The New York herald., 1869-01-30
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1869.


BRIDGING THE EAST RIVER.
Mr.. BROOKS tdem) OF N. Y, presented a memo
rial rom leading citizens in New York ana Brook.
lyn asking consent OF the United States to create,
as post road bridge over the East river between
New York and Brooklyn Referred with the bill
Yesterday introduced by Mr.. Barnes, to the COM
mittee on Roads and Canals.
TIE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL
Mr. BEAxAS, trep., OF Mich, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported the Post once Appros
priation bill. Referred to the Committee Of the
Whole and made the special order for Tuesday
next. The bill approprates $5,74o,ooo for dencien-
ces In the revenue Of the Post once Department for
'A0 rAyMEST OF CLERKS IN THE PATENT OFFICE.
Mr.. wAsHBuRNE, (rep.) OF H., from the COMMITTEES
s ssS to pay the salaries and contingent expenses
OF the Patent ONCE for January and February lSos.
Referred to the Committee @ q y, the vnsvax wno1e;
Mr.. MooRHEAD (rep.) OF Pa, introduced bill to
provide for the better security Of life and property
other products. Referred TO the Committee on ways
and Means.
Mr. CrILoM. (repl OF H., offered resolution re.
ouesing the President to furnish to the House any
Information he may have showing that the people
OF Hayt and st. Domingo are deslrous tnat tneir
governments shall Become parts OF the United States
The resolution was adopted.
PRIVATE BUSINESS
The House then, at half-past twelve, proceeded TO
private business.
ON motion Of Mr.. PRICE, (rep) OF Iowa, the Senate
Rock Island In the Mississippi river was taken nom
the SPEAKERS table and concurred 10.
Public Lands reported bill to close the land sys-
tenn In the States where the public lands do not ex-
The b,Il reported last Friday by Mr. welker from
the Committee the District Of Columbia, to estab-
iisf police court for the District OF Columbia, was
taken M. and alter discussion ana amendment was
passed. IL gives the court jurisdiction oil all 0nenccs
which are declared to be misdemeano,s and are
tally or BY Imprisonment In the Penitentiary the
court to consist OF Judge TO be appointed by the
M % 8 Gf ne S Senes s of ssno
@ 70 K K
opposing the b. 1t was, on motion OF Mr.. scoFiELp.
y. y" itSc xEw YORK INJECTION FRAUDS.
The morning hour ne wing expired, the resolution
offered yesterday by Mr.. laurence, OF OHIO ior the
arrest OF Henry johnson, who ha Ielssa o 70 My
the summons or the select commIti.~ ~ she snv Jew
York election frauds, came up for acti.a hass hdscr
some discussion between Messrs. Lawrence, noss,
Kerr and Dawes touching the frauds committed 'L
the materiality OF the evidence sought 70 he OBJ
tanned, which ls that q number Of names had been
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND SUFFRAGE.
The House then, at two o'clock resumed the con-
was addressed BY Mr. KELLEy, uep) OF Pa, in its
advocacy.
MI. KELLEY SAID that the doctrine or cong esslOnai
control OF suffrage, enunclaied IN the speech OK
Mr.. Boutwell, and In the bill reported by The Judic-
AIRY Committee, was no new doctrine to him. Three
years ago. upon the loor OF the House. nc had advo-
Gated that doctrine, though but few at that time
were ready % give countenance and had support
ed 1t by reference TO the same weighty authorities
which had been cited In tire present debate. The
proceedings OF the Federal Convention OF 1881, az
well as OF the several State Conventions by which
tlci constitution was ratified showed that the uitl-
male action OF Congress over the question or
suffrage in the states vas clearly under.
a. ssoOS vested In congress by tie Constitution.
as was believed by them to be power essentially
necessary for The preservation Of the government.
Ia iuli view Of this construction, publicly avowei
white the constitution was under consideration, that
py naa been 81 ,s An md pro
abrdging or abolisnng this important Congressional
authority were rejected by the first Congress which
assembled under the constitution. that body de-
clining to submit. any such amendment This Con.
grcssional power still retained full vitality In spite OF
adverse State action aud judicial declsion. power
use. Congress should not hesitate IN the present
emergency TO intervene for the purpose OF rcmcdying
states with refersEce to suffrage. lie ATr. Kelley
was in favor OF the proposed bil, while lie was also
IN favor Of placing the measure beyond cavii bya
Mr. SHELLABARaER, rep, OF Ohio, next addressed
the House In support OF the substitute which ~
offered the other day TO the constitutional c.nend.
ment--the distinction being that the eubstituto
allows the disfranchisemen OF those sno have been
ensaged IN rebellion while INC original resolution
"ou'd a...w the establishment Of properly OF % vou-
yatonAl qualifications. The colorcd race, c
could be virtually disfranchised ~ @ law iaaenf f
property or intelligence condon o. , su s,nI msv, ~nI
.such 4 law would not DO forbidden by tnc proposeu
amendment rnsSe son cs's should 10
nS,.na =, 'hts time Thc proposition was IN itself
90 emneny right IN rs relations e s sea %
svn M s.ss .snt mind That government WIS not gov
ernment at ali which had not within itself the power
to declare VINO should take part hn,,,S IN carry.
~ adE,r,ad now was that this proposition oncc sub
n;t9ed by the Congress by two-tnlrds vote 70 the
states was irrevocablc unless by . ike Wothrds
vote and would be pending until Withdrawn or
ratified: aud II state Legislature refused to ratly
n fhe peope could elect another Legislature In nars
mony with the voice OF the people OF the republic.
II would be dlsholorahe Ia Congress 10 INSIST on re.
tainlng policy In the reconstructed states which
refused to lncnicats against the other STATES.
Mr.. BIN0nAM, trepJ OF Ohio, coucufrcu cnurcy
with his colleague touching the obicciionabic lea
ture In me measure reported oy M ~, .sc