Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, as reorganized un- | passed the Senate February 19, 1868, and the der the Presidential plan-13 in all. NOT ACTED-Iowa, California, Nebraska-3. Subsequent Action of State Legislatures. Since that date, Iowa and Nebraska ratified the amendment and California rejected it, thus increasing the ratifying States to 23, and the rejecting to 4, excluding the insurrectionary States, or 14 with them. The Legislatures of Ohio and New Jersey of 1868 passed resolutions for the withdrawal of their previous ratification. In Ohio the vote on withdrawing, January 13, 1868, was as follow: House February 20, but was vetoed by the Governor. The resolution was repassed over the Governor's veto, in the Senate, March 5-yeas 11, nays 9, as follow : YEAS-Messrs, Anderson, Bowne, Dater, Edsall, Gaskill, Hopper, Little, (President,) Rice, Robins, Wildrick, Win- The vote on passing in the House, March 25, was yeas 45, nays 13, as follow: YEAS-Messrs. Albertson, Allen, J. L. Baldwin, Bergen, Brown, Christie, H. C. Clark, H. F. Clark, Coghlan, Collins, Corlies, Corson, Cox, Duryer, Evans, (Speaker,) Fulmer, Givens. Hedden, Hendrickson, Henry, Hering, Hood, In Senate-yeas 19, nays 17, as follow: Hough, Huff, Hunt, Jones, Lanning, Lippincott, Magona YEAS-Messrs. Berry, Campbell, Carter, Dickey, Dowd-gle, Maxwell, Molony, Pearce, Pickel, Price, Probasco, ney, Emmitt, Evans, Godfrey, Golden, Hutcheson, Jami Rosenbaum, Sharp, Smith, Strong, Taylor, Van Vorst, son, Kenney, Lawrence, Linn, May, Rex, Scribner, Stam- Vliet, Westcott, Whelan, Wills-45. (One Democrat abbaugh, Winner-19. sent.) NAYS-Messrs. Biggs, Brooks, Burrows, Conant, Corey, Everett, Griswold, Hall, Jones, Keifer, Kessler, Kraner, Potts, Simmons, Torrence, Woodworth, Yeo man-17. In House-yeas 56, nays 46, as follow: YEAS-Messrs. Acker, Baker, Ball, Belville, Boehmer, Branch, Buell, Callen, Cockerill, Cusac, Denman, Dilworth, Dungan, Fielding, Finley, Fitch, Gaston, Gerhart, Gordon, Headley, Henricks, Hill of Defiance, Hord, Hughes of Butler, Hughes of Highland, Jewett, Jones, Kemp, Kennon, Larwill, Lawson, Leete, Mann, McMarrell, Moffett, Neal, Newman, Nichol, Parks, Parr, Pennisten, Read, Richardson, Robinson, Ross, Rutter, Shaw, Stickney, Swaim, Swetland, Thompson of Stark, Thornhill, Walling, Wilson, Worth, Mr. Speaker Follett-56. NAYS-Messrs. Anderson, Betts, Borden, Bronson, Brooke, Canfield, Cannon, Carpenter, Coleman, Dennis, Dickson, Dunn, Eames, Gallup, Hare, Hill of Erie, Hill of Fulton, Howard, Johnson, Kain, Kennett, Kerr of Fayette, Kerr of Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lewton, McMorran, Moore, Parker, Pond, Ritezell, Rough, Rukenbrod, Saylor, Scott of Hamilton, Scott of Warren, Sherwin, Sinclair, Sisler, Skaats, Thompson of Columbiana, Ullery, Warnking, Warren, Welsh, Wolf -46. In New Jersey, the resolution of withdrawal NAYS-Messrs. Atwater, J. R. Baldwin, Cowperthwaite, Gage, Keim, Kennedy, Lord, Mackin, Nixon, Peck, Reeves, Speer, Van Voorhies-13. (One Republican absent.) Of the Insurrectionary Statos, Arkansas ratified the amendment, April 6, Senate, yeas 23, nays 0; and, April 3, House, yeas 56, nays 0. Florida ratified the amendment, June 9, in Senate, yeas 10, nays 3; and in House of Representatives, yeas 25, nays 14. North Carolina ratified it, July 1, in the Senate 36 to 2, in the House 72 to 23. With the ratification by the Legislatures of the remaining States whose restoration to representation is dependent upon that condition, as set forth in the act of June 25, 1868, the requisite three-fourths of the thirty-seven States will be secured, even conceding the right of Ohio and New Jersey to withdraw. port from Washington says it is probable an Votes on Constitutional Amendments in the enabling act will pass. We do not know what to believe. I find nothing here. LEWIS E. PARSONS. Exchange Hotel. His Excellency ANDREW JOHNSON, President. REPLY OF THE PRESIDENT. UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. C., January 17, 1867. What possible good can be obtained by reconsidering the constitutional amendment? I know of none in the present posture of affairs; and I do not believe the people of the whole country will sustain any set of individuals in attempts change the whole character of our Government by enabling acts or otherwise. I believe, on the contrary, that they will eventually uphold all who have the patriotism and courage to stand by the Constitution, and who place their confidence in the people. There should be no faltering on the part of those who are honest in their determination to sustain the several co-ordinate departments of the Government, in accordance with its original design. ANDREW JOHNSON. Hon. LEWIS E. PARSONS, Montgomery, Alabama. States. IN MICHIGAN. Against the amendment...... For the amendment........................................ 216,987 ing interest at the rate of 6 per cent. per an255,340 and payable twenty years from date, and bear. Total vote......... Majority against on vote cast..................................................................... IN KANSAS. 