Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-06
LATEST TELEGRAMS.
FROM WASHINGTON.
Congressional Proceedings.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The SENATE wa.
not in session to-day.
HOUsE-In accordance with 4 resolution
adopted on Friday, to-day was devoted
wholly to debate, in Committee of the
Whole, on the Presidents message.
Mr.. Spslding, of Ohio, addressed the
House in vindication of his own position
upon the question of reconstruction, in re
ply to the structures of Mr.. Stevens, made
on the Goth ult. He said, in the remarks
which had called out the comments of Mr.
Stevens, he had expressly stated, that in his
Judgment the ratification of the constitu.
tionaI amendment by three-fourths of the
loyal States would make it a part of the
constitution, and that the action or inaction
of the Rebel States in reference to the
amendment, would be of no importance
only as evidence of their willingness
TO submit. But in reference to the
constitutional amendment he said, his
original understanding was that il was to
be taken as a measure of concession in
part between the loyal and disloyal States,
and when the latter should have signifed
their appreciation of the constitutional
amendment, and should have modelled
their State government so as to pass the
ordinance Of Congress, they would be adj
mitted TO the representation canvass. In
the State of Ohio it was conducted on the
basis of the constitutional amendment
alone. He had uniformly told the people
of his district that when the Southern
States adopted the constitutional amend
ment he should vote to receive their repre-
sentatives, and that he had never met with
4 dissenting voice in his district, and he
would say further, even ifthe reconstruction
bill introduced by Stevens should become
law. he would still be in favor Of the adop-
ton of the constitutional amendment.
He had recently visited Petersburg, Va.
and while there several gentlemen said
they wanted the difficulties between the
North and South settled He asked them
WHY they repudated the constitutional
amendment They replied if the amend
ment were put in force without the aid of
the Southern States, they would of course
submit, but they would not consent to
strike down their head leaders for having
participated with them in their common
ofense.
Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, said he had
received letters from North and South Car
olina. affirming the views Of the men met
by Mr.. Spalding at Petersburg
Mr.. Spalding resumed Formerly, he
said. freedom Of thought and opinion had
been encouraged in Congress, but Of late
anna had seemed 10 think that difference
of opinion on the part Of any member was
equivalent to a de5ertion of the Republi-
can party. 1t would take some time and
trouble to get him out Of the Republican
ranks where he had been ever since the
inception Of the party, n0rwould he readily
abaEdon his wen considered views.
The term Radical was frequently Ieisap-
plied He had often been called the
damned Radical from Ohio, daughter, but
latterIv he had been charged with being
somewhat Conservative. Radicalism Ger
tainlv did not mean despotism nor anarchy.
Was Congress prepared at the bugle blast
Of Radicalism 10 run into the ground all
the institutions Of our popular form OF
Are they ready al the com
mand of their great leaders, 10 throw into
condition of territories or provinces Of old
States that had inferred into union at its be
and having done that, were they
readv 10 20 still further and al sound Of
buele impeach executive officers Of the
The President had un-
ioubtedlv done many wrong acts and he
did not stand up 10 vindicate our govern
meni institutions against their rude assaults
At the same time, and he warned House
hat resort TO extreme measures would
certainly produce reaction against the
party. ...
Another test Of radicaiism which had
Deen set up, was willingness 70 put pro-
lihition tariff upon foreign goods and 10
extend the paper circulation Of the country
Without Limitation. He was in favor Of
tariff for the protection Of home
industry, but he did not favor a prohibitory
arif. nor was he prepared TO denounce
1ficers Of the government who said that We
mould stii derive portion OF our revenue
rom the duty on import. he agreed with 4