Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-27
Senatorial
Sharpness.

ago as the troublesome
Senatorial reconstruction question
was being handled and
VIAL PAess' the issues with the
President were reaching climax. In
The Star of February %, 1866. is an
item descriptive of a scene in the Sem
ate illustrative Of the situation:
"In the Senate today. on the conclu-
sion of the morning hour, there was
an animated discussion upon the ques-
ton OF taking up the House resolution
providing against reception Of southern
representatives, except at the pleasure
Of Congress. Mr.. Sherman thought it
should be postponed for a few days. to
allow time for alignment of excite
ment. It had been passed in the House
in the heat of the moment, under the
influence of the veto. He thought the
political differences were wide enough
without increasing them needlessly.
The resolution. il adopted, would
amount to nothing practically, as it was
a simple assertion of power that had
been made over and over again by the
Senate.
Mr.. Fessenden, who had called up
the resolution, said that he had called
It up because he had given notice of
his intention to do 80 on Wednesday,.
He denied any purpose in doing SO to
carry on a political wrangle-as spoken
of by the senator from Ohio-with the
President of the United States.
"Mr. Sherman disavowed using the
word 'wrangle.'
Mr.. Fessenden (sharply): You did
Mr.. F. went on to speak Of the Pres
ident's action toward Congress upon
this question of representation. No
body ever heard him speak of the
President except in respectful terms
he nf
most important to be settled at this
time, and he thought that most of
them were of an age not to be unduly
excited. AS for himself. he thought he
could get over it with one nights sleep
Mr.. Sherman said he did not remem-
Der the word 'wrangle.' and il he did
it was one he did not wish to use
He thought the events that transpired
yesterday were too fresh in the minds
of every senator not to have some in
fiuence. The words uttered today I'M
der that influence might not be as dis
passionate as desirable. The question
of taking up was further discussed and
was finally decided in the affirmative"
A case occurred at Annapolis at this
time fifty years ago that illustrated
one of the Difficult
Maryland's Law ties under which
the government was
the freedmen Of the former slave states
upon an independent basis. Communi-
cations had been received that the
pegroes of the Annapolis neighborhood
were destitute, and Gen. Howard sent
an investigating officer there who re-
ported that he could find but little
Gil h11f "a hy,C h n
petrated upon some of the freedmen
under the Maryland apprentice law.
which practically permitted slavery. In
one case a colored woman. sick with
of her sole support. that of son. who
had been made an apprentice under
the state law to a white master ito
learn habits of industry" He had been
supporting his mother and himself
up to that time The of
apprentice law was an instrument of
oppression. CRYING evil for which
remedy should be found. adding: with
Judges and magistrates generally I'M
him. the negro finds himself powerless
to oppose the separation of his family,
even though the law provides that the
consent OF the parents must be OBJ
tanned before fndentures binding their
children can be executed"
X X
The President having vetoed the
freedmans bureau bill. his first public
appearance was at the
President and White House. where he
His Critics issues aue of S't tse d on the he
connection with the Washington
birthday celebration. This speech gave
great offense to his critics. OF it The
Star said. February &c. 1866:
THE latest speech of the President
seems to have intensified the acrimony
and bitterness of that portion of the
northern press and people which af-
fects to believe that the south is ready
at any moment to renew a contest in
which it met the most overwhelming
and crushing defeat ever told in his
tory. The impotent rawlings of a few
stay at-home editors. whose business
it was during the rebellion to fire the
southern heart. and the malignant
taunts of a few ambitious politicians
whose visions of high places in a slave
empire have come to naught, are held
up to loyal men as indications of the
animus which still actuates the mass
of southern people.
Instead Of widening the breach be-
tween Congress and the executive, and
the loyal men Of the country
on this subordinate question of policy.