Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-08
WASHINGTON.
Meeting of CoDgress-Message OF d
President-OfEcini Reports, etc.

n | speaker ColIa1 Deing particularly warml
!, | greeted by members. f5B
q The Speaker called the House TO order .
: II o'clock. Prayer by the Chaplain.
n The Senate met at noon, forty-seve
4 members present.
4 Mr.. Sherman presented the credential
: of Senator Hill, Of Georgia.
Mr.. Drake moved to refer TO the Judi
ciary Committee.
. The President has informed the Join
Committee appointed by The two House
to wait on him, that he will send his mes
sage to Congress on Wednesday. s'
There was general greeting among th,
members Of both parties in the House and
Senate Chambers before the hour of meet.
ing. Very many of their acquaintance
were also present mipgliDg in the congrat.
ulations. Good humor was everywhere
prevalent. The galleries were crowded to
witness the opening proceedings
The Supreme Court met at noon, all the
Judges were present except Judge Grier.
The commission of VIM. Eyarts as At
torney General was read, when the court
adjourned in order 10 pay a visit of
courtesy TO the President. Tomorrow the
docket will be called. Itt
The Secretary of the Treasury has placed
his report in the hands of the Assistant
Tressurers at Boston, New York, Phila-
delpbia and ST, Louis, the Surveyor at Gin
cinnati, and The Collectors of Customs at
Chicago and Baltimore, TO be held for the
\ newspapers and press agents when the
message goes in.
SENATE.-After prayer by the Chaplain
the Senate was formally called to order by
President pro tenn. Senator Wade, who
then presented the credentials of Senator
Edwards, of Vermont, which were referred.
The President also announced a commu.
nication from the Governor of Geor sis.
which was laid on the table
Mr.. Sherman presented the credentials
of Senator Hill, of Georgia.
Mr.. Drake moved TO refer them to the
Judiciary Committee. He understood
that after legal members of the Legislature
OF Georgia had been elected under the re-
construction laws, the white men of that
Legislature had combined and expelled all
the colored members, thereby putting the !
Legislature under their control If this |
we're 30, he thought the reconstruction of |
Georgia should not be recognised as com. |
plete as it would be by the admission |
of the Senator elect. The President said |
under the rules of the Senate, there was
no committee in existence vet to which
to refer the credentials
Mr.. Sherman hoped such an unusual
course as the reference of Senator's Gre
dentials 10 a committee would not be
taken, unless some good reason for it
should be shown-some reason affecting
The status Of the State or of the Senator
elect No such reason appeared in the
case. The extraordinary conduct of the
white members of the Georgia Legisla-
ure was as strongly condemned BY the
Senator elect from that State as by the
Senator from Missouri. and he hoped
When admitted to do something to
correct that action; but, in the ,
Meantime, he claimed that Mr.. Hill was
Senator, elected by large majority !
Il the whole Legislature before the expul- =
ion of the minority, and who had been all .
through the war, and who was now pre- .
AIRED 70 take the oath and he should not =
e held responsible for the conduct of the
1sJoilty of the Legislature, which oc-
urred after his election, and which he
Lrongly condemned.
Mr.. Drake said, Of course he had no oh.
.ction to the gentleman whose credentials G
ad been presented, but the question as to n
dmitting him involved the great ques- z
on whether the power Of Congress over a :
State ends the moment that .
tate is recognized by either House az re- -
ored TO her position in the Union. If | =
lat question were to be answered in the | T
frmative, then it would be in the pople 7,
any State Immediately on being recog- T
lied, TO undo everything it had done M .,
sr the reconstruction act, and to restore n
bells to power. 1t was, in his Judgment, r
question Of continuing the power Of Con- f.
-ess over the lately rebellious States to n
cure the great result at which its Iegisla- -
on had hitherto aimed, and he would ],
We no vote which could by implication n,
my or dispute that power. Fl
Mr.. Hills credentials were laid on the 4;
BILE for the present.
Mr.. Sumner introduced bill enforcing
e provisions of the constitution abolish y
e slavery.
A bill was introduced 10 resume specie
yment by July next. in
Adjourned. od
credentials of Oliver +, NJ
ckey and S. Newton Pettis, of Pennsyl- +,
MIA, and John Slower, of Missouri, N
scted to ELL vacancies, were presented. r.
A message was read from Gov. Bullock, n,
Georgia, stating that Mr. Christy, mem. +,
r from the sixth Georgia district, being ~
eligible under tie fourteenth amendment, In
had given the certificate 10 Mr.. Muir. tv
~, his opponent. G.
Mr.. Brooks presented certificate from n,
n. Meade, given to Christy, who had RI,
en subordinate Confederate officer, and
,eived a special pardon. The papers m,
re referred TO the Election Committee, 10
Mr.. Maynard said the State of Tonnes IN,
believed she was entitle d, from her vol. co.
tary abolition of slavery, to an addition mo
in the House, and elected g.
os. A. Hamilton. He moved his GER.
cate be referred to the Committee on
ecdons, aud that in the meantime Mr.. Il
lmilton b. entitled to the courtesy of a sc
al on the floor.
fter some discussion, Mr.. Hamiltou's
dentials were referred to the Committee "o
Elections, and the privilege of the floor ga?
used. M
Mr.. Boutwell, introduced a bill that all to o.
lie citizens not less than twenty one ON
irs old, be entitled to vote for President mt
/ Congressman. Referred 10 the Judi an
~ Committee: sur
Also, a resolution directing the Recon- yea
uction Committee to report what meas 'o'
q were necessary for the better prstec. 4
n of life, liberty and property in Mis-
sippi, Texas and Virginia. Adopted. +
Mr.. Elliott introduced a bill to con.
ne the Freedmen's Bureau 10 Virginia, tar
ssissippi and Texas. Referred ril,
resolution was adopted requesting the ter
esident TO furnish all necessary inslruc- no
ns to the American Minister ia London ~,
alive 10 I le Alabama claims. Mr.. Bron. a.
j introduced a concurrent resolution 10 we
end the Constitution go neither Congress oo .l
any State shall limit the right of suf- WI
ge. Mr.. Bronnell introduced resolu- no.
n that certificates of naturalization shall un
!. be issued within three months preced- sol
an election. Referred. lift
Mr. Morrill,, joint resolution condemn
the conduct of Minister Johnson Re- mir
red WI
Fhs Reconstruction Committee was in ito
noted to examine into the public affairs nc
Georgia. ne,
Mr.. .Schenk introduced joint resolution vii
amend the Constitution by providing GO,
It no Stale ehsll make or enforce laws to k
prive citizens Of the right of franchise ino
account Of race or color. Referred 10 NJ
mmittee on Judiciary. "
Mr.. Maynard introduced a Joint resoln. hv
n to the same effect. Same referred. =
Mr.. Spalding moved to amend by sub. att
.uting a Committee on Revision Of Laws VIII
Judiciary Committee. son
Mr.. SchenCk accepted the amendment. the