The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-06-11
XLth 0oNGRESS-seoond Session,
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, June 10.-After presentation
OF the usual petitions, memorials, &c. Mr.
Ramsey called up the bill to amend the act to
provide for the carrying of mails between the
United States and foreign ports
Some debate arose on the point whether con-
siderable additional compensation will be de-
manded by the contractors because of the pro-
bable increase of mail matter.
After an unsuccessful attempt to amend the
bill it paSsed-26 to H.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine, from the committee of
conference on the army appropriation bill,
made report recommending some important
amendments, which were concurred in.
Inc morning hour having expired, the bill
to admit the Southern States was called up
the question being on Mr.. Sherman's amend
ment to strike out the additional fundamental
condition imposed on Georgia of striking from
her Constitution the provisions preventing the
1865.
Mr.. Williams spoke in favor of the amend
ment
Messrs. Howard and Conklng followed, ar
guing that this clause of the Georgia Consti-
tuition was unconstitutional and void.
Mr.. Howe supported the provision and Mr.
Morton opposed it. and after further discussion
a vote was taken on the amendment which
was rejected, against 81
The yeas were Messrs. Cameron, Howe Ram
sey, Sherman, Thayer, Williams and Wilson.
Mr. Trumbull offered some verbal amend
ments which were agreed to-
Mr.. Williams moved to amend the third Sec
ton by inserting the following: "And thereup-
on the officers of each State duly elected and
qualified under the constitution thereof, shall
be inaugurated without delay, but no person
prohibited from holding office under the Unit
ed states, or under any State, by section Sd of
the proposed amendment to the Constitution
of the United States known as article Ia, shall
said States"
Mr. Edmunds and others opposed the latter
clause OF the amendment, on the ground that
It forestalls the fourteenth amendment of the
Constitution, and that when State is restored
TO representation in Congress it cannot decide
who shall be its officers.
After considerable debate Mr.. Edmunds ask
81 1or DIVISION OF the question Gu the amend
ment, and the question was taken on the first
part which was agreed to as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Cameron, Chandler, CONFESS,
Corbett, Cragin, Drake, Edmunds, Howard
Morrill OF Maine, Morrill, of Vermont. Nor
ton, Nye, Patterson of New Hampshire, Pom
eroy, RAMSAY. Stewart, Sumner, Thayer, Tip
ton, Wade, Williams, Wilson, Yates.
Nays-Messrs. Bayard, Buckalew, Cole,
SCo3kllng, Davis, Fowler, Harlan, Hendricks,
McCreery, Morgan, Patterson of Tennessee,
Ross, Salisbury, Trumbull Van Winkle Wick
ers, Willey-17
same vote-26 to Is
MIR. Drake moved to amend by striking out
ment OF the elective franchise, and inserting
the corresponding provision of the Arkansas
bill. He explained that conference commit
Zee having already settled upon the latter, it
", was desirable that all the constitutions shall
be the same.
The amendment was agreed, to without di-
vision.
The substitute of the Judiciary Committee
was then adopted as amended and the question
being on the bill as amended Mr.. Trumbull
moved to strike out the word alabama"
After debate Mr.. Conkling moved to add the
following: And the State of Alabama shall
be entitled and admitted to representation
only upon this further fundamental condition
that section 26 of the LIST article of the consti-
tuition OF said State, except so much thereof as
makes navigable waters a public highway shall
be null and void, and the general Assembly of
said State by solemn act shall declare the con-
sent OF the State to the foregoing fundamental
condition"
After further discussion Mr.. Trumbulls mo-
ton was rejected.
Yeas-Messrs. Bayard, Buckalew, Conklng,
Davis, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen, Hendricks,
Howe, McCreery, Morgan, Morrill, of Vermont.
Patterson of Tennessee, Salisbury, Trumbull,
Vickers, Yates-16
Nays-Messrs Cameron, Chandler CONFESS,
Corbett, Cragin, Drake, Ferry, Harlan, Morrill,
of Maine Morton of New York Pomeroy
Ramsay, Ross, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner,
Thayer, Upton, Van Wrinkle, Wade, Wiley,
Williams, Wilson-24.
