Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
Proceedings I'm the Senate.

| WASHINGTON, March 25.--Mr. VIM.
j. Hamilton, from Indiana was qualified
and took his seat
Mr.. Rise introduced bill to enforce
the fourteenth amendment and laws of
i the United States, and TO restore to
Georgia the republican government elect
ed under its new constitution. Ordered
printed. r.s.rs-.f 81. ..a
The Senate eoncurred in House amend
ments TO the National junction Railroad
Company. s..u
Mr.. Sprague submitted preamble in
troduced by him few days ago to pro-
vide for the lOaning of public money aud
for other purposes, and on his motion it
was ordered printed with the bill and
also in separate form. t
/ Mr. Wilson introduced bill declar-
ing the continuance of the freedmen's
hospitals at Richmond, Vicksburg and in
the District of Columbia. Referred to
Military Committee ID & u q 4 Ii
Mr.. Edmunds moved to take up the
bill to enforce the fourteenth amendment
and laws Of the United States in Geor-
| gia. ,sagrta fHas-E 81 Enr "A
Mr.. Sherman objected. because he
wanted the Senate to take up the bill
supplementary to the act to provide ma
tional currency. Mr.. Sherman's motion
was carried. '''-'A' s-. iat'if'
The pending amendment was that
offered by Mr.. Wilson authorizing an in
crease of $4,000, 900 in the issue of cir.
culating notes, and providing that in
making the issue preference shall be
given to banking associations in States
and sections of the country not ade- |
quately supplied with banking facilities.
The amendment also provides that when.
ever the amount Of United States notes,
and the circulating notes of national |
banks combined, shall be in excess Of |
seven hundred millions, the Secretary of |
the Treasury may retire and cancel the |
United States notes to the amount of /
such excess, until the whole amount of |
United States notes outstanding shall BIO /
reduced to $350,0O0,000. % = = ~
Mr.. sherman explained in detail the
provisions of the bill The Committee
on Finance had come to the conclusion
that no more radical measures than this
could be safely proposed at this time.
The distribution of circulation, OF course,
was very unequal, but it seemed to the
committee better to equalizs it gradually
than by a sudden measure of general
redistribution. A more radical mea.
sure would necessarily disturb
the business of the Eastern and Middle
States. But this bill would at least sup
ply the South and West, and upon the
resumption Of specie payment there
would doubtless be fair banking sysS
tenn established, which would prevent
controversy about equal distribution.
Without disposing of the bill, the Sem
ate adjourned o.. lFH" |
Proceedings I'm the HOnse.
Mr.. Dawes, in personal explanation,
reiterated former declaration concern.
ing Ii. ii. Heath, Secretary of New
Mexico, that he could have no confidence |
in a Northern man who had rendered his |
services to the rebellion.
Mr.. Poland reported joint resolution
providing that claims foi steamboats, or
other vessels impressed by the United
States in the Northern States during the
rebellion, be adjudicated by the Court of
Claims, provided the claimants were
loyal and remained loyal, and were
residents of loyal States; and provided
the vessels were in the insurrectionary
districts by proper authority.
The Joint resolution was explained and
advocated by Mr. Poland. 1t gave rise
to considerable discussion, participated
in by Messrs Washburn Of Wisconsin,
Finklenburg, Maynard, Hone,
Hawkins, Allison, Benjamin and Logan.
Mr.. WashbuTn, Of Wisconsin, moved
to lay the joint resolution on the table.
egatived-yeas 81, nays SO.
1t was then passed-yeas ST, nays 80.
Mr. Butler introduced bill to enforce
the fourteenth amendment to the consti-
tuition and laws of the United States and |
to restore the State of Georgia to re-
publican government elected under its
new constitution Referred to the Cons
mittee on Reconstruction and ordered
printed
1t recites in its preamble that the
Legislature Of Georgia has refused to
purge itself of members who were diss
qualified by the constitutional amend
ment and expelled fully qualified mem
hers on the ground that they we're
persons of African blood and that
the State authorities are wholly
unable or unwilling to protect the lives,
liberty and property Of loyal and I'M
offending citizens, thereby proving that
the people had not complied with the
terms or conformed to principles on
which the restoration of Georgia is pro.
vided for and that the governmentthere-
of IL not republican or regular. Ii
therefore authorizes and directs the
Governor to summon by proclamation,
all persons appearing to have been
elected to the Legislature according
to the proclamation of Maj. Gen.
Meade, June % 1868, to meet
at Atlanta within six months of the
passage of the act Such Legislature is
invested with authority to make such
proceedings as are authorized by the
laws of the United States and by the
constitution of Georgia Members Of
the Legislature are to take the test oath,
except those whose political disabilities
have been removed by act &C Congress.
The attempted expulsion of African
members is annulled aud declared void.
The President of the United States is
required to station in the State of Geors
gia u sufficient armed force to carry into
execution the act, and its officers are to
render aid and assistance in the admins
istratiOn of the government on demand |
of the Governor.
The Senate amendment to the tenure
of-ofiice act were taken up.
Mr.. Logan moved an amendment, |
declaring all civil officers, except Judges
Of United States courts, appointed by
the President ane confirmed by the Sem
ate before the 4th of March, 1869, shall
become vacant on the Both of June, 1869.
lie appealed to the friends of the
President to stand by the bill upholding
the law or adopt his amendment.
The Senate amendments were then
were referred, including Mr. Logan's
amendment to the Judiciary Committee;
yeas %, nays Is; only ten Democrats
voted in the negative.
At 430P. N, the House adjourned.