Year: 1874

/ ate proceed with the discussion of th.
finance resolution.


Senator Bayard said he desired to ad,
dress, and asked that the resolution gc
over until Thursday. The senator from
Wisconsin Mr.. .Carpenter1 would address
the se1ate Tomorrow on the Louisiana
matter. =


Senator Carpenter said he was not sure
he would be able to speak tomorrow
and the gedtleman Mr.. Bayardl could
proceed in the morning.


Senator Bayard agreed to do so.


Senator Sherman said it was his desire
to close debate on the resolution as soon
as possible.


The senate then proceeded to the con-
sideratioB of the calendar.


-First-The bill that was introduced
by Senator Sumner, on the first day of
the session, supplementary to the act to
protect all citizens of the United States
in their civil rights, and to furnish the
means for their vindication,
Senator Howe said he desired to sub
init some remarks on the bill, but was
not ready to do 80 to-day "a


Senator Ferry IConn. moved that the
bill be referred to the judiciary COM
mittee. -.-. ~ a.---.-S-4


Senator Summer said this was a very
good reason why this bill should not be
referred to that committee. 1t had
twice been before that committee and
there was no necessity of again sending
It there. The senate had acted on the
bill as a committee of the whole, and he
could see nothing in the motion to refer
tut mode of opposition by imposing
time, impediment and delay The bill
or har on 10
should have been acted upon the first
day of the session. His desire-he might
say, darling desire of his soul-was to
have this great question closed now, so
that it would never intrude again in this
chamber; so that never again in our
legislation would there be such a word
as white or black, but legislation should
be only for citizens.


Senator Frelinghuysen thought he
could answer the gentleman Senator
Sumner, that if the bill were referred
to the judiciary committee it would be
reported back perfected, within two
weeks.


Senator Sumner-Is the gentleman
member OF the judiciary committee?
Senator Frehnghuysen-Yes, sir.


Senator Sumner-I accept the gentle
mans assurance, aud consent to the re-
ference.


Senators Ferry [of Connecticut, Ed
munds, Stewart, and Morrill, Maine],
favored reference to the committee.


Senator Morton said he thought it time
that the civil rights bill should be passed,
and supposed its passing would not be
delayed. The senator from Massachu-
sets Mr.. Sumner was himself respOn-
sible that this bill was not perfected and
now before the senate to be acted upon.
Had he consented to q reference on the
the first days of the session, it would
have been before the senate now for ac-
ton. It was only in cases of pressing
emergency that bills were acted upon
without being referred to committee.
The senator had no one to blame but
himself.


Senator Sumner said that he intended
to say no more, but his friend from
Indiana Morton1 came forward to
throw a little blame on him. He said
that It was only in cases of pressure or
emergency that bills were acted on
without reference. Was not this a case
of emergency? The bill had been be-
fore the senate four years; during which
time portions of our fellow-citiZens,
counted by millions, had been exposed
to indignity. Had the senator from
Indiana Morten] come tohis assistance
on the first day of the session, the bill
would have been fastened on its way,
and the people so long insulted would
now be raised to equality.


Senator Salisbury was opposed to so
much discussion about the colored man,
and nothing about the white people.


The bill was referred to the Judiciary
com mmittee.


The joint resolution on the proposition
for an amendment to the constitution,
providing for the election of President
by direct vote of the people, and abol-
ishing the office of President, in
troduced by Senator Sumner on the first
day of the session, being next on the
calendar, Senator Sumner said that he
believed that the President Of the Uni
ted States should be elected by the peo-
pie direct, without the intervention of
the electoral college.


Senator Morton said that the commit
tee on privileges and election had the
subject under consideration and would
report soon. The resolution was re-
ferred to the committee on privileges
aud election.


Senator Edmunds said, thaton Thurs.
day he would ask the senate to take up
the bankrupt bill.


The bill to authorize the organization
Of national banks without circulation,
was then taken up. f


Senator Morton offered as an addi-
tional section his bill authorizing ma
tional banks that have reduced
their capital stock, to withdraw
a proportion of their bonds upon re-
turning their own circulating notes and
depositing lawful money of the United
States in proportion provided by law.


Senator Thurman said he was op-
posed to the passage of the bill. He did
not think that congress could charter
banks in this way without limitation.


Senator Bayard moved to strike out
the first ten lines Of the oil, which au-
thorize the organization Of banks with
out circulation upon depositing with the
treasurer of the United States ten thou
sand dollars in registered bonds, so that
the bill would not only author
ize the national banks already
organized without circulation to with
draw their bonds in excess of ten thou
sand dollars, but also the national banks
to Withdraw their bonds on deposit as
security for their circulating notes, in
amounts of ten thousand dollars, upon
returning to the comptroller of
currency the lawful money, to
be deposited in the treasury of
the United States for the redemption of
an amount of circulating notes of such
banks equal to the amount issued upon
such bonds. After some discussion, the
vote was taken on the amendment of
Senator Bayard, and the fact was devel-
oped that no quorum was present. The
senate then adjourned.