Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-01-31
Congressional.
WASHINGTON Jan. "a

y WAsHlNG1oN Jan. "A.
80 SENATE.
The Chair laid before the Senate q
message from the President return
ing Mr.. Thayer's resolution in regard
to Mr.. Seldom, the rebel Secretary
War, which was referred to the Com
mittee on Military Affairs. Also a
message from the President replying
to the resolution ofeinquiry whether
the bill to secure equal rights in the
District of Columbia had become q
law.
Mr.. ,Edmunds said it was manifest
that the Presidents construction was
entirely wrong, and that legislation
would be very much impeded if Con
gress acquiesced in it. 1T was not
party question, and he hoped they
would consider it impartially. No
person who had examined an opinion
of a similar subject, pronounced by
the Supreme Court in New Hamp-
shire at the request of the Legisla-
ture, but what would be satisfied that
the construction of the President was
erroneous.
The subject was then referred to
the Judiciary Committee. r. o5t
Mr.. Ferry presented petition in
regard to the rights of American cit
liens abroad, claiming that in render
ing obedience of the United States
they were entitled to its protection.
Mr.. Ferry said that he entirely con
CURED in the views expressed and
hoped that speedy action would be
taken in the premises. The petition
was referred to the Committee Oh
Foreign Affairs. ! .-.5 e5r
On motion of Mr.. Wilson the Sec
rotary of the Treasury was request
ed to inform the Senate whether tn,
employees in the New York Custom
House have been increased, and a
what additional expense; also wheth
er business has increased there si..c'
the last session, and whether a de
crease of the force there is not pos
sible without detriment to the public
service.
At the expiration of the mornin!
hour the Senate resumed THE consid
Grafton of the supplementary Recon
struction bill.
Mr.. Morton took the floor, and ar
gued as follows: First, That tn,
Constitution, guaranteeing to all th,
States republican form of govern
ment, and the rebel States in 1866
being without State governments, ant
therefore having no right to repres
entation in the Congress of the Unite,
States, that the government most re
construct them. '-
He quoted from the Constitution
and from judicial opinion, to shoy
that this guarantee could be enforce
only by Congress, and said that Ser
ators Doolittle and Johnson had vote
for this proposition. He also sale
in reply to the structures yesterda
of Mr.. Doolittle on his Morton s
course, that as the Constitution di
not define the means to be exercise
Eby Congress in executing the guaral
ty it must be left to circumstance
If the rebel States could not be r,
constructed with the help of the whit
citizens living in them, Congress ha
a right to raise up class of me
who had been DISTINGUISHED by ii
rebel State laws in order to do it, an
that right could not be reviewed
the courts. He said that the Pres
, dent proposed by his policy the di
, reimbursement of a far greater nuI
Der of persons than the Congressio
al plan of reconstruction did, ar
Constitutions framed under that polio
had never been submitted to the pc
pie, and were, therefore, illegal. TIL,
e looked TO returning the freedmen u
? der power of their rebel master
Congress b d determined to
through the rubbish down to the etc
nal rock and secure equal rights
all men. He defended his speech
Indiana, referred to by Mr.. Doolit,
wherein he had said merely that VIII
: he admitted the rights of all men
}, thought that before the blacks shou
d have the suffrage there should be
t, period of probation. Replying
J., the charge that the Republicans we
overthrowing the Constitution he sa
: those who talked loudest about
l. were the men who, if they cou
r would have replaced it by the Mo
5, gomery Constitution Of the social
It Radicals of the South. Secessionis
J. he repeated. were Democrats.
" next took up and commented on /
D. claim that Republicans sought to
IN tablish negro supremacy, and Il
y criticized Mr.. Doolittle's propo;
r. amendment of the first qualifcat
~ of negro suffrage, one years serv
= in the United States army. He s
NC they allowed rebels to vote who
CD served three years in the Confeder
Of army. Of educational qualifcati
he said they allowed white men
vote who did not know how to
their mark to note given tor "
ky, (laughter;) and in regard to
!, third qualification, requiring pos
On sion of a freehold worth $3.50,
~ would cut off 80 of 100 loyal bla,
~ while a white rebel, never in his
l's worth twenty-five cents, and who
"a :: never paid one honest debt, was
! 'iu lowed to vote. This disclosed