Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-14
House of Representatives.

House Of Representatives. s....
Mr.. Beck offered a resolution directing
the Secretary of War and General of the
army, to communicate the reports of the
several District Commanders as 10 the cleo
ton on the ratification of the proposed
Constitutions in Georgia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Louisiana, and for the
election of officers Hereunder, with the
accompanying papers, etc. Adopted.
Mr.. Schenck made statement in refer
ence to a recent New York item, that
neither the Committee on WAYS and
Means nor himself, knew of any complaint
against the Collector of Internal Revenue.
Mr.. Baily, of New York, said they had
no person employed in any secret detective
service. The committee did not claim the
authority and certainly had not the dis
position to enter on that business.
The bill to admit North Carolina, South
Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia, to repre-
sentation in Congress, was taken up.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, offered the
following amendment as an additional sec
ton: s
And be it further enacted, That The pro-
visions Of section IL, article 5 Of the Con-
stitution Of Georgia, shall not apply 10
debt due TO any person, who, during the
whole time Of the rebellion was loyal 10 the
United States and opposed to secession.
Mr.. Stevens stated he Wonld allow the
whole day for debate on tho part of mem
bers opposed to the bill, and that he would
ask vote on 1t. .- r-
Mr. RobinsonI asked whether it was under
stood the House was going into the amend
ment Of State Constitution. The Speaker
stated that it was question Cor the House
not for the Chair. Mr.. Stevens said, 81
proposed that amendment and for this
reason the Constitution Of Georgia mill
lies all debts due before a certain period,
as well to loyal men as to Rebels, and my
amendment is that il shall nullify only
those to Rebels, not to loyal men"
Mr.. RObinson-Will the gentleman from
Pennsylvania allow me to ask him how he
is going to pick out the creditors Of loyal
and disloyal men.
Mr. Stevens am not going TO do il,
but where anybody claims to be loyal,
suppose he will pick himself out. (Lsugh-
teri
Mr.. Robinson-Then everybody will
pick himself out
Mr.. Paine inquired Of Mr.. Stew
ems whether this was an individual
amendment Of his own, or one that
came from the Reconstruction COM
mittee.
Mr.. Stevens replied tits an individual
amendment.
Mr.. Pruyn: rise to question of order
TO ask the chair TO rule that this House has
no right, by any legislation or attempted
legislation, to interfere with the Constitu-
ton or the provisions ofthe Constitution of
any State. ~
The Speaker: The chair overrules the
point of order; he declines 10 rule
as the gentleman from New York
advises, because, II that we're his
prerogatiye, he might be called upon
to rule thus on bills which many
members regard as constitutional and
which were the Presidens's veto, and "a
not being constitutional, the Speaker has
no right in any legislative body 10 rule
whether proposition is constitutional or
not. Only whether it Is parliamentary its
constitutionality affects It's merits, and
such questions are 10 be decided BY the
House, not BY the chair. Mr. Ran
dali asked Dir. Stevens where he got author
ily in the Constitution of the United
States or any where else, TO amend the
Constitution Of State.
Mr.. Brooks gave notice That he would
move the following amendment as an adj
ditioBal section
Be it further enacted, That on and after
the passage Of this act, all citizens Of the
United States in the States heretofore
named, shall be admitted to equal rights
and suffages.
After further discussion the House adj |
journed,. !