Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-21
TGk g 1llk|5 utBI IIiqeugsr.
THE RESTORED aovERNmENT
! -. ~ .. ..OF. .YIRGINIA.-

ture Sitting at AIexandrin wa.
QuHlthed TO Elect United state
senntors.g m, '' '7'l ~ ~
T1e following is.a summary of the de
bate occurring in the United States seuat,
last Friday on a motion to- refer the Gre.
dsniials Of Mr.. segar, Senator eleei from
the restored goveEnmento of Virginia, to th,
Committee onthe JudiciaFy:-Io.s
| Mr.. Wiley, Of W. Va, presented the
credentials of Joseph SegRr, as a Senator
elect from the State of Virginia, to fill the
vacancy occasfohed by the death of Mr
Bowden, which occurred last winter. The
CREDENTIALS were read. ~
| Mr.. Sumner, of Mass, moved TO refer
them to. the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Wiley trusted they. would. NOT be
feferred. There was no resBonsWhy that
should be done with Mr.. Segar's, creden-
tiats' auy more than with those of his pre-.
decessor. "a
Mr.. GCowan, of Pa, h0ped SEheC Senate
would not refer the, credentials. If the
Union were to be saved it must be done
through this means Of Just such credentials
as these. '...f5';s =, a. . 30 ss'
M, Roster, of Conn.,, said if the creden.
tials were referred 4the Committee could
do no more than inquire if they were cor.
rect; if the seallo of LhetState of Virginia
vas attached. to them, and if they were in
every respect conformsble to Law.
Mr.. Trnmbull, of ILL, said the Commit.
tee on the Judiciary would have other
Questions TO decide than the mere formality
of.the CredentiRls.uf It wonld have to de-
eide whether the e"Legislature that elected
Mr.. Segar was properly constituted, body;
EFhsthersit had a rightto elect q Senator
or not. - IA. 10 zz5 a. ,slaaI Il
Mr.. Howard, of Mich, faverod the refer
euce, Mr.. segar represented a political
community atWaF with the United States,
and In his opinion not entitled to Senator.
bhipl on this floor. i.aaI .tr-r ---I s-l.a 81
Mr., SumnerTIregret that question of
this magnitude has been precipitated on.
the Sensteat.t this late period of the ses-
sion, when thefe is SO much public bust.
ness that has yet to receive Consideration.
The Senator from Michigan does not exaR.
gerate e.its,magnitude.i Sir, it is much to
be aSenator of the United States; with all
the powers and privileges pertaining to
that oGice-powers and privileges diplo-,
matic and executive; and the question now
is whether all these extraordinary powers
and privileges shall 2be recognized in the
gentleman whose ,eertffcate has been sent
70 the CHAIR ] thought it my duty, sir,
hearing that certificate read as I entered
abe Chamber, to move at once its' refer
ence to the Committee on the Judiciary
ams astonished, sir, that there can be any
hesitation in making that reference. SEN
ators who hesitate show an iusensibility to
the character of the question. Is the Sen.
ate ready to act blindfolded, or with Its
eyes open2 insist, sir, that on lques-
tiou5 of this msguiCude the Senate shall
onR NTH 7
know no other way in which that can be
brought about, except through-the inter-
Ivention of the responsible committee of
this body. Therefore, sir, proposed that
should be referred to that
COMMITTEE. It will,be the dQtyeofthe com.
mittee to consider, IN the first place,
whether a State in armed rebellion, like
Virginia, can have Senators on this floor
That is a great question, constitu.
tionsl, political and practical. It will
be-. their duty, then in the second
Eplace to inquire whether the gentleman
whoseicFedentia ntials ihRYe.been presented has
been chosen legally, under THE eIconstitu-
tion of the United States, by any State. l
do not intend to prejudgeany of theseques-
Itionssi7 / simply offer them for the consid.
Grafton of the Senate; but I do insist that
a measure ofthis Importance sshall not be
absolute indifference to those facts which
nov stare ms in the face, fglaring upon us
every day in every newspaper that we read.
ToH cannot be itsensible to facts. OIt.is in
vain that Senators say. that Virginia; now
at Wsrs against the Union, is entitled to
Representation Oh this floor, when you have
before you the inexorable fact that the
greater part OF the State is at this moment
in the possession of an armed rebellion
lwheuryou have before you the other faeE
SLING almost every newspaper in the land
hat 4he body of men who have undeEta-
zen 10 send q Senator to Congress are lit
lie more than the Common Council of
AIs2andria. i"s And you havethe question
ldstfnGtlyi pre- senLed TO yon NV hether "a rep5.
lhsehGatiHs sofrthe G0mmonnC Couucil;g of,
4lexandria is to enter this chamber aud
shAres tie same powers and privileges with
ysihonorable friends, the Senators from
EsW. York and Penusylvauia! / merely
oleh these points without now undertaking
70 decide, and simply as anunauswerable an
Argument in faVotJ 81 1.-The reference to the
eonnitteeI sail-tsa q, s711ss~i
Ar, Eoster followed Mr. Sumner, y taking
Eht,ground that the entire question which
the committee conld decide would be
1hether the credentials were according to
be form of law, with the signature. of the
GOVERNOR and the seal of the State attached.
his was so, they must report faYorably.
be committee had no. more .right3to say
at'Mr. Segart should not take his seat, if
credentials were right, than they had to
that the Senator from Massachusetts,
log here with his credsbtirals, was not
ledItola seat. 5da 3ani % .. ia ~.
Sumner Suppose it was matter OF
ietyqthst / came into this chamber
certificate of,a body of men in Bos-
gilmore ia character and number than
council, and not supposed by public
TO to represent the State,I submit
vi .rTipwOuld npt;be the; duty of the
Sc to inquire into their origin.
! :. 7osterAMr. sPresidtnS;E agree most
deS ts lily in the case puthyi ithe Senator
20 D 1.-THE honorable Senator came here l.l