The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-02-25

Mr.. Davis replied that the two Houses
are the ultimate judges ~ to who shall
be admitted, being governed according
to the Constitution, by the qualifications
and returnA He wished by this bill to
stop the raising of the question in I'D.
vance. Provisional governors are now
appointed BY the President without law;
and what be proposed was, that they
should be appointed in pursuance of the
law and confirmed by the Senate
Judges were appointed in Louisiana
without law by the President. His OBJ
ject was to restore the law: but this was
what some gentlemen object to doing
If this bill be not passed, what was the
alternative? The President, with the
bayonet, remains in power, without law
in the premises.
He (Mr. Davis was attempting to lay
down the law; but some gentlemen here
prefer arbitrary will to the written law
Of the land. Ten years ago, when he
first came to Congress, this was Co.
vernment of law, but he had lived to see
the Government degenerate to arbitrary
will. Let us hope, he said, that, In the
course of events, those who have re-
belled against the Constitution and the
laws will, like the ,Prodigal, return, ask.
ing forgiveness on their knees.
Mr.. Mallory (Kentucky) moved to lay
the bill on 0c table.
This was agreed to-ycas, 81 nays,
s..
The bill which was laid upon the
table provided for the appointment of
provisional governors in the States de-
clared in rebellion, to sec that the laws
of the United States were faithfully ex-
ecuted as soon as military resist
ance to the United States shall have
been suppressed and the people of such
States sufficiently returned to their ODE
dience of the Constitution and the laws
of the United States. The provisional
governors were to take the necessary
measures for converting loyal citizens in
convention to declare the will of the peo-
pie relative to the re establishment of
State Government. The oath of allie
glance to be taken by every voter, but
every person known by or proved to the
commissioners to have held or exercised
any Office, civil or military, State or Con-
federate, under the rebel usurpation, or
to have voluntarily borne arms against
the United States, shall be excluded,
though he offer to take the oath, etc.
The Constitutional Convention were re-
quired to adopt the following provisions
First. No person who has held or ex-
ercised any office, civil or military, ex~
cept civil Offices merely ministerial, and
military Offices below the grade of colo
mel, State or Confederate, under the
usurping power, shall vote for or be a
member Of the Legislature or Governor.
Second. Involuntary servitude is for
ever prohibited, and freedom and equality
of civil rights before the law are guaran-
teed to all persons in the State.
Third. No debt, State or Confederate,
shall be recognized by the said State, ETC.
The bill further recognized the State
Governments of Louisiana, Arkansas
and Tennessee, and provided that if the
Governor and Legislature of any States
now in rebellion shall, before the resist
ance to the National Government is sup
pressed, take the oath to support the
Constitution of tho United States, and
to adopt the provision to ratify the pro
posed anti-slavery amendment to the
Constitution, the President may recog-
nize such government as the lawful 60
vernment, aud submit the same to Com
gress for recognition.
THE CAPTURE OF GENERALS CROOK AND
KELLY-STILL ANOTHER DISASTER.
Another Of those "s1rprises," of so
frequent occurrence (says the Baltimore
American) during the past year in the
western portion of the State, bordering
IN Virpinia occurred IN TueSdav ~