Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-02-01
CONGRESSIONAL p. /.
siWAsH1NGroN, january 81.


The CHAIR laid before the Senate sew
eral communications. imcludinga joint res
olution of the Ohio Legislature resembling
the constitutional amendment. ,g-.e.fF
Mr.. SHERMAN called tor the reading of
the resolutions. He could not allow these
resolutions to be entered on the journal
without making some remarks; that they
did not speak the voice of the people of
Ohio. 1t was his clear conviction that the
people OF Ohio. in the canvass of 1860, h d
ratified that amendment by a vote of 4O,OOO,
and they had never rescinded that assent.
These resolutions were the voice of par
tisan majority in the Legislature, repre-
senring a minority of the people, and whe
were elected on Issues entirely different.
would vote ia favor of the Constitutional
Amendment by. 100 600 majority. Last
fall the people never dreamed that the
Legislature would take such action.
That issue they considered settled when
the Legislature of Ohio had submitted to
the people the negro suffrage amendments.
They had unwisely coupled with 1t pro-
vision disfranching odeserters, which was
thought, as commended by their opponents,
would include many patriotic soldiers
This caused defeat of the proposition to
incorporate universal suffrage in; the or
ganic law. He believed, although he wouln
not say positively, that the people of. Ohio
would declare in favor of the general prin-
ciples of the reconstruction bill. He was
satisfied that next fall the people of Ohio
would reverse the decision, and universal
suffrage would be inserted in the Constitu-
ton. In addition to all this, the manner of
offering these resolutions was the most ex-
traordinary. They had been rushed through
without any debate. i,..f.-s., ...f i,f--.'Is
( Mr.. SUMNER said the action of the Leg
islature was most Unprecedented. A State
m re- MT ff, tho ,osSf1 l..
ment to the Constitution, had NO power to
withdraw it, and the resolutions of this
Legislature were mere bruten f,.ln,en.
Mr.. JOHNSON argued on the opposite
side ofthe matter. ~ bilC..s ysa
1t was then referred, to the Judiciary
committee. rf- .-....I e.,
i The bill supplementary to the Tenure Of
Office bill was taken up. The question was
on Mr. Summers amendment that the bill
shall not do away with foreign agents of
the State Department. =.
+ Mr.. PATTERSON moved the amend
ment that such agents shall not exc eed
five in number. sr "a Io.H sd! mont
n Messrs. Sumner, Anthany, Grimes, Con-
ness, and Cameron opposed such resolu-
tions on the part of Congress.
4" AtShe expiration of the morning hour
the bill was laid aside, and an adjournment
till Monday was provided for. 81 .rr,.,t.
Mr.. JOHNSON gave notice that he
would, on Monday, press vote on the case
of Senator Thomas. .'.". i e2ig 9di
The supplementary reconstruction bill
was taken up. i.-.,.-.f. i..., af4rE. sra.--
Mr.. HOWE spoke in its favor. -.
Mr.. FERRY. claimed the floor on the bill,
but on motion OF Mr.. Harlan its futher con-
sideration was postponed till Monday, and
the Senate took up the bill to provide for
the formation of corporations and regulat-
ing the same in the District of Columbia.
1t was discussed bv Messrs. johnson. Har-
Ian, Wiley and Conkling, the latter con-
demniDg it as granting unprecedented
license. The bill was amended so as to re-
quire the principal officers of the corpora
tions to be kept in the District of Column
bia, and by making personal property of
stock holders in certain cases liable to the
amount of the par value of their stock.
After further verbal amendments the
bill was passed to the third reading, and
Mr.. BUCKALEW called for the yeas and
nays on its final passage. There being not
more than twenty Senators present, the
bill was postponed.
Mr.. SUMNER tried to call up the bill
to regulate selections of officers, &c, in the
District of Columbia, but on motion of Mr..
HENDRICKS, the Senate adjourned to
Monday.