The Evansville journal., 1870-01-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
XbIst CONsREss-sEOO Session.

sENATE,...,..... w AsHINGToS, Jan. 20.
The House joint resolution on the
subject of the ventilation of the halls
of the Senate and House was laid be-
fore the Senate.
The amendment providing for as
eertaing the cost of the proposed I'M
provements was eoncuFred ID.
Anthony presented eommunlca-
ton from the Governor Of Rhode
Island, and In some remarks pre-
sented to Congress, in the name OF
the people Of his State, a marble
statue Of Nathaniel Greene. already
placed in the old Hall Of the House
of Representatives
Sumner submitted resolutions &C
cepting the statue, and returning
thanks to the Governor of Rhode
Island, and through him to the peo-
pie of the State, for the beautiful
work of art, and assigning the statue
place in the Old Hall OF the House.
Some remarks were made suitable TO
the occasion by Sumner, Sawyer and
Morrill,, of Vermont. when the reso-
lutiOns were adopted.
Bills introduced aud referred:
For the preservation of the harbors
of the United States against cueroaeh-
ment.
To grant the right of way through
the public lands to the junction City
and Denver Railroad Company.
To promote the disposition Of pub
lie lands In California. 1t provides
that thirty days after the passage Of
the act, the public lands shall be
open to entry by homestead and pre-
| emption settlers only.
Conkling, from the Committee on
| Revision of Laws, reported the House
Census BILL with an amendment in
the nature Of a substitute, as fol-
| lows:
Be it enacted, &C., That the Secre-
tary Of the Interior be instructed to
so change the schedules and blanks
to be issued In enum Grating the in
habitants Of the United States in
1870, as to make the same conform to
the Constitution of the United States.
Ramsey introduced bill to estab
lish a postal telegraph system, and in
corporate the United States Postal
Telegraph Company. The inc0rpo-
rators are Gardiner, G. Hubbard, and
others.
The Virginia bill was thea taken
up Wilson moved 10 amend by
inserting q provision that the Con
stitution of the State shall never
/ be so amended as to deprive any
/ citizens or class of citizens of the
| United States of the right 20 vote or
| hold Office, WHO are now entitled to
vote under such a Constitution, ex
cept in the punishment Of crime, nor
/ exclude from service as jurors any
( person on account Of race, color or
previous condition of servitude. The
amendment was not agreed to.
| Drake renewed his amendment
| previously offered. admitting Nlr
/ ginia to representation In Congress on
/ the following fundamental conditions:
| That the State Constitution shall
never be changed 10 deprive any citi-
zen or class OF citizens of the right to
vote who are now entitled to vote, ex-
/ cept in the punishment of such crimes
as are now feionies at common law,
whereof they shall have been duly
convicted under laws equally appli-
cable to all the inhabitants OF said
State; provided, that any alteration
| of the State Constitution, prospective
/ In its effect, may be made in regard
to the time ard place of residence Of
4 voters.
Drake said this fundamental con-
dition had been required of all other
reconstructed States; and In view Of
| the proposed attempt, which he be
lieved to be in the programme of the
I Democracy, to overthrow the Fif
teeuth Amendment, by aid Of the
/ Courts and other departments of the
Z y 10 n
means of securing protection to the
black race in Virginia and other re-
bellious States.
Harlan supported the amendment
in lengthy speech, pr;nci pally be
cause OF its necessity as MEASURE
for the protection Of the loyal people
of Virginia, by incurring to them the
free exercise Of the ballot. Having
been imposed upon other States, these
Fundamental conditions should not
be omitted in the case of Virginia
Howard said stringent cOnditious
TO Dreyent the ostraeism of col0red
people were particularly applicable to
Virginia, as one Of the foremost
States in the rebellion.
Thurman characterised the amend
ment of brakes as a proposition to
say to the State that her people should
not be allowed hereafter to amend
their Constitution.
Harlan claimed the right of Con
gress to make a bargain with the
people Of State prior TO their admls-
sion as a State.
Further debate on the question Of
the validity Of the alleged compact
between the United States and .
State prior to the admission OF the
State was participated in By Morton,
Davis, Thurman and Harlan.
Howard had received a telegram
from a citizen of Atlanta, whose
name he refused to divulge for per
sonal reasons, setting for that a con-
spiracy was in progress in the Legs
lature of Georgia as q means of getting
the State into the Union, and after