The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-01-22
XLIst CONGRESs---seoond Session.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Mr. Wilson present.
ed memorial of 1400 army officers for increas-
ed pay, and for 10Th amendment to the Con-
stitution for women suffrage.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vt. in presenting q petition
for the abolition of the ranking privilege de-
MED he ever abused it, and did not believe its
abolition would ensure any material saving.
Mr.. Fenton presented memorial of W. G.
Barney, asking certain privileges so as to en-
able him anu his associates to connect the
United States and Belgium by direct SUBJ
marine cable.
Mr.. Sherman. from the Committee on FL
nance, reported with verbal amendment the
House joint resolution to construe the law rel
alive to tax on salaries, declaring the meaning
of the act to be that the tax shall be collected
until the year 1870. The bill was debated and
finally went over.
Bills were introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Patterson, to abolish the freedmen's
bureau and provide for bureau of education
By Mr. Pomeroy, proposing amendment to
the Constitution OF the United States, submit
ting 10th amendment, which when ratified
by three-quarters of the States, shall be part of
the Constitution of the United States The
basis of suffrage in the United States shall be
.hae Of eitirenship, and all natives and natu-
preg el5sns ne sa en9y the and
shall determine by law the age of the citizen
and the time of residence required for the ex-
ercise of the rights of suffrage, which shall an.
ply equally to all citizens, and shall make al
laws in regard to the time and place OF holding
elections. Referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary and ordered to be printed.
The Virginia bill was then taken UP.
A very sharp personal debate sprung up be-
tween Senators TIumbul and Sumner, in
which Mr.. Trumbull accused Mr. Sumner of
being the only Republican Senator who re-
fused to vote for the bill framed for the govern
ment of the rebel States, based upon suffrage
to the colored race. Mr.. Sumner retorted by
saying that the Senator from Illinois threw
the protection of his vote over Andrew John
son, the greatest enemy of reconstruction.
Each Senator was cautioned by the chair that
he had traasgressed the rule of parliamentary
debate. Each disclaimed any intention of vio-
lating the rules.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Summers re-
marks the chair stated the question to be upon
the pending amendment OF Mr.. Drake, to ad-
nit Virginia upon the fundamental conditions
by prohibiting any change or amendment of
the State constitution to deprive citizens of the
right to vote under the same who are now en-
titled to vote, except in punishment for crime;
but permitting any alterations in the constitu-
ton prospective.
The amendment was adopted-yeas 81, nays
%. Senator Hamlin voted yea and Senator
MoIrll nay.
Sundry other important amendments were
made and the bill finally passed-yeas AZ, nays
10-both Senators from Maine voting in the
affirmative. Mr.. Sumner of Massachusetts
declined voting.
Mr.. Schenck, chairman of the Committee ON
Ways and Means, asked and obtained leave
for that committee to set during the session of
the House, and at the same time notified the
House that he expected very early next week,
probably on Monday, to report a revision OF
the tariff BILL and that after its being reported
and ordered to be printed he would move at
the first fitting opportunity to go into commit
tee of the whole to take up the revision of the
internal revenue law.
Mr.. Garfield asked and obtained leave for
the Committee on Banking to sit during the
session.
Several petitions for the abolition of the
ranking privilege were presented from New
England.
After several private bills had been reported
and acted upon, Mr.. Butler of Mass. moved to
reconsider the vote by which one of them was
passed. He said he proposed to call the atten-
ton of the House briefly to the matter of finan-
ces, and reviewed the statements of his col
league, Mr.. Dawes He was called to order
for irrevelancy of his remarks. He gave no.
tice that he should move to go into committee
of the whole on the subject. Private bills were
then reported.
The remainder of the session was devoted 10
general debate. The session to- morrow will
also be devoted to miscellaneous discussions.