The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-16
WASHINGTON. Dec. 0.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 0.
Sendte-The Senate took up the bill for the re-
lief of the political disabilities Of F. s. Moses, chief
justice of South Carolina.
Mr.. Davis, of Kentucky, moved to amend the
bill so ss TO extend the same relief to all other
citizens of South Carolina. The motion was lost,
all the senators voting in the negative except
Messrs. Bayard, Davis, Dixon, Doolittle. Ferry,
McCreery, Norton, Patterson of Tennessee, and
Salisbury. The bill was then passed by 46 to 6.
On motion, the Senate took a recess, and on re-
assembling, the presidents message was received
at the hands of his private secretary. and read by
the secretary of the Senate. When about half
reading be dispensed with on the ground that it
was offensive and untrue.
Mr.. Davis opposed the motion.
Mr.. Howe followed in its support.
Mr.. White claimed that 1t, by all considerations
of propriety, demanded reading
Mr. Wilson, while denouncing President John
son, thought that the message ought to be read.
Mr.. Hendricks insisted that it was only right
of the president to state his objections to the
gressional policy.
Mr.. CONFESS withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Cameron renewed it.
Mr.. Morton was surprised at the motion, and de-
clared that its adoption would belitte the Senate
and indicate mere spitefulness.
Mr.. Drake suggested that as Congress had re-
ceived many of a like character, it might as well
take one more.
Mr.. Howe argued that the presidents duty was
to communicate facts, not opinions, and the Sem
ate was not bound to hear his argumentstive and
insulting message.
Mr. Edmunds said the transaction of business
would be facilitated by deferring the question I'M.
til to morrow, and moved to adjourn, which was
carried-26 to ~.
Adjourned.
House-Mr. Bingham, from committee on recon.
strucuon, reported bill providing for an election
in Virginia, to be held Wednesday, Goth of Jsnu-
airy next. The question to be for the Constitution
or against the Constitution adopted by the con.
vention which met in Richmond, December 3,
1867. He explained the bill. and said II was the
same as the one passed last July, except as TO the
time of holding the election. He hoped the time
was near when there would be no complaint in
that State as to want of local government resting
on the consent of the governed.
Mr.. Eidridge inquired whether the bill made any
provision in reference to persons voting excluding
the Constitution and laws of Virginia or under the
reconstruction acts.
Mr.. Bingham replied that the bill in no way
changes the reconstruction acts as to the dis
qualification Of citizens to vote in preliminary
elections.
MIR. Washburne, of Illinois, called attention to
time fixed for holding the election. and expressed
the opinion that Congress should fix much later
day. He thought the 10th of January too early
for holding the election, and desired to offer an
amendment substituting the second Tuesday 10
April, trusting at that time the loyal people of
Virginia could be protected.
Mr.. Maynard remarked. in addition to the rea-
son assigned by Mr.. Wsshburne, that the middle
of January was ordinarily a very inclement sea.
son, and it would be very difficult if not imprsc-
hcable, to secure anything like full vote then.
He was. therefore, in favor of postponemeut.
Mr.. Bingham said the time named in the bill was
not fxediby the committee but had been fixed by
friends of the reconstruction measure in Virginia.
Those persons were entirely satisfied that fair
election could be had. They ,HeFs .satsded the
Union everywhere in the country; and, in addi
ton to those suggestions, he desired to state that
certain revolutionary acts were taking place in
this country which IL was In the power Of the peo
pie of Virginia in 1869 to do something toward
arresting as they had done on another occasion in
1853 when there was sedtion in the land. Then
Virginia, under the lead of wise and intelligent
men, was the first of the States of the Union to
take action for the exercise Of such power on the
part of the whole people of the country as would
perpetuate their liberties, and in Their own Ian.
gusge conciliate the union Of the States. Indeed,
since the adjournment of Congress, the Legisla-
ture Of Oregon. following the bad examples of
Ohio and New Jersey, had defeated the rstfca-
ton heretofore given by the people of Oregon to
the fourteenth article Of amendment. He under.
took to cay there were men who would come to
understand by absolute experience the positive
necessity of that amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, If the government was to be
maintained by laws rather than by arms. 1t was
desired they should have an opportunity of exer-
cisng it, TO put an end to the contest, and to ena-
BILE this Congress, before its adjournment on the
4th Of March, to silence all questions as to the va
lidi'y of the ratification OF that amendment, and
as TO the great question to whether ii is to be
part of the Constitution Of the land to all ntents
and purposes.
After further discussion. particularly Is to the
time TO be fixed, Messrs. Washburne, Butler and
Boutwell, insisting on q day as late as May
next, and before disposing of the question, the
presidents message was received and read. The
reading having been completed,
Mr.. Washburne, (Il.) having made motion
that the message be printed, said that the recon-
mendation Of the president relative to the public
debt was plain. undisguised reputation, and en-
tered his protest against II, denouncing II ss dis
grace to the country end its chief magistrate.
Mr.. Washburne yielded to Mr.. Broomal, who
desired to offer resolution, bat was Interrupted
by
Mr.. Wood, who made point of order, that Mr..
Washburne had used unparamentary language.