The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-18

rlgh8 ~ AL. upon any theory or the constitution
the States had some rights, and the speaker believed
they could still be referred 10 in tho Senate He had
not denied the exercise OF national authority under
receive the consideration which 1t deserved. lie IN
sisted upon his constitutional privilege to say this
much without improper criticism OF his motives.
RECONSTRUCTION or GEORGIA.
The morning hour having expired, the Senate took
up the bill TO periect the reconstruction OF the State
Mr. SALISBURY, (dem.) OF DEL, delivered an argu-
ment IN illustration OF the Inconsistency OF Congress
which he claimed was prompted from partisan mo-
tives and was nagrantly violation Of the constu-
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
At half-past two O'Clock this afternoon, motion
OF Mr.. TauMBUII, the Senate proceeded to the con-
| sideration OF executive business when the doors
| were closed for twenty-five minues.
CONSIDERATION or THE GEORGIA BILL RESUMED
Upon the expiration OF the executive session tho
| consideration OF the Georgia bill was resumed.
Mr.. STOCKTON, dem OF \. j., expressed the belief
ADOPTED through the means now Contemplated The
day would come when 1t would DO declared to he no
part of the constitution The people OF the United
States would never submit n they could prevent II,
| to the attempt TO force negro suffrage upon ,hom
that the objection to II was not much to the exer
else OF Suffrage by negroes, as 1t was to the method
| by which the accomplishment OF that object was
| designed. The dominant party, feeling that this
fifteenth amendment must be adopted now or be
| lost forever were willing to attain that end even
though 1t carried with 1t the destruction OF every
thing OF value In the relations OF the States to the
Mr. FERRY trep.) O! Conn, ia a reply to an asser.
| ton that the fourteenth Amendments mad not been
adopted by Georgia because the old Legislature was
Illegally organized said that the vote OF that stare
having already been counted IN Its favor II would be
unwise TO insist upon ITS ratification again. He
| looked upon the pending amendment as impolltlc.
The vote oil Georgia having been officially counted IN
the complement of States necessary 10 ratify the
| fourteenth amendment no doubt should now be
| thrown upon that action.
| Mr. CoNKLING expressed his objection 10 the
| amendment, and was followed by
| Mr. MORTON, (rep.) OF Ind, who agreed to modify
his amendment by leaving out the condition Of ratl-
| fyIng the fourteenth amendment lie sad that II
the Senate refused to make the same requirements
OF Georgia which had been insisted upon In the cases
Of Virginia, Texas and Mississippi II would be con-
fesslon that in their action heretofore they had cone
| wrong. He counselled no backward step for having
thus far in their policy 1t was too late Tor Con-
| gress 10 think OF turning back. By incorporating
tnis provision In the Dill the effect would be secure
| the ratlicalDn OF the fifteenth amendment. he
purpose OF the democratic members OF the ONO Leg
iSlatre and OF the democratic majority in the New
York Legislature would be iOrestaed and, seeing
| that the amendment was secured, they would be
| found on the strong side. Instead OF denounclng
| the negro they would be found putting
| themselves In position 10 be most acceptable TO
| American cizens OF African descent" IL was not
here contemplated TO force any measure upon Geor-
ga, but simply to say TO her:H you do not give US
the security we require you can remain where You
are. Those who had the upper hand IN Georgia
never would adopt the fifteenth amendment unless
under compulsion for they would be urged not to
go one step further than Congress required them
togo.
Mr.. EDaUNDs, trep.) OF VT, asked why the Senator
from Indiana did not move to TO insert III the bill
clause directing the military commander In Georgia
10 declarRe The amendment adopted without The Tor
malliy OF a vote on the subject?
Mr. MORTON asked why did not the Senator tlink
OF that when he voted to impose the fourteenth
amendments
Mr.. EDMuNps denied that he had so voted, but
subsequently admitted having voted FOR The recon.
structlon measures which contained the provision
referred TO.
