Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-12-08
FROM WASHINGTON

nv fhc Va"cus VI nepuoncan Union mem
bers Numbering one hundred and twenty.
FOUR on Saturday evening, Mr.. Morrill, Of
Vermont was appointed chairman, and the
following proceedings were had. 1t will be
noticed that the action Of the caucus was
unanimous, and the initistory step agreed to
an all-important one, in that Il gives time to
arrive at some solid ground on which to plaza
the settlement Of the reconstruction question.
1t pr, cludes the forcing Of this question upon
Congress at the will Of any Southern man
who chooses to press for seat be must
wait upon the committee. or course we an
ticipte the adoption Of the resolution by the
House. though doubtless there will be oppo-
sition aud perhaps long debate.
% motion a committee OF seven was an
pointed, consisting Of Messrs. Stevens, Of
Pennsylvania, Raymond, Of New York,
Spaulding, Of Ohio, Washburn, of Illinois.
Payne, Of Wisconsin. Boutwell,. Of Mass, and
Mr.. Blair, of Missouri, who reported the fol-
lowing resolution -
Resolved by the Senate and House Of Rep
resentatives Of the United States, in Congress
assembled, that a joint committee Of seven
teen members shall be appointed, nine Of
whom shall be members Of the House and six
Of the Senate, who shall inquire int the con-
dition of the States which formed the so CALI
ed Confederate States ot America. and report
whether any Of them. ,re entitled to be rem
resented 10 either House Of Congress, with
leave to report at any time by bill or other
wise, and until such report shall have teen
made and finally acted on by Congress, no
member shall be received into either House
from any of the so called Confederate States
and all papers relating to the Representatives
Of said states shall be referred to said COM
mittee without debate.
This resolution was adopted unanimously,
and will be offered to the House by Mr.. T.
Stevens, the Chairman Of the Special Commit
lee, who prepared it.
The caucus decided 20 refer the contested
case Of Korntz and Rolforth. OF Pa, to the
committee on contested elections, when ap-
/ pointed, to report on the subject. he re-
turns OF each were considered irregular BY
the Governor Of the State.
The caucus then proceeded to the election
Of candidates for officers Of the House, when
Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Of Ind, was adopted
for Speskership by reclamation as was Hon
Edward Mcpherson. of Pa, for Clerk Of the
unanimously renominated. Mr.. Goodenow,
Of Vermont, now Of New York, was nomina-
ted for Doorkeeper.
Thad. Stevens will Of course be chairman
OF the select committee (House) on recon
struc,on and this will probably make Mr..
Morrill, chairman Of the committee Of Ways
aud Means. He has fairly earned that high
position.
The bills introduced by Senator Sumner on
Monday were as follows:
4 A bill to enforce the amendment Of the
Constitution prohibiting slavery a bill to
prescribe an oath to maintain a republican
: form Of government in the Constitution Of the
United States bill to preserve the right Of
trial BY jury by securing impartial jurors in
the courts of the United States a bill to en-
force the guaranty Of a republican form Of
government in certain States whose govern
ments have been usurped or overthrow.
The following were among the resolutions
introduced by Mr.. Sumner in the Senate:
Resolved. That in order to provide proper
guarantees for security in the future, so that
peace and prosperity shall surely prevail. and
the plighted faith OF the nation may be pre-
served, Il is the full duty Of Congress to take
care that no State declared in rebellion shall
( be allowed to resume it's relation to the Union
until after satisfactory performance of FIVE
, several conditions, which conditions ought to
be submitted to the popular vote, and be sane
toned by the majority Of people OF each State
respectively as follows:
The complete re-establishment Of loyalty
as shown by honest recognition Of unity Of
the republic and the duty Of allegiance to it
at all times without mental reservation or
equivocation OF any kind. The complete sup
preston Of all oligarchical pretention and
, complete eniranchisement OF all citizens so
/ that there shall be no denial Of rights on ac-
count OF color or race, but justice shall be
impartial, and all be equal before law. The
rejection OF the rebel debt and at the same
time the adoption in just proportion OF ma
tional debt and national obligations to Union
soldiers with solemn pledges never to join in
any measure direct or indirect for Reputation
or in any way tending to impair national
: credit.
The organization Of an educational system
for the equal benefit of all, without distine-
, lion Of color or race. The choice Of citizens
for Office, whether State OF National, of con-
slant and undoubted loyalty, whose conduc,
E shall give assurance of peace and reconcilia-
ton.
RESOLVED. That in order to provide these
essential Safeguards. without which National
security and National faith will be imperrill-
ed, States cannot be precipitated back to po-
iitlcal power and independence, but they must
wait until these conditions are in all respects
complied with.
ALABAMA RATlFIES THE CONSTITU-
! TiONAL AMENDMENT.
WAsHIEeToN, Dec. 4.
Official intelligence from the Alabama Leg
isiature states that they have ratified. by an
overwhelming vote, the constitutional anti