New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-19
WASHINGTON.

sTATEs-LETTER FROM SENATOR WILSON ON
THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION
M TKIEGRAPH TRBrNE . .-
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, Dee. 49, 1907.
In the Senate to-day a report was made from the
Judiciary Committee on the subject OF the ADMISSION
of the Hon. Philip +. Thomas, Senator eleco rom
MARYLAND The Committee have been unable 10 ma
ANYTHING against Mr.. Thomas except the Iaco thau
his son was in the Rebel army. Reyerdy Johnson
offered resolution for his admission but no actlOh
was taken on it, When it comes mp 1t VIII be OPP
posed by several Republican Senator's but 1t IS SAID
that il will pass by considerable majority. Inc
hill TO repeal the cotton tax came up again and was
discussed for four hours without any result.
In the House to-day Mr.. ThaddeUs Stevenss Sup
elemental Reconstruction bill was passed by vote
If 1Oi to 81 Messrs Stewart and Cary voting in the
Affirmative The bill provides that instead of ma
jorty of the whole number of voters registered being
necessary to adopt State Constitution majority
If the whole number of votes cast will be sufficient
aud that at tine time Of voting the State COnsttu
tons Members of Congress shall also be voted for
II also provides that any State adopting COnsti-
tuition which shall be approved by Congress the
State shall be Immediately restored TO the Union.
Mr. Stevens made brief speech on the merits of the
bill It was the first time that he has entered into
debate this session, and the scene while he
speaking was of an exceedingly striking character.
All the members both Republicans and Democrats,
left their seats and crowded around the old man,
listening attentiyely to every word he uttered 1t
seemed like old times to have him speak, and the
attention and eamostness with which his fellow
members heard him seemed to give him renewed
energy, for he spoke very distinctly, and with as
much force and vigOr he did IN the session of last
Winter Mr. Bingham followed Mr.. Stevens, object
ing to the ratio of representation prOposed but Mr.
Stevens withdrew the obnoxious section, and Mr.
Bingham was satisfied. Nj. Brooks spoke for an
hour on the Sims feet nose teeth, skull &c. OF the
negro and was replied 10 in magnificent style by Mr.
Stevens in fve-minutes speech.
The report of the Senate Committee on the Judi
ciary, to whom was referred the credentials of the
Hon Philip I. Thomas, Senator elect from the State
of Maryland. says they have taken evidence and
that they find nothing sufficient in their opinion, to
debar said Mr.. Thomas from taking his seat, unless
it be found in the fact of the of said Mr. Thomas
having entered the military service of the Confed
eracy and in the circumstances connected With that
fact or relating to and without the expression OF
an opinion in regard to this point, they report the
whole evidence to the Senate. About twelve wit.
nesses were examined, and their testimony for the
most part was that he had done acts FOR or against
the Union but that his associations were with those
whose sympathies were with the South during the
Rebellion, while others knew but little about him of
their own knowledge. John r. Thomas, son of the
Senator elect admitted be was in the Confederate
army, and that before going thither he was repeat
edly aud earnestly invoked by his father not TO do
so. Furthermore, GOODNESS occurred between them
in consequence of such conversations. The money
given by Mr. Thomas to his TO buy him per-
sonal comforts and not to aid the Rebellion. These
statements were brought out in the Committee, the
father being privileged to PROFOUND questions to his
son with reference to the case.
At the last session of Congress the Senate Finance
Committee appointed a Subj Committee TO inquire
into the expediency of making new appOrtonment
of the National currency to the several States and
Territories Senator Van Wrinkle, who is the Chair
man of the Committee thus appointed, has submitted
a report now before the Committee, which provides
for an appOrtonment Of the currency not IN the ratio
of population but in the ratio of production and man
ufactures The Controller of the Currency IS direct
ed TO apporton to each such proportion of the max
imum amount of circulation heretofore authorized
by law as the number of its population and the entire
yalue of its productions multiplied together bear to
the sum of the products which to be aseeTtained
by census If the amount of circulating notes now
;ssued TO the National Bank associations exceeds the
amount apportioned to them by ten percentum' the
sum shall be so reduced that the proportion Of crcu-
lation of capital shall be ten per centum OF the
amount of the capital less than the rate fixed by ex-
stine laws but such reduction shall take effect only
as its circulating notes are retired and cancelled on
account of nutilation &c. The Committee will re-
mort this measure to the Senate at early day. as
there is strong pressure brought to hear from the
localities witch are now deficient in banking facii
ties.
The Ways and Means Committee are still pursuing
their investigation into the relative merits of the
whisky meters. To-day several persons were exam
ined on the subject with view of determining the
question of the expediency Of continuing one or more
IN use by the Department They also had up the
question of bonded warehouses, and examined sew
eral persons on the subject of abolshing Class A.
The Committee intend 10 pursue the matter further,
80 as to draw out all the information possible in
reference to these matters before they to any
conclusion ON the whisky tax and the manner of its
collection.
The following letter Of Senator Wilson of Massa-
chusetts TO the Hon. John G. Underwood, Judge of
the United States District Court of Virginia and one
Of the delegates of the Constitutional Convention
now sitting at Richmond, Virginia, Will be read with
great interest,"
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER
WASHINGTON, Dec. II, 1861.
Hon. JOHN G. UNDERwOOD-Ng dear Sr: have re-
views touching the proposition 70 dslranchse al persons
An 1871, who cannot read and write II such proposition
doubtless Influenced in their action by the reading and
writing provision in the Constitution Of MASSACHUSETTS
the ballot 10 all who possessed it, and applied
the Educational test emily TO those who came
If the proposition is 20 put into your Constitution the
educational test in 1871 20 apply only to those who come
OF age that date naturazed, or take up their resi-
deDce IN your state II would be IN aecordance Win the
ofduOted provision in the Constitution OF Massachusetts
Such provision might be incentive TO young men or
both races TO better qualify themselves 70 exercise e
elective franchise but 70 take from tens OF thousands OF
whom suffrage gVen-a right essential 10 the
security OF their lives and property and to dsiranchse