Mr.. SHERMAN, irep) OF Ohio, in reply to his col
league tMr Thurinan) asserted that the people CT
Ohio the ballot box, had declared In favor OF the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, and that The
dorsed by the people after full discussion.
Mr.. THURMAN reiterated his assertions, declaring
that the election referred to the grave in
VOWED in the constitutional amendments mad re-
celved comparatively little attention in consequence
OF the more exciting appeals TO the people by the
republican party III the denunciation OF Andrew
Johnson as traitor not to his country but To has
the true Interpretation 'of the public sentiment
OF ONO IA evinced In tue recent cleo
ton, holding that where many questions were
involved IN the success OF political
party 1t Impossible to ascribe definitely
10 any particular measure its proportonate popu-
larity. He charged that In bringing forward Tie
mlteenth amendment the republican party had re-
pudated the Chicago platform, upon winch ono had
been carried for Grant, and referred 10 the decreased
republican majorties In the State as an evidence
that they had lost that confidence oil tne people
Referring TO the rejection of the fifteenth amend.
ment by the Ohio Legislature he said that II the
doctrine that State cou!d not Withdraw It's assent
to constitutional amendment was correct, 1t
would follow that when State naa rejected pro-
posed constitutional aHlendment It's acuon could not
afterwards be reversed.
the action OF staie Legislatures night nc The sub
ect OF lepeal ut any time. In reply his colleague
he claimed That me people OF ONO never occupied
q doubtful position upon the questions OF adopting
either the hireenth fourteenth or fifteenth amend
ments II the simple question was to-day left 20 the
people oil OHIO whether they would dlsiranehise
man simply because he was born with q black SKIN,
he believed the answer would be In the negative by
$4,000 majority, and IN justice to that State ne made
this statement.
In the course OF further debate between the sena-
tors from ohio, Mr.. THURMAN replied az length TO
IN anlla In IA Tafa nf
tanning previous reconstruction measures, this bill
suuck down state; thai II was dangerous IN prin-
cIple; Tor If Congress could now strike down men,
bers OF the Legislature OF Georgia because they
Obnoxious politically, the same power might here.
alter be exercised 10 strike down members Of the
Legislature OF any other state. The excuse rhat the
authority for such legislation was contained in the
constitutional direction that Congress shall guaran-
tee 10 each state republican form Of government
was not sufficient one, ana had 10 application to
the case. He hoped that when John Chlnaman came
TO vote his colleague would be able to explain why
he should be excluded; why 1t was that man with
black skin could vote and man with yellow
skin could not.
amendment substantially similar to Mr.. Morton's,
which that Senator accepted as modification OF his
own, a. lollows:-
proposed the United before
seats In Congress.
Mr.. CARPENTER, (rcp.) OF Wis, said that he agreed
with MIR. Morton upon the merits Of the proposed
amendment and that all the members OF The Judi
ciary Committee agreed in desiring the ratification
OF the fifteenth amendment by Georgia but the ques
ron renamed, whether it was policy for the SENATE
TO emb0dy that enactment in this bill. BY leaving
ont The provision proposed Congress might cvade
question which otherwise would DE made by the OPP
ponents OF reconstruction.
The discussion was further continued, the main
point being that, by requiring the adoption OF the
fifteenth amendment a condition precedent at this
time, Congress might incur the danger OF debating
and compelling the adoption OF terms by State,
which being IN duress the time, could not after
wards be bound by its action; that thereby said
action might be proved invalid, and the adoption OF
q constitutional amendment depending for It's rati-
ncation upon such action rendered nugatory.
The Senate then took recess undl half-past
seven.
Evening Session.
Upon the Resembling of the senate the consid-
Grafton OF the Georgia bill was resumed.
Mr. DAVIS, dem) Of KY, argued that only by sue
cessfu revolution could the relations or the South
ern STATES with the Union have been permanently
sundered, and that the suppression OF the re-
belllon involved return those States In their