The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-12-16

question that Stevens had no right under the
:ule TO do 80.
Mr.. Stevens asked for three minutes 10 ex-
plain.
Mr.. vallandighsm objected, unless Others
have similar privilege.
Mr.. Holman moved to lay the bill on the
table. Not carried. As to SO.
Mr.. Stevens explained that it was not bis
intention to put the bill on its passage, Tut a
postponement was prevented then, as was de-
sired. Mr.. Stevens, in further explanation,
said be doubted the authority Of the President
to suspend tho habes corpus, except from a5-
solute necessity during q recess. He held
that Congress was the sovereign power, and
not the President. He had carefully copied
the bill from precedents Of the English Par.
lament for the last two centuries, not adding
word except what was necessary under the
present circumstances Of the country. The
President was justified in exercising tho pow
or at the time of our EXTREMIST peril, when
traitors were found in every household and
township North and South.
The bill passed 90 against 45.
WAsHIsoroN, Dec. 0.
HOUSE.
The House considered tho Senate bill for
the admission of the State Of Western Virgi-
mia into the Union. ss Fl. -.a....
Mr.. Conway said he did not regard the
proposition, as now presented, as having re
ceived the assent required by the Constitu.
ton. We,tern Virginia was not lawful
State. He believed it was the intsn tiou Of
the President to encourage State organizations
in all the seeded States; but placing the as
sumption of the State in the hands Of few
individuals appointed by the President, was
flaprant and unconstitutional. The scheme
was revolutionary and ought to be ex. osed to
the reprobatiou of every loyal citizen. We
would be an utter perversion Of our system.
II would in effect concentrate all the power
of The Government in tho hands Of th =, Exc
cutive.
Mr.. Brown, Of Firginia, replied, arguing
that the erection of the State Of Western Vir
ginia was perfectly lawful and constitutional.
The provision of the Constitution in regard to
tho admission or erection Of new States had
been complied with, aud iu this connection he
quoted the preamble and act admitting Ken.
lucky, which was formed from part Of Virgi-
MIA. Prece dents, he insisted, supported the
new State organization.
Mr.. Mallory said: II understand that
more than half the counties OF Virginia were
not represented in the Wheeling Legsla
ture."
Mr.. Blair, of Va. asked: "Were not all
the counties invited?"
Mr.. Brown-"All were expressly invited. y
Mr.. Mallory. "Although they were invited
were not some of them so completely within
the control of foreign Government that they
could not send representatives TO the Legisla-
turef I"
Mr.. Brown. ~ can't say whether tue
ple were under intimidation or not. 1t is
sufficient to say that they were invited to
come. If they stad away it was their fault,
not ours. II they were disloyal they could
have no voice in the Legislature OF Virginia.
Before Mr.. Brown concluded, the morning
hour expired, when tho House took up the
special order authorizing assessors and collec-
tors and thor assistants under tbh tax law, TO
administer oaths, &c. The bill passed.
Mr.. Brown resumed hi. remarks in advo-
cacy of the bill for the admission Of the State
o. Western Virginia. He stated various con-
siderations why the State should be admitted
as a matter Of expediency. The people o'
that section had been struggling for forty
years for a separate existence. They now
had sixteen regiments in the field, obtained
by volunteering by draft.
Mr.. Colfax remarked that that at the last
session he had great doubts as TO the pro
priety Of passing this bill, but on examIna
lion, his mind was made up that it ought tc
pass.
Mr.. Critteuden appreciated the patriotism
and valor Of the people Of Western Virginia
and the desire which they expressed 70 be
come free people, bit on this matter he was
, not governed by feeling but by the principle
of constitutional Law. Congress could no
admit new State out Of the ancient territory
without the assent Of the Old Commonwealth
and this had not been given. II States shoe
be made in the ethod wroposcd, new onc'
could be made at pleasure irrespective OF th'
, consent of the United States.
Mr.. Edwards said he would sustain tn
) loyal people. Ifthers was no other way, b
, would seize the rebellious portions, and holt
them as territory and re populate them.
Mr.. Wickffe-"You speak about rc-popu
I lsting Virginia. What would you do will
: tie peoplci Would you exterminate, kill, o
, make slaves Of themp
Mr.. Edwards-"If necessary. l woul
extermiuate that whole people in order L
preserve the integrity Of the Union"
Mr.. Wickliffe "Women and children y
A Mr.. Edwards. mo. They are not foun
in arms" (This unintentional pun gavc rs
to general laughter.) "They arc entitled
, the defence and protection Of every civilize
people of the world"
4 Mr.. Maynard spoke Of his finding patriot
, ic and loyal people in Western Virginia be
eing to bs disintbraIled and relieved from tn
}. dead carcass Of Eastern Virginia. II woul
!, DO unjust to keep them waiting until our al
d my should compel the other portion OF til
i State 10 obediance. ,d
}, Mr.. Stevens said it was mockery to hol
o that the Legislature Of Virginia had ever a
y sented to the new State. According 10 b
;, principles he could for the bill on the groun
II that the revolutionary States, being beige
ID en,s were not entitled to the privileges OF u
Constitution. With his consent the unie
d could never be restored a 1t was under u
. Constitution, with slavery. 49,.
u Without concluding the House adJourre
---------------s