New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04


paid sum OF over SIS, 900 600 to Union veterans.
An act providing for the coinage OF the five-cent
nicaels Approved May &C. 1866. An act reviv
ing the grade OF General of the Army, in order
that General Grant might be appointed TO that
high place Approved July 81. 1866 An act
was passed granting S10J 900 in rewards to the
captors OF the assassins Of Lincoln. Several acts
were passed granting lands 70 aid in the con-
s,ructon Of railroads in the West.
CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE FOURTEENTH
Z AMENDMENT
This session also placed on the statute books
the famous Civil Rights bill. An Act to Protect
All Persons in the United States In Their Civn
Rights and Furnish the Means Of Their Nindica-
tion" The act declared that all persons born
in the United States and not subjects Of any for
eign nation Excluding Indians not taxed). should
thenceforth DO citizens OF the United States.
An act was passed reducing internal revenue
taxation about S75.0OO.00o. Approved July l3'
1866 This measure repealed wholly the war
taxes. which had been imposed many articles
Of manufacture and lowered the taxes on others
favorng the necessares of lie rather than the
comforts and uxuries. The Army and Navy
having been reduced nearly TO peace footing
the revenue was now in excess OF the needs OF the
Government. and the Republicans in Congress
rrornptly went as far as possible toward reliev-
Ing the people from the financial burdens Oh the
war.
In order still further to settle for all time GER
tain issues of the war this session Of Congress
Also passed a resolution submitting To the
States a Fourteenth amendment TO the Constr
tuition comforting citizenship upon all persons
born in the United States. not subject TO ior-
eign Power: apportoning representation IN So"-
gress in accordance with the number OF persons
in each State allowed. 10y State law, to VOTE
excluding from civil Office all public oilicia's
who. having taken an oath to support the Con-
stitution afterward Joined in the Rebei1ioh' pro-
ylding that the validity Of the public debt shou'u
never be questioned. and forb'dding payment q.
the rebel debt or claims for the emancipation VI
slaves This amendment was passed IN the SEN
ate June s 1866. by - yeas ,all RepuDhcahs) 10
II nays a Republicans. I Democrats; IN me me
House June IL. 1866. by vote OF l-o yeas 'tii
Kepub,icans) to 80 hays ,evers negative vote
Dernocratic). II reached the State Department
On June III. lS'b ~ 100000,
president Johnson sent n gra,utous Message
T. Congress. expressing his dlsarproNaI VI 11'o
amendment. but as the resolution did not re-
Quire his signature. IL was sent OUT u! 'iie N'a''
Department to the several states: ,,or,
During 1866 Tennessee. n state IN Wnlch llcie
had ALWAYS been L strong Republican ana pro
cressive element. ratified the amendment
promptly: but ten other Southern states true
to the reaCtlOnary anu
the Democratic party, rejected 1t dehantly'
Enough Northern States approved the aihehu
ment to give il validity. however ard IL became
part OF the Constitution HAD the zen "ou. ,,
ern States accepted this measure they would
have been readmitted 10 the Union al the heA'
session Of Congress
CONFLICT WITH THE PRESIDENT.
The second regular annual session OF the
NXNIXth Congress began December 3, ls0S'
ending March q. 1867. 1t thus composed:
neutrality-suspicious.. A.; Democrats. To- To-
tai -
House-Schuyler Colfax Rep) Of Indiana
Speaker: Republicans. l4o; Democrats III lo-
tai 1871
This session brought President Johnson direct
~ in conflict with the patriotic Republican ma
jority In Congress. and led to conduct on MS
part for which subsequently, Impeachment &C
ton was taken against him
Early in the winter IL was seen that unless
Congress should remain in session to act as
check upon the President. Mr.. Johnson's growing
animosity toward the Reconstruction policy OF
the Republican party might lead him to extrava-
CANT and dangerous actions. An act was passed,
therefore becoming a law January -. lSiO.
providing that. in addition to the regular annual
meetings in December Of each year, Congress
should thereafter meet on March 4. at the be-
ginning Of the term for which the Congress was
elected Then that body might remain in con-
tnuous session for the whole term Of the two
years for which it elected. IL necessary, TO
counteract the treachery OF President Johnson.
The Southern States having in most cases re-
3ected the Fourteenth amendment TO the Con-
stitu,ion and refused 10 reorganze their gov
ernments In correspondence with tina, amend |
ment Congress At this session passed a Recon- |
siruction act which placed the Southern States. |
f,r he ffra holm mi Wi a
military Governor for each State. This act prom /
is,i admission 10 The HMM 20 zach STAG how |