50,629 472,327 num, payable semi-annually. And the bonds 38,353 herein authorized shall be of such denominations, 12,276 not less than $50, as may be determined upon by the Secretary of the Treasury. And the Secretary of the Treasury may dispose of such bonds at any time, at the market value thereof, for the coin of the United States, or for any of the treasury notes that have been or may here. after be issued under any former act of Congress, or for United States notes that may be issued under the provisions of this act; and all stocks, bonds, and other securities of the United States held by individuals, corporations, or associations, within the United States, shall be exempt from taxation by or under State authority. In November, 1867, the vote was taken on three proposed amendments respecting voters: First. To strike out the word "white." Second. To strike out the word "male." Third. To disfranchise rebels. The votes were as follows: On striking out" white," the yeas were 10,483, nays 19,421. Majority against, 8,938. On striking out "male," the yeas were, 9,070, nays 19,857. Majority against, 10,787. On disfranchising rebels, the yeas were 15,672, nays 12,990. Majority for, 2,682. IN MINNESOTA. In November, 1867, on a vote to amend the constitution so as to extend suffrage without regard to color, the yeas were 27,461, the nays 28,759. IN ILLINOIS. In November, 1868, a vote is to be taken for or against calling a convention to form a new constitution. FINANCIAL LEGISLATION. Act Authorizing the 6's of 1881. July 17. 1861-An act to authorize a national loan, and for other purposes. Act Creating a Sinking Fund, &c. SEC. 5. That all duties on imported goods shall be paid in coin, or in notes payable on demand heretofore authorized to be issued and by law receivable in payment of public dues, and the coin so paid shall be set apart as a special fund, and shall be applied as follows: First. To the payment in coin of the interest on the bonds and notes of the United States. Second. To the purchase or payment of one per centum of the entire debt of the United States, to be made within each fiscal year after the 1st day of July, 1862, which is to be set apart as a sinking-fund, and the interest of which shall in like manner be applied to the purchase or payment of the public debt as the Secretary of the Treasury shall from time to time direct. Third. The residue thereof to be paid into the Treasury of the United States. Act Authorizing the 10.40's. March 3, 1864-An act supplementary to an act entitled "An act to provide ways and means for the support of the Government," approved March 3, 1863. SEC. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to borrow on the credit of the United States, within twelve months from the passage of this act, a sum not exceeding $250,000,000, or so much thereof as he may deem necessary for the public service, for which he is authorized to issue coupon bonds, or registered bonds, or treasury notes, in such proportions of each as he may deem advisable; the bonds to bear interest not exceeding 7 per cent. per annum, payable semiannually, irredeemable for twenty years, and after that period redeemable at the pleasure of the United States; and the treasury notes to be of any denomination fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury, not less than $50, and to be payable three years after date, with interest at the rate of seven and three-tenths per cent. per an-years, and payable at any period not more than num, payable semi-annually. Act Authorizing the 5.20's. February 25, 1862-An act to authorize the issue of United States notes, and for the redemption or funding thereof, and for funding the floating debt of the United States. SEO 1. Be it enacted, &c. That in lieu of so much of the loan authorized by the act of March 3, 1863, to which this is supplementary, the Sec retary of the Treasury is authorized to borrow, from time to time, on the credit of the United States, not exceeding $200,000,000 during the current fiscal year, and to prepare and issue therefor coupon or registered bonds of the United States, bearing date March 1, 1864, or any subsequent period, redeemable at the pleasure of the government after any period not less than five forty years from date, in coin, and of such denom. inations as may be found expedient, not less than $50, bearing interest not exceeding six per centum a year, payable on bonds not over $100 annually, and on all other bonds semi-annually, in coin; and he may dispose of such bonds at any time, on such terms as he may deem most advisable, for lawful money of the United States, or, at his discre SEC. 2. That to enable the Secretary of the tion, for treasury notes, certificates of indebted Treasury to fund the treasury notes and floating ness, or certificates of deposit, issued under any debt of the United States, he is hereby author- act of Congress; and all bonds issued under this ized to issue, on the credit of the United States, act shall be exempt from taxation by or under coupon bonds, or registered bonds, to an amount State or municipal authority. And the Secre not exceeding $500,000,000, redeemable at the tary of the Treasury shall pay the necessary * * * * * * * et Li 6 30 teans pleasure of the United States after five years, expenses of the preparation, issue, and disposal roth 4 of such bonds out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, but the amount so paid shall not exceed one-half of one per centum of the amount of the bonds so issued and disposed of. Act Authorizing the Consolidated Loan of 1865. March 3, 1865-An act to provide ways and means to support the government. SEC. