The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-11
LATEST NEWS,
By TELEGRAPH.
FOR THE DAY BOOK.
From washington.

ANSiNNh'3 "hA PiSdSiuS Tue iIOuSc W SuppOlb
him in bis general principle of restoration in
all modes authorized by the Constitution con-
sistent with the security of Republican insti-
tutons. Referred to the Committee on Recon-
struction.
The House proceeded to the Consideration
of the bill to extend the right of Suffrage in
the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Wilson in speech in favor of the bill,
in the course of his remarks, said that the So
cial element here fostered secession, and he
had no doubt a large majority of those who
the other day voted against the negro suf-'
frage, would have voted for slavery.
Mr.. Boyle, of Pennsylvania, opposed the
bill not only on local grounds, but on gene
raj principle. This he said was white
mans government. The bill inaugurated the
first act in the political drama to eliminate
in equality of races.
Mr.. Kelly of Pennsylvania also made a
speech in favor of negro suffrage
The President to day in response to the
Senate resolution, transmitted message en-
closing reports of the Secretary of War and
the Attorney General, in reference to what
charges upon which Jefferson Davis is Con-
fined, and why he is not brought to trial
The President invites the attention of the
Senate to that portion of tine annual message
referring to Congress the question relating
to the holding of the Circuit Courts in the
Districts where there authority has been in
terrupted
The Secretary of War, states that Mr. Da-N
Wis has been in indicted by the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia for high treason,
also with the crime of melting the assassination
of President Lincoln and with the cruel treat
ment of Union prisoners.
The President says he deems it expedient
that MIR. Davis should first be put upon his
trial before a competent court and jury, and
he was advised by the law officer Of the Gov
eminent, that the most proper place for such
a trial, was the State of Virginia. That State is
in the Judicial Circuit assigned to the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, who has held
1o NOtlt tHCiC oiHtc ltit dpitiltuSiOl vi MT.
Davis, and who declines ior an Indefinite Pc
rod to do SO.
Other prominet parties are mentioned i'll
the Secvetarys report charged with various
reasonable offences against tue government,
some of whom have been classed by govern
ment to await trial for alleged ofenses on their
applications for amnesty and pardon
The Attorney General says he has ever
thought that civil courts alone have jurisdic-
ton over the crime of high treason, and pro-
nounces the opinion, that Mr.. Davis and 9TH
ers of the insurgents ought to be tried i'm
some one of the States or Districts in which
they in person and especially controlled>,th the
crimes with which they may be charged, and
active hostilites and fragrant war have not
for some time existed between the United
States and the insurgents, peaceful relations
between the Government and people in these
States Or Districts in rebellion have not vet
been fully restored. None of the Justices of
the Superior Court have held Circuit Courts
in these States and Districts since hostilities
ceased. When the courts are open and thelaws
can be peacefully administered and enforced
in those States where the people rebelled
against the government, when this peace shall
come in fact and in law, the persons now held
in military confinement as prisoners of War
and who may not have been tried and COM
mitted for offenses against the laws of War
should be transferred into the custody of the
civil authorities of the proper Districts, to be
tried for the high crimes and misdemcanors
that may be alleged against them. He thinks it
the plain duty of the President to cause Grim
inal prosecutions to be instituted before the
proper courts against some Of those who were
mainly instrumental in inaugurating and
most con, picious in conducting the late hos
Titles
would regard it as a direful calamity if,
should spare also, but would deem it a most
direful calamity still, if the Executive in per-
forming his constitutional duty in bringing
these persons before the bar of justice to an
swer for their crimes should violate the plain
meaning of the Constitution or infringe in the |
least particular the living spirit of that instru-
ment.
In the Senate Mr. Wilson introduced
bill'to increase and fix the establishment of
the U. S. Army. 1t provides seven regi-
ments of artillery, ten of cavalry and sixty of
infantry, each arm to have proportion of
colored troops differed by whites. Referred |
to the Military Committee.
A bill to regulate the elective franchise in
the District of Columbia was read and referred /
to the Committee on the District.