The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January ID.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. Goldthwaite, of Alabama, was
sworn, and took his seat.
Mr.. Fenton presented the petition oil
Hon. George r. Selden and over one
thousand other citizens OF Rochester,
New York, praying for the reduction
of the tariff to a revenue basis, and es-
pecially for the removal Of duties upon
salt, coal and pig iron; also, a petition
of the ladies of Albany, New York.
protesting against woman suffrage. ,
Mr.. Hamlin presented a memorial
against an appropriation for the heirs
OF Demorton for the discovery OF their
heirs. -.
Mr.. Sumner presented several petl-
tions for the passage Of his supplement
tary civil rights bill.
Mr.. Edmunds presented thirty-twoo
petitions from Vermont for the repeal
OF duty on salt.
Mr.. Cole presented a petition OF the
Chinese dealers on the Pacific coast for
the reduction of duty on rice.
The Vice President reminded him
that petitions OF foreigners can be re-
ceived only at the State Department.
Mr.. Cole thought that the rule ap-
piled only to foreigners residing abroad,
and Mr.. Sumner said it ought TO apply
only 10 those.
The Vice President said the rulings
upon the subject were to the effect that
the subjects OF foreign power must
approach the United States Govern
ment through the State Department.
Messrs. Scott and Davis, OF Ken
lucky, opposed the reception OF Pc
titions from foreigners, except where
they related to personal or property
rights.
Mr. Morrill,, of Vermont, thought the
Senate ought not to be too particular
about receiving this petition, in view Of
the fact that it was continually recelv-
ing petitions for free trade prepared by
an organization Of foreigners in New
York.
The question was taken and the
petition was referred to the committee
on Finance.
Mr.. Blair offered joint resolution
directing the Ku.Klux committee to
inquire without delay into the condi-
ton of affairs in Louisiana and asked
it's immediate consideration.
Mr.. Edmunds said he had been re-
auested by Mr.. West, OF Louisiana, who
was temporarily absent, to ask the post.
ponement OF any measure relating to
Louisiana until his return. He there
fore objected to the presentation and
consideration Of the resolution and it
went over.
ALP. NJ. the amnesty bill came
up as unfinished business.
Mr.. Summers supplementary civil
rights bill, being then pending amend
ment, it was read.
Mr.. Sumner addressed the Senate
upon it. lie said that slavery, in q
disguised and modified form, still ex-
listed, in so far as the colored people
were denied civil rights, and that it
must be abolished before the great work
could be complete. He reviewed the
injuries and indignities suffered by the
colored people, and cited the emf
nent cases of Frederick Douglass
and Lieut.. Gov. 0. j. Dunn. He
denied that equal rights before
the law was a question Of social
equality. All institutions created or
recognized by law was not question of
society. Separate hotels, conveyances,
&c, were but artificial substitutes for
equality. The substitute is invariably
an inferior article. He cited the old
English law on the subject Of inns or
hotels, which were bound to receive all
persons without distinction, and the
decisions in this country sustaining the
same principle, which applies with
equal force to public conveyances, COM
mon schools, etc. He dwelt at length
on the subject of public schools, giving
illustrations Of the bardships imposed
on colored children by their exclusion.
He declared that by the decree against
slavery all semblance of apology for
prejudice of color was removed. In
conclusion, Mr.. Sumner regretted that
the President, in his message, favored
amnesty, while he said nothing OF the
disabilities inflicted on the colored
people.
Mr.. Vickers, of Missouri, followed
Mr.. Sumper in a long argument in
favor of amnesty, stating that he con-
sidered Mr.. Summers amendment I'M
worthy of notice, as it was unconst;tu-
tional.
The Senate then, without further
action, went into executive session and
afterwards adjourned.