The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
.g1G47I n ~. 4 4
WAsHINGroN. December II.
y SENATE. " Y

In the prosecution or cases against the
United States. Referred.
| Mr.. Pomeroy offered a resolution,
which was adopted, directing the Post
master General to furnish copies of the
communication with the French Gov
eminent relative to securing modinca'
items in the postal arrangements
On melton of Mr.. Sumner, the SENATE
took up the bill relative to teiegraPnlS
Communication between the ohi1eu
States and foreign countries.
The hill was read, providing that
wbanaver communication shall here
af,er he established between the United
States and any foreign country, the
Government of the United States is to
epioy equal privileges with any foreign
Government with regard to the use and
control of such cable, and it shall at all
times be entitled to Transmit, by its own
operator, Government messages, which
| take precedence of all others, and be
paid for at the rates established by the
Postmaster General, unless otherwise
agreed to-. All such lines are to be
kept open for the transmission
of the daily publication of mar
ket reports and other intelligence,
All messages TO be forwarded in the
order of their reception shall, at all
times, have power to determine the rate
to be charged, and establish such regu-
lations as it may judge necessary. Be-
fore extending any such line within the
Jurisdiction of the United States.
written acceptance of the foregoing
terms shall be filed in the office of the
Secretary of State.
The second section declares that sub.
ject to the foregoing stipulatiens, and
subject to the terms OF such
grants as heretofore have been made
by Congress, the consent of Congress
is hereby given to the laying and main
tanning Of magnetic lines or cables be-
tween the United States and foreign
countries, subject. however, to Any and
all the rights of property and State Ju-
risdictioD; and provided that the priv
ileges conferred by this act shall not be
enjoyed by any persons or company
whose lines terminate In any Ieign
country which does not confer similar
privileges upon companies incorporated
by authority of the United States,
or of any State of the Union.
| Messrs. Sumner, ConbliHg and Thur
man made some remarks on the bill
when the morning hour expired and the
Senate took up the bill to perfect the
reconstruction of Georgia.
MIR. Salisbury delivered an argument
in illustration of the inconsistency OF
Congressional legislation relative to
unreconstructed States, which he
claimed was prompted from partizan
motives and in violation Of the Consti-
tion.
The following additional bills were
introduced during the morning.
Mr.. Ramsey introduced bill to abol-
ish the frankiDg privilege aud provide
postage stamps and stamped envelopes,
for the payment of postage on official
correspondence and other public matter.
Referred to the Postoffioe Committee.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to pro-
vide for the reduction of officers of the
army. Referred to the Military CON-
mittee.
On motion of Mr.. Trumbull the Sem
ate went into Executive session for a
short time. Upon the opening of the
doors the consideration of the Georgia
bill was resumed.
| Mr.. Stockton expressed the belief that
if the Fifteenth Amendment was de-
clared adopted through the means con-
templated, the day wonld como when
it would be declared to lie no part of the
Constitution. The people of the United
States would never submit to have negro
suffrage foraed upon them, the objection
to it was not go much to the exercise of
suffrage by the negroes as IL was to the
method by which the accomplishment
of the object was designed by the DOM
inant party feeling; that this Fifteenth
Amendment DO adopted now or be lost
forever; they were willing to attain
that end even though it carried with 1t
the destruction of everything of value
in the relations of States to the Union.
Mr.. Ferry, in reply to an assertion
that the Fourteenth Amendment had
not been adopted by Georgia because
the old Legislature was illegally organ
lied, said that the vote of that State
having already been counted IN its
favor it would be unwise to insist upon
its ratification again. He looked upon
the PENDING amendment as impolitic.
Mr.. Conkling expressed objection to
the amendment, and was followed by
Mr.. Morton. who agreed to modify his
amendment by leaving out the condi-
ton of ratifying the Fourteenth Amend
ment.
Mr.. Sherman, in reply to his colleague,
Mr.. Thurman, asserted that the people
of Ohio, at the ballot. box, had declared
in favor of the Fourteenth and Fiji
teenth Amendments, and that the merit
of the questions presented by each were
endorsed by the people.
After a full discussion. Mr.. Thurman
reiterated his assertion, declaring that
in the elections referred to the grave
issues involved in the Constitutional
Amendment had received comparatively
little attention in consequence of the
more exciting appeals to the people by
the Republican party in denunciation of
Andrew Johnson as traitor, not to his
country, but to his party.
I He differed with his colleague con.
cerHing the tono of the Interpretation of
the public sentiments of Ohio, as
evinced in the recent election, holding
that where many questions were III
volved in the success of poll ical par
ty it was impossible to ascribe definitely
to any particular measure its proper
tionate popularity. Referring To the
tiection of the Fifteenth Amendment
he said if the doctrine that State
could not withdraw its assent to con-
stituional amendment was correct, it
would follow that when State had re-
jected proposed constitutional amend.
nent it's action could not afterwards be
reversed.
Mr.. Williams submitted an amend
ment Substantially similar to MIR. Nor
toms, which that Senator accepted as q
modification of his own, viz: that the
Legislature shall ratify the Fifteenth
Amendment proposed to the Copstitu.
ton of the United States before the Sem
ators and Representatives from Georgia
are admitted to seats in Congress.
. The discussion was farther continued,
| the main point being by requiring the
adoption Of the Fifteenth Amendment
: as a condition precedent at this time
: Congress might incur the danger of
debating and compelling the adoption
b OF terms by State being in duress at
the time, which could not afterwards be
I bound by its action, and thereby the
said action would be rendered negatory.
g The Senate then took q recess until