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to borrow, from time to time, on the credit of the United States, $400,000,000, and to issue therefor coupon or registered bonds of the United States, redeemable at the pleasure of the Government, after any period not less than five, nor more than thirty years, or, if deemed expedient, made payable at any period not more than forty years from date. And said bonds shall be of such denominations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall direct, not less than fifty dollars, and bear an annual interest not exceeding six per centum, payable semi-annually in coin. And the Secretary of the Treasury may dispose of such bonds, or any part thereof, and of any bonds unsold, in the United States, or if he shall find commonly known as five-twenties remaining it expedient, in Europe, at any time, on such terms as he may deem most advisable, for lawful money of the United States, or, at his discretion, for treasury notes, certificates of indebtedness, or certificates of deposit issued under any act of Congress. And all bonds, treasury notes, and other obligations of the United States, shall be exempt from taxation by or under State or municipal authority. SEC. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized to borrow, from time to time, on the credit of the United States, in addition to the amounts heretofore authorized, any sums not exceeding in the aggregate $600,000,000, and to issue therefor bonds or treasury notes of the United States, in such form as he may prescribe; and so much thereof as may be issued in bonds shall be of denominations not less than $50, and may be made payable at any period not more than forty years from date of issue, or may be made redeemable, at the pleasure of the government, at or after any period not less than five years nor more than forty years from date, or may be made redeemable and payable as aforesaid, as may be expressed upon their face; and so much thereof as may be issued in treasury notes may be made convertible into any bonds authorized by this act, and may be of such denominations SEC. 2. That the Secretary of the Treasury may not less than $50-and bear such dates and issue on the credit of the United States, and in be made redeemable or payable at such periods lieu of an equal amount of bonds authorized as in the opinion of the Secretary of the Treas- by the preceding section. and as a part of said ury may be deemed expedient. And the inter-loan, not exceeding $200,000,000 in treasury est on such bonds shall be payable semi-annu- notes, of any denomination not less than ten ally; and on treasury notes authorized by this dollars, payable at any time not exceeding act the interest may be made payable semithree years from date, or, if thought more expeannually, or annually, or at maturity thereof; dient, redeemable at any time after three years and the principal or interest, or both, may be from date, and bearing interest not exceeding male payable in coin or in other lawful money: the rate of seven and three tenths per centum, Provided, That the rate of interest on any such payable in lawful money at maturity, or, at the bords or treasury notes, when payable in coin; the said treasury notes may be disposed of by the discretion of the Secretary, semi-annually. And shall not exceed six per cent. per annum; and when not payable in coin shall not exceed seven Secretary of the Treasury on the best terms that and three-tenths per cent. per annum; and the can be obtained, for lawful money; and such of rate and character of interest shall be expressed interest, at maturity, shall be a legal tender to them as shall be made payable, principal and on all such bonds or treasury notes. Act Creating Legal Tenders. February 25, 1862-An act to authorize the issue of United States notes and for the redemption or funding thereof, and for funding the floating debt of the United States. SEC. 1. * * * And provided further, That the amount of the two kinds of notes together shall at no time exceed the sum of $150,000,000, and such notes herein authorized shall be receiva ble in payment of all taxes, internal duties, excises, debts, and demands of every kind due to the United States, except duties on imports, and of all claims and demands against the United States of every kind whatsoever, except for interest upon bonds and notes, which shall be paid in coin, and shall also be lawful money and a legal tender in payment of all debts, public and private, within the United States, except duties on imports and interest as aforesaid. Act Limiting the Amount of "Greenbacks." June 30, 1864.—An act to provide ways and means for the support of the government, and for other purposes. the same extent as United States notes for their face value, excluding interest, and may be paid to any creditor of the United States at their face value, excluding interest, or to any creditor willing to receive them at par, including interest; and any treasury notes issued under the authority of this act may be made convertible, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, into any bonds issued under the authority of this act. And the Secretary of the Treasury may redeem and cause to be cancelled and destroyed any treasury notes or United States notes heretofore issued under authority of previous acts of Congress, and substitute, in lieu thereof, an equal amount of treasury notes such as are authorized by this act, or of other United States notes: Provided, That the total amount of bonds and treasury notes authorized by the first and second sections of this act shall not exceed $400,000,000, in addition to the amounts heretofore issued; nor shall the total amount of United States notes, issued or to be issued, ever exceed $400,000,000, and such additional sum, not exceeding $50,000,000, as may be temporarily required for the redemption of tem porary loan; nor shall any treasury note bear- | State. Information with regard to offenders is ing interest, issued under this act, be a legal tender in payment or redemption of any notes issued by any bank, banking association, or banker, calculated or intended to circulate as -money. Important Military Order in Texas. AUSTIN, TEXAS, June 11, 1868. [General Orders, No. 13.] Trustworthy information received at these headquarters shows that in many counties in Texas organized bands of lawless men are committing murders, and otherwise violating the laws and disturbing the peace of the country: It is therefore ordered, that all civil officers use increased diligence to arrest parties so offending. For this purpose, military aid will be rendered on application to any post commander in this requested from all citizens. Such information may be sent direct to these headquarters, or to the most convenient military post. When civil officers fail to discharge their duty, evidence to that effect is requested, to the end that proper steps may be taken in the premises. Where prisoners cannot be safely kept by the civil authorities, they may be taken to the most conve nient military post, the commander whereof will receive the same, and hold them subject to orders from these headquarters. Full report and list of witnesses will be promptly forwarded in each case, in accordance with General Orders No. 41, from these headquarters, of November 22, 1867. By command of Bvt. Maj. Gen. J. J. Reynolds. XXXIV. NATIONAL PLATFORMS OF 1852, 1856, 1860 AND 1864. NATIONAL PLATFORMS OF 1852. Democratic, at Baltimore, June. Resolved, That the American Democracy place their trust in the intelligence, the patriotism, and the discriminating justice of the American people. I 2. That the Constitution does not confer upon the General Government the power to commence and carry on a general system of internal im provements. II. Resolved, That we regard this as a distinctive feature of our political creed, which we are proud to maintain before the world as the great moral element in a form of government springing from and upheld by the popular will; and we contrast it with the creed and practice of Federalism, under whatever name or form, which seeks to palsy the will of the constituent, and which conceives no imposture too monstrous for the popular credulity. 3. That the Constitution does not confer authority upon the Federal Government, directly or indirectly, to assume the debts of the several States, contracted for local internal improvements or other State purposes; nor would such assumption be just and expedient. that 4 That justice and sound policy forbid the Federal Government to foster one branch of industry to the detriment of any other, or to cher ish the interests of one portion to the injury of another portion of our common country; every citizen, and every section of the country, has a right to demand and insist upon an equality of rights and privileges, and to com plete and ample protection of persons and prop erty from domestic violence or foreign aggres sion. III. Resolved, therefore, That, entertaining these views, the Democratic party of this Union, through their delegates assembled in a general convention of the States, coming together in a spirit of concord, of devotion to the doctrines and faith of a free representative government, and appealing to their fellow-citizens for the rectitude of their intentions, renew and re-assert before the American people the declarations of principles avowed by them when, on former occasions, in general convention, they presented their candidates for the popular suffrage: 5. That it is the duty of every branch of the Government to enforce and practice the most rigid economy in conducting our public affairs, and that no more revenue ought to be raised than is required to defray the necessary expen ses of the Government, and for the gradual but certain extinction of the public debt. 1. That the Federal Government is one of limited powers, derived solely from the Constitution, and the grants of power made therein ought to be strictly construed by all the departments and agents of the Government; and that it is inexpedient and dangerous to exercise doubtful constitutional powers. 6. That Congress has no power to charter national bank; that we believe such an insti tution one of deadly hostility to the best interests of the country, dangerous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control of a concentrated money power, and above the laws and the will of the birds o G people; and that the results of democratic legislation, in this and all other financial measures upon which issues have been made between the two political parties of the country, have demonstrated, to candid and practical men of all parties, their soundness, safety, and utility, in all business pursuits. tives, until the judgment of the people can be obtained thereon, and which has saved the American people from the corrupt and tyrannical domination of the Bank of the United States, and from a corrupting system of general internal improvements. VIII. Resolved, That the Democratic party 7. That the separation of the moneys of the will faithfully abide by and uphold the prinGovernment from banking institutions is indis- ciples laid down in the Kentucky and Virginia pensable for the safety of the funds of the Gov-resolutions of 1798* and in the report of Mr. ernment and the rights of the people. 