Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-02-28
VERY LATEST
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
EPoRTED EXPRESSLY for the STATESMAN
Last Nights Dispatches.
xxxvIHnh CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.
/ HoUsE.-Not more than fifty members
were present, 1t having been agreed yester-
day that nothing should be done to-day ex-
y ceptlng making speeches.
Mr.. Dawes occupied the chair, and the
Z President's annual message was announced
as the theme for discussion.
! Mr.. Harding of Kentucky referred to a
former declaration of the President that
the Union Is unbroken and all secession
ordinances are null and void. In this view
he concurred, and therefore whenever re-
bellion shall be suppressed either by force
of arms or voluntary submission, the re-
yolted States are thereby restored with all
their rights and privileges in the Union.-
This view was sound and was acquiesced
in by Conservatives and Democrats; but
the President had changed and had pre-
sented scheme for reconstructing more
destructive than the old doctrine of State
rights. The scheme was mapped out by the
master-builder with a pencil dipped in
blood. Persons are to vote just as the Pres
ident may direct. The effect was the iron
hand of despotism crushing out the last
vestige of constitutional liberty, leaving
nothing but desolation. 1t would establish
the most odious Abolition oligarchy of a
savage and cruel character, and it was
enough to fire any mans veins in which
runs drop of revolutionary blood.
Mr.. Deming of Connecticut, said the
Presidents scheme of reconstruction seeks
to liberate order from anarchy, and its para
lizing influences to prevent innocence from
being confounded with guilt, to separate
loyalty from the pernicious contact of dis
unionism, which would subject it in the eve
OF the law to punishment for crime. The
task was one of great embarrassment and
difficulty, because of the imperfection of
human wisdom, and because the plan was
designed by the President to be transitory
in its character, to bridge the chasm be-
tween State anarchy and State restoration.
Commencing the great deliverance in at
tempting to solve this difficult problem, no
statesman would adopt any different plan.
While the Presidents plan may be incom-
patable, it was as comprehensive as the in
tricacies of the subject would permit. tt
possessed the rare merit of being jdst to
the Government just to the insurgent States,
and to the slave.
Mr.. Deming defended the amnesty proc
lamation as being justifiable, from the fact
that in the loyal sense every citizen in the
insurrectionary States is public enemy.
Mr.. Blair Of Mo-, discussed the affairs of
that State, defending himself from attacks
which had been mede. Having sought
to discharge his whole duty, he might
challenge comparison of records with his
associates. The radicals had kindled the
smouldering fires, and from a species of
retaliation had undertaken to to build up q
party. For himself he was always willing
to accept gradual emancipation, and when
the people of that State desired immediate
emancipation he would be more than ready
to accept it. He entered on an explana-
ton Of this subject, charging that these
radicals had sought to drive the Union men
and were not in favor of immediate eman-
cipation, having refused to vote for it in
convention, where they had the power 70
carry it.
AS to the recent convention in Baltimore
it was compelled to nominate Lincoln as
the people of the State were for him, but
dark lantern associations still exist in Mary
land, and that some delegates were elected
professedly for Lincoln but betrayed their
trust, one Of Secretary Chase's assessors
declaring he would vote for whom he
pleased.
Mr.. Blair expressed his surprise that the
Representatives from Iowa and other States
had been caught in trap by signing paper
asking for the rejection by the Senate of
Schofield as Major General.
Mr.. Wilson of Iowa denied that the dele
cation of that State was caught in trap.
We knew what the paper was, and it told
the truth.
Mr.. Grinnell of Iowa, said the Missouri
militia came from Northern Missouri into
the Southern portion of his district, steal
ing horses and plundering roosts. They
came to blow up the court house and unite
themselves with the Knights of the Golden
Circle.
Mr.. Blair replied that it was not sufficient
grounds against Schofeld, while few such
men may have crossed over the attention
of the commanding officer was directed to
another quarter. .b..
Mr.. Blair said the enemy sought to rely
on Misrepresentation to injure Gen. Scho-
field and thus make issue against the Presi-
dent. The Navy Department courted in
vestigation. Not SO the Treasury Depart
ment. A more protligate administration
than that Of the latter never existed. Re-
Gently in Baltimore permit was given to a
notorious blockade runner, whose vessels
had more than once been seized.
In alluding to Pomeroy's recent circular
he spoke of its design as an intrigue against
the men who had confided to Chase port
folio, but the President was doubtless satis-
fed. Every day Chase remained in the
Cabinet was for him to sink deeper into the
contempt of every honorable man.
Mr.. Blair gave notice of his intention to
introduce resolution on Monday to inquire
into the affairs of the Treasury Department.
in connection with trade regulations on the
Mississippi.
Mr.. Donnelly of Minnesota addressed the
committee for an hour on the importance
Of encouraging foreign emigration, in adj
yOcacv of a bill heretofore intrOduced