The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-01-15
NO. 2.
Congress.

hecOnStruct10n TO enquire into the eXpeQlen-
cy of authorizing the several Constitutional
Conventions, elected under the Reconstruc-
tions acts, in the States lately in rebellion,
| to appoint all civil officers, whether State
or county, in said States, to act temporarily.
| and until the State Constitutions shall be
adopted therein, and officers shall be chosen
and qualified to fill said offices, and that, for
this purpose, said Conventions may remove
all civil officers now acting in said States
Mr.. Boutwell, moved to amend the resolu.
| ton, to instruct the Reconstruction Com
mittee, to enquire into the expediency ofv
authorizing the General of the Army to de.
| tail officers for service in said States. Also
to enquire into the expediency of constitute
ing each of said States in separate Military
District under the command of the General
of the Army; and also as to the eXpediency
providing additional legislation to secure
the elective franchise to ALL and also, to
declare, by Act of Congress- that the Provis-
ional Governments set up in said States by
order of the acting President are not Re-
publican form of Government.
Mr.. Upson accepted the amendment.
Mr. Chandler, of New York, moved to Law
the whole subject on the table. Not agreed
to--yeas 20, nays 66.
/ The resolution was then adopted
Mr.. Eldridge offered resolution ofthanks
to Gen. Hancock in accordance with the
Presidents message. Tabled-S5 to 28.
MI. Washburne, of Wisconsin, offered
resolution, that the House utterly condemns
the course of Andrew johnson. acting Presi-
dent of the United Sta.es. for his action in
removing the gallant soldier, Gen. Sheridan,
from the command of the Fifth Military
District, and that the thanks of the House
are due Gen Grant, for his letter, in Au-
gust last, condeming the act of the said act
ing President for his removal of Secretary
Stanton, as we'll as his endorsement of Gen.
/ Sheridan, in relation to affairs in the State
of Texas Adopted-yeas 80, nays 90.
Scnate-A memorial was presented by
Mr. Summer, from the freedmen of Elizabeth |
City, North Carolina, stating that klnS
owners were driving them from the landI
that their industry had purchased, and ask
ing redress '.9 .. H-f
The case of Mr. Thomas, Senator elect
from Maryland, was taken up, dicussed and
postponedtilI to morrow.
The anti-contracton bill came up, butt
was postponed with the understanding that
it shall come up Immediately after the dis |
position of the cotton tax.
WASHINGTON, Jan. z, P. NJ.
Seaate.-Mr. Wilson introduced a bill,
vacating certain Offices in Georgia, and au-
ihorizing the Convention to fll,them. Or
dered to be printed.
An unsatisfactory discussion, as to whethcr|
the bill passed before the recess, abolishing
the color distinction in the District. was ID
law, arose The matter was referred to the
Judiciary Committee
The cotton tax question was resumed. and !,
after long argument and numerous amend1
ments, the bill passed to the following effect :
Tax is suspended during the year 1SoS.
on cotton grown during that year This
suspension is not 10 be construed to prcvenr
the regular levy of tax after 1868. The
duty on new cotton imported into the U. S.
from April 14th, 1868, TO April 14th, 1869,
is suspended.
The bill goes tO the House for concurrence
House.-The bill expediting the payment
of bounties was resumed An amendment, i,
referring the claim of negro soldicrs to the
Freedmen's Bureau for examination, was
adopted, and the bill passed.
The election Committee reported in favor
of swearing in Trimble. from Kentucky.
A bill preventing whisky tax fraud was
introduced. 1t forbids the withdrawal from
bond, under any circumstances, until the
full tax is paid.
The House went into Committee of the
whole, when Cary spoke in favor of paying
3 the debt IN legal tenders.
ak WASHINGTON. Jan. 0.
Senate-AIemorials were presented, ask
ing for relief for the freedmen in the DIS
trict, for female suffrage in the District, and
: L.. l.
ing for exemption from taxation.
A petition from the Alabama Convention,
praying the removal of Gov. Patton's politi-
cal disabilities, was presented.
Mr.. Morton called up bis resolution, in
structIng tile judiciary Committee to report
a bill abrogatiny the existing Governments
3 in the rebel States and providing proper
Governments in lieu thereof.
MIR. Frelinghuysen moved to amend, so as
to make the reporting of the bill discretion
ary with the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Morton desired to test the sense of the
Senate directly, upon the question. 1t was
high time that Congress had defined its po-
sition. To his mind, the state OF affairs, now
existing in the rebel communities, had new
er been more alarming. Congress had, on
| the End of March, declared the existing gov
ernments in those States as Illegal and not
affordng proper security for life and prop
erty; and at that time Congress had provi-
b ded military supervision, until such time as
. loyal governments could beestablisbed To:
day, the military authority, which they lAl
J set up, was ohstructing the proper operation
of the law. in some of those States and up
holding the existing illegal governments.
"A Mr.. NJ here sent to the desk of the Sec
y retary the acts OF March and July to he read,
A and also the order Mol of Gen. Hancock,
in which the civil authority is declared SUI
ID preme. 44f rA }fi
ii 1t would be seen that Gen. Hancock, IN
Il this order, not only defed the power of Con-
gress, but actually nulifed and refused to
execute its laws. AS Gen. Hancock has
Z confronted directly the Congress, it becomes
4 question as to which side will submit He
recognizes the authority OF tie civil tribunals,
n organized by the very State governments
qaI which Congress has declared ohe illegal. ii
3 Lg6 There was danger that the work OF reco1]
N struetion would fail,by the very military
power which they had raised up to forward
it. AT this crisis it WAS incumbent on Conf
gress to be true and consistents to itself and
proceed toabrogate these Governments.
81 !. II the amendment of Mr. 'Frelinghuysen
a was adopted, it would mean nothing. Hs
W) wanteda peremptory orderto this Com,
II mittee to bring in a bill immediately, and
hc desired this Senate to SO order.
r Mr. Freiinghuysen said that he only
(. thought it right that some confidence should
be placed in the Judgment ofthe Committee,
"A The further consideration postponed
Il House - iheI,il asking forflie release Of
Father AIcMaban, aud several other Feniaus,]