8. That the liberal principles embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, and sanctioned in the Constitution, which makes ours the land of liberty and the asylum of the oppressed of every nation, have ever been cardinal principles in the democratic faith; and every attempt to abridge the present privilege of becoming citizens and the owners of soil among us, ought to be resisted with the same spirit which swept the alien and sedition laws from our statute-books. 9. That Congress has no power under the Constitution to interfere with or control the domestic institutions of the several States, and that such States are the sole and proper judges of everything appertaining to their own affairs, not prohibited by the Constitution; that all efforts of the abolitionists or others, made to induce Congress to interfere with questions of slavery, or to take incipient steps in relation thereto, are calculated to lead to the most alarming and dangerous consequences; and that all such efforts have an inevitable tendency to diminish the happiness of the people, and endanger the stability and permanency of the Union, and ought not to be countenanced by any friend of our political institutions. IV. Resolved, That the foregoing proposition covers, and was intended to embrace, the whole subject of slavery agitation in Congress; and, therefore, the Democratic party of the Union, standing upon this national platform, will abide by and adhere to a faithful execution of the acts known as the compromise measures settled by the last Congress, "the act for reclaiming fugitives from service or labor" included; which act, being designed to carry out an express provision of the Constitution, cannot, with fidelity thereto, be repealed or so changed as to destroy or impair its efficiency. V. Resolved, That the Democratic party will resist all attempts at renewing, in Congress or out of it, the agitation of the slavery question, under whatever shape or color the attempt may be made. VI. Resolved, That the proceeds of the public lands ought to be sacredly applied to the national objects specified in the Constitution; and that we are opposed to any law for the distribution of such proceeds among the States, as alike inexpedient in policy and repugnant to the Constitution. VII. Resolved, That we are decidedly opposed to taking from the President the qualified veto power, by which he is enabled, under restrictions and responsibilities amply sufficient to guard the public interest, to suspend the passage of a bill whose merits can not secure the approval of twothirds of the Senate and House of RepresentaG Madison to the Virginia Legislature in 1799; that it adopts those principles as constituting one of the main foundations of its political creed, and is resolved to carry them out in their obvious meaning and import. IX. Resolved, That the war with Mexico, upon all the principles of patriotism and the laws of nations, was a just and necessary war on our part, in which every American citizen should have shown himself on the side of his country, and neither morally nor physically, by word or deed, have given "aid and comfort to the enemy. X. Resolved, That we rejoice at the restoration of friendly relations with our sister Republic of Mexico, and earnestly desire for her all the blessings and prosperity which we enjoy under republican institutions; and we congratulate the American people upon the results of that war, which have so manifestly justified the policy and conduct of the Democratic party, and insured to the United States "indemnity for the past, and security for the future." XI. Resolved, That, in view of the condition of popular institutions in the Old World, a high and sacred duty is devolved, with increased.responsibility, upon the Democratic party of this country, as the party of the people, to uphold and maintain the rights of every State, and thereby the Union of the States, and to sustain and advance among us constitutional liberty, by continuing to resist all monopolies and exclusive legislation for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many, and by a vigilant and constant adherence to those principles and compromises of the Constitution, which are broad enough and strong enough to embrace and uphold the Union as it was, the Union as it is, and the Union as it shall be, in the full expan sion of the energies and capacity of this great and progressive people. Whig, at Baltimore, June. tion assembled, firmly adhering to the great conThe Whigs of the United States, in convenservative republican principles by which they are controlled and governed, and now, as ever, relying upon the intelligence of the American' people, with an abiding confidence in their capacity for self-government and their continued devotion to the Constitution and the Union, do proclaim the following as the political sentiments and determinations for the establishment and maintenance of which their national organization as a party is effected: a I. The Government of the United States is of limited character, and it is confined to the ex ual for 1867, or pages 254-257 of the Combined Manual. *For these resolutions, see pages 128-131 of the Man |