The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-10
TELEGRAPH.
CONG RE S S


out the reconstruction acts in the State
of Georgia, which was ordered printed.
The Senate took up bill for for the
relief OF the political disa bilities OF T. j.
Moses, Chief Justice of South Carolina.
Bill passed, yeas IS, nays 6.
| A message WAS received from the
House stating that they had passed the
bill regulating duties on imported Cop.
per ores and transmitting the act re-
storing the Bureau of Indian Affairs to
the War Department. LAID on the
table.
| Ga motion the Senate took n 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 had been read, Mr.. ConnesS moved
that further reading be dispensed with
on the ground that ii was offensive and
untrue.
Mr.. Davis opposed the motion.
| Mr.. Howe followed In its support.
Mr.. White claimed that all cOnsidera-
tions of propriety demanded Its read
ing.
| dent Johnson, thought the message
Mr.. Hendricks insisted that It was
not only the Presidents right. but his
duty TO state his objections TO Congress
slonal policy.
Mr.. COnness withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Cameron renewed 1t.
Mr.. Morton was surprised mt the
motion and declared that its adoption
would belittle the Senate and indicate
mere spitefuluess.
Mr.. Drake suggested as Congress had
received SO many OF like character 1t
might as we'll take one more home. he
argued that the Presidents duty was
/ to communicate facts not opinions and
the Senate WAS not bound TO hear his
Argumentative and insulting message.
| Mr.. Edmunds said the transaction OF
| business would be facilitated by defer
ing this question till morrow, and
moved to adjourn, which was carried,
70 to %. Adjourned.
| HOUSE.
Mr.. Paine, from the Committee on
Reconstruction, reported a bill to re-
lieve from all legal and political disa-
| bilities arising out OF his connection
| with the rebellion, T. J. Moses, OF South
Carolina, lately elected Chief Justice of
that State. The bill passed by the re-
quisite two-third vote.
Mr.. Bingham, from the Committee
on Reconstruction, reported n bill pro-
| viding for an election in Virginia to be
| held on Wednesday the 20th OF Janu-
ary next, the question TO be "for the
| Constitution" or "against the ConAti-
| tuition" adopted by the convention
which met in Richmond December Sd,
1867. He explained the bill, and said II
| was the same AZ the one passed last
July, except as to the time of holding
the election. lie hoped the time was
near when there would be no further
| complaint in that State as to the want
| OF local government, vesIinE consent
OF the governed.
Mr.. Eldridge inquired whether the
bill made any provision in reference to
| persons voting who were excluded un-
| der the Constitution and the laws of
| Virginia, or under the Reconstruction
| acts.
Mr.. Bingham replied that the bill in
no way changed the Reconstruction
acts as to the disqualification of citizens
to vote in the preliminary elections.
Mr.. Washburne, OF Illinois, called
attention to The time fixed ior holding
the election, and expressed the opinion
that Congress should fix a much later
day. He thought the 2O!h of January
too early for holding the election, and
| desired to offer an amendment substi-
tuting the second Tuesday in April,
trusting that at that time the loyal
people of Virginia could be protected.
Mr. Maynard remarked, in addi-
ton to the reason assigned by Mr..
Washburne, that the middle OF jan
uary was ordinarily n very Indictment
season, and 1t would be very difficult,
II not impracticable.t to secure anything
/ u
fore, in favor of fposlpOnement.
Mr. Bingham said the time named
| in the bill was not fixed by the Com
mittee on Reconstruction, but had been
designated by convention OF the
friends OF the reconstruction measures
in Virginia. Those persons were en-
tirely satisfied that the result would be
satisfactory to the friends of the Union
everywhere in the country; and in ad
| ditIon to these suggestions, he desired
nlso TO state that certain revolutionary
acts were taking place in this country
which 1t was in the power of the people
OF Virginia in 1869 to do
they had done on memorable oc-
Casion in 1857. 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 action for the exercise OF
oil the country as would perpetuate
their liberties, and, in their language,
consolidate the union of the States.
In last September, since the adjourn
ment OF Congress, the Legislature OF
Oregon, following the bad examples OF
the legislatures OF Ohio and New Jer
sey, had defeated the ratification here
toiore given by the people OF Oregon to
| the l4th article of the amendment.
Heundertook TO say there were men
| who would come to understand by
absolute experience the positive neces-
sity OF that amendment 10 the Constitu-
tIon of the United States. 1.-THE Gov
| ernment was TO be maintained by
I laws rather than by arms, II WAS in
the power OF the people OF Virginia, and
he desired that they should have the
opportunity of exercising 1t, to put an
| end to the contest, and restore this Con
gress TO power before It adjourned on
| the 4th OF March to silence nIl questions
as TO the validity of that amendment
and Hs to the great question whether it
is to be part of the on,titution of the
land to all intents and purposes.
Alter further discussion, particularly
as to the time fixed, MessFs. Wash.
burne,i Butler and Boutwell, insisting on
u day as late as May next, and before
disposing of it the Presidents message
was read. After the reading OF the
Presidents message that part of 1t re-
lating to the public debt was denounced
by Mr.. Washburne, OF Illinois, rs dis
graceful TO tho country and to the Pres
ldent.
Mr.. Broomall, of Pennsylvania, and
Mr.. Schenck, OF Ohio, OK xpressed a SIM
liar view, and the message was laid on
the table without the usual order to
print extra copies.
The Virginia election bill was amend
ed and passed. and tho House at 3.45
adjourned.
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