The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-21
Congressional Proceedings.

WAeHlNGToN, FEBRUARY W.-SBNATB.-Mr.
Wade offered a resolution to amend the Con-
stitution SO Us to render the President ineligi-
BILE TO election for a second term. He adyo-
Gated the amendment in a strong speech, allud-
ing in very caustic terms to the President, who,
he said, had, so far from rendering treason
odious by punishment, hosted into the
most exalted positions many of the leading
traitors in the South. He said that the policy
which has been developed is grateful to the
ears and heart of every enemy of the country,
and was no less than that those States should
suffer nothing by the rebellion, and shall be
admitted unwashed and red with the blood of
our countrymen into full communion with the
honest loyal men Of the Government and into
the councils of the nation.
Mr.. Wilson offered resolution, which was
adopted, instructing the Committee on Recon
struction to inquire how far the lately rebel
lious States had conformed to the requirements
of the Presidents reconstruction policy.
At o'clock, the unfinished business of yes
terday, which was the bill returned by the
President with his exceptions, was before the
Senate
Mr.. Davis, of Kentucky, made a long argu-
ment sustaining the veto Of the President.
which a vote was taken on the bill, resulting
yeas, 80; nays, lS-raot q tloo-hird uote-so the
bill did not pass. Among those voting in the
negative were Messrs. Cowan, Dixon, and
Doolittle.
HoUsE.-Mr. Stevens, from the Joint Com
mittee on Reconstruction, reported a joint
resolution that, in order to close agitation on
the question which seems likely to disturb the
action of the Government as well as to quiet
the uncertainty which exists in the minds of
the people of the eleven States which have
been declared to be in instruction, no Senator
or Representative shall be admitted into
either branch of Congress from either of the
said States unless Congress shall have declared
such States entitled to such Representatives
Mr.. Order obtained leave to read minority
report from the Reconstruction Committee,
concluding with a resolution declaring that
the State of Tennessee is entitled to represen-
tation, and that her Representatives be hereby
admitted on qualifying according to law.
Mr.. Stevens said that there was an earnest
disposition until yesterday to inquire into the
condition of Tennessee, and to see whether
they could not admit the State to representa-
ton, but since yesterday there has been such
a state of things which has induced the COM
mittee to consider it wholly out of their power
to proceed further without surrendering great
principle, and without surrendering the
rights of this body to the usurper of another
power. He demanded the previous question.
Mr., Rogers, amid calls Of order, declared
against the passage of this resolution under the
gag rule. Mr.. Stevens objected to Mr.. Grider
making the report. He said he could not con.
sent, for there was an earthquake around us, and
he trembled, and dare not yield! There was
much excitement and calls to order during the
proceedings. Mr.. Stevens having moved the
previous question on the resolution, Messrs.
Eldridge, Johnson, Chandler, and others,
sought to stave offa vote by moving to adjourn,
etc. The questions were decided in the mega
tive by yeas and nays.
Mr. Eldridge said he and his friends would
stop these dilatory motions if Mr.. Stevens
would withdraw the demand for the previous
question, 80 that the restoration might be
debated. Mr.. Stevens said he sat here for
forty eight hours in 1861, when the rebels
went out, and he could stand it for thirty
hours longer. The resolution was finally
adopted-yeas, 100 nays, 40