The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-10
WASHINGTON
Reception of the Presidents
Message in Congress-
Discourteous Treatment OF the Doc
ument In Both Houses.
Additional Reconstruction Pro-
s posed for Georgia.

$500 pV0OO AVX U0VI6Ads fe
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Passage In the House Of a Bill Providing
for an Election In Virginia.
WASHINGTON Dec. Q, 1868.
sxcitemenf in tho senate Over the Reading
Of tho President's Message.
Tho Prcsident's Message reached the Capitol to-day
shortly before one p. NJ, In custody OF two OF his
secretaries, Colonel VIM. G. Moore ana Mr.. w. w.
Warden. 1t was first presented in the Senate, and
about ten minutes later was announced in the House.
It's reception In both branches was, TO put It in the
mildest possible FORM very extraordinary Before IL
vas half read the fiery CONFESS, OF California, OBJ
tected to listening to it any longer, and very nat
debate followed leaving the auditory rather In doubt
~ to whether the dignhed Senate approved the
course Of the California Senator or condemned it.
Whether or not majority OF the Upper House sus-
tanned the extraordinary motion or Mr.. CONFESS, the
result amounted to substantial victory for tile anti
Johnson element. What they sought was - stop
the reading OF the Presidents annual communication
and Recommendations, and In this they certainly
succeeded. One OF the honorable Senators remarked
that was evident from the discussion that the
sion was destined to be prontless and moved 10 adj
assembage dispersed, some laughing as persons who
had achieved very clever feat and others looking
thoughtful and serious. The result was brought
about in such an unusual manner that no one pre-
sent sure whether any decided disrespect Of the
Executive was intended or not. A1Otabie feature
OF the performance was supplied by Senator Drake,
OF Missouri. Drake, VINO, Perhaps Ii rs radical
az Wendell Phillips himself, and who has
heretofore steadily planted himself foremost in the
front rank OF President Johnson's opponents raised
his voice against the motion OF Mr.. CONFESS and
rather favored than otherwise hearing the en-
tire Message read by Secretary Gorhanls senator
Morton interposed his objections, Also to such an
act OF Migrant disrespect to the Executive Of the
nation. and in Almost dispassioned tone endeavored
to point out to the Senate reasons why 80 great n
departure from the custom Of the body should not
be upheld. Old Simon Cameron, however, came to
the rescue OF Mr.. CONFESS, and perhaps It was the
fear that the motion might be adopted that led to
sudden and unexpected an adjournment. This re-
suit leaves the question in the condition OF unfii
ished business, which must come up FIRST thing to-
morrow morning, and be met fairly and square.
Reception Of the Messngc by the House
sg Dissraceful Proceedings.
In the House, though the reading OF the Message
was completed without interruption, the disrespect
was even greater than that displayed by the Senate
the House, members employed themselves In chat
ting and laughing, paying about az much attention
a. is shown during discussions in Committee OF the
Whole. When finally the last sentence had been
read by the Clerk scene, not paralleled even by
that which occurred when Boutwell, made bis famous
Impeachment speech that led to the subsequent ar
raignment and trial Of Premdent Johnson, followed.
washburne was apparently disposed to be moderate
in his manGuvres, but the course subsequently
pursued by Broomall, Of Pennsylvania, and
lSchenck Of Ohio, swept washburne's moderation
completely out Of sight schenck was ferociOus
a Q bulldog, and moved that printing OF
she Message whatever DO authorized. BreomalI.
mounted on the Clerks desk, read his vituperative
preambles and resolutions amid the jeers of Fer
nando Wood and the rest OF the democratic side
ana the scene altogether was Of . character more
worthy Of barroom on Water street than the Lower
House OF Congress-. The result OF the whole thing
was the half defeat OF schenck, who attempted to
play the part OF leader for the rst time since poor
Old Thad's taking on, and who put on all the AIRS
and authority pertain to that position. schenck
had to yield to washburne's compromise resolution
In the end which provided that, instead OF not print
ing the Message at ALL the usual number be printed.
but NO extra copies Thus though the antfJ ohnson
1eeling predominated and triumphed, Schenck had
TO draw In his horns and submit be overruled by
Grants n,outhpiece and the Jack Blunt Highly OF
California.
Constitutional Election In Virginia.
The Reconstruction Committee held ITS nrst meet
ing during the present session this morning. The
death OF Thaddeus stevens has virtually made Bing-
ham, OF Ohio its chairman, q position which he
constantly coveted while the Old man lived The
committee instructed Bingham to report the bill in
troduced last session providing for holding ~ cleo
tton In Virginia. At early stage OF the proceed.
ings he arose In his seat and with manifest sense
OF satisfaction at being at the head OF the committee
reported the bill In q somewhat pompous manner;
Inc then demanded the previous question on its pas.
sage, and proceeded to explain the bill by making
spread-eage stump speech about the foundati on
OF the government. Bingham's first attempt
to take the place OF Old Thad Stevens
vas q miserable failure. He evidently expected
70 carry his bin through with rush and
70 beat down oil opposition just as Old Thad used
70 do; but he was doomed to disappointment FIRST
Of all +. B. washDurne found some fault with tho
timed fixed by the bill for holding the election. This
was Q hint which was quickly improved by Butler,
who, IN i've minutes speech turned the tide
against Bingham. IL was in vain that bingham
attempted to frIghten the House with prophecy OF
revolution In case the bin did not pass a. he had
reported It. Butler limited that Bingham wanted 10
give the democrats chance to carry the election In
virginia, and he proposed to postpone the election
until after the 4th OF March. Bingham foughI,shis
~ well as he could. but Butler carried his point hy
large majority. In fact, Bingham was 20 badly de.
featcd that he could not muster strength enough 20
demand tue yeas and nays.
senator Yates Suffrage Bills.
Senator Yates will Introduce In a few days bl 70
make suffrage universal, which, iu conjunction with
mis- bill on naturalization will form tue most ex-
raordinary innovation that has yet been.
attempted In the direction OF cntrusting
the affairs OF government 10 the whole
people without any distinction save that OF sex.
The Senator is in the van OF Tie progressive splris
Of the cay and ardenty desires to see the reallza
ton Of Jenersons doctrine that all men are created
free and equal. HLs Idea OF citizenship Is that lr
should embrace every male being ON this continent
who sxcars alegia nee 10 tho Ipited sfatev ,y,v.r