulent transaction
the state had been placed IN the hands OF Rcbels Mr.
NYE read from letter written by the Hon. Mr. Car.
michael in confirmation of his charge and ssd that II u
was true the present Constitution of Maryland rested on
the basis OF corrupt political combination, he for one
would not be party 10 crime that would forever DC
stencil in the nOstrls Of the citizens Of this country
Mr. JOHNSON retOrted that when the State OF Mary
land had any fault to find with the Constitution her repre-
senatiyes on this floor would be ready to act
Mr.. CONFESS then renewed the motion to table the
Mr. SUMNER withdrew the resolution. saying that be
had accomplished his purpose.
Mr.. YICKEIiS then took the oath.
Mr.. CoNKLING Rep.. y. " presented concurrent
resolutions from the New-YOrk Legislature, urging ap-
preparations for the IMPROVEMENT Of BuIfALo HARDoR,
in accordance with the plan proposed by the Board OF
Also, petition OF $50 DESTITUTE CoIoREp CITIZENS OF
Georgia and Alabama setting forth that although able
cannot obtain work because of prosecutions and ns-
ce and praying appropriation Of 500 each to enable
Mr.. HOWARD Rep. Mich) petitions from various
parts Of Michigan, praying for ELDIIiloN OF IhL
ARMY AND NAVY etc, In the interest of rerenchmeht
Mr.. RAMSEY ltep., Mimi petitions oi Ike import.
Committee on Retrenchment. &c.,
citizen OF Virginia alleging that the United states Gov
emen seized his property during the War ana That he
always loyal citizen, and praying that BIS PROT
ERTY REFUSED to hun. Committee on Claims;
Mr. MORGAN liep, ". l.)-Rcmoustranees OF Messrs'
az Well as bookbnders Of NewYork against the passage
Of the pending CoPlRGHT LAW. Committee on the Ii
Mr. BUCKALEw Dem. PENN Several petitions OF
cgaI-makers against the STAMPING % CGhis' commit
ON motion Of Mr. HOWARD Rep., MichJ it was
dered that FILE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL GLOHE, from
the commencement Of this session, be furnished 10 the
ChiefJustice Of the United States.
Mr. TRUMBULL rep. M presented . petition 10
ABOLISH THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT Of the United states
lie did 90, he said. without any sympathy win lts OBJECT
Several petitions presented for the REMOVAL or
PoLTICAL DISABILITIES.
Mr.. CONKLING Glep.. y. VA bin to authorize tho
construction Of q railroad and telegraph line from New
Orleans La TO Mobile, Ala, aud 10 secure the same TO
the United States Government a MrLIARi AND Posi-
Road, and for other purposes. PostOnices and Post
Roads.
Mr.. WILSON rep, Mass) called up the joint resolu'
ton for the restoration Of Alabama 10 representation ia
Congress. Mr. Wilson had received many letters rom
welikuOwn persons certifying that citizens had been
threatened with dismissal from employment ana were
dismissed after they had voted that professional men
had been deferred from voting by threats OF injury TO
their business lie instaDccd The ease OF Cen tlspat
rick formerly Senator Of the United States, who had
threatened 10 dismiss men IN ms employ they par
ticpatod in the election, and aitefwaId Iuhlied DIS
prOnise Had the vote been fair, Congress would nave
been bound To recognize the election as valid but ne had
doubt that an overwhelming majority ma D1en pre- pre-,
vented from voting for the Constitution lie understood
that Gen. Meade is investigating the election ana VIII
soon report lie added that u proposed to hold new
election the counties whose citizens had been 3VeIawed
BY violence and where no election had been held lie
moved 10 refer 10 the Committee on Judlcfyi hoping
that they would report at an early day.
FUNDING THE NAIldSAL pEBI ~ ,,
Mr. WILSON rep, Mass introduced bhl 10 provide
for the conversion and funding OF NE Bearing
debt, and TO amend the banking law oil the united states
and his motion the bill ordered printed ana laid
on the table authorizes ana ielules tS 1eeiSlay 9
the Treasury issue coupons or registered bonds sum
cent redeem the entire Understanding debt except
the five per centum and forty years bords and provides
that said bonds shall be payable III MY years bearing
six per cent interest for twenty years. nNe per cent
after twenty years. interest payable emlannuay' prin
cipaI and interest in COIN 40
redemption and eIchaug existing boO I'D that such exchange
Ie made gai Jsnaa 1870 u'ier salu0l' 10 be prescribed By
The fourth section TAI Ofoae ni pe, a19% % che rev
from payment oflnieIs as aeeIs, ,.0,, 70 ,,,,,
nearly as possible the paid ~ each STATE through s e
and corporations said taIs be N lieu state municipal and
Section I provides cr de gradual neoi and fuh ,Ii1eon Of
,a GSs Il .I S' 1d f on states
secondly BY directing ibe Ssosisy Of The rea gd We s decade
bee,NeI 20 redeem snnua5 s @ ID Tp t a. & CO.
r the sh decade sSoocS annually or ut tho "lot d'othIe
The seventh section the lesIse q the Saoh currency to
s5OOO and directs preference Of issue thereof !" sections oi eoah
inv not Adequately supplied with BANKING facilities
yri ssh scon directs the S.crcsy Of Tfeaun when the
ybo, ogney exceeds 70 retire and cancel Tspdy
possible ousapdg United States notes are vaeed 10 two
hundred miii5nI .,,,a IL, -.
bonds specie reserve ut b. 70 redeem us cur
renew and NOT 70 use oihsr
Aecoinpapyng the Bill and ordered Oe printed with
A. s table Allowing that under the provisions OF the
sixth section the debt now amounting TO
81 OOO would be reduced In 1876 70 and
the interest tlAOOO 900, while the National wealth ac
cordng 10 the ratio Of s increase from 1870 TO 1890 VIII
have Increased from t220OO0000Oo to pIOOOOOOOi IN
1858 the debt would be o. With interest sO
600 COO and the National wealth ts0VO0OOO; IN 1928
the debt would be o. 100000 with an interest OF $685.
600 600 and the public wealth tlI0OOWOOO In 1905 the
dbt would he 500 600 the interest and the