The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-10
Conversational.

w ASH1NGTON, January 9.-OendIe.-A
memorial was presented asking an appro-
priation for the relief of the freedmen of
the District of Columbia; also, one asking
for female suffrage in the District, and one
from 5000 hand loom operatives asking
relief from taxation.
The House bill to prevent fraud in the
whiskey revenue tax was passed with an
amendment striking out the words Gin
bond," and making the provisions of the
, bill apply to all whiskey.
A petition was presented from the Ala
bama Constitutional Convention praying
the removal of Governor Patton's political
disabilities.
Mr.. Morton called up his resolution in
structing the Judiciary Committee to re-
port bill abrogatiDg the existing State
governments in the rebel States and pro-
viding proper governments in lieu thereof.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen moved to amend so
as to make the reporting of the bill dis
cretionary with the committee.
Mr.. Morton said he desired to test the
sense of the Senate directly upon the
question. It was high time that Congress
defined it's position in terms not to be mis-
understood on this subject. To his mind
the state of affairs now existing in these
rebel communities had never been more
alarming. Congress had on the I'd of last
March declared the existing governments
in those States to be illegal, and not
affording proper security to life and pro-
perty and at that time Congress had pro-
vided military supervision until such time
as legal governments could be established.
To-day the military authority which they
had set up was obstructing the proper
operations of the law in some of those
States, and upholding the present illegal
and unauthorized governments. Mr.. Nor
ton here sent to the desk of the Secretary
the acts of March and July to be read, and
also Order No. of General Hancock, in
which the civil authority is declared SUI
preme.l It would be seen that Gen. Han
cock in his order not only defed the power
of Congress, but actually nullified and re-
fused to execute its laws. AS Gen. Hancock
has confronted directly the Congress of the
United States, it becomes a question as to
which side will submit. He recognizes
the authority of the civil tribunals orga-
nized by the very State Government which
Congress has declared to be illegal. There
was danger that the work Of reconstruct
ton would fail by the very military power
which they had raised up to forward it.
At this crisis it was incumbent on Con-
gress to be true and consistent to itself,
and proceed to abrogate these govern
ments. It became Congress to say at once
what they intended to do. Although de-
claring in the acts referred to that these
State governments were illegal, Congress
had not deemed proper, in the exercise Of
its power, to do away with them abruptly
but in the present juncture there should
not be a moments hesitation. If the
amendment of Mr.. Frelnghuysen was
adopted it would mean nothing. Mr.. Nor
ton wanted a peremptory order to the
committee to bring in bill Immediately,
and he desired this Senate to so order.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen did not intend to op-
pose any of the experiments which had
been advanced in the Senate, but thought
it but right that some confidence should be
reposed in the judgment of the committee.
The expiration of the morning hour cut
off further debate on the resolution, and
the House bill for the further contraction
of the currency was taken up and dis
cussed until the executive session; after
which the Senate adjourned.
HouSe.-Resolution asking the release
of Father Mcmahon and other Fenians
were passed.
The bill for preventing whiskey frauds
as amended by the Senate was taken up
L