Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-10
CONGRESSIONAL. ].
WASHINGTON, June 9.
SENATE.

praying for a reduction of tax on whisky
to thirty cents. Referred to committee on
Finance.
After expiration of morning hour. the
special order, the Omnibus bill, so called.
was taken up. The question was ON the
amendment to admit Alabama.
Mr.. WILEY made an argument in IA
vor of the amendment.
After some remarks by Mr.. SAULS-
BURY, Mr.Wilson's amendment to include
Alabama was agreed to by D to 81.
Mr.. HOWARD moved to amend section
seven by making it read as follows: That
it the time fixed for the meeting of the
Legislature of either of said States, by Con-
stitution thereof, shall have passed, or shall
have so nearly arrived before the passage
of this act that there shall not be time for
the Legislature to assemble at the time
fixed by the Constitution of said
States, such Legislature shall convene
at the end of twenty days from the time
this act takes effect, unless the Governor
shall convene the same. He explained the
object to be to take from the Governor the
discretion of calling the Legislature
together or not, as he sees mt, and require it
by law to assemble. The amendment was
adopted. LTE q
Mr.. HOWARD moved to amend the third
section SO as to read that the first section of
the act shall take effect as to each State ex-
cept Georgia, when such State shall, by its
legislature, duly ratify article IA of the
amendments of the Constitution OF the
limited States, and as to the State of Geor-
gia, when it shall, in addition. have
given the assent of said State to the
fundament condition heretofore impos-
ed upon the same. He explained
that the section required the issue of a
proclamation by the President, announ-
cling the compliance of the States with the
necessary condition, before the State can
,afn
idea the President would ever issue any
snch nrocIamation, and therefore he pro-
posed to dispense with it entirely, and de-
clare those States post facto, represented in
Congress on their adoption of the l4th
amendment.
Mr.. EDWARDS said that the point had
been considered by the committee and
thev had decided it to be the usual course
to be taken of allowing the responsibility
to remain with the President, OF announc-
Mr. lEDMUNDSd dissented from Mr.. How
ards opinion that the President would
withhold that proclamation. He thought
the President would run no such risk, when
he was directed by law to issue 1t.
Mr.. HOWARD replied.
Mr.FRELINGHUYSEN Mr.. suggested that
the purpose OF the Senators would be at
tanned by leaving in the section the clause
making it the duty of the President TO issue
such proclamation within ten days after
the necessary official notification OF ratlh-
cation. Both Senators assented, and the
amendment was so modified and adopted
Mr.. SHERMAN moved to amend by
striking out the clause imposing on Geor-
gia further fundamental conditions OF de-
claring null and void. by her General AS
sembly, certain provisions OF the consul
tution relative to debts contracted prior to
June l, 1865.
Some debate ensued, during which
Mr.. MORTON pronounced the provisions
unconstitutional and dishonest, when,
without action, the Senate went into eX-
ecutive session and soon after adjourned
ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIV
The House assembled at IL o'clock, that
being the hour fixed for the official recep-
tion of the Chinese Embassy. The attend
ance of members was very large, ana 1ne
The members of the Senate did not respond
to the Invitation to be present.
The SPEAKER announced the appoint
roent of Mr. Brooks, of New Y Ork, on the
committee of Reception, in place of Mr
Wood. who was detained at nome on ac-
count of illness. -
The Clerk proceeded with the reading OF
the journal, but in about five minutes the
reading ceased by direction OF the Speaker
The Sergeant-at-Arms announced the
appearance at the principal door of the
committee of the House with the Chinese
Embassy. The committee and Embassy
advanced up the main aisle, Mr.. Schenck es-
corting Mr.. Burlingame, Mr.. Banks escort
ing Chi-Tajin, and MIR. BROOKS escortine
sun Tain. The other members of the
Embassy followed, and all took positions
tacino the Speaker in the area, the Speaker
bv sound of the gavel indicating that the
members of the House who were on theil
feet should resume their seats.
Mr. SCHENCK presented the Embassy
to the House, and Speaker Colfa4 delivered
an address of welcome.
Mr' RIJRLINGAME responded:
MIR. SPEAKER-In behalf of my associates
and myself, thank you for this warm ant
unusual reception. 1t transcends all per
sonal compliment; it is the greeting of on
great people by another; it is the occiden
and the orient for the first time in tina
elective contact whose toucn makes tn
whole world kins; it is the meeting of twt
civilizations which have hitherto revolvet
in senarate spheres; it is a mighty revolu
tion: let us hope sir, it will go on withou
those commissions which are too apt t,
mark great changes in human affairs; lie
ms hope that 1t will be achieved without tn
shedding of one drop of human blood; w
are tor peace; we came not win VIM sne peat
representing the latent power c
eighty millions of men; we are the herald
ers Of good will; we seek for China ths
equality without which nations and me
are degraded; we seek not only the good {
China, but your good, and the good of a
mankind. We do this in no sentiments
sense. We would be practical as the toll
inc millions we represent. We invite yo
to a broader trade, and more intimate eS
animation of the structure of Chimes
civilization. We invite you to better ar
nreciation of the manners of that peop!
| their temperance, patience, habits of scho
| arship, their competitive examination
their high culture of tea and silk, and W
shall ask for them, from you, moder
science. which has taken Its great develop
ment within the memory OF man, and tf
! holy doctrines of our Christian faith. 1t
for the West to say what our receptio
shall be. 1t is for the West to sa
whether it was sincere when
continued for q long time, to invite Chin
| to more intimate relations with it. 1t
for the West to say whether it is for a ia
and omen policy, or for one founded o
.nreiudice and on that assumption of supt
riority which is justified neither by phys
| cal ability nor moral elevation. The pee
nle of the United States have respoDde
( through their Executive and through tn
House and through their Speaker with
+ nnanimity and a nobleness of sentimer
/ which makes me proud of the civiliz!
tion in which 1 was reared and glad
see IL passed in review by the scholars an
statesmen of China. 1 trust the people
the United States will abide by that sent
ment, and do hope it is but an earnest
! that spirit which will meet US on tf
shores of the distant seas, and on the bani
of the beautiful rivers which you,. sir. ha,
named. Thanking the House for this r.
ception. and you, sir, for the felicitious al
! able manner in which you have expresss
its pleasure, we await such further actio
as the proprieties of the occasion may r
+, quire. Applause and clapping of han,
I by members on floor and spectators
I the gslleries:l
The eintroductional presentation of men
hors of the House to the members of FL