Mr. Davis moved to amend the title by substituting for it, "A bill to appropriate a portion of the public land in some of the Southern States and to authorize the United States Government to purchase lands to supply farms and build houses upon them for the freed negroes; to promote strife and conflict between the white and black races; and to invest the Freedmen's Bureau with unconstitutional powers to aid and assist the blacks, and to introduce military power to prevent the commissioner and other officers of said bureau from being restrained or held responsible in civil courts for their illegal acts in rendering such aid and assistance to the blacks, and for other purposes."
The President pro tempore pronounced the amendment "not in order, inconsistent with the character of the bill, derogatory to the Senate, a reproach to its members."
Mr. McDougall declared the proposed amendment "an insult to the action of the Senate."
The unfortunate proposition was quietly abandoned by its author, and passed over without further notice by the Senate. By unanimous consent, the title of the bill remained as first reported.
CHAPTER VII.
THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Bill reported to the House — Mr. Eliot's Speech —
History — Mr. Dawson vs. the Negro — Mr. Garfield — The
Idol Broken — Mr. Taylor counts the Cost — Mr. Donnelly's
Amendment — Mr. Kerr — Mr. Marshall on White Slavery —
Mr. Hubbard — Mr. Moulton — Opposition from Kentucky —
Mr. Ritter — Mr. Rousseau's Threat — Mr. Shanklin's Gloomy
Prospect — Mr. Trimble's Appeal — Mr. Mckee an exceptional
Kentuckian — Mr. Grinnell on Kentucky — the Example of
Russia — Mr. Phelps — Mr. Shellabarger's Amendment — Mr.
Chanler — Mr. Stevens' Amendments — Mr. Eliot closes the
Discussion — Passage of the Bill — Yeas and Nays.
On the day succeeding the passage of the bill in the Senate, it was sent to the House of Representatives, and by them referred to the Select Committee on the Freedmen.
On the 30th of January, Mr. Eliot, Chairman of this committee, reported the bill to the House with amendments, mainly verbal alterations.
In a speech, advocating the passage of the bill, Mr. Eliot presented something of the history of legislation for the freedmen. He said: "On the 3d day of last March the bill establishing a Freedmen's Bureau became a law. It was novel legislation, without precedent in the history of any nation, rendered necessary by the rebellion of eleven slave States and the consequent liberation from slavery of four million persons whose unpaid labor had enriched the lands and impoverished the hearts of their relentless masters.