Senator Lyman Trumbull's bill to extend the life and authority of the Freedmen's Bureau had passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 10, along strict party lines, two weeks before. The Bureau had been founded in March 1865 to aid freed slaves in making the transition to freedom.  The bill passed the House by a vote of 136-33 but President Johnson unexpectedly vetoed the measure on February 19, 1866.  The Senate immediately voted to override but failed to muster the required majority. (By John Osborne) 

Senator Lyman Trumbull's bill to extend the life and authority of the Freedmen's Bureau passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 10, along strict party lines. The Bureau had been founded in March 1865 to aid freed slaves in making the transition to freedom.  The bill passed the House twelve days later but President Johnson unexpectedly vetoed the measure on February 19, 1866.  The Senate immediately voted to override but failed to muster the required majority. (By John Osborne) 

On the first day of the Senate's new year, Senator Lyman Trumbull announced that he would introduce a bill extending the authority of the Freedmen's Bureau.  The Bureau had been founded in March 1865 to aid freed slaves in making the transition to freedom, providing them with food, shelter, work, and protection from recriminations from bitter Southern whites.  The bill passed but suffered President Johnson's veto, which was not over-ridden.  (By John Osborne) 

On this day, the six United States Senators chosen to serve on the newly authorized "Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction" were announced. Joining the already named nine House members were Republicans William Pitt Fessenden, James W. Grimes, Ira Harris, Jacob M. Howard, and George H. Williams. Reverdy Johnson of Maryland was the only Democrat named. (By John Osborne)

On this day, Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax announced the nine representatives chosen to serve on the newly authorized "Joint Committee of Fifteen on Reconstruction." The most prominent among them were Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania and Elihu B. Washburn of Illinois, while Justin S. Morrill, John A. Bingham, Roscoe Conkling, George S. Boutwell, Henry T. Blow were also included among the Republicans. Henry Grider and Andrew J. Rogers were the only Democrats nominated. (By John Osborne)