The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-10
TIE FORTY.FIRSr CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April o. !.

President pro tenn, in the absence of Mr.. Coliax.
RECONSTRUCTION OF VIRGINIA, MISSISSIPPI AND
TEXAS
ON motion OF Mr.. TRUMBuLL, trep) Of H., the
House bill authorizing the submission OF the consti-
tuition Of Virginia. Mississippi and Texas 10 vote of
the people was taken up.
Mr.. MORTON, (rep.) OF Ind, offered as an addi-
tiona section the Joint resolution offered by HIM the
other day, providing that before Virginia, Mssls-
sippi and Texas shall be admitted to representa-
ton in Congress their several legislatures Shall
ratify the fifteenth amendment to the constitution.
Mr.. TRUMBULL did not think II wise to add this
section to the bill Congress had already, with great
deberatiOn passed several acts prescribing The
condition of reconstruction, and several states had
complied with those conditions and been admitted
TO a representation, and for Congress now to i'm.
pose additional conditions would be breach OF
iaith with those people. He had doubt that those
States would raiify the fifteenth amendment with
out it being made a condition OF reconstructon.
Mr.. MORTON denied that 1t would be breach OF
faith. No agreement had been made between Con-
gress and the unrec0nstructed Sta,es Congress had
offered thoss States reconstruction upon certain
conditions tut they had refused to accept the oer.
and had sDod out in hostility to the govern
ment ana now 1t was the right OF Congress
to impose whatever conditions II pleased pro-
yided tna; they were right anu Just IN
themselves. He would rather see the pending bill
fail than pas without this amendment. The desire
OF the democratic party was TO keep this question OF
negro suffrage open as an element OF success In the
election ofls72. The democrats calculated that with
out the woes OF Virginia Mississippi Texas and In
diana the fitteenth amendment must fail OF ratiica
ton and the only way 10 defeat tnat result was oy
making is ratification condition Of the readnission
OF those states.
Mr. CoNKLING. (rep.) of n. Y, said the imposition
OF the now condition proposed by the Senator rom In
diana ar w S az m 81 a'' Had r
manned unreconstructed only because they had Will
fully out ana refused TO accept reconstruction
upon The condition offered by Congress. ms GER
tainly was not OF Virginia, one Of the States
10 which this bill is intended to apply. virginia mad
rome ON a. far az she could In the prescribed
mi and had facn to complete IL
because the commanding general, representing the
government OF the United states, had been unable
for want of money 10 hold the election which was
necessary a condition precedent 10 her admission
TO a representation IN Congress-
Mr.. THURMAN (dcm) OF Ohio SAID the power OF
Congress In relation to changing the constitution
was merely To propose amendments. But the amend
ment of the senator from Indiana mr. Mortonl pro-
posed that Congress, having already submitted the
fifteenth constitutional amendment TO the people,
should now 90 on and coercc certain States into
ratifyIng It, This would be an outrage, not alone
upon the people OF those states but upon the people
of all the sta'es, by forcing negro suffrage upon
them Indeed he understood tue Senator to say
that one great object OF his amendment was TO over
ride the will Of the people OF his state (lndiana.
MIR. MORToN--Not to override the Will OF the peo-
pie. but to override Revolutionary party IN ind-
ana wnch seeks 10 thwart the Will OF the people.
Mr.. TuURnAS-II the senate really beeves the
people Of Indiana In favor OF negro suffrage, why
not consent 10 submit II TO them directly and not at
tempt 10 force IL upon them Oy u Legislature elecled
on the chicago platform, which expressly DIS
avowed the intention 10 force negro suffrage ON me
states IN the Uniong
After some remarks by Mr.. THURMAN the amend
ment was agreed TO by the following votc:-
Yr,s-Messrs. Abbott, Brownlow Buckingham Carpen-
Chandler Cole ptske Harris Howard Mcdonald Nor
rl Morton, rye osborn FOOL rnt fasey, Rice hoosrt
Tipion. Warner, Williams, Wilson, rates 30
consag, Davis Ednunas Fenon Ferry fessenden to
TER Tsee TTIos r wIcS sawyer sPAs"''
Mr. TRANQUIL proposed several verbal amend
mens designed 20 remove antiquities ia the Ofigi-
nal bill. which were agreed 10.
Mr. frcp.1 OF VT. the SIKH
section, authorizing the commanding general 10
suspend, until the action OF the legislature an Jaws
That he may deem Unjust aud oppressive, was struck
Mr. EpMrxps then offered an additional section
winch WAS adopted. declaring That the proceedings
Of any OF the said states shall not be deemed anal
or uperate a. complete restoration untii their ac
ton shall be approved by Congress.
Mr. DAVIS, ldem.l OF KY. SAID. understanding
that the people bf Virginia, Mississippi aud Texas
| were willing to accept the bill as passed by the
House. he had not intended To say an, thing against
m although opposed to H. but he could not let that
most unconstitutional and outrageous addition TO
| Inc hili pass without protesting against 1t.
Mr. SAWYER rep.l OF :. c., offered an amendment
10 the first section, which was agreed TO- striking
ont tue words 1.-The registered voters of said state
and Inserting instead the words vOtcrs Of said state
/ registered at the time of said submission"
/ Mr. STOCKTON. tdeni.l OF N j., declared himself
opppsed TO the original bill, and especially opposed
| to the amendment OF the senator from Indiana,
| which was not only unconstitutional and an outrage
upon the people, but an anomaly even upon the
| Congressional scheme OF reconstruction.
| Mr. BAYABD, dem.) OF Dell opposed and denounced
| the bill on the same ground.
Mr. CtssRRLy, (dem.l OF Cal, said he would not
have opposed the passage OF the Dill as II had come
| from The House. because that was simply compll-
ance with the express recommendation Of the presi-
dent In MS late mcssage but he felt bound TO oppose,
| In the only way he could the harsh, UNJUST and
called for amendment offered by the senator from
Indiana. He had the authority of at least two dis
tinguished republican senators for denouucng that
| amendment as q shameful breach OF faith on the
part OF the Congress of the United states ana from
| his knowledge OF the character OF the American
pcope he felt very confident that anv party That
sorted TO such means TO sustain itself In power
would sooner Or later. be sternly and eIecualy re.
buk ed by them.
The bill was then passed by vote OF ~ yeas 70
all the senators present voting In the airna-
tive except The neutrality-suspicious.. Bay ard, Cassery,
DAVIS, fowler McCrcery, Norton, Spraeuc. stockton
and THURMAN
RANK or JUDGE ADVOCATE OF THE ARMY.
The unfinished business OF yesterday, the bill 10
declare and FIX the status Of Judge Advocate OF The
Army. came up and was amended and passed.
MESSAGE FROM rI,H rREsipENr-BXrRA SESSION OF
rHE SENATE.
The PRESIDENT pro te1i. laic before thc Senate