Mr.. Conkling's amendment was rejected, 16
against %.
Mr.. Williams moved to add at the end of his
amendment in regard to inauguration of Off
GERS the words "Unless relieved from disability
by said amendment" Agreed to.
Mr.. Sumner observed that himself Mr.. Yates
and several other Senators desired to speak ON
the subject aud moved to adjourn. Rejected,
10 to 81
The question was on the passage of the bill.
Mr.. ates declined to speak tonight in the
face of desire for an immediate vote.
An endeavor was made to come to an agree
ment to take a vote tomorrow, but the ma or-
ity refused.
Mr.. Sumner took the floor shortly before
o'clock, reading from manuscript. Very few
Senators remained in their seats.
Mr.. Buckalew made half an hours speech
against the bill.
Mr.. Morrill, OF Vermont replied to Mr.. Sum-
ner.
At half past ten the Senate proceeded to
vote and the bill passed, yeas 81, nays 5, Bay
ard, Buckalew, McCreery, Patterson of Ten
nessee, and Vickers.
Mr.. Salisbury was paired with Wiley, Da-
Wis with Morton, and Hendricks with Van
Wrinkle. Norton was absent from illness Ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Morehead reported by authority of the
Committee of Ways and Means, a bill prepar-
ed by sub committee thereof, to increase the
revenue from duties on imports and tend to
eQudlJZe Tile exports anu 1IDpOFUS, WHICH was
ordered to be printed and referred back to the
Committee of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Payne, from the Committee on Recon-
struction, reported bill to relieve from politi-
cal disabilities William M. Harrison and JAS
r. Berry of Arkansas.
After debate the bill passed.
= Mr.. Hills bill authorizing the Postmaster
General to contract with the Commercial Nav
igation Company of the State of New York
for the transportation of mails and emigrants
hot RI orn1D
Mr.. Hill spoke at length, explaining AID adj
vocating the bill, and moved the previous
question.
Mr. Washburne of Illinois moved to amend
the first section by providing it should not be
construed into allowing the Postmaster Gen
era to retain and accumulate the mails in or
der to send them by ships of this line.
Mr. Delano proposed proviso, that when
the receipts from sea postage under the act
shall equal or exceed 100000 per annum, then
the rights of the company to receive inland
postage shall cease.
Mr. Shellabarger moved provso, that gov
eminent shall have the right within the TWEEN
ty wears for which the contract is to rum to
terminate or abandon the contract, with due
regard to the accrued rights of the company.
The House seconded the previous question
on the bill.
Mr.. Clark of Kansas moved to lay the bill
on the table. Negatived.
The various amendments were az reed to and
the bill passed
The morning hour having expired, the
speaker stated that the first business IN order
was the bill reported from the Committee on
Commerce on the 9th of May, and postponed
until TINS day, being bill for the protection of
American commerce
Mr.. Mashburne of Illinois, from the confer
ence committee on the naval appropriation
bill, made report, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Farnsworth, from the Postof4ice Com
mittee, reported bill to provide for the cree
ton of a building for Postofiice and Tinted
States Courts in New York. Ordered 70 he
printed and recommitted. "
Mr.. Eldridge asked Mr.. Eliot to yield to him
that he might offer resolution nstructing the
committee of managers to examine Witness
WOoley-immediately and see if he would ans
wer the questions for the refusal to answer
which he was adjudged in contempt he may
not longer be deprived of his liberty as a citi
zen.
Mr.. Eliot declined to yield.
Subsequently Mr.. Butler said: desire tt
say for the information of the gentleman OF
the other side, that meeting of the commit
tee of managers is called for tomorrow morn
ing, at which time Wooley will be examined.
Mr.. Eldridge-The conduct of the commit
tee is all wrong and unjust to witness. the,