Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-08
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
FRIDAY, May 8.
THE SENATE was no. in session to-day.

The SENATE was not in session to-day
HOUSE OF RkPREsENTATIvEs.-Mr. Wood
ward (Pa.) moved that when the House ad-
journ to-day it be until Monday next Car
ried O.. ~ .-r........ ....-.. .-
, The House proceeded to the consideration of
bills OF private nature, and took up the bill 4
pending on last private bill day, TO INCORPORATE
the Conneetcut Avenue and Park Railway of
the District of Columbia, the question being
upon the third reading Of the bill.
1t was anne nded and passed.
Mr.. Ste vens thought the cons tltutiop aioptad
by the Arkansas Convention unexceptionable,
and he did not d. sire 10 delay the bill.
Mr.. Eldridge SAID there had been no oppor-
tunIty TO examine the tvidenee. Gentlemen on
his side of the House did not consider the CON
stitufion OF Arkansas o unexce ptionable As if
involved some OF the Objectionable features of
the Alabama constitution. At least reasona-
BILE time should be allowed for discussion
Mr.. Beck (Ky.) said all the papers relative
TO this case, had not been before the HOUSE.
Advanced copies had only been received from
subject be postponed until Monday or Tuesday
Mt xf, at which time all these papers will be
printed, and members can examine them
MT Boutwell, (Mass.) said all the important
matters had been printed and the eist of the
whole affair was contained in the report of
Col. Tourtelotte, which could be read in twenty
minutes. He would say that Col. Tourtelotte
was not OF the political way Of thinking of IN =
majority OF the Reconstruction Committee but
they were willing to take his statement
Mr.. Eldridge said n document of fifty pages
only had been printed, and they were rxclu-
sively military orders. Members could not
even examine them. The Constitution under
which il was proposed TO admit the State had
never even been before members.
Mr.. Gaker Ill wanted To hear the Constitu-
uon upon which they proposed to act because
he desired TO vote with unders tandi Ag upon the
subject. He wanted to know what he was
doing, for this bill involved what seemed to hun
a great Constitutional. question which should be
carefully considered. He had dou BITS wheth
er Congress could enact the fundamenra
condition Incorporated in this bill He liked
that fundamental condition being upon the
side OF freedom, but he doubted the Constitu-
tonal power of Congress to impose such a
condition, Business of this sort should not pe
done hurriedly, nor should the bill be passed IN
the absence OF the State Constitution Itself
Mr.. Stevens said there was not a clause in
the Constitution which could be objected To by
any man unless he was opposed to freedom
He did not propose to debate the question. but
he wanted action to-day and he would there
fore call the previous ques tion. and let the 9TH
er side debate. He then demanded the previous
question on the third reading of the bill
MT Eldrldge thought the gentleman had said
ne would ahold an opportunity for debate.
He hoped precipItate action would not ba
taken, especially as the constitution was not
here.
Mr. Blaine me hoped the demand for the
previous question would be insisted upon. for
If any one CUES tIon had already been talked To
death II was the question of reconstruction
Mr. Stevens wanted the bill passed to-day,
fore Monday.
MI. Spalding (Ohio) hoped the previous
question would not be- seconded. He could
not vote for this bill unlees he saw the con.ri.
tution and knew what he was voting tor
Mr.. Robin son suggested to Mr. Stevens that
the Senate had adjourned until Monday, anu
would meet then for specific purpose, and the
bill could not, therefore, b. seat thlre
Mr.. Eldridge asked Mr.. Stevens To Weld.
Mr. Stevens would yield after the preveus
question was seconded.
l.lr 81
perpetate such an infamy rs to force this bill
through in this manner.
The previous question was then secanded
and ihe main ues tion ordered.
MIR. Stevens said ne desired TO state, so that
the 1act could go TO the country. that the con
stitution of Arkansas was sent TO every MEM
Der OF the House over month ago aud If MEM
bers had not read 1T or had misiad it, it was
their own fault He then proposed to Weld if-
teen minutes TO Mr.. Woodward.
Mr.. Woodward could not accept that term
Tor he could not discuss the Constitution of
Arkansas, as he had not seen il. He could not
take his colleagues view Of the case that the
Constitution was suneNcepuonable, for he want
ed TO see II for himself. He did not wish 10 he
placed III an attitude Of voting against an in
stI unent he might vote for if he had seen it,
Mr.. Nslker 90. )lsuggested that the coustitu-
ton be rad from the Clerks desk.
MIR Stevens had no objection, but he repeat
ed the statement that the constitution has been
sent 10 members month ago.
MIR. Beck (Ky.) said if time were allowed
hiIu ne couiu ueInOnstrate beyond a peradyen-
ture that this Constitution was not adopted by
a majority OF the people of Arkansas. Future
developments would show this, and it was Tor
this reason that the haste was so greet to rush
this bill through. He then proceeded to note
the franchise and educational clauses. which
We're particularly obnoxious
Mr.. Stevens hour was extended 20 minutes,
3 nd he yielded 10
Mr.. Woodward, who argued that Arkansas
was never out of the Union. These States
Were all TO be admitted on the basis of negro
suffrage, and he denied the right of Congress
TO force negro suffrage upon Arkansas any
more than IT could enforce it upon Pennsylya-
MIA. Troops had been sent TO Arkansas to
conduct the election, and this was a virtual
military dIctauon, and he insisted that il was a
subyersion Of the Government of the State by
military rutbority.
Mr.. Paine. wis read statement of Gen.
Gillam, to show that he believed the con-
tu,ion was legally adopted General
Gillem he said was not favoable TO the
const Itution, or TO those who defened il
He also referred to the report of Col TouteIot
TO the same effect. He denied the statement of
Mr Seek that 1t could be demonstrated the
Constitution was not adopted by majority
vote.