Skip Skip PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. The PRESIDENT protempore. The Chair has received, and been requested to present to the Senate, the memorial of Major General Hooker and a number of officers of the U.S. Army, praying Congress that when officers of the Army who have honestly and faithfully served their country are placed on the retired list under existing laws, they may, in addition to the mere pittance now granted to them, be allowed to retain their service or longevity rations, which is one ration per day for every 5 years of service. If there be no objection, this memorial will be received and referred to the ComMilAffrs . Mr. LANE. I am requested by the soldiers' and Sailors' Union, of Washington city, to present their memorial praying for an in vestigation into the affairs of the Public Printing office. I know nothing of the facts in the case except as stated in the memorial. These gentlemen are gentlemen of the highest character for intelligence, integrity, and patriotism, and I hope that their memorial will receive proper consideration. I ask its reference to the ComPrintg. It was so referred. Mr. CHANDLER. I present the memorial of the Board of Trade of the city of Detroit, Michigan, protesting against the further grant.ing of American registers to foreign built ships or vessels of any kind, stating in conclusion: “Your committeedeem it expedient for this board to send a remonstrance to Congress against granting any further concessions to the owners of foreign built ships or vessels of any kind or description, and a recommendation that all articles of American manufacture required for the 'i'." and equipping of steam or sailing ships shall be free from excise or internalrevenue taxes.” I move the reference of this memorial to the ComFinance. It was so referred. Mr. CHANDLER presented the memorial of citizens of Louisiana, praying for aid to rebuild and repair the broken and dilapidated levees on the banks of the Mississippi and other rivers in that State; which was referred to the ComCommerce. Mr. MORGAN presented 2 memorials of consumers of iod. remonstrating against an increase of the duty on imported?os as proposed by House bill No. 718, to provide increased revenue from imports, and for other purposes; which were referred to the ComFinance. Mr. HENDERSON presented additional apers in relation to the petition of William N. mith, praying for damages for the destruction of property by Federal troops in the town of Glascow, Missouri; which were referred to the ComClaims. Mr. SHERMAN presented a petition of citizens of Ohio, praying for the passage of House bill No. 718, to provide increased revenue from imports, and for other purposes; which was referred to the ComFinance. Mr. PATTERSON presented a paper to accompany Senate bill No. 454, for the relief of the widow of Jacob Harmon; also a paper to accompany Senate bill No. 476, for the relief of William A. Hinshaw and Jacob M. Hinshaw, mine r children of Jacob M. Hinshaw, deceased: and also a paper to accompany Senate bill No. 455, for the relief of the widow of Henry Fry; which were referred to the ComPensions. Mr. HOWE presented 2 petitions of citizens of Wisconsin, praying for the passage of House bill No. 718, to provide increased revenue from imports, and for other purposes; which were referred to the ComFinance. Mr. EDMUNDS. I present a petition of citizens of Swanton, Vermont, praying that Congress will refrain from the passage of any act authorizing the curtailment of the national currency or having in view the return within a limited time to specie payments, and settin forth the reasons therefor. It is proper that should say that I entirely disagree on that subject with the sentiments of this portion of my constituents. I move that the petition be referred to the ComFinance. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SUMNER. I present the petition of William Wells Brown and others, colored citizens of Massachusetts, in which they respect fully remonstrate against the admission of Nebraska as a State, with a constitution which disfranchises citizens on account of color, and they proceed to assign reasons therefor. As the question is now before the Senate, and there is no opportunity of this petition having the consideration of a committee, I think I shall not err if I call the attention of the Senate especially to the reasons which they assign: co“lo First f.oDunedneiadl oonf pthoelitaicsaslumrigphtitosnfoofr the paoccwideer nbtyoaf class or classes to disfranchise a class or classes of citizens numerically inferior, and this involves the disfranchisement of all inferior classes by their nu mwiethrictahlesfuupnedraiomrse ntaaldiodcetarsine ef, wouhricGhoviserinncmoennstis. tent ye“aSrescond. Because the experience of the last 6 has taught the lesson that political power can safely be intrusted only to loyal citizens, and that it must be equally intrusted to all loyal citizens; and citizens of etxhpeercieounnce tryhahsavperosvheodwtnhamt otrheeucnoilfoorremd loyalty than any other class of people. “ 3rd. Because it is unjust that loyal citizens should bear the burdens of taxation without representation. “ 4th. Because the results of the late elections show that the people of the loyal States have reached the conclusion that political powerin the rebel States shall be intrusted only to loyal citizens, and because and permanent peaceful reconstruction of ltohyoasleStates can be effected only byen franchising the citizens without distinction of color. “ 5th. Because the admission of any State with a constitution disfranchising colored citizens will prove the entering wedge to the admission of rebel States with the same proscriptive provision. “ 6th. Your memorialists appeal to the record of their own race in this Commonwealth as proof that they may safely be intrusted with the elective franchises. For generations they have exercised all the of citizenship in this State, and they confidently clain that no portion of this people, as a class, have better conducted themselvesas law abiding subjects iasn!d as.liberty t rlioayl, intghey citizens; and until the contrary claim that colored citizens of other communities will prove equally good citizens ifernedpouwbleicdwailtlhgtohoe declietcizteivnes franchise.ledIntoa vote democratic They then conclude as follows: “For the above reasons and many others which might be added, they earnestly pray that Congress, in the organization of all new States, will see to it tghoavteranlel d power is derived from the consent of the I desire especially to call attention to one of the reasons assigned in this petition why Nebraska should not be admitted as a State with a constitution which disfranchises citizens on account of color. It is as follows: “Because the admission of any State with a constitution disfranchising colored citizens will prove the entering wedgeto the admission of rebel States with the same proscriptive provision.” I entreat the Senate to consider that principle. I solemnly ask the Senate to weigh it and to ponder it before they act finally on the question before them. As this question, however, is now before the Senate, I shall not move the reference of this petition to any committee, but ask that it lie upon the table.