Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-07-28
Important Debate in the Federal
House of Representative July


subject of adjournment on the 23d OF July.
1t is important as showing the object the
Republicans have in view in reassembling
in September, and what purpose they ex-
pect to accomplish by arming the Negroes
in the South. 1t is confessed that the
Congressional usurpations, misnamed re-
constructed Governments, can not be mair-
tanned, excepting at the point Of the bay
onet. Read for yourselves:
THE QUESTION OF ADJOURNMENT.
The Speaker presented the concurrent
resolution of the Senate for an adjourn
ment from Monday, the 9th of July, to the
third Monday in September.
MIR. Washburne, of Illinois, said that
while the resolution did not meet his con-
currence, he believed it did meet the con-
currence of majority of the House. All
the business would be finished by Satur-
day, and the session would be continued
until Monday only to have bills signed by
the President.
Mr, Upson Disun., Mich.)-What about
the Tax bill? -,
Mr.. Wasburne, of Ill.-The Tax bill is
signed.
Mr.. Upson-The Tax bill is not signed.
Mr. Washburne-I was informed while
ago by the gentleman from Iowa Mr.. AL
lison) that the Tax bill is signed.
Mr.. Schenck, (Disun, o. - Nobody
knows that it is.- The Commissioner OF In
ternal Revenue was sent for to read it over
to the Secretary of the Treasury, and thai
has led to an inference chat 1t has been
signed.
Mr.. Paine (Disun., Wis., objected to the
Reconstruction had directed a bill to be re.
ported OF the utmost Importance to the
States of Texas, Virginia and Mississippi
and that it would be crime for Congress
to adjourn before that bill was disposed of.
Mr.. Washburne moved the previous
question, saying he would leave the matter
with the House.
Mr. Schenck asked whether members
would be allowed to state the condition ol
business. 7li 9f
Mr.. Washburne yielded to Mr.. Schenck
who said that the Senate had disagreed to
the House amendments to the Funding bill
but had not asked for committee of Con-
ference. This had been explained by the
Chairman of the Finance committee. He
had no doubt that there was desire exist
ing that the House should ask for COM
mittee of Conference, and the committee
on WAYS and Means was considering
whether it would not make that motion
If there should be committee of Confer
ence, that would require day; then as tc
the Tax bill, no man was authorized to say
whether the message sent by the President
on Monday, thai the President had signed
the bill, was or was not consistent with the
fact. It certainly had been question Of
consideration with the President whether
on account of one of its provisions, he
would sign it or not.
Mr.. Garfield opposed the resolution on
account of the necessity for passing Sem
ate bill on the Speakers table, one section
of which was of traDscendent Importance
That the Senate provide that the newly re.
constructed governments OF Southern
States shall be furnished with arms, so that
the loyal people of those States may pro-
tect themselves against the violence and
outrage of the rebels in their midst. The
United States troops were being recalled
from those States, and unless some provis-
ion was made, there would be no control
over the rebel element there.
Mr.. Washburne interrupted Mr.. Gar
fields remarks. saying he had not notified
him to make speech. ......
Mr.. Butler (Disun., Mass said he was
opposed to any adjournment until measures
were taken to make sure that they were
not going into this election in a sort OF
"heads win, tails you lose principle"
Mr.. Randall (Dem., Pa made the point
of order, that the Presidential election was
not the subject before the House.
Mr.. Butler-His side of it, l know, is
not; our side is, and am speaking of that.
The Speaker sustained the point OF order,
and required Mr.. Butler to confine his re-
marks to the question before the House.
Mr.. Butler-I am trying to give the rea-
sons why we should not adjourn and go
Mr.. Randall think that you had better
go home you have got glory enough.
Mr.. Butler-It is quite certain that you
would have to stay long time before you
could do that. [Laughter.] Idesire to say
that until we can arrange matters here so
that there can be safety in the South, am
not for going home that is the whole OF it.
We must take the best way to do that, and
it will take some little time to find out
what that best way is. II by furnishing
arms to the reconstructed governments, do
so if by removing the great obstacle to
all peace and quiet in the country, let us
stay here and do that, so our loyal friends
at the South may not be murdered day by
day. q:lr rnL3 ltss o.
MIR. Wood Democrat, of New York; said,
as one of the minority of this House, as a
party of the country, nothing would delight
me more in partisan sense, than to see
this Congress in perpetual session. The re-
sponsibility is on the Republican party of
the country. So long as Congress remains
in session, the country can have no rest
The people require rest for the purpose OF
collecting their Judgment to be enunciated
next November in the election of candi-
date for the Presidency. Why should Con-
gress meet again in September to agitate
and to excite the people, to raise animos-
titles, and to engender the hostility OF races
to prepare for the Presidential election and
to involve the whole country second time
in revolution and warts that the object of
the majority? Do they see that there is no
hope of electing their candidate except by
q resort to violence and force? lis that the
object? / will vote to adjourn Congress
sine die, and then the country will have rest
and the people peace. ar, FC
Mr.. Washburne Un.)-Let us look at
this matter practically. All the Appropri-
alton bills have passed either House; the
Tax bill has been signed, and have it
from the most reliable authority that we
President not signing any bill. Every
political bill which he is not disposed to
sign, he willveto and send his veto to Con-
gress before the time of adjournment.
Mr.. Spalding-Have you had an inter-
view with him?
Mr.. Washburne-No sir; but I have ii
from reliable authority.
Mr.. Schenck-What is your authority?
Mr.. Washburue-The authority is good
and can tell it to the gentleman privately
The question is why we should sit here af-
ter Monday. Indeed / was told by Sena-
tors that if we would now concur in the
resolution and send it back with an amend
ment to adjourn tomorrow or Saturday
the Senate would accept that amendment
The reason why the Senate put it for Mon
day instead of Friday was that it was not
certain as to the position of business in the
House. a,a
Mr.. Paine tDisun., Wis., inquired wheth
er that was the same authority that lie
had for his statement as to the President.
Mr.. Washburne-It was not, sir.
Mr.. Bingham, (Disun., Ohio)-1f we were
now to concur in the Senate resolution anC
motion to reconsider were entered, would
not the matter remain in the control of the
House?
Mr.. Washburne-As matter of course
that would be the effect.
Mr.. Bingham-Then why cannot that bt
done for the protection OF the country ano
see whether the bills to be passed in the