The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-03-29

imposed on the people Of Alabama; therefor.
be was opposed to the third section. II wal
authorized neither BY the laws nor the Con
st,tution. The American aystsm wonld be
total failure if the people could not be en-
trusted with that right. can't shut my eye
to the gratifying fact that this government
was buiit BY white men, upon ideas that were
peculiar to the race; that the predomin1 1tinl
element Is still the same, and there is no rea
son 70 expect that in the long future it vii
ever put on any other complexion. In say
ing this, would not be understood to dispar.
age the political rights of any race that fate
or fortune has cast upon our shores, whether
it be the docile African or oiher and more
turbulent ones that come by ship loads, with
their Old World ideas and anti>republicar
Instincts TO fili the ranks and file Of the vast
ing reservoir OF the so-called American De
mocraey; we have them both to deal with.
Mr.. Dawes would be glad to support the
bill. with or withoat the third section, if he
could see in it any guarantee OF security to
the people Of Alabama.
Mr.. Stevens OF Pennsylvania arose at the
Clerks desk and spoke at some length. He
held now, az he did at the tine ot the admis-
sion of Wes, Virginia, that, having conquered
the territory from another power, we had the
right to treat it as such, and take il in or keep
it out, as we pleased. He expressed doubts
AZ to whether. when being admitted to the
Union, an effort would not be made to call
new convention and to reestsblish slavery
10 some shape. We know very we'll, he said,
the ingenuity OF these men. We abolished
slavery except for crime; but have been in
formed of twenty cases in which men have
been held in bondage. and are now serving in
it, one case in Florida, where our Commits
sioner of the Freedmen's Bureau informed
me he had seen six of them sold for twenty
years. How do they do it They pass
law that any man guilty Of assault and bat
terry shall be sold into slavery for twenty
years. 1t is law there now. They 60 into
the streets, and If q white man jostes black
one, or black man jostles white one, be
is taken right to the court house and convict
ed of assault and battery, and is sold for
twenty years into slavery. There are hun
dred this day in the Southern States who are
serying as slaves. By just such contrivances
they have SO altered the lay that they have
introduced system of peonage even worse
than that in Mexico OF the Southern provinces
Mr.. Boutwell, argued against the amend
ment of Mr. Stevens, and urged the neces
sity Of the third section for The security of the
people of Alabama.
n
lengthy argument in fasor Of the bill He
argued tba. to reject Alabama after she had
gone through the struggle, would be only to
encourage rebels and discourage loyal men.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Farnsworth's re-
marks, the House proceeded TO vote on the
varions propositioas.
Mr. Eldridge moved to lay the bill on the
table. Negatived-yeas go, nays 70, strict
party vote.
The next question was on Bingham's mo-
ton to strike out the third section. Motion
agreed to by "A TO 80.
lhe next question was on Mr. Stevens
amendment, which was rejected without
division.
The question then required on the snbsti-
tute offered by Mr.. Spaiding for The original
bill which was adopted; yeas Il, nays "a.
The substitute is as follows.
Section !. That the Consultation framed
by the Convention Of Alabama, which was
submitted for ratification by the people in
the election commencing on the 4,h day Of
February, 1867, is hereby declared 10 be the
fundamental and organic law for provision,
al Government Of the people of Alabama, so
far as the same Is not in conflict with the
Constitution and laws of the United States:
and the officers elected at said elections shall
on the lst day of May, 1868, qualify as pro-
vided in said Constitution and the ordinances
f said ;sas. ia a. cd xfsfy thereaf.
ter enter upon the discharge Of their respec-
tive Offices.
Sec. 2. And be il further enacted, Tha,
the Governor at any time after he shall have
qualified and entered upon the discharge OF
the duties of his office, may BY ,rocIama.
ton convene the Legislature eha IN at such
election. The Legislature when 80 convened
shall possess ell the power conferred BY said
Constitution which may not be 10 conflict
With the laws of the United States, and the
Legislature is hereby further empowered 10
submit said Constitution to the qualified cleo
tors of Alabama for ratification at such time
or times as II may designate, and said Leeis.
lature is also empowered, by a majority vote
of each house, to submit said Constitution as
framed BY the convention, With or without
amendments proposed by the Legislature,
and it amendments be proposed by the Leg
islatnre, they sbsl be voted upon separately
from the Constitution.
Sec. 8. And be ii further enacted, That
whenever the people, by majority Of those
actually voting. shall ratify the Constitution
submitted as aforesaid. and the Legislature OF
the psoposed State organization snail have
adopted the amendment to the Constitution
OF the United States proposed By the 39th
Congress, and known as Article Il, the Con
stiiution of Alabama may be presented TO
Congress for its approval.
Sec. 4. And be it, 6c., That the District
snail furnish all necessary aid in
enforcing this act, and the other reconstruct
tion acts shall remain in full force in Ala
bama, except as modified by this act, until
Alabama shall be restored to representation
in Congress.
The next question was on ordering the pre-
amble to be engrossed, which was refused to
sotha preamble was rejected.
The final vote was on the passage of the
bill. The bill passed, yeas l03, nays a. a
strict party vote; Mr.. Stevens, Of Pelnsylva
na, voting with the majority, and Mr.. Will
liams. of Pennsylvania. not voting
On motion Of Mr. spalding tho title Of the
bill was amended 80 as TO read "a bill topro-
vide for temporary and provisional govern
ment in Alabama.
The new Conference Committee ordered on
disagreeing to vote Al ths bill 10 exempt GER
tain manufactures from tax, were Messrs.
Sehenck, Brooks and Ferry.
sEs4Tg.
Mr.. Edmunds offered the following reso,
luton, which was adopted:
Resolred, That the President of the Uni
ted States be requested to communicate to
the Senate whether he has established or or
dered established, any new departments
since the lst Of August, 1867, and If so, what
department or departments, and under what
statute and other authority.
The Senate then took up the report OF the
Committee of Conference on the bill to relieve
certain manufacturers from internal tax.
Mr.. Sherman explained the amendment.
Mr.. Nye opposed the amendment for pun
ishing whisky frauds. he objected to the
price being taken as primo facie evidence Of
guilt.
Mr.. Frehnghuysen said the effect Of the
bill would be TO close up every distillery in
the country, and asked if such was the inten-,
ton of the Committee.
Mr.. Sherman said the intention was 10
enable internal revenue collectors to close upi
every distillery in the cities.
Mr.. Morrill, rose mp and said the bill was
too stringent.
Mr.. Sherman said II vas useless 10 attempt
another Committee of Conference. The bill
had been fully considered.
Mr.. Morton objected to the punishment
fnr there frauds Thn tre,,t,1. -.