Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-24
xLIst C0NGREss-sEcoND SESSION

SENATE.
0a the 18th, Mr. Carpenter called up his
resolution, declaring, as the sense Of the
I Senate that the Spanish gunboats destined
/ for Cuba, should not be allowed to depart
from the United States.
Mr. Sumner thought any discussion upon
! this question would be premature, as the
/ Senate has no information upon the subject,
/ other than from the newspapers. lie be
1 lieved, however, that In few days official
I information would be received IN regard to
4 Cuba, and they could then act intelligently,
Alr. Carpenter then addressed the Senate
/ in support Of his resolution. He had long
waited for some other Senator more able
and better informed than himself to urge
/ this matter. With all his warm Western
spirit prompting IN this matter, he should
/ still for once endeavor to be conservative
and treat this subject calmly. He did not
/ wish that our Government should violate
/ the law Of nations nor did he wish that we
should shrink from our duty by any fear Of
/ the consequences. The President of the
/ United States coincided with the Spanish
! Government, that a State Of war did not Cx
/ ist In Cuba; but this was not his opinion.
1 Mr. Carpenter then gave an account Of the
4 the part Of the insurgents the battles
/ fou ght, etc and then discussed internal Law
! relative to beligeTents, quoted from Mr..
Everett and others, and held that it was
! fact beyond dispute, that state Of actual
/ warfare existed in Cuba. He had expected
/ before this to hear the clarion voice Of the
/ Senator from Massachusetts, Mr.. SUMNER
so often raised in behalf of freedom, ring
/ ing out tie relief of these oppressed patri-
OTIS. Cuba had for many years, suffered
/ the most oppressive eXactIon at the hands
Of Spain. This infant Republican had abol-
/ ished slavery in its Constitution, and this
\ should entitle it to the sympathies of our
| people lie understood that eighteen Of the
/ gunboats we're to leave the United States
| day after tomorrow, and it beloved the
/ Senate to act at once.
4 Mr.. Howard asked the number Of the
1 forces of the insurgents.
/ Mr.. Sumner, who had taken the floor,
/ said he did not know. We were all 10 the
/ dark on the subject He did understand
that the warfare now being carried on was
/ a guerrilla one, and that they really had no
/ civil government Then he was very anx-
| ious to know what the Cubans were going
I to DO about slavery He had heard, but
did not vouch for 1t, that they had Con
stitution for foreign consumption, abolish
! ing slavery, and one for home use, continu-
! ing it, aud while he was on the subject he
would say that Spain ought to be heard
from. Why does not she abolish slavery2
Mr. MOrton-iIas she not affirmed it at
I Porto Rico?
Mr. SUMNER don't know about that
one thing is certain, Spain is laggard. 1t
/ is disgrace for any civilized country to toll
/ crate slavery. Ia answer to a question Of
/ Mr.. Carpenter Mr.. Sumner said that there
was 20 question Of neutrality IN the matter,
and could not be until the Cubans were
! recognized as belligerents.
Mr. Morrill,, of Vermont, called up the
House resolution 10 declare the meaning of
I the eight hour law.
Mr.. Morrill, moved as an amendment that
/ the eight hour law be repealed, and pro-
/ ceeded to read an argument in favor Of his
motion He held that the fixing by law OF
/ the hours Of labor was contrary to all sound
/ political economy That it would bo an in
{ jury rather than q profit to the working
! man, and that the object Of those who pass
/ cd it was to gain popularity.
1 Mr. Wilson said at some future time he
/ would reply to the argument Of Mr. Morrill,
/ There was no immediate necessity for action
on this bill, as the President had so con
strued the law as to give the full pay for the
| eight hours, which was just what Congress
wanted
The Senate then went into Executive ses-
/ sion, aud shortly thereafter adjourned
! HOUSE
House 10Th, Mr.. Allison introduced
/ bin to fix the number Of representatives in
/ the House of Representatives and to pro-
/ vide for their apportionment among the sew
/ eral States. Referred to the Committee on
/ the Ninth Census
Mr. Shanks, Of Indiana, from The Com
/ mittee on the Militia, reported bill to pro-
4 vide for furnishing, at the expense Of the
! Government, artificial limbs and other sup.
ports to honorably discharged officers and
! soldiers and marines wherever needed dur
ing life.
SENATE.
On the 10th, on motion of Mr. Morton
the Senate took up the bill to perfect the
reconstruction of Georgia providing for the
| assembling of the Legislature the exclusion
thereirom of persons Ineligible under the
Fourteenth Amendment, aud permitting no
distinction Of race or color said Legislature
to be regarded as provisional until the flrth-
er action of Congress. Mr.. Morton s
amendment was read, requiring that the
Legislature shall be provisional until after
it las ratified the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments and the State is represented
in Congress and it provides penalties for
the exercise Of Office by Ineligible persons.
Mr. Carpenter thought the amendment
was unnecessary and perLieious He said
that It might give to the Southern people a
good reason to say that while 10 a condition
OF duress the terms of their admission were
dictated by Congress. lie did not want any
future JEFF Davis to bring in bill Of excep-
tions, and move for a new trial.
Mr. Drake said that the rebels of the
South should be made to feel the power of
Congress; that the infamy Of that Georgia
Legislature should ,be wiped out BY an act
efretribution, and that the loyal men of
that State should be represented. 1t must
be understood that there is a Congress of
the nation, that welded the sovereignty of
the nation, and whose power could not Be
strangled by the Supreme Court of any State
authority.
Mr.. Morton said the original bill required
the adoption of the Fourteenth Amend
ment That could not be absolutely com
PEELED By Congress, but should be imposed
among the terms submitted to that State.
10 the case of the States Of Virginia, Texas
and Mississippi, the condition was required
, of the ratification of the Fourteenth Amend
meut, aud there should be no exception Of
Georgia, for her present status was not the
fault Of Congress, but resulted from her own
T ! tTeachery. There was no security for the