Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-05
xLlst cOaGREss---2d SESSION.

WAsHIxGToS, March 4.-House.
The Georgia bill, on motion OF Mr..
Butler, was put over until after the
morning hour.
AT the expiration of the morning
hour, Wood made a personal eXplana-
tion TO the effect that a newspaper
statement that he had appointed per-
sons residing out of his District AS ca
deis, was false ia every particular.
Logan confirmed Wood statement.
The Senate bill repeating the pro-
vision contained in act for extending
the time for the construction of the
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad
10 complete the first section of twenty
miles of the road, was passed, 10
against 80.
AT pm. the Georgia bill came up
aud MIR. Butler, of Massachusetts,
proposed it be discussed today and
tomorrow and vote taken on Mon
dly. No other business to be trans
acted tomorrow, that proposition
was agreed to without objection.
Mr.. FarnsWorth withdrew the point
Of order made yesterday.
Mr.. Butler addressed the House in
lie argued that Georgia presented
herself now for the first time asking
in proper guise for admission. She
RAD never been admitted by law.
Two Of her representatives had been
admitted TO the House, but under
mistake Of facts; but it has been
thought Georgia had been organized
honestly fairly and legally. He stated
that her admission was demanded |
now by the most comprehensive rea-
sons; it would be The grave and |
solemn exercise of the power of Con- |
gres5 over States which having got |
into the Union undertook to OppfeS5 |
citizens of the United States, and TO |
rebel against the laws and against the |
spirit of the Constitution. The |
State of Tennessee, for instance, |
believing herself beyond the power of |
Congress, had proceeded to abrOgate |
every law and every constitutional pro- |
vision, on which she was admitted to |
representation. Ii the Judgment of the |
House went with his own, he proposes |
to exhibit also to Tennessee the power !
OF Congress against wrong, rapine and /
murder. The Governor had sent /
message TO the Legislature, stating he |
was utterly pOWerless to protect citi-
zens Of Iennes5ee against organized |
bands Of robbers and murdererS, but |
the Legislature had adjourned with
out providing any such means. Hun
dreds of men were being murdered |
weekly in Tennessee, and there was
no redress. lie proposed 10 bring the
condition of that State very soon to
the attention OF the House and cOun-
try.
hIr. Hawkins inquired of Ma Butler
where those murders were committed.
Mr.. Rutler-In Tennessee.
Mr.. Whereabouts?
Mr.. Butler-All over the State; like
a man with the smallpox, they break
out all over. Laughter.
MIR. HaWkinS-I have never heard /
Of such things.
Mr.. ButleT-None so deaf as those
who viii not hear. I have got pre-
sentiments of two grand juries in that
state saying they are utterly power
less against bands of organized rufiians
there, and we ought TO deal with
the State Of Georgia so as to
to the world that we
have abrogated and elongated power
Vi Congress to deal with men wherein !
they may be under whatever sort of
State obligations, who rendered life
ana liberty of citizens OF the United
states unsafe. lie gave notice that he
would offer an amendment TO the bill,
providing that the power granted by
the constitution of Georgia TO the Cen
eral Assembly 70 change the time OF
holding elections, and &c prescribe a
lay lor the meeting Of tie General /
Assembly, shall nos 90 so exercised as
,O. postpone election OF members to next
General Assembly beyond Tuesday
after the ilrst Monday in February,
ioI2. de explained the object of the
amendment TO be 10 give to loyal men
when elected TO the first Legislature,
their full two years Of legislative. ser
vice. lie woaid treat the negroes /
ThO had been turned out OF the GeOr-
ga Legislature precisely as ne would
have treated the loyal Legislature of
1861, il there had been one who was
.urned cut by the rebei5-that is, he
would restore them TO their positions
ana keep them there for their full
erm.
Mr.. FarusWOrth, another member
If the Reconstruction Committee,
argued against the bill, assuming that
q was unnecessary, as Georgia was
lOw entitled to representation, and
declaring that Congress- had got itself
ar enough in the h1uddle with its re-
legislation, and that the
sooner it finished and the palmer it
made it the better. He understood |
very well the object of the bill. 1t
vas not upon the theory that the ad-
mission Of Georgia members to the
sortieth Congress went for nothing
ike Rip Van Winkle. dream-and
hat they were to come back and be
worn for the tOrty-first Congress; it
vas to prOlong the tenure of Office of
.ertain gentlemen in Georgia, and the
ill might as well be entitled that as
anything else.
Without concluding his argument,
'Ir. FarnswOrth yielded the floor, and
everal petitions were presented.
The House then adjourned until to- II