Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-27
zee rREsIpENr or rHE sENArL.

The Senate will nc doubt continue its
session some little time after the House
shall have taken its recess, for theipurpose
of acting upon Presidential appointments,
and the transaction of executive business.
The status of their presiding officer has
already become a matter of examination
by some of the legal minds of that body, i n
view of the e%xigencies Of our position. It
seems to be a settled question that a sue
cessor to Mr.. Foster must be chosen prior
to the expiration of his term as Senator
(whichis on the 4th of March nextle even
/ though he should be returned for six wears
more by his State Legislature about to
convene. Mr.. Foster is by general cen
sent one of the most accomplished presid-
ing officers in the Senate, a thorough par
Humanitarian and courteous gentleman
yet as his official connection with the Sem
ate ceases N the 4th Of March, and he
does not retain his seat until again sworn
in, he cannot, it is maintained, fill the
Fioe-Presidents chair, except upon
another and subsequent election by the
Senate. These facts have led thus early
to a ~canvassing of the question Of his sue
cessor. There seems to be a considerable
unsnimity in according the position to
the West, and Messrs. TrumbuIl, Sher-
man and Pomeroy would in turn COM
mand considerable support, were it not
for the fact that they are circumstanoed
precisely as Mr.. Foster in regard to the
expiration OF their Senatorial terms. Mr..
Sherman has been returned for six years
from the 4th Of March next; but that
Goes not reach the point raised, and some
Senator will be selected whose present
term will not expire until after the expir-
alton 0 fthe Presidency of Mr.. johnson.
TIE RECONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.
The meeting Of the Reconstruction
Committee, to be held tomorrow evening,
is looked forward to with much interest,
there being a general popular expectation
that it will accomplish some important
result, and possibly the committee agree
to its final report. 1t may be said, how
ever, in advance, that this expectation Is
not by any means sure of realization.
The committee at their two recent meet
ings, discussed the general principles on
which the late rebel states should be re-
stored to the privileges Of congressional
representation. and there is warrant for
remarking that the doctrine oil the Bout
we'll Washburn minority report on the
Tennessee case has much more strength
than it had when this question with
respect TO that State was submitted TO the
House. It will be ~recolleeted that the
distinguishing feature of that report was
that 1t required Tennessee to grant negro
suffrage as one Of the conditions precedent.
and while it is not probable that a major
Of the committee can be brought to an
agreement on a scheme requiring imme-
diste and unconditional negro suffrage, it
may be looked @ as almost certain that
viii unite on s proposition demand
a guaranty from the rebel states of
immediate equality in civil rights, with
put regard 10 race or color, and a like
IN political rights at the expira-
ton OF abriet term Of years. The vote
in the committee, not on any COM
pletsd scheme or plan, but on minor prop
or parts Of a general plan, though
when two or three members were
seems to leave no doubt that the
universal suffrage universal amnesty
scheme will be defeated when a vote is
OF the committee. Many leading
members Of the Senate and House are If
-eveCably opposed to universal amnesty,
and there is little possibility that the pres
mt feeling Of either branch of Congress
would sgres to it even to secure universal
The Dale Owen proposition,
Tiz: That representation during ten years !
text ensuing shall be based on legal voters,
md, after that, on population, and that
Iftsr 1876, there shall be equality in polit-
cal rights, without respect to race or color
much favor, but some members Of i
be committee are very unwilling TO post
'one the suffrage grant for so long = peri (
d a. tan years. There is, further, ssms =