The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-11

road rom 81: Paul. Minn, 70 the Missouri river.
Referred 70 the Committee on Public Lands.
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
MI. WILSON introduced joint resolution submit
ting for ratification the following amendment to the
pSlisa right. q race, color previous
1t was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
THE ELIcTIvE FRANCHISE.
ALSO oiil 10 regulate the elective franchise In the
mittee
THE EIGHT HOUR LAW.
ton for labor performed Tor the government IF the
United States, which was laid ON the table and
It provides that from and sfter June Is, 1860. all
lab0rers workmen and mechanics engaged In the
employment OF the United States shall receive for
days labor as provided by law, the full wages ana
constituted days labor.
PAVING PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
MI COLE lrep.) OF Cal, introduced bill to pro-
VIDE for the paving Of Pennsylvania avenue, which
was referred TO the Committee on the District OF
Mr.. HARRIS lrep) Of La, introduced bill to pro-
VIDE ior.the paving OF Pennsylvania avenue with the
Nlcolson pavement, which was referred to the Com
mlttee ON the District OF Columbia.
Mr. SHERMAN introduced q bill to incorporate the
National junction Railroad Company, which was re-
ferred 70 the Committee the District OF Columbia.
The road is to commence at the Aqueduct bridge
In Georgetown and run around the city Of Washing
ton to point near the Navy Yard, ana Is prohibited
from granting exclusive privileges 70 any one cor
poraton.
CREDENTIALS OF SENATOR HILL, OF GEORGIA.
On motion OF Mr.. SHERMAN the credentials OF Mr..
Hill Senator elect from Georgia. with The memorials
&C., relating TO them were referred to the Committee
on the judiciary.
ARMiNG THE MILITIA IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Mr. RICE called up the bin 10 provide for the issue
OF arms to the militia OF certain States lately
bellion which, on motion Of Mr.. Wilson, referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
pRrs uNrr,Su
Mr. EDMrEpS rep OF VT, called for the unfinished
business. Some Of bis friends he said and some who
adjourn on "Wednesday in order to prevent the reading
OF the Presidents Message. Ills motion had no such
design on ihe contrary he was In favor Of havingit
read FOR the benefit OF his party and that the people
might see what kind Of mao they had al the head OF
the government. lie therefore moved that the Sec
reary DC directed TO proceed with the reading OF the
Message.
The motion was carried.
Mr.. CAMERON rep OF Pa, renewed the motion to
but ut the suggestion OF other senators Immediately
withdrew IL.
The SECRETARY then read the Message from the
point at which he had been interrupted yesterday.
When he had finished
Mr. EDMUSDs moved TO lay the Message on the
table and order II 10 be printed, which motion was
carried.
The PRESIDENT presented communication from
the Secretary Of the Interior transmitting accounts
up 10 June last OF disbursements Tor incidental and
miscellaneous purposes during 1868.
PAYA.ENT OF THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Mr. EDAUNDs SAID that III view OF the extraordt-
nary proposition relating to the national debt
tanned III the Presidents Message he would move
on next Tuesday, that the Finance Committee,
unless they should IN the meantime report the reso
luton on that subject offered by him on the 2lst OF
November last, be discharged from the further con-
siqeration Of &C and would move It's passage.
The resolution aiTns that the laItn OF the United
States IS s0emnly pledged to the payment OF the
national debt
Mr.. EDMUNDs, continuing, said that the PROPOSE
ton OF the President was that the people should
repudiate the national debt by insisting that the
payment OF the interest upon 1t Tor certain number
OF years should be taken payment OF the principal
and thereby dison0r themselves forever in the eyes
OF all honest men.
Mr. FRELNGRUysEN, (rep.) OF N. IL do not
think 1t Is proper, sir ta5 this Message should pass
without having word said IN reference To IL; but
what have to say will occupy only little OF the
time OF the Senate. an glad that the Message has
been read. That much our respect for the highest
official position in the nation-our respect for, per-
haps, the highest position IN the world-re-
qurcs; and as 10 the reflections contained in 1t
upon the legislative department OF the government
legislative department which, in harmony and Co
operation with The patriotism OF the people with the
exerli0ns OF our lamented President and with the
eyerti0ns OF our ever-triumphant general, has
ceeded In rescuing and preserving the nation the leg
hlatiye department winch for four years has carried
on contest with instructions anu obstructionists-
such legislative department cannot be dlsparaged
by the violent dennnciations OF the vanquished l
am glad that the Message has been read, in order
that We may declare before the world that our at
tenuon has been called to the most extraordinary
proposition put forth by the Executive of tins ma
tion-a proposition which, II we were not Accustomed
70 wonders from that source would Ill every person
here with astonlshmentto wit, (as has been stately
that shall pay the interest on national debl
Tor seventeen or sixteen years, and that then the
debt shall be repudiated and this young Christian
republic he made Kissing and byword among the
nations OF the earth, and credit, which In worth
To this young nation just entering lts grand ca
reer more than that debt multiplied hundredfold,
shlpwrecked forever. am glad. Mr.. President, that
IL has been read in order that we may here declare
before the world That we, the accredited representa-
tfves OF the American people, repudiate and reject
the repudiating doctrine Of that Message, in order
plain people OF this country however the Chief
Executive may undelr rate them) who had the hero
ism TO preserve the liberties Of the country have
the Will and the ability to preserve It's honor In
our limitable domain, In our waving field. in our
exhaustless mines, in our Industrial enterprse-yes,
and II need he, In the tension ana toll Of every
muscle and the sweatdrops from every brow, the
world has the pledge that the honor and the faith OF
America are lnviolate am glad, too, that we have
the opportunity OF calling the attention OF the public
our debt at the same rate that We have been paying
1t for the last i've years, at the end or
twenty years there will be no debt to tempt
to sefdsh0nor and eelf-destruction. No, SIR
civil liberty and equality VIII not die TO the world by
the stab that repddlati0n would give them so long
The people are July and honestly represented here
II is but little longer SIR that have to watt
u little longer. Let US be patient
At the conclusion OF MIR. Frelinghuyscn's remarks
there was suppressed applause IN the galleries.
ADJOURNMENT.
Mr.. EpMUXDs at once moved TO adjourn which
was carried, the adjournment beng, In accordance
VITA a previously adopted resolution until Monday
at twelve O'Clock NJ.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1865.