The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1868-03-19
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH
slf1DNIGHr. IsEPoRT.
xLth CONGREsS---Second Session.
WAsHi seros, March Is.

the Attorney General calling attention TO the
neIpediency OF reducing biz clericai fpfce.
| Referred to ihs Comn,ittee on Appropriations
AIso communication from the Secretary
| Of War stating that The military reservation
at Fort Ridgeway may be relinquished without
! detriment to the service. Referred TO the
| Military Committee.
! Mr. Sumner presented petition from the
Cleveland Ohio. Manufactures Convention,
| praying for a reduction of the internal tax.
| Referred TO the Com niltee on Commerce.
| The Chair submitted communication
| from the General of the Army, enclosing
copy of the telegram received from General
Meade, commander Of the third military dig
| trict The telegram was dated January 18th,
| 1866, which was read, stating that if the bill
pending before Congress was passed, direct
| ing military commanders to fiji offices with
| those qualified to take the oath, its execution
would be already imniacticable. Referred to
| the Military Committee.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine. from the Committee
| Of Conference on the consular appropriation
| bill, made q report recommending that the
| Senate recede from certain amendments and
/ concur in the amendment providing that all
| moneys above 81 900, received as fees at the
| ofice Of eonsuls or vice consuls, or CONNER
| cial aeents shall be paid into the treasury,
&c. Report concurred in.
| The Senate took up, as special order, the
bill to exempt certain manufactures from in
ternal tax. The question was on Mr.. Hem
dersons amendment to the amendment Of
| MT. Fessenden, providing for drawback Of
the dnsy on materials for construction of river
| Steamers, which was rejected.
| The question recurred on the amendment
providing for drawback equal in amount to
the transport duty on articles used in the con-
| .fs .f
vessels of foreign build TO be retained for the
use of the United States. under such regula
! tons SIS the Secretary of the Treasury may
prescribe.
| Mr.. johnson moved TO amend by inserting
after the words sailing vessels, the words
| iocesp steamers.
| Mr.. Chandler asked ifit would be 10 order
| to offer an amendment exempting all articles
used in the construction Of all vessels built in
| the United States, of whatever kind.
The Chair replied in the negative. and after
| long debate Mr.. Jobnson's amendment was
| lost 10 to 10. as was Fessenden ~ to u.
Mr. Grimes offered an amendment re-
ducing the tariff on imports 10 per cent,
which was iost--12 against So The bill
passed in Committee of the Whole, ard was
carried to the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman gave notice he would press
the vote to morrow.
Mr.. Trumbuil of the Committee on Judi
ciary, reported . bill to modify the test oath
in the case Of K. p. Batler, OF Tennessee, 30
as to allow him to take his seat in the House.
| Adjourned.
| A resolution, offered by Mr. Hendricks,
was adopted, requesting the Secretary Of the
Treasury to inform the Senate what has been
/ the monthly expenditures Of the War, Navy,
and Interior departments since Jnly. 1865.
Sir. Wilson, from the Committee on Con-
ference on the bill to facilitate the payment Of
soldiers bounties, reported certain verbal
amendmaats, which we're eoncuIred in.
Mr.. Hendricks called up the bill to amend
an act relative TO recording for the conven-
| ienee or vessels, which passed.
Mr.. Broomali, OF Pennsylvania, moved TO
reconsider the vote referring the judiciary
bill introduced by him July ilth, 1857, to
guarantee 10 the several States Of the Union
republican form of government
| The bill provides that all erac.!nents in
| State constitutions and laws restricting the
right OF suffrage on account of race or color,
shall be declared void and imposes a fine of
| S., GOO or imprisonment for Eve years, or
| both, upon any person gao silati prevent any
! qualified citizen from e,5ercising the sght Of
1 suffrage
| Mr.. Bromwell spoke in support Of the bill,
1 and political discussion sprsng up setEesn
I Messrs. " Woodsard Kelly, BroomaIi and 9th
ets, as to whether Pennsylvania has a repub-
| liean form OF government, her Constitution
containing the words white freeusa ,,rrr.
! by prohibiting negro suffrage
| Aeszrs. hnoi. and Woodward subse1ron.
ly spoke against The bill, and Mr. I.awrcnce
Of Pennsylvania in For 4
1
1 position Of the Democracy on negro suffrage
| Mr. Stevens, Of Pennsylvania. made an ar
/ gument in tavcr CT universal and impartial
suffrage as the only foundation on which the
| Government can stand. He said you must
build all your science Of Government on
that, and when you attempt TO depart from
1t, you forget you are o iaan, that yoa be-
| cerne g tJrsns and you deserve the execrg-
tion Of the. human race. There is no other
! Rav but BY universal suffrage in which you
ard ! and every man can protect ourselves
against the injustice, the inhamanity and
/ wrongs which would otherwise be inflicted
upon US. We hare got to point 10 this
nation when we can adopt it. That glorious
principle no man dares say we shall not
/ aiopt. Hence forth, lie. US understand, that
universal suffrage operating in ice face OF
every laan Who is to be governed By votes
.han the granite in which our fathers laid the
foundation OF their immortal work. the work
Of universal liberty, which shall last just as
long as that immortal doctrine shall last and
no longer.
Mr.. Stevens, having anncun2ei his propo-
sition, asked ,sie Clerk OF the House to read
his prepared speech, which was done.
Mr.. Stevens own remarks we're delivered
with cearness and strength Of voice not be-
fore manifested this session. He closed by
Offering the following as substitute for the
bill:
Bel enacted, &c., That every male citizen
Of the United States, above the age os TWEEN
ty-one years, who was corn or natgyslized in
the United States, or vho has declared his in
testioss t. naeou.e natlrai.ed, ahall be en-
titled to vote upon all national questions that
may arise in any State Of the Union, where
he shall have resided for the time Of thirty
days, and no distinction shall be made be-
tween such citizens on any account except
for treason, feloaY or other infamous crimes
not ueiow the grade of felony at common law.
Mr.. Beaman addressed the House in sup
post of the bill.
Mr.. Spalding spoke against the bin, which
he regarded unconstitutional,
Mr.. Kelly advocated and Kerr opposed ihe
bill.
Mr. Bromwell withdrew his motion, and
the bill and amendments remain with the Ju-
dietary Committee.
Mr.. Farnsworth, fram tue Gommittee on
Eeennstracl,op, reparted 9 bill to adEit the