The New York herald., 1868-05-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON, May IS,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, May IS, 1868.
The proceedings were opened with prayer by Rev.
George b. Van Wyck, of MY.
THE SOUTHERN CONSTITUTIONAL ELECTIONS.
Mr.. BECK, (dem.) OF KY, offered resolution dl-
recting the Secretary of War and the General OF the
Army to communicate the reports of the several dis
trct commanders to the the elections on the rati
ncatons of the proposed constitutions in Georgia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana, and
for the election OF the officers Hereunder, with the
accompanying papers, &c. Adopted.
THE AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR 1867
Mr.. TRowBRlDGE, (rep) Of Mich, offered a res0lu-
tion to print copies of the Agricultural Report
for 1857, which was referred to the Committee on
Printing.
GAuGERs FOR PHILADELPHIA.
Mr. O'NEILL, (rep) Of Pa, introduced bill for
the appointment of four additional gaugers for the
port OF Philadelphia, which referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
THE ARREST OF COLLECTOR BAILEY.
Mr.. Schemes, !rep.l OF Ohio, made statement In
reference to telegram in the morning papers, an
nouncing the arrest in New York Of Collector Bailey
of the Fourth revenue district OF that city, a
plOyment of the Committee Ways and Means.
He said that neither himself nor the committee knew
Bailey, ana certainly had no person employed In any
secret detective service. The committee did not
claim to have the authority, ana certainly had not
the disposition TO enter on that business through the
agency OF Mr.. Davis, anybody else All that was
known by the committee about Mr.. Davis was, that
I'm the course OF its investigation he appeared as
witness on one occasion, but particular import
ance, as he recolectcd was attached to his testi-
mony
Mr.. GARFIELD, (rep.) of Ohio, introduced bill
authorizing the Whitehall and Plattsburg Railroad
Company to construct and operate It's road across
the land belonging to the United States ut Plattsburg
N. w. and to be subject to such restrictions as the
Secretary OF War may impose, and limited TO Tour
rolls in width The bill was passed.
THE PUGET's SOUND AND COLUMBIA RIVER RAIL
ROAD.
Mr PRICE, (rep OF Iowa, from the Paclfc Rallroad
Committee, reported back the bill with amendments
to incorporate the Puget Sound and Columbia River
Railroad Company. After considerable discussion
and propositions to amend Mr. Price moved the pre-
The House refused to second the previous question.
Mr. JULIAN, Qep) or Ind, moved to REFER the Dill 10
| the Committee on Public Lands.
The motion was agreed to ana the Dill was so re-
ferred.
RESTORATION OF SOUTHERN STATES.
The bill to admit the States OF North Carolina,
South Carolina Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama u
| representation In Congress was taken up.
Mr.. STEVENS, (rep.) Of Pa, offered the following
| amendment as an additional section-
And be further that the provisions of section
article of the constitution of Georgia shall
apply debt due to person who during the whole time
of the rebellion was loyal to the United States and opposed
Mr.. STEVENS stated that he would allow the whole
day for debate on the part Of members opposed to
the bill, and that he would ask vote on 1t to-mor
row.
Mr., BECK took the floor and made an hours speech
Mr.. ROBINSON (dem.) Of N. Y, asked whether II
| was understood that the House was going into the
| amendment OF q State constitution.
| The SPEAKER stated that that was question for
| the House, not for the Chair
| Mr.. STEvENs-I propose that amendment, and fo
this reason: the constitution OF Georgia nullites nj
| debts due before certain period, rs well those du
to loyal men as those due to rebels. MY amendmen
is that 1t shall nufy only those to rebels, not to loya
Mr.. ROBINsoN-will the gentleman from Pennsyl
| vania allow me TO ask him how he is going to picl
| dtSlOyalY
| Mr. STEvENs-I am not going to do It; but whel
anybody claims to be loyal suppose he will plcI
| himself out. (l.aughter.)
