Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-09
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
THURSDAY, January q

SESATE.-The Chair presented a memorial
OF the National Freedmen's Association. ask
ing an appropriation for the relief OF desti-
tnte colored people of the District of Colum
lumbia.
Mr.. Pomeroy presented a memorial from the
Providence University of Rhode Island. asking
1.lnale suffrage in the District of Columbia
Referred TO the Committee on District of Co.
lumba.
Mr.. Sumner presented a petition of colored
CITIZENS of the District OF Columbia. asking the
passage OF law providing that the members of
the Levy Court OF the county of Washington
shall be elected by ballot. Referred To Com
mittee on District of Columbia.
Mr.. Cattell presented the petition of 5000
operatives engaged in hand-loom manufacture,
asking to be relieved from onerous taxation
Referred TO Committee on Finance
Mr.SherInan, from the Committee on Finance,
reported the House bill To prevent fraud in the
collection of the tax distilled spirits. with an
amendment striking out the words sin bond -
80 as to make the provisions OF the hill apply
10 all whisky, whether in bonded warehou-t -ts
or Otherwise.
The amendment was agreed 10. and In, hiu
passed
Mr.. Wilson presented the petition OF several
members of the Alabama Constitutional Con-
vennon, praying the removal OF the poll :ical
disabilities upon Governor IL. NJ Patton Re-
ferrrd To Judiciary Committee.
Also, repor.ed from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs the bill To facilitate the payment of
soldiers bounties, with amendments.
Mr.. Williams, from the Committee on FL
nance, reported IN f1vor OF the indefinite post
ponement of the bill TO authorize the conyer-
sion of coupon bonds into registered bonds
Agreed TO.
Mr.. Morgan introduced a bill to Incorporate
the congregation of the North Presbyterian
Church of Washington. Referred TO Commit
tee on District of Columbia.
Mr.. Wiley introduced bill in addition TO
the bill to incorporate the Washington and
Georgetown Steam Packp. Company. Referred
TO Committee on District of Columbia
Mr.. Anthony introduced bill in relation to
the PRONUNCIATION of the laws of the United
States. Referred to the Committe Printing
Mr. Morrill,, of Maine, introduced a bill 10
provide for the removal of causes in certain
cases from the District 10 the Circuit Courts of
the United States. Referred to Committee on
Mr.. Stewart called up the bill for the relief
of towns and cities upon the public lands:
which was pissed.
Mr. Morton called up his resolution instruct
ing the Judiciary Committee TO r.porl a bill
abrogating the existing S;1te governments i'm
the rebel States, and prov IdinZ proper govern
ments III lieu thereof.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved 10 amend so a. To
make the reporting of the bill discretionary with
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Morton desired TO test the sense of th,.
Senate directly upon this question. II was
high time that Congress defined its position in
terms not 10 be mistaken Oh this SUBJECT. To
his mind the state of affairs now existing in
these rebel communities had never been more
alarming. Congress had OH the 2d of last March
declared the existing governments in those
nfOner
security for lite and property, ana AT that time
Congress had provided military supervision
until such time as legal governments could be
established. TODAY the very military authori-
~ which they had set up. was oiysIructinc the
proper operation of the laws in some of thos,
States, and upholding the existing ILLEGAL and
unauthorized government. Mr.. NJ. here sent TO
the desk OF the Secretary the acts of March and
July 10 be read and also the order No l OF
General Hancock, in which the civil authority
Is declared supreme. 1t would De seen that
in hfe lx.l..r
the power OF Congress, but actually nullified
and refused 10 execute its laws A. General
Hancock has confronted directly the Congress
OF the United States. II becomes a question as to
which side will submit He recognizes tb.
authority of the civil tribunals organized by tho
very State governments which Con gress has
GecEred TO be illegal. There was danger thai
the Work OF reconsu uction would fail by the
very military power which they had raised up
TO forward II. AT this crisis il was incumbent
on Congress TO be true End consistent To itself
:hd proceed 10 abrogate these governments II
becane congress TO say AZ once what they in
tended 10 do. Although declaring in the acts
referred TO that those State governments Were
illegal- Congress had not deemed. in the expr-
else OF It's power to do away with them an
lnptly. but III the present juncture there should
not be a moments hesitation. Ii the amend.
ment OF the Senator from New Jersey mir
freinghuysen] was adopted. il would mean
nothing. He Mr.. NJ wanred a peremptory
ORDER 10 this committee TO bring in hill imme-
dlately, and he desired this Senate 10 so order
Mr. freInghnysen did not intend to oppose
any of The arguments which had been All yanced
by the Senator, but thought il but right thai
some confidence should be reposed i'm rho iudg
ment of the committee.
The expiration of the morning hour cut off
fuI ther debate on the resolution. aud IN. unfin
lshsd business, being the House bill 10 susppnd
the further contraction of the currency VA.
taken up.
Mr.. sherman said il was understood that this
resolution contemplated further legislation
during this session. ar d some broader financial
provisions would Yet be made The massage
of this bill was now necessary TO aiIay the
anxiety IN the public mind. There was great
slagnatIon IN business, and that all knew
Many thought it was owing TO the unpal,, llele6
contraction of the currency. SI4Oi O,LO09 out of
S'.W0.Io0,GGG. in less Than three years Whether
This opinion WAS wise not ii was held nv
many, and il was hut right that this action
should be taken to relieve the apprehensions.
he beheved that Congress would. before the
close OF this session. perfect such wise meas.
urss of finance as would restore confidence and
prosperity TO the country.
MT Morrill,. of Vermont. would say nothing
out that ne was unwilling that it should go
forth TO the country that this measure expre =
ed the unanimous voice of the Senate He
thought that this was inteferring with the sub-
lect which properly belonged to the Executive
ofncers. and II might b. that before the end of
TINS session they would be compelled. As thev
had before. 10 retraee their steps Since the pas-
sage OF this resolution by the House. gold had
gone up from I33 to l9. and he had no doubt
that its passage by this body would send gold
dancing mp from i4o 70 156 The people ex
pected return as soon As possible 10 a specie
standard. but such meas nres as this indefinite
ly postponed that long g.desired and NECESSARY
period
Mr.. Corbett was of the opinion thar this
sleasure would be in the interest of the gold
spectators. who were fattening upon the dis
tress OF the country. Ii was alarming TO SEQ
gold going ont Of this country nj the rate of
three millions year. This whole matter in his
opinion, had better be left to the Secretary OF
the Treasury and he would moved an ipdefi
mite postponement of the bill.
The motion TO postpone was not agreed to-
Mr. Fesscnden saw no good TO result from
the passage of this bill. In his opinion il was
only by reduction of the currency that tn.
country would be i'm a condition 10 resume i
specie payments. The country had rested
quietly under the policy heretofore adopted by
Congress. providing for the gradual reduction
OF the currency. but il has been opposed TO men |
who have their mulrifarious schemes of am
irredeemable currency, like rags, and yield TO |
those the policy which they had declared was |
TO he abandoned. He feared there was a danger
IN II, IN this indefinite pOstponement of return
TO specie payments. The return was of course /
the work of time, and Congress had so de- /
clared when II prohibited the Secretary from
retiring more than four millions per montb Il
In reply to question from Mr. Grimes Mr. L
+. said he believed the Secretary had not re-
tired the full amount allowed for several 1
months past.
Mr. Sprague said il was generally understood L
among business men that the Secretary had L
retired at one time twenty millions. thus de-.
sfroying AT one fell blow this amount of tb.