Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-22
ASSOCIATED PRESS TELEGRAMs BY AMERICAN LINE.
Proceedings of Congress.
'tUIHES u 0UHITUSN'
WASHINGTON. Dec. d.

WASHINGTON Dec 81.
SEvATE.-Mr. Howard, of Michigan ,Rep.,) offer
ed a resolution calling upon the President to inform
the Senate in what charges jefferson Davis is con-
fined and why he is not brought to trial. The reso-
luton was adopted
The following Committee on Reconstruction, on
the part of the Senate, announced: Messrs. Fes-
sender, of Maine Grimes of Iowa, Howard, of Mich
gan, johnson, of Maryland, and Williams, of Ore
g0n.
Mr.. Sumner presented the petition of colored cti-
zens of Tennessee, protesting against the reception
of the Tennessee delegation until the recognition oil
the rights Of the coored persons by that State lie
also presented petition of the white citizens OF the
District of Columbia, asking the extension of the
right of suffrage to the coored people of the Dis
trict.
Mr.. Wilson denied that there was any quarrel be-
tween the President and the majority party in the
Senate lie did not believe that Mr. johnson would
desert the party that placed him where he is, nor
that he would prove untrue to the great principles
which had triumphed. He did not believe there
was any possibility of the Democratic party com,
ing into power through the agency Of Presissl
johnson.
HousE.-Delos II. Ashley, representative from Ne
vada, appeared and qualified.
Mr.. Hubbard, of Connecticut, (Rep.) offered a
resolution, which was referred TO the Committee of
Foreign Affairs asserting that the United States
should never recognize any Government imposed on
any nation on this continent by the arms of any
European power.
1t was resolved that the Committee for the District
of Columbia enquire into the expediency of pro-
yiding for the election and admission into this House
of delegate from this District with the powers and
privileges similar TO those of delegates from the or
ganized territories.
Mr. Finck, of Ohio, (Dem.) made speech against
the radicals and denying the theory of Stevens that
the Southern states were conquered territories and
! therefore must submit TO the requirements of the
conqueror. He commended that the object being at
tanned for which the war was overwhelmingly,
to secure obedience to the laws in the Southern
Statcs--and especially after the evidences of their
oyalty-they were entitled to representation.
Mr. Raymond of New York, (Rep) took ISSUE
with Mr. Stevens, denying that the South was to be
considered as having been a belligerent power and
that the States had placed themselves beyond the
pale of the Union 1t is true that the ordinances of
secession contemplated severance from the other
States, but the Southern armies having been de-
feated in the field, these ordinances were in
effective.
Mr. Sumner stated that the white people of this
District had for years been sluattng upon the civil
and political rights of the colored people, and he
was glad this state Of things about to end
| The petition was referred.
Mr. Wilson introduced bill to guarantee freedom
to the inhabitants of the United States by repeating
all laws based upon distinction of race or color
Referred to the special committee reconstruction
He dec Jared himself opposed TO the cOnfscation
acts, which were not only oppressive, but uncllris-
tan. He was disposed to DO everything that pa
triot should to restore peace and harmony between
the sections, and would gladly welcome back rep
resentatves from the Southern States but as pre-
liminary would require new guarantees, including
the abolition of slavery and reputation of reb,l
debt
Both houses adjourned until the 9th of January