The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-10
ICONGRESSiO NAI.
WASHINGTON, June 9.
SENATE.

Mr.. Morgan presented the petition o.
the Louisville Board of Trade concurred
in bv the New York Chamber of Com
meTce praying for reduction of the tax
on whisky to fifty cents. Referred tc
the Committee on Finance.
After the expiration OF the morning
hour, the special order, the Omnibus
bill, so-called, was taken up. The ques,
tion was on the amendment to admit
Alabama.
Mr.. Wiley nj ado arargument in favor
of the amendment, and after some re
marks by Mr.. Salisbury and Mr.. Wilson
the amendments to include Alabama was
agreed to by q vote Of % to2l. : : .
Mr.. Howard moved to amend section
second, making it read as follows:
That if the time fixed for the meet
ings of the Legislature of either of said
States by the Constitutions thereof
shall have passed or shall have SO near
~ arrived before the passage of this act
that there shall not he time for the Leg.
islature 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 explained the object to be to take
| from the Governor the discretion oil
calling the Legislature together or not
as he sees fit, and require it by law tc
assemble. The amendment was adopt
cd.
Mr.. Howard moved to amend the
third section to read, that the first sec
ton Ofthe act shall take effect as to
each State except Georgia, whel
such State shall, by its Legislature
duly ratify article fourteenth
of the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, and
as 10 the State of Georgia, when II
shall, in addition, give the assent OF the
said State TO the fundamental condition
herein before iraposed upon the same
He explained that the section requires
the issue of u proclamation by the Pres,
ident announcing the compliance OF
the States with the necessary condl.
ton before the State can be admitted
into Congress. He had no idea that
the President would issue any such
proclamation, and, therefore, he pro.
posed to dispense with it entirely and
declare those States post Jacto represen,
ton in Congress on their adoption OF
the nth amendment.
Mr.. Edmunds said that point had
been considered by the committee and
that they had decided to let the usual
course be taken of allowing the reSpon,
sibility to remain with the President OF
announcing the result.
Mr.. Edmunds dissented from Mr.. How
ards opinion that the President would
withhold that proclamation. He thought
| the President would run no such risk
when he was directed TO issue it.
Howard replied.
Mr. Freliughuyscn suggested that the
purpose Of the Senators could be attaiLed
by leaving i'll the section the clause
making il the dGty of the President to
issue such proclamation within ten days
after the necessary official notification
of ratification. Both Senators assented
and the amendment was so modified and
adopted.
ssMr. Sherman moved to amend by
striking out the clause imposing on
Georgia the further fundamental cOndi'
ton of declaring null and void by hel
General Assembly, certain provisions OF
the Constitution relative to the debts
contracted prior to June lst, 1865.
Some debate ensued, during which
Mr.. Morton pronounced the provisions
unconstitutional and dishonest, when,
without action, the Senate went into
Executive session and afterwards adj
iUuTned