Mr.. RoBINsoN-Then everybody is to pick himsel
| whether this was an individual amendment Of hi
own or one that came from the Reconstruction Com
Mr.. STEVENS replied-It is an individual amend
| ment. discovered this morning that the PROPOSE
ton with reference 10 debts embraced an as well
those due TO loyal men as those due to rebels. That
| of course thought wrong and propose to amend.
| Mr.. PRUYN. (ien) OF N. VI rise to quest on OF
order. ask the Chair To rule that this House has no
right by any legislation or attempted legislation here
interfere with the constitution or the provisions OF
| the constitution Of any state.
| The SPEAKER-The Chair overrues the point Of
| order. He declines to rule as tho gentleman from
New York desires because If that were his prerOga-
| tive he might be called upon TO rule thus on bills
| which many members regard as not constitutional,
| aud which even the President vetocs as not being
constitutional The Speaker has no right in any leg
aiiye body 10 rule whether proposition IL cOnsttu-
tional only vine her IL Is parliamentary. lts consti-
tutiOnalty afects merits SucN questions
| to be decided by the House. not by the Chair.
| Mr.. RAsDALL, (dem.) OF Pa, asked Mr.. stevens
| where he got authority, In the constitution OF the
United states. or anywhere else, to amend the constl
tuition OF "a Staey
Mr.. sTEvENs-l find it in the constitution, which
saws "Congress may admit 10 the United States.n |
hold that under that Congress may admit them In
just such shape as Congress peascs. ] do not iind
| any dlIllculty about that.
| Mr.. RANDALL would like the gentleman 10 90 on
| and give his argument upon TINS point, because
some OF MS here find great difficulty about it.
| Mr.. STEvESs-ADybody who needs argument on
that point [ cannot enlighten. (.aupher)
| Mr.. FERRY, rep.) Of Mich.-I desire to know
whether my colleague intends that his amendment
| shall prevent the taxation OF debts judgments and
| cases OF action 0ue to loyal meny
| Mr. STEvENs--T expect them to modify II according
to the provisions Of this act. stated when this bill
was postponed last Monday that would ALLOW fun
discussion. | do not want ID discuss 1t myself, but
will leave all the discussion TO the Wembers who are
House adJourns today, to move the previous ques-
| ton, SO the vote may be taken tomorrow. -
ona Mr. BROOKS noyH dem, Of w. gave n9Ss that he
| ti0nal secton;-- -
That on and % after s The Of this
named shai BE- admitted 10 equal rights suffrage
| Mr.. BrcK addressed the Honse for an hour in OPP
position to the bill. lie declared that the amend
incnt proposed by Mr.. Stevens was just as egiti-
| mate as the action OF the people Of the States
| on the constitutions proposed for them was. IL
the members Of the republican party nid not come
would he the first time that any proposition proposed
bv the distinguished gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
was not adopted by all the members Of his party,
| including the d stinguished member from OHIO .,r
Bngha1m Who pes, wqsla ,Sadoy ye! p!a TO Zsa s die
Mr.. BSGlAY, lrepl nf Ohio, remarked that tha,
statement Tas conIradicted by the recor., IN innl
1 merable Instances and the gentleman Ought not 70
make II,
Mr.. BRcK repeated the assertion nat the position
taken by Mr. stevens had been yaf6wcd by his party
In almost every instance, wh9tper they had been liked
at first or not. The ameEdrient now offered by the
| gentleman from Pennsylvania would be another H.
lusraion oi the rule He referred 10 the resolution
OF the Ohio Legislature presented last Monday by Mr.
Van Trump In opposition to the reconstruction mea
sures VI Congress. He also referred to the 0bicc
tonabe features OF the constitutions under which the
| Southern states were to he admitted, PARTICULAR,
| that provision OF the South Carolina constitution
which makes 1t compulsory on all children, white OF
| black, TO be sent to the same schools
| Mr.. HIGBy, trcp.) OF Cal, asked Mr.. Beck what be
| would do with the negroes.
| Mr.. BECK replied that ne would protect them %
| freedmen, as he would protect any person who hau
not the capacity to exercise political rights and privt
leRes for q great many reasons. le held the negro