Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-07-18
An Interesting Debate in the Senate--
Virginia General Sch0field-- Who
are Entitled to Register.

LII Tue Ocudte Oh w euucSuay Mr. drake
moved to amend the sixth section, which
declares the intent and meaning of the oath
prescribed in the supplementary act, by
inserting the words while holding any
such Office or" so as to make the clause
read 'that no person who has been mem
Der of the Legislature Of any State, or who
has held any executive or judicial office in
any State, whether he was holding such
office at the time of rebellion or had held
it before, and afterwards engaged in REBEL
ion," &c.
Mr.. Wilson said if the amendment
meant to exclude those who were in office
when the States went out he would be in
favor of it. If it meant more. he was OPP
posed to it. He did not think it wise to
enlarge the list Of exclusions. He believed
all the southern States would conform to
the requirements of the military bill. and
out of the ten he believed seven would send
men here in favor of the union of the coun-
try and equal rights for all men.
Mr.. Drake said the officers of registra-
ton in Virginia had settled down upon the
conclusion that no man who was in office
when the rebellion broke out was disfran-
chised. This was the necessity for his
amendment
Mr.. Howard said the amendment of Mr..
Drake was in accordance with his under
standing of the bill Of last session, and he
hoped it would be adopted. It was found
ed upon the idea that it was specially in
cumbent upon men in Office when the war
broke out to keep their faith to the Gov
eminent.
The amendment was agreed to.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT FOR VIRGINIA.
Mr.. Howard moved asian amendment
to the sixth section proviso that the mere
act of having voted for the ordinance ofse-
cession shall not of itself be deemed under
this act engaging in rebellion or insurrec-
ton, nor shall any person be deemed dis
qualified merely by reason Of his having
held an Office as justice of the peace, nota-
ry public, trustee, officer or agent of any
institution Of learning, Or commissioner of
banks Or canals, &c.
Mr.. Howard said General Scho6cld had
made ruling which rendered the above
necessary as regards those who voted for
the ordinance of secession.
Mr. Buckalew desired to know if mem
bers of the bar were included in this
amendment. They were judicial officers in
a certain sense, and might be excluded I'M
der the stringent laws in operation. lie
regarded it as dangerous to attempt an emu
meration in case like this, because all
who were not included in it would be re-
garded as coming under the exclusion of the
bill.
Mr. Howard modified his amendment by
inserting after the words ordinance of Sc
cession" the words cat popular election"
Mr. Sumner characterized Mr. Towards
amendment as perfect Noah's Ark, in
which rebels were to be saved
Mr.. Nye spoke against the amendment as
opening the gates too wide for the admis-
sion of those who had attempted to break
down the Government. There would be no
substantial peace in this country until ev-
cry rebel was either dead or DISTINGUISHED.
Instead of opening the doors to let them in,
he would make the law more stringent He
was heartily tired of this talk for leniency.
The rebels on y wait an opportunity to re-
vive the rebellion in which they had been
engaged. He knew that the constituency he
represented were afraid only of opening the
gates too wide. He denied an toto the prop
osition that these people could be won by
magnanimity. They had been tried with
the constitutional amendment, but had re-
jocted it and had yielded to nothing but the
bayonet, before which they were made to
tremble. It would be found that before
the work of reconstruction was completed,
still more stringent laws would have to be
enacted.
Mr.. Howard, replying to Mr.. Nye, said
that gentleman had misconstrued his
amendment, and denied that it was open
ing the doors for the admission of rebels to
participation in the Government. All he
desired was to ascertain the meaning of
the words in the fourteenth amendment to
the Constitution relating to engaging in
rebellion or giving aid and comfort to the
enemies Of the Government He wished
the Senate to say whether vote for seces-
sion was an act of treason against the Uni
ted States, and was so intended when the
fourteenth amendment was passed in the
Senate.
It will be seen that all the speakers treat
the Alexandria Constitution with contempt
None Of them censure General Schofeld
for deciding that that instrument cannot
disfranchise anybody. 1t will also be seen
that, as we have SO often cndeavored to
show, Mr.. Howard holds that no one is dis
franchised except those dsfranchised by
the proposed constitutional amendments. -
Richmond Dispatch.
ANOTHER ATTACK ON FoRT WALLACE.
A dispatch from Fort Wallace, dated June
%, says: Yesterday 400 Indians, the same
band that were driven off few days ago,
made another attack on this post. Capt
Borwitz, with G troop, of the 7th cavalry,
went out and gave the savages battle. AT
first he was repulsed, but after desperate
fight succeeded in driving the red skins
away. Out of forty eight soldiers who