The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-09

states, he shall forthwith proclaim the fact OF sscn
AMI 1t shall appear that TIE Leglsa-
lure OF State has ratified an amendne ny proposed
y aforesaid. any other action by the Legislature OF
that state as ~ such amendment shaA De void aud
dsregarted by the Secretary OF state.
Mr.. WILLIAMS moved the reerence OF the blu TO
hope that 1t would receive early consideration,
winch, for obvious reasons, It deserved. 1t was 80
referred.
Mr.. SHERMAN, trep.) OF Ohio, introduced Dill TO
promote an International coinage, liking the weight
OF gold coin OF ve dollars at ia troy grains
equivalent To coin of twenty. Ave francs. Referred
to The Committee on Finance.
. RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Mr.. CARPENTER (rep.) OF Wis, introduced bill In
relation To the rights OF members OF Congress. pro-
viding That nothing IN any act OF Congress shall
Congress fr practising az attorney solicitor or
counsel IN the prosecution or defence OF any cause
claim or proceeding IN any judicial court OF the
THE TEST OATH
Mr. FERRY trcp.), Of Conn., introduced bill TO
repeal oil laws requiring what was known as the
administrator OF the test oath. He SAID that The
proposition TO remove the disabilities imposed under
the fourteenth amendment would fall short Of the
accom- ilshment OF the object designed, unless &C.
companied by the repeal OF the test oath The
necessity for legislation OF this character he believed
had now zone by. The policy OF the removal OF
those disabilities was one which the experience OF
last summer, and the universal experience OF all
parties In the Southern States, had decided 10 be
policy that ought to be adopted by Congress and
the republican party originally enacted those laws
for the security OF The government ana the preserva
ton 81 the life OF the nation, 30 now, when the
necessity had gone nv. 1t seemed to the speaker
best thar the same party should remove them.
The bill was then referred.
BRIDGING THE DELAWARE RIVER.
Mr.. CATrEIl, (rep.) OF N. j., introduced bill CIV
Ing the consent Q, tns gaea sta.es 70 ae ph
delpna and Camden. Referred to ae Committee on
Commerce
Mr.. SUMNER offered q resolution calling upon the
Committee on Military Affairs TO consider whether
any further legislation Is needed TO secure ior al
United States complete equality with all other cit-
zens IN the enjoyment OF tine military bounty. lie
remarked that ne mad understood That statute ex-
listed by which former slaves who had served IN tire
army OF the United States were excluded from the
enjoyment OF the military bounty. Az 1t had been
the object 10 give equal rights all who served
der our nag, he ask "a the early attention of the
Committee on military Affairs TO the complete &c
cOmpshment OF that object.
THE CONDITION OF CUBA.
Mr.. CAMERON, rep.) OF Pa. offered the following
resolution
Resolved That the President of the United States be
quested communicates to the Senate in his opinion Is
no. With ns pmnS any s
of the civil in Cuba and the political condition OF the
island Of Cuba.
The resolution was adopted.
THE WINNIPEG RESURRECTION.
The resolution previously offered by Mr.. RAMSEY
rep.) OF MIMI, asking Tor information concerning
the presence OF Hon. William McDougall in Dacotah
Territory, and the opposition OF the Inhabitants OF
Winnipeg 10 his assumption OF the office Of Cover
nor was taken up.
MIR. HOWARD, (rep.) Of Mich, said he thought the
resolution unnecessary asmuch as the interests of
the United States were not involved III the local dis
turbance which had arisen in the Red River country.
The disturbance was confined to one OF the remote
possessions Of the DOMINION OF Canada. He had
appointment 10 exercise authority IN the Red River
country, but was a:tng private citizen, though
having received assurance Of future appointment
Governor OF that portion OF British America known
as the Red River country. N&uy OF the settlers on
the northern border OF Minnesota were perhaps,
lv fed wi mt ty
made by which the Hudson Bay Company had sold
out their interests; and one great object with them
was the erection OF local government OF their own
TO look after their own special interests. The diff
Guilty was apparently OF purely local nature.
Mr. RAMSEY said portion Of the people he repre-,
River country, and that the people OF the latter
locality were i'll state OF discomfort and revolution.
The United States was represented there by COL
ector OF The revenue and other officials, ana 1t
seemed important that the exact condition OF affairs
there should be ascertalned. Agreed 10.
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY TREATY.
Mr.. THURMAN, (dem.) OF OHIO, offered resolution
requesting the President To inform the Senate
whether since the last session OF Congress any nego
tlations have taken place or been proposed between
this government and the government OF Great Brl-
tam IN respect to reciprocity treaty or reciprocity
laws on the subject or trade and commerce between
the United States and Canada, and to communicate
any correspondence that may nave taken place
tween the Executive and the government OF Great
Britain or that OF the DOMINION Of Canada.
Mr. SUMNER suggested the insertion OF the usual
clause, ..if in the discretion II the President the
information be consistent with the public interests"
The resolution as modified by the suggestion thus
PROTECTION OF CITIZENS.
The resolution by Mr. STEWART, (rep.l OF New, re-
guessing the Judiciary Committee TO inquire If any
States were denying to any class Of persons the
equal protection Of the laws in violation Of treaty
Obligations and Of the fourteenth amendment, was
CLEARING THE FLOOR or THE SENATE.
A resolution offered by Mr.. DRAKE, uep.l OF Mo-,
providing that hereafter the ioor OF the senate shall
be cleared OF persons not entitled to Its privileges
ten minutes before the meeting of the body, was
taken up ana agreed 10 by avote of 10 to II.
RELIEF FROM DISABILITIES.
The bill to relieve certain persons therein named
from the disabilities imposed by the fourteen Nh
amendment to the constitution came up in order
The bill contains the names Of 400 or 500 persons.
MIR. SUMNER moved TO refer the bll to q committee,
but after discussion Withdrew his morlon, and the
DILL passed.
Ihe joint resolution for the relief of persons
engaged In the late rebellion, providing that upon
the final adoption OF the fifteenth amendment al
disabilities shall cease, was taken up.
Mr.. STEWART said he believed the time had arrived
to make the declaration here proposed. No danger
need be unprecedented III the immediate removal OF
these disabilities; but, on the contrary, continued
imposition would have the effect which Con-
ne 20 .o 81
That such was the effect was evidenced
from day to day, because beside themselves having
the power TO vote they were enabled TO excite the
sympathy OF their neghbors by appealing to them
aid in removing their disabilities. Now that uni
versal suffrage had been secured would be polite
to close the reconstruction work with universal am
nesty. In the matter OF individual cases OF relief
there was much room for imposition upon the gen
crosby OF Congress, and the disabilities OF many
persons had been removed upon unfair and incor-
rect representations to members OF Congress. Ne
cessarily was impossible for Congress to exercise
intelligent discrimination In passing upon these
cases In detail. and the more advisable course
to deal with them as class. By means of this de.
caratOn, that the adoption of the fifteenth amend
ment would relieve the disabilities now imposed,
the cause OF reconstruction would be strengthened
and the adoption OF the amendment Itself materially
fastened.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate IN resolved itself into executive SEES
sion and soon after adjourned.