The New York herald., 1868-06-10
THE FORTIRTH CONGRESS-
SENATE.



Mr.. DooLITrLE. rep.) OF Wis., presented memo
rial from Mrs. Eliza Potter OF South Carolina set
ting forth that she expended some $4,000 for the
support OF Union prisoners during the rebellion, that
she has been always devoted TO the Uni0n that she
has been reduced TO poverty by raids both sides
during the war, and asking TO be remunerated for
the amount actually expended for such purposes.
Mr.. Dool tile moved to refer the matter to the Mill
tary Committee with Instructions to inquire into the
facts alleged and report by bill or otherwise.
the Committee on Claims
Several other Senators urged that this paper take
the usual course.
Mr.. DooLITTLB assented, and the matter was 80
referred.
Several petitions were presented by Messrs.
Cameron, Ramsey and Others praying for a reduc-
ton OF tax on tobacco, which were referred to the
Committee ON Finance.
Mr.. MORGAN, lrepl or N.Y., presented a petition
OF the Louisville Board Of Trade, concurred in by
the New York Chamber OF Commerce, praying for Q
reduction Of tax on whskey to fifty cents per gal
lon, which was referred to the Committee on
Finance.
THE ARMY.
Mr.. WILSON, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported q joint resolution authorizing the
turning over to the Surgeon General Of certain dis
titled spirits for the use OF the army. He also in
trOduced bill establishing rules and articles for
the government Of the armies OF the United States
Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs
COMMANDER GEORGE W. DOTY.
Mr.. NYE, trepl OF Nevada. introduced joint resO
luton to place the name OF Commander George w.
Doty, vi tuC Ouitcu StdtcS NAVY, vi tHc navy hck.
which was adopted.
GOLD AND SILVER COINAGE.
Mr.. SHERMAN, (rep) Of Ohio, from the Committee
on Finance, reported, with amendments the bill in
relation to coinage (god and silver designed to pro-
mote the establishment OF uniform currency among
all nations, with the Recommendation that IL be
postponed till next session.
IL establishes the weight OF the gold coin Of s5 at
l go Troy grains equivalent to the French coin OF
twenty francs being at the rate OF SO 20 to the
kilogramme, with other sizes and denominations in
due proportion OF weight and Of the neness OF nine
tenths The weight of the half dollar is fixed at l79
grains; lesser coins TO be in proportion;
but the coinage OF silver pieces, Of one
discOntinned gold coins issued under these provi-
sions shall be legal tender to any amount except
for such existing bonds of the United States as are
payable in coin; and foreign gold coins, cOnfOrmed
to the basis herein prescribed, also to be made
legal tender so long as the standards Of weight and
fneness are duly maintained which Ia to he deter
mined annually by the Commissioners OF Assay, the
Secretary of the Treasury having power to suspend
fciences are found and so reported The other pro.
visions relate to the character Of devices, which
shall consist of such emblems and inscriptions
proper to the republic OF the United States and to the
size Of the cons-the whole matter being left under
the control of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
1t is further provided that when gold and silver coins
OF the United states are brought to the mint and its
branches for recOinage they shall be received by
weight and those of them which have been issued
as nine-tenths fne shall be so received, but all
others by assay. There shall be no charge for COIN
age or seignorage and on ali other deposits Of gold
COludxe sudlI DC OuendlI OF one per
centum. II the bill becomes q law its provisions
are to take effect from January 1859; but to expe-
dte rec0nage the mints may, after the LIST Of Octo-
Der next receive coins or deposits OF gold and silver
bullion to be made ready for stamping for which
certificates payable In the new coinage, shall be
issued payable In the order OF receipt OF deposits
for the uses Of the Treasury and Custom House, The
Secretary Of the Treasury shall publicly declare the
rates at which coins OF the United States and foreign
nations shall be recOned under estimates 10 be fur.
nished by the Director OF the Mint
The bill was ordered to be printed.
