Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-03-30
CONGRESSIONAL.

tation in Congress.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, offered substi-
tute, and Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, opposed
it.
Mr.. Bingham's motion to strike out
the third section of the bill was agreed
to, the vote, on count by the Speaker,
was IA to 38, the House refusing to order
the yeas and nays.
The next question was on Mr.. Stevens
amendment to strike out after the first
section and insert as follows:
SEo. 2. And be it further enacted,
That said State of Alabama shall be re-
cognized and admitted into the Union
upon the following conditions: That the
right of suffrage of citizens of the Uni-
| ted States shall never be denied or
| abridged in said State, on any account,
except for treason, felony, or other
| crimes infamous at common law, but
that suffrage, as above provided for, shall
| forever be universal and impartial, and
that Congress shall have power to annul
any act of the State Legislature in viola
| ton or derogation of this act with regard
to suffrage, and may regulate the same
| in case of such alteration. If the right
of suffrage in the State of Alabrma shall
ever be reduced below the universal right
hereinafter provided for, then all legisla--
ton admitting said State shall be null
and void.
The amendment was repealed without
division, and the question named in
the substitute, offered by Mr.. Spaulding
for the original bill, as follows:
That the Constitution formed by the
Convention of Alabama, and which was
submitted for ratification by the people
| in the election commencing on the 4th
day of February, 1868, is hereby de-
clared to be the fundamental and organic
law for a provisional government for the
people of Alabama, so far as the same is
not in conflict with the Constitution and
laws of the United States. And the
officers elected At said election shall, on
the lst day Of May, 1868, qualify as
prescribed for in said Constitution and
| the ordinances of said Convention, and
Immediately thereafter enter upon the
discharge of the duties of their respect
i've offices.
SIC. 2. And be il further enacted,
| That the Governor, at any time after he
shall have been qualified and entered
upon the duties of his Office, may, by o
proclamation, convene the legislature
chosen at such election, which shall,
when 80 convened, have all the power
conferred by said constitution, which
may not conflict with the Constitution
and laws of the United States. And the
| legislature is hereby further empowered
TO submit said constitution to the quail
| fled electors of Alabama for ratification
at such time as it may designate; and
said legislature is also empowered by
majority vote of each House to submit
said constitution as framed by the con-
yentien, with or without amendments
proposed by the legislature, and if any
amendments be proposed by the legisla-
ture, they shall be voted upon, separately,
| and not in connection with the constltu-
| ton as il comes from the convention.
SEC. 3. That whenever the people by
a majority of the votes of the electors of
Alabama, qualified under the act of
March %, 1867, to vote for the delegates
to form a constitution, and actually
voting on said ratification, shall ratify
constitution submitted as aforesaid, and
the Legislature of the proposed State
! organization shall have adopted the
fourteenth article Of the amendment to
the Constitution, then the Constitution
of Alabama may be presented to Con-
gress for its approval
SIC. 4. That the district commanders
shall furnish all necessary aid in en-
forcing this and the act Of March ., 1867,
entitled "An Act to Provide for Moro
Efficient Government of the Rebel
States" and the acts supplementary
thereto and amendatory thereof, which
shall remain in full force in Alabama,
except as modified by this act, until Ala
bama shall be restored to representation
in Congress.
The vote was taken by yeas and nays,
aud resulted: Yeas, II; nays, 81. So
the substitute was adopted.
The next question was on ordering
the preamble to be engrossed, and the
House refused to order it. So the pre-
amble was rejected, and the final vote
was then taken on the passage Of the bill,
which was passed-yess, 1922 nays, "a
1t was a strict party vote, Nr. Stevens,
of Pennsylvania, voting with the ma
jOriiy, and Mr.. Williams, Of PennsJl-
vahia, not voting.
On motion Of Mr.. Spalding, the bill
was so amended as to read; A bill to
provide for q temporary and provisional
government in Alabama"
The bill which has become a law over
the Presidents veto, il relation to the
appellate jurisdiction Of the Supreme
Court, does not show upon its face the
extent ofiis effect The objections made
by the President in bis message 10 this
bill are based upon the second section.
That section alone does not explain its
force or meaning Il is as follows:
That 50 much Of the act, approved
February 5, 1861. entitled an act 70
establish the judicial courts Of the uni
ted States, approved February "a, lIss,
as authorized an appeal from the Judg-
meut Of the Circuit Court tothe Supreme