New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-18
XLIsT CONGRESS-2D SESSION.
SENATE. WASHINGTON, Dec. ]

Mr.. SUMNER tRep., Mass), from the Com
mittee the District Of Columbia reported, win an
amendment, bill TO incorporate the Washington Home
Mr. SPENCER Rep Ala introduced bill TO abolish
the office Of Naval Officer Referred,
Mr.. SCHURZ Rep., MOI introduced a bill 10 prevens
persons who been officers in the Treasury Depart
from aiding In the prosecution OF cases against tue
MT HOWARD Rep, Mich) introduced joint resolu
ton relative furnishing safes TO Collectors OF inern
OCEAN TELEGRAPH CABLES.
On motion of Mr. SUMNER REP Mass.l, the Senate
took up the bill relative TO telegrsphe communications
between the United States and foreign countries
The e provides that whenever % 1 nn1 SsIsa ,.
teegaphe magnetic lines ea6es the same shan be subject
The oVsDmsnt 81 h. United states enjoy equal privilege. with
any .Ss T S.. to S IL .T transmit ~
witch 1S ts uu Otherwise
agreed all such lines TO be Kept open % ne III %S. 70 be
forwarded the their receipt Congress shall At az mes na
determine the rate charged a9 s,Sa spo a the
the United States written acceptance Of the foreign terms
The second subject the foregoing puAo
and subject to the terms Of such grants as nave % % S
maintaining lines Of cable between the usite states and
State jurisdiction provided that the privileges conferred by this
act shall not De tyeo any doe, pet e similar privileges
upon companies Incorporated authority Of the UEed States or
MI SUMNER said that suce the bill had reported
in February last cable had been landed our shores
from France and this rendered modification OF the
bill necessary. He proposed an anendment 10 MAKE tHe
language OF the bill applicable not only 10 future pu' 10
Mr. THURMAN Dem, Ohio suggested that legal
question had been preached to the right OF stare 70
hermit landing of cable without the permission OF the
General Government. He therefore moved TO refer the
Mr. SUMNER said the question referred to by the Gen
ator Ohio that of State rights was an old customer
i'm the Senate but the authority OF the General Govern
ment implied in the constitutional dl-
recOn to Congress TO regulate commerce Win foregh
Mr. CONKLING Rep.. n y said the amendment was
retroactive provision making the bill universal IN lts
OH and
posed Unfortunately upon the cables already author'
lied by Congress, as well as upon all others.
Mr. SUMNER said that provision had been made to
protect special privileges guaranteed under acts OF Con
gress 10 certain cables and that tne oPhoh OF te 1u
with proprety code OF restrictions when W9ud De
applicable generalyyo al cables between tne On'eo
''"''7 80" HEcoSsTRUCTIoS IN GEORGIA.
The morning hour having expired, tho senate TOOK nI
the bill perfect the reconstruction OF the state OF
Mr. SALISBURY delivered an argument in illustration
of the inconsistency Of Congressional legislation relative
The following additional bills were introduced during
A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE FRAMING PRIVILEGE
Mr. RAMSEY Rep. MIMI introduced Dill TO abolish
the Thanking privilege. and provide postage-samps
stamped envelopes for the payment OF postage on
official correspondence and other public matter. Re
| ferred TO the Committee on Post-Oihces.
REDUCTION OF ARMY OFFICERS.
for the reduction OF the officers Of the army Referred
Il authorizes tie s, Of Var 70 9onqTss discharge ay nt,
reduced the ofthe . authorized y law
to ao pay and allowances according TO their term.
,rs he sr o. War sSs5o 10 sis 6y mastering
the 'uenamsa officers Hnds ne above terms giving I've year
pay service from I've ten and one years pay TO
After short Executive Session the consideration of
the Georgia bill was resumed 49,,
! II the Fifteenth Amendment was declared adopted,
through the means nov contemplated, the day would
come when would be declared 10 be part OF the Con-
Mr. FERRY Rep Conn.,. in reply to assertion
| eli, Amendment been adopted
by Georgia because the old Legislature was ILLEGALLY
organized SAID that the vote OF that state having already
Eeen eounted In its favor it would be unwise to insist
| upon its ratification again He looked upon the pehd
nc Amendment as impolitc The OF Georgia having
been officially counted the complement OF States neces
sary 10 ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, ~ doubt
| s6ould now be thrown upon that action.
| Mr. CoNKLINC rep, ~ " expressed his objection
10 the Amendment, anu was followed Oy
oandment by leaving out the condition of ratying the
Fourteenth Amendment lie said that II the senate re,
had been insisted upon 1he cases youIa
be confession that in their action heretofore they ao
done wrong II not here contemplated To force any
measure upon Georgia, but sa9y TO say 70 her IL you
DO give US the security We require you can REMAIN
Mr. WILLIAMS Rep, Oregon submitted az amend end
nent substantially similar 10 Mr. Mortons, which that
Senator accepted modification OF his OVID as follows
me Of tbe United states before senators aai RepIessn.
aves Georgia Ad,sitted to seats in Congress
Mr. Morton upon the merits OF the proposed Amendment,
and Mat oil the members OF the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
ent nv Georgia. but the question remained whether it
was policy for the Senate 10 embody that enactment IN
This hin By leaving the provision proposed Congress
might evade question which otherwise would DC made
by the opponents Of reconstruction.
The discussion further continued, the main point
being that by requiring the adoption ofthe AYth Amend
ment condition precedent at TINS tlne, Congress
ad9ntion OF terms by State, which, being IN durcSs 40
fine time could aferward be bound by ITS action
the adoption OF a Constitutional Amendment depending
for ts ratification upon such action rendered nugatoy
| Recess.
| TTpon the reassembling of the Senate the
consideration of the Georgia bill was resumed The dls
cusslOn which followed assumed vide range on political
topics and was prOtraoted until late hour After re-
marks by Messrs. DAVIS (Dem., KY, NlE rep, NeyJ
| THAYER rep, NeO) and NORTON dem, Mimi, the
senate voted on the amendment Of Mr. Williams, that the
70 the CONSTITUTION Of the United before the sena
tors and admitted TO seats IN Con-
The amendment was agreed to-Yeas 50; Nays The
S S.s:s } $s,s s:.s,a % Si:'
The question then required the latter portion Of the
amendment submitted by Mr.. Morton Rep. Ind pro-
dered ineligible hold office, except those whose dls
abilities have been removed by Congress, VINO sl at
tempt TO exercise any office created by the Constitution
and laws OF Georgia The amendment is also rerospec-
tive applying TO al persons VINO may nave been already
Mr. MORTON withdrew the amendment, with the IN.
tenton Of incorporating it in the form OF a bill
| Mr.. CAssERLY Dem, Cali moved TO- amend the second
section to make distinction IN the administration
OF the oath therein provided favorable to those who bad
gwen involuntary AID 10 the Rebellion in conradistBo-
ton with its voluntary supporters Inc amendment was
MIR. CSRPENTER rep, Wis., moved that the Senate
adjourn until Monday Upon being appealed to by
Mr.. STEWART Rep New he Withdrew 70 adj
ourn when the consideration OF the bill was resumed
| Several additional amendments offered by MI GAS
| sERLY were disagreed 70.
The bill was then reported from the Committee Of the
Whole. The amendments were agreed to III body, ex'
eept the making distinction IN favor OF those who