RELIEF OF IRON-CLAD CONTRACTORS
On motion Of Mr.. HENDRICKS (dem.) of Ind. the
Senate again took up the bill for the relief Of certain
contractors OF ir0n-cads ordered. To meet objec-
that the appropriated shall be in full discharge
of all claims upon the vessels upon which the allow
ance was made by the Auditing Board.
After considerable discussion the bill was laid
| aside at the expiration OF the morning hour.
THE RESTORATION OF SOUTHERN STATES.
! The special order-ihe Omnibus bi 40 called
| was then taken up. The question was on the amend
ment TO admit Alabama.
IN favor OF the amendment He called attention to
the fulment OF the prediction made by him in op.
majority Of the registered votes for the ratification
OF the constitutions Of the lately rebeiOus States
n attending hs eecon n a 1e
evident that majority not only Of the loyal but OF
al OF the people Of Alabama are in favor of the
stitution. Mr.. Wiley then took up the general
question OF reconstruction drawing q COM
parison between the Congressional plan and
latter. He ridculed the idea Of the danger
OF conflict OF races caused by such minority OF the
people as the blacks form, holding that IL 1t should
occur 1t would be the result rather Of the overbear-
ing disposition OF the Anglo-Saxons He closed by
arguing at some length In favor Of political equality
the senator and others Who hold iSe ysws So
back to their own States and there advocate negro
Suffrage, instead OF combining their philanthropy to
ten states In the South. Referring to the Chicago
platform and its concession that in the loyal States
the question OF Suffrage belongs to the people, he
asked whether justice is to be bounded by geo.
graphical lllegf He smoke a nm ha
question OF negro Suffrage and equality, holding
suffrage to be political right conferred by society
for Its own benefit and that the negro is untitled by
education and experience to be clothed with IL.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Saulsbury's remarks the
Senate proceeded TO vote Mr.. Wilson'S amend
ment to Include Alabama, with the following result
fo%sfsS fssg
Wade, Wiley, Williams Wiison-as ''''A' =" "'"Ae'
poo sd%aad Rs
ss Mor 2.
so the amendment was adopted.
Mr. MORTON, lrep.) OF Ind, offered his amendment
noticed yesterday, requiring commanders Of dis
tricts TO allow the installation OF Officers elect within
twenty days after the election, such officers TO be
provisional only until their States admitted pro-
who will be ineligible when the fourteenth 70 s n Pms1a
ment Is adopted, and providing that persons having
the next highest number OF votes for an ONCE to
which such person may be elected shall discharge
Its duties until another election shall be held
Mr. WILLIAMS, trepl OF oregon: moved to substi-
tutc iOT Tue dIHtHufHtHJ Tue OIL reported In the
House this morning from the Reconstruction Com
mittee and passed, to provide for the Inauguration
OF state officers in Arkansas, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama.
The CHAIR decided the amendment out OF order
Mr. Morton's amendment being an amendment to an
amendment.
Mr.. MORTON withdrew his amendment In favor of
Mr.. Williams amendment
Mr.. TRUMBULL, trep) OF ILL.,, suggested that Mr..
Williams also withdraw his motion until the bill In
question could be printed, so that Senators could
examine it, II having Just come over from the House.
Mr. WILLIAMS assented, and the House bill, to-
gether with Mr.. Mortons amendment, was ordered
to be printed
Mr.. HOWARD moved to amend the second section,
making IL read as f0llOws:-
That " the time red tor the meeting OF the Legislature OF
either OF the said states by the constitution thereof sha
have passed shall have before
OF this that there shall time Legislature
assemble at the time 6xed by the constitution said state
such Legislature shall AT the end Of
the time this act takes effect unless the Governor
convene the same.
Mr.. HOWARD explained the object to be to take
from the Governor the discretion OF calling the Tegs-
lature together or not as he IT. and to require
hV Iov m