Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-21
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
TUESDAY, January %.

| SEEATr.-Mr. Wilson presented the petition
OF General q. Brown, of the Freedmen's Bu-
Claims.
Also, petition of Isaac July and other men,
bers OF the Georgia Constitutional Convention
asking Congress TO give authority TO establish
civil provisional governments Referred 10
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Trumbull presented a memorial from
Samuel Bullock, of Merriwether comfy, Ca,
stating that he is old and blind aud asking the
privilege of distilling spirits without paying
the tax. Referred 10 Committee on Finance
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial from citizens
OF Texas, complaining that many OF the Federal
Office holders In that State are ou-residents
and as general thing not IN sympathy with
the Union men, but favoring the policy of the
administration. The memorialisis ask tn.
Senate not TO confirm these appointments. and
state that there are numbers of loyal Texans
competent 10 fili these positions.
Mr. Sumner asked that the petition be laid on
the liable for the present. He had hes tated
whether he should not present il in executive
session, but had finally concluded 10 offer il in
open Senate, as il treated of political matter
Mr.. Morgan, from the Joint Committee on the
Library, reported a bill to pay Phillip X. Fen
dali for editing the Madison papers.
Mr Patterson, OF New Hampshire. from the
Joint Committee on Retrenchment, reported a
bill in addition TO the act TO regulate the tenure
OF civil Offices, and gave notice that hs would
call II up tomorrow, a II was an important
Mr.. Harlan introduced a bill for the tempo-
rary relief of destitute people in the District of
Columbia. Referred 10 District Committee.
On motion of Mr.. Howe, the Committee on
the Library was instructed TO inqu INTO and
report some method of distributing the pubIic
doc uments in the possession of the Secretary of
the Interior.
Mr.. Henderson introduced n bill TO fund the
public debt and amend the banking laws of the
United States. Referred To Committee on Fl
nance.
Mr.. Thayer offered n resolution reouesting
the President TO inform the Senate whether
James "A. Seldom lately pardoned by him, was
Secretary OF War of the so-called Confederata
States during any OF the period while Henry
Wirz (tried and executed by order of the Presi-
dent) was keeper of the Andersonyille prison:
and also TO inform how many Union soldiers
died from starvation and other cruelties infict-
ed upon them in violation Of civilized warfare.
while the said James A. Seldom was Secretary
OF War Of the so-called Confederate States
Adopted.
Mr. Conness offered a resolution recitinp ,be
acts of the British Government in the laIe ar
rests OF American citiZens, and requesting the
President 10 inquire into the facts OF the same
and If such arrests have been made without
cause TO demand the release of such American
citizens as are unJustly held in confinement
and 10 support this demand by such portions
of the naval and military forces of the United
States as may be necessary.
Mr.. Conness would call up this resolution,
which was concurrent one, at an curly day,
and would then make some remarks upon it,
Mr.. Wilson called up the bill to facilitate the
payment OF soldiers bounties, which was
amended and then passed over until to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Stewart asked TO take mp the bill TO re-
move the political disabilities from Gov. Il. VI.
Patton. OF Alabama.
Mr.. Stewart said the bill proposed 10 remove
the disabilities imposed by the reconstruction
acts Of Congress from Gov. Patton. Gov
Patton was the Southern governor, who had
recommended the adoption of the constitutional
amendment, and had aided the carving out
OF the Congressional plan of reconstruction
vigorously and effectively. This bill for his
relief was asked for by Generals Pope and
M. nl..r- nf rh..
Convention. and by many Union citizens He
thought the passage would have a good effect
Mr. Buckalew objected To the bill as assum-
ing the pardonlng power, or at least the power
of dispensation by Congress. This would be a
very inconvenient jurisdiction if Congress at
tempted TO exercise; If Congress was to investi-
gate these individual cases il was entering upon
large field of business. In the next place
this was matter exclusively within the iuris-
diction Of the Executive and Judicial power
HOUSE or REPREsESTATIvEs-Mr. Butler
Mass offered a resolution, which was agreed
to, directing the Committee Of Ways and Means
TO devise some means by which distilled spirits
OF American manufacture may be exported un-
der the law.
Mr.. Eliot (Mass) asked leave to offer a res.
olution in relation to the Freedmen's Bureau,
but
Mr.: Wood IN. W objected, and demanded the
regular order
business Of yesterday, which was the motion of
Mr.. Butler 10 reconsider the vote W HEREBY the
previous question was ordered on the recon-
struction bill. and upon which the yeas and
nays had been ordered before the adlornment
yesterday.
The roll was accordingly called and III. mo-
lon to reconsider prevailed by a vote Of S3 yeas
to IS nays.
Upon this question the House was much di-
vided, some OF the Democrats voting for a re-
consideration and others against it, while the
Repnbiicans Were equally diverse in sentiment
upon the subJect.l
Before the roll call had been completed Mr..
Eldridge made the point that this Vote Was in
violation OF the order of the House as TO how
action should be- had on this bill
The Speaker said 1t now to late to max.
that the point of order. 1t should have been
made before the roll call commenced
Mr.. Butler then moved to reconsider the vote
whereby he bill was amended yesterday by
Mr. Bingham, in order To enable hIm TO get in
his amendment.
Pending this motion. Mr.. Eldridge fWisA
moved TO lay the bill aud pending amendments
on the table, which motion was rejected-yras
~ nays l22; strict party vote.
Mr.. Butler then moved TO amend the bill nv
striking ont the first section of the bill a. re-
ported by Mr.. Bingham, and TO insert section
in lieu thereof TO place the appointment of civil
officers in the several Constitutional Couven-
tlons. He did not deem il necessary 10 discuss
the question further. but would yield few
moments to Mr.. Stevens
Mr.. Stevens pa, said he had not desired to
debate this question al length. but the fact thar
as chairman Of the Reconstruction Committee
he did not agree with Mr.. Binghan's bill,
Woulu seem 10 reQutrr tilat ne should say SOME
thing. He did not see that the bill would add
efficiency TO the bills already passed.except per-
haps, the clause proposed by Mr.. Butler II.
had been appealed TO by members of all the
constitutional conventions in the south 10
introduce just euch a bill proposed by
Mr.. Butler in his amendment, and they ask
such bill for the reason that, after the military
power has SO tar protected them as TO enable.
them TO form constitutionalS > ate government
they think thar they can designate who should
be State officers much better than il would be
possible for the military to do SO. There IS
some objection TO the continuance of military
rule, and they know better who in the States
can be trusted than would the military know
He believed the conventions could carry OUT
the intentions OF Congress more effectually, and
for the reasons stated he was in favor of Mr.
Buffers amendment
Mr.. Kelley (Pa.) read letter from a friend
in Little Rock, Arkansas, asking the passage
of a bill similar to that of Mr. Buffers amend
ment. :
Mr.. Harding (Ill.) desired to know il a clause
should not be Incorporated requiring the State
Mr.. Butler could trust the majority Of the
men comprising the Southern conventions, and
il test Oaths Were required they would put
them in. The only fault he had to find was
that the conventions had devoted too much
time to test oaths, and not enough to prescrib-
ing penalties for treason.
Mr. Butler then demanded the previous oues.
ton upon the bill and amendments; and the
first question being upon agreeing TO Mr. BIS
amendment. Mr.. Ward demanded the yeas and