The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-03-01
The Reconstruction Struggle.

We find in the New York Tribune's
special dispatches the following account OF
the scene in the house on Wednesday:
sin the house to-day the Military Re-
construction bill, as it was sent back by
the senate, was taken up, the motion be-
inc to concur in the senate amendments
as amended by Mr.. Wilson. Mr.. Blaine
demanded the previous question, so as to
cut off debate, but it had been arranged
among the Stevens men in an informal
caucus to add a further amendment, and
then pass the bill. Shellabarger had pre-
pared an amendment, and attempted to
get the floor to offer it, but as soon as
Blaine found out his object, he refused to
yield. Banks next tried to get the floor
to debate and amend the bill, but the
Blaine-Bingham party cried him down,
and amid some confusion the demand for
the previous question was insisted on. The
democrats, seeing the squabbling between
the republicans, thought they had a right
to Join in SO one of their number moved
to lay the bill on the table, but he was re-
minded of the promise his party had made
last evening to allow a vote, and he with
drew the motion. The previous question
was then voted down by 4 vote of - to
76. Thisjtook the floor from Blaine, and
Shellabarger offered his amendment, to the
effect that, until the Southern states are
admitted to representation in congress,
their state governments shall only be pro-
visional, and congress shall have tull pow
er over them, and further, that none who
took part in the rebellion shall be eligible
to vote for delegates, to form state Con-
stitutions, or to take any part in the form
alton of the same. AT this portion of the
proceedings another contest took place be-
tween the Blaine and Stevens parties, and
the democrats again intertered, and settled
all family quarreling by moving to Iav the
whole matter on the table. Bower made
this motion, and Blaine, who, at the time
the motion was made, was busy talking
down Stevens man. did not see who of
the democracy had thus broken faith. and.
being unable to control himself, he cried
out. who made that motion! at the same
time rushing down the aisle and over TO
the democratic side, where stood Boyer
Blame looked ieartully excited. and expos
tulated with him Oh the attempted breach
OF faith among the democracy Little
CHAMBER and Others wanted TO pretend they
made no pledge. but Jack Rogers. the
democratic leader, stopped all controversy
by ordering the motion to be withdrawn.
and business was allowed to proceed The
yeas and nays were then taken OH agreeing
10 Shellabarger's amendment, and it wa>
agreed TO by vote Of - to 40 This
was a test vote. and showed that the Stcv-
ems party had carried their point this time
without the AID of the democracy The
republicans who voted against the amend
ment were Raymond. Dodge. Latin. Oar
ling, Davis. Marvin and Pomerov OF y. Y.
! Bingham, Delano, Buckland and IIublcl.
Ohio. Dawes, Mass. Blow and benjamin.
Mo. Blaine, Me. lIubbe!l and Whalev.
W. Va, kuykenlall. ILL.,, Lawrence. Mil
Ter, Moorehead and Ihaycr, Pa, Mckee,
Ky, McRuer, Cal, Rice. MIS- Without
separately voting OH the Wilson amend
mcnt, vote on lie mai I..,.o..-. vi, .i,o
bill was had, resulting i'll l25 yeas 10 10
nays. Three republicans (at least they
were elected Is republicans. but have all
along voted with the democracy voted to-
day against the bill They were kuvkcn-
dali, ILL.,, lIubbell, Ohio, and Hawkins.
Tenn. The vote was the largest "iven
this session on any question. Each party
mustered nearly its full strength There
were absent and not voting 10 republicans
and democrats