The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-01

and ! shall endeavor to do all l can to
that end.
The Speaker then introduced to Gem
eral Serman the members who thronged
around him.
The five minutes recess having ex-
pired, the House resumed its business.
Mr.. Raymond, of New York, resuming
his remarks, said be distrusted all propo-
sitions for amendment to the Constiru-
ton. The Constitution was the most
wonderful ever formed by man for the
government of a nation. It had proved
its adequacy to answer all emergencies
in peace and i'm war. He was startled
at the scope the Select Committee take,
of which this amendment was the initial
step. The gentlemen from Ohio (Mr
Bingham) said the other day that. he
should treinble for his country If this
were the only amendment to be adopted.
Mr. Raymond remarked that, In view
of this declaration, the House were free
ly entitled to know the whole pro.
gramme of the committee. We should
know what relation this amendment
bore to those which are to come after it.
He could not help believing that this
proposition was part of the scheme to
reconstruct the Government and the
Constitution, on the basis of distinct
principle, namely, that the States which
were in rebellion ceased to have any
rights and powers as States in the Union,
but that they exist only as SO much
waste territory, with which the van
uuisher may DEAL He-(Mr. Raymond
denied that there had been any such
subjugation. He held these States had
never ceased to be States in the Uni0n,
and that to-day they are still States OF
the Union, and therefore are entitled to
all the rights conferred by the COnstitu-
ton; and Congress have no right to ex-
ercise power over them not conferred by
the Constitution any more than over the
other States.
Mr.. Raymond then examined the SUBJ
ject at length, showing the object for
which the war was waged, namely, to
compel obedience to the Constitution
and laws, and to preserve the rights of
the States unimpaired, and that when
these objects were accomplished, the
war ought to cease.
In the course of his remarks he said
the President appointed military pro-
visional governors merely as agents, and
the duty was well performed by the Ex-
acutive. The only thing which re-
manned for Congress to do was to admit
the Representatives from the Southern
States. Congress had the right to re-
quire test as qualification, but they
ought not to include all the districts, but
act upon them separately. He repeated,
the House had right to demand of the
Select Committee the whole programme,
| for if they CROPPED in the dark they did not
know what they would grope against.
We should, he said, emancipate our
selves from the domination OF the COM
mittee, and discharge the committee
| from certain points, which, by the Con.
stitution, are placed in our own hands.
This was due to our own dignity. If, he
said, there was not sufficient patriotism
among the people to preserve the Union,
all the paper constitutions on earth
would never give them this power.
These paper guarantees diverted their
attention from points to which their at
tention should be directed, and to the
consideration of which they must come.
Unless they were to convert this nation
into despOtism, they must ack nOwledge
the fact that the South Is an essential
part of the country. The holding of the
Southern States as dependencies, as has
been here advocated, was not the way TO
promote sincere loyalty, and history is
full of examples. He concluded by say
ing that we ought first to accept the
status of the Southern States which, I'M
der the guidance of the Presidenct, have
resumed the functions of self-goverE-
ment; second, the House should admit
members by districts, but only loyal
men who can take the test-Oath, The
Saa d Giqd ash y rG tas sa%s way
made by law giving to freedmen the
rights of citizens. Fourth, exclude from
Federal office the leading conspirators,
and to take such measures as will pre-.
serve to every State republican form OF
government,
Mr.. Julian, of Indiana, spoke for few
minutes. declaring he was against adopt
ing temporizing policy. The rebels OF
the South hate the negro not simply as
allies of the Yankee, but as the authors
of their misfortunes. They hate him
with rancor that crops out all over the
South. They. would not Voluntarily
give equal political rights to the negro.
They declare they wonld die rather than
do SO. There should be constitutional
amendment ora law OF Congress guaran-
teeing the ballot to the negroes of the
| DoubH. LIEU US IIot, Hc- eatiu, MAKE cue
mics Of four millions of people, among
whom there were no traitors, and who
would be found in the future, as in the
past, our most effective allies.
SECRETARY SCENARIOS TRIp.-We
find the following interesting details of
the Secretary's tour 10 the Havana cor
respondence of the New York News.
HAVANA, January 23.--The all alb
sorbing topic of the day is Mr.. Seward.
The DE Soto arrived on Saturday last,
from Port all Prince, with the Hon. w.
III. Seward, +. w. Seward; ESQ, Mrs.
F. w. Seward, and Miss Wharton, on
board. They went Immediately to Mrs.
Almy's Hotel.
Our Consul General was on hand, and
hardly had the De Soto anchored when
| he arrived on board.
The Captain General sent his secretary
to offer his country seat for the use Of
| the distinguished visitors, which, how