Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-12-10
HOUSE.

Mr.. PAINE, from the committee on Re-
construction, reported a bill to release
from al legal and political disabilities
arising from his connection with the res
bellion, f. j. Moses, of South Carolina,
late elected Chief Justice OF that State.
The bill passed by the requisite two-thirds
vote. Ee4 va co tr,1g - -oia3 .-Hamg!o9
Mr.. BINGHAM, from the committee on
Reconstruction, reported q bill providing
for an election in Virginia, to be aheld
Wednesday. the Goth of January next, the
question being "for the Constitution" )"
adopted by the Convention which met in
Richmond, Dec.-3d, 1867. He explained
the. bill and said it was the same as the one
passed last July, except as to the time of
holding the election He hoped the htinie
was near when there would be no further
complaint in that State as to want local
Government resting on the consent of the
governed. s.1 ~ go
Mr.. ELDRIDGE inquired whether, the
bill made any provisions, in, reference to
persons voting excluded under the Con-
stitution and laws of Virginia, or under
the reconstruction acts. z5j-.syUE ..g5su
Mr.BINGHAM replied that the bill in
no way changed the reconstruction acts as
to the disqualifications- of citizens to vote
in the preliminary elections. AL s
Mr.. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, called
attention to Lhe time fixed for holding the
election, and expressed the opinion that
Congress should fix much later day. He
thought the Doth of January too early for
holding the election, and desired to offer
an amendment substituting the second
Tuesday of April, trusting at that time the
loyal people of Virginia could be pro-
tected.
Mr.. MAYNARD remarked that in addi-
ton to the reason assigned by Mr.. Wash
burne, that the middle of January was or
dinarily a very inclement session, and it
would be very difficult. if not impractica-
BILE, to secure anything like full vote then.
He was, therefore, IN favor OF postpone
ment.
Mr.. BINGHAM said the time named in
the bill was not fixed by the committee on
Reconstruction, but had been designated
by a Convention of friends OF the recon-
struction measures in Virginia. Those
persons were entirely satisfied that the re-
suit would be satisfactory'Uo TO the friends OF
the Vi ion everywhere in the country, and
in addition TO those suggestions he desired
also to state that certain revolutionary acts
were taking place in this country which it
was in the power or the people OF Virginia,
in 1869, to do something towards arresting,
as they had done on memorable occasion
in 1877, when there was sedition in the
land. Then Virginia, under the lead of
wise, Intelligent and patriotic men, was the
first OF the States Of the Union to take &C
.tion 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 language consolidate the
Union of States. In last September,
since the adjournment of Congress,
the Legislature of Oregon, following the
bad examples of Ohio and New Jersey
had. defeated the ratification heretofore
given by the people of Oregon to the fif.
teenth article of the amendment. He un.
dertook to say there were men who would
come to understand by absolute expert
ence, the positive necessity ot that amend; mend
| ment to the Constitution OF the Unlteo
States. . If the Government wa!
to be maintained by laws. rather thar
| by arms, it was IL in ii the power
of the people of Virginia, and he desired
they should have the opportunity of exer.
cising it, to put an end to the contest ane
restore to- this Congress power, before i
adjourned on the 4th of March, to silenc'
all questions as to the validity of the rari
| Ification of that amendment, and to tn,
| great question whether it is to be part o
the Constitution of the land, to all. intentl
and purposes. fi q F-EEE H.
After further discussion, particularly a
| to the time fixed, Messrs. Washburne
Butler and Boutwell, insist on a day a
late as May next, and before disposing o
it, the Presidents message was received
and read. -TruT TT-E rTEH-~k "
After the reading of the Presidents mes
sage, that part of it relating to the publ,
ldebt was denounced by Mr.. Washburne, o
Illinois, as disgraceful to the country ant
i to the President. -i-
1 Mr., BROOMALL, of Pa. and MI
ISCHENCK, of O.,.expressed similar views
and the message was laid on the tabl
without the usual order to print extr;
copies.
/ The Virginia Election bill was amended
and passed, and the House, at 3:45, adjourn
led. BE-f -a FssfI