The New York herald., 1868-02-01

70 amend " now But no dreamed that the Leg
On toe constitutional amendmeut He vas williur 70
suot tne question on its ts the people, and the
sa ns ~ NOV % long when revsa OF this decree
ovuu S' 70 oosaned 80 far as he knew there was no
DIVISION n the republican party in regard TO the recon-
sauc,on measures OF Congress, that adverse
unaef consideration rushed through wIthou,
pate ana ne presented remoustrance from republican
ns" nssn sno .ne manner in which those resolutions
A ~ e. Sm assseu on the Log stature.
NAT. suhskR, !repl Of Mass said tho authors OF the
resolutions nad accomplished nothing but to exhibit
ne constitution for the withdrawal Of the assent Of
stae once gwen He believed State could no moro do
,ai,ar nronos u.u withdraw from the Union, OF which
sasss P'oposuon tnere was question. Happily,
however TINS extraordinary effort was absou,ely mpo
coma mart oS n amendment having already be-
haa already notified them OF its ratification by twenty
STATES including Ohio Maine and another State had
all-more than three-fourths OF the states that now
nve legislatures and the requirement. OF tho consu
,sas on s noreiore h mot The amendment originally
p'oooo W tWo-tnrds vote OF Congress composed Of
Tue representatives OF The loyal states and was now
asnea oy the Legislatures Of thresfourths OF the same
oyai states whose Representatives originally proposed
H. II tney were powerful enough to propose 1t thew
were powerful enough TO adopt it. the Legislature
OF Ohio was absolutely brastum f,nep and could nave
no effect but TO disclose their character
Mr. JOHNSON. tdem. OF Md, said the Senator was
acuo.less right IN saying the amendment had been
auoeu py the necessary number of States according
to the action Of Congress; there was difference Of
opnlon which had been fully stated during tho recent
oH suc ctner pr0pOSitt0n that state cannot
wtnuraw an assent once given If the Southern States
nao been States throughout the war and arc
nov now within the meaning Of tho constitution, then
tue amendment had not been ad0pted. He would
nos express any decided opinion on whether
o'ale's assent once given could be withdrawn. His
present impression that it conld no as otherwise
otato once asserting 70 proposition 80 bound
tnat y could not ten afeen years afterwards
slues s action was question, however, that would
oe considered by the Judiciary Committee. HIS mind
was open to better judgment or information. and II
satisnsd that his opinion erroneous he would of
course concur in the contrary opinion.
Mr. SUMNER referred the language OF the constitu
uon 70 snow that the requirement ratification by
not ratification by three OF the States II there
were States without Legislatures they could have no
voice 10 tne matter He therefore insisted that the
present ratification was complete But unwilling that
MS should stand alone he introduced what he
characterized as the authority Of the living writer
on jurisprudence in the c0untry-vix. Bishop--on
criminal law. Discussing the question whether tho con.
stttutionsl amendments aboishng slavery have bcen
adopted 10 constitutional manner he said they both
Congress In the same way each BY vote OF wothirds
of the Representatives Of the loyal States.
After the reading OF the quotation indicated Mr. JOHN
soS SAID that however correct the reasoning might be-
the Senator that different opinions existed
inside and outside Of Congress; and in regard TO tho
authofty cited he did not know but the gentleman had
been convinced by the arguments OF the Senator from
Massachusetts, mr. Sumner), and without intending
dsparagement 70 Mr. Bishop he (Mr Johnsonl would
Of tho BOOK.
the matter was thon referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
.THR TENURE OFFICE Aor.
On motion Of Mr. PATTERSON (rep) of N H, the Senate
then took up the b in addition 60 the act regulating
the tenure OF certain civil Offices The question
Mr.. Summers amendment providing that the bill shall
not do away with the foreign agents Of the state Depart
ment
Mr.. PATTERSON moved to substitute an amendment
providing that such agents shall not exceed vc in
ber to be paid out OF the contingent fund of tho State
Department.
MIR. SUMNER thought that the number should not be
restricted to lve
Mr. patterson that should ha enouoh for tha
secret service of this government He denounced the
system OF employing agents on account OF political SER
wees
Mr.. SUMNER suggested laying over tho bill until Mon
day and that In the meantime they could inquire at the
State Department as to the necessary number
Mr.. ANTHONY trcp) OF r. l., opposed such restrictions
on the part OF Congress-
Mr. CRIMES rep) Of Iowa, thought it time Congress
resumed control OF the matters properly waived during
the war
Tie amendment was further opposed by Messrs. Con-
NEss trcp of Cs and CAMERON repI of Pa. tho latter
saving we had no agent abroad we should not be called
upon TO pay Russia and half millions, and other
amounts to other countries TO suit the ambition Of the
Secretary OF State.
, The morning hour having expired tho bill was laid
aside.
AMERICAN crKEvs.
Mr.. MORGAN, rcp) or N. Y, presen cd preamble
and resolutions OF the COMMON Council OF Rochester
N. ", In regard TO the rights or nauraiized citizens
Referred to the Committee ON Foreign Affairs.
SENATOR rHosAs, or MARYLAND.
Nr JOHNSON gave notice that on Monday he would
press vote on the OF Mr.. Thomas Senator elect
from Maryland.
THE RECONSTRUCTION
The supplementary Reconstruction bill was again
Mr HOWE (rep.l OF Wis. addressed the Senate After
regrettng that his speech had been delayed until
tho chiefs Of the republican party had spoken
and that there was no enemy left 10 meet he said
what little political character he had achieved had
from observing and avoiding the shoals and shifting
currents with which his colleague r Doote) had got
entanglcd. He thought no bad thus obtained
puiaton for political saRacity The only two points
their opponents dared make against the republican
first. enfranchisomeut and.
that they opposed the Lincoln and Johnson policy IL
was OF interest to examine that Senator's views as he
made them pretext for desertiug his former prnci-
pies He quoted from Mr.. Doohttes remarks in regard
TO what he saw in the proposed measure, and said il
minded him OF Sir Boyle Roches remarks In the Irish
Pariament-"Mr Speaker smell rat; him
floating in the air; but by the BLESSING OF God,
nov WIN vbnt .vasncc ad 'as the eaa Senator G
republican party with desertion Of their coiors and
their knds They proposed to enfranchise the ccored
race. The effect Of this euiranchisement could not be
make that race dominant the whites, for they
not in tho majority, and oven II they were they
were not Sctuaied by the unscrupuous ambition Of the
political power The Senator then road statistics TO
that the white voters In tho Southern States
eufranohised and stated that third 1of the whites
entitled 10 vote had refused register Hc quoted the
Iessue FOR mposnr negro suffrage on the south "Fst
The Southern States had refused TO raty the
constitutional amendment. which refusal he justified
the ground that the amendment disfranchised the
leaders and the friends Of others not less guilty and the
masses would not DO guilty Of treachery. He claimed
that his colleague was himself guilty In botraying
the frisads OF his party. The second reason at.
tibuted for republican action that the
blacks wore loyal and the whites were not
This st By the assertion that the blacks dis
loyal during the and the majority Of the whites
loyal but dragged into the rebellion. The Senator
emphacaliy denied these assertions, and said tho
groes had accustomed 10 nothing oil their lives
but obey the orders OF their masters yet they were
sigmazed for being led into the appearance OF wrong
doing, while the whites excused. He referred 70
tho example from Roman history OF the treatment or
1atiuu cited bv hh colleague. and said the rebels wore
treated fellow ctzens and tho citation had force
The third attributed for the policy OF the repub-
lcan party by Scators gain party ascen.
dancy He had respeos for the head or heart Of Q
person capable OF making such an assertion. II hrs