The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-12-22
I Consrs..iopnal., III
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.

SENATE Upon motion of Mr.. How
ard, the President was asked to report to
the Senate upon what ground jeff.
Davis was confined, any why he was not
brought to trial.
The Chairman announced the follow.
ing committee on Reconstruction: Fes-
senden, Grimes, Howard, Harris, John
son and Williams.
Mr.. Sumner presented a petition OF
colored citizens from Tennessee, asking
Congress not to receive delegate from
Tennessee until that State recognized
the rights of colored citizens Also Pc
tition of some white people from the
District of Columbia, for the extention
of the right of suffrage to colored citi.
zens
Mr.. Howard presented the petition of
$500 colored citizens of South Carolina
for such legislation as will insure them
their political rights. Referred TO the
committee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Davis offered resolution calling
upon the heads of the departments for
the lists of persons indebted to the Uni
ted States Objected to, and laid over.
On motion of Mr. Lane, the commit
tee on Postof1ces was instructed to in.
quire into the expediency of abolishiHg
the franking privilege except upon writ
ten communications.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill, which
was referred to the Judiciary committee,
to maintain and enforce the freedom of
the inhabitants of the United States
Mr. Stewart called up the Senate bill
to secure the freedom of citizens of States
lately in rebellion, and addressed the
Senate in reply to Summers remarks OF
yesterday, and controverting the theory
that the Southern States are out of the
Union, and been reduced to the condi-
tion of Territories. He also argued that
the North was not justified in enforcing
negro suffrage upon the South while they
withheld political rights from negroes In
the Northern States.
Mr.. Wilson replied at length in favor
of the bill
HoUsE.-Mr. Hubbard, of Connecticut,
offered resolution that the q. 8. ought
never to recognise any government I'M
posed upon nation on this continent by
the arms of any European Power which
was referred to the committee on For
eign Affairs
Mr. Vorhees. of indiana, offered reso'
luton endorsing the Presidents annual
message, and asking the support of the
House to the principles enunciated; on
his motion it was postponed until the 18th
of January.
Mr.. Black, of Indiana, offered resolu-
tion directing that an inquiry to be made
into the expediency of admitting dele
gate to Congress to represent the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Numerous resolutions of inquiry were
passed.
The House went into committee otthe
Whole on the Presidents annual message.
Mr.. Fink, of Ohio, made a speech con-
troyerting Mr. Stevens position and de-
nying that the southern States were ever
out the Union and urging the admission
of representatives from that section, so
as to secure restoration of the friendly
and political relations heretofore exis
lug.
Mr., Raymond, of New York. was glad
to see the indications on the opposition
side of the house to support the Union
If these indications had been exhibited
during the war we should have been
spared the loss of thousands of men and
expenditure of rivers of blood and treas
ure. Mr. Raymond said that the ordi-
uauces Of secession were simply a decla-
ration of purpose and determination
to succeed, whether practical effect
could be given to the purpose depended
on their ability in the field. The effort
was not success but failure Who
did not wish that the day might speadi-
" come when we shall have great re-
public, one and iudi visable, stronger
than has ever been before He contro-
verted at length the position Of Mr.. Ste
vens, of Pa, denying that the States
lately in rebellion were ever out OF the
Union The House oS adopting such
theories as those Of MI. Stevens, namely
that we waged war against the South
as separate nation
At the conclusion of Mr. Raymond's
speech, Mr.. Jenckes, OF Rhode Island,
said he did not wish to he compromised
by any speech here when no question was
presented for their consideration.
The committee then rose when the
resolution referring the various branches
of the Presidents message was passed.
The House then adjourned,
Railroad ACcidens.