The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-10
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
LATEST WASHINGTON NEWS.

LATEST WASHINGTON NEWS.
Debate before the Reconstruction
Committee of the Delegates from the
Different Organizations and from
the Virginia ,Legislature-COmm
tee Adjourned to Meet To-Morrow-
Virginia will Probably be Admit
ted ON Monday OF Tuesday.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, December 8, 1869.
At 10 O'Clock this morning the House
Committee on Reconstruction assembled in
their rooms at the capitol. There was a
full attendance OF the committee. General
Butler (chairman) announced that several
committees were waiting to state their
views and present memorials in reference
to the admission of Virginia.
A motion toadmit them all was agreed to.
The committee representing the Legisla-
ture, headed by Mr.. Speaker Turner, and
accompanied by Governor Walker; the
committee representing the Radical wing of
the Republican Convention, headed by
Congressman Porter, and accompanied by
Messrs. Humphreys, Maddox, Wardwell,
Morrissey, of Richmond, and several CO.
lored men and the committee representing
the Conservative or boiling portion Of the
late Republican Convention, headed by
Congressman Plat and Ayers, and accom-
panied by Mr.V. a. Witcher, J. Bland Eco.
lored, member of the State Senate,) Hine,
and others, were the three committees adj
mitted.
Mr.. Porter presented an address of the
Radical wing of the late Convention, in
which were embraced 4 series Of resolutions
passed by that wing and a memorial pray.
ing that Virginia be not admitted until an
other election shall be held and the test.
oath taken by members of the Legislature
and other officers elected, etc.
Speaker Turner presented the memorial
of the Legislature, which was given in de-
tail in these dispatches of yesterday. Mr.
Hine, chairman, Of the boilers or minori'
tvs commit tee, presented resolution OIL
behalf of the members of the convention
whom he represented. The resol utions, OF
memorial, ask for the early admission .o
the State, and that members Of the Legisla'
ture only be required to take the oath Of
office as prescribed by the reconstruction
laws. They left the reconstruction of these
laws to Congress, and did not advocate the
iron-clad oath. .r
Mr.. Porter was, the first to speak, and he
made vehement and earnest speech pro-
tested against the admission of the State ut
this time insisted upon the iron-clad oath
being administered was opposed to the
total amnesty idea, and insisted that the
wing Of the Republican party which he
represented was the only true and loyal
party in the State; and that the school Sys-
tenn and jury clause of the Constitution
would not be carried out in good faith. lie
cited an instance which lately occurred in
one OF the counties where the sheriff had
summoned mixed jury and the State
Judge refused to swear them in on the
ground that colored juries were incompati-
BILE with the laws of the State.
Mr.. Butler here interrupted the speaker,
and, turning to Governor Walker, asked If
such was the case. Governor Walker an
swered that he did not know, but thought
perhaps it might be so, as the State was not
now being governed under the new Consul.
tuition, but under the old laws, and said
that is just what we are waiting for, Gene.
raj; to have you approve and accept our
Constitution.
Mr.. Porter continued his remarks at some
length, being earnest to the end that the
State should not be admitted unless there
was another election or the reassembling
of the Legislature, and all required to sub
scribe to the iron-clad oath, and those who
could not do 80 should stand aside, and the
next highest on the legislative tickets be
admitted to the Legislature, etc.
Speaker Turner then made few re.
marks, stating that he was no politician MOI
member of any party or wing; but he pre-
sented the memorial of the Legislature in
good faith, and was sure that every proyl'
sion OF her Constitution would be strictly
carried out.
Mr.. John B. Crenshaw, member of the
Legislature from Richmond city and Hen
rico, then made brief and eloquent speech
He had been Union man from the begin
ming of the late war, and had been Re.
publican since the Old-Line Wing party
disbanded. He knew that he spoke the
earnest sentiment Of the legislative body OF
which he was member, and for whom he
now spoke as one, Of committee for whom
he pledged that the new Constitution in all
it's provisions would be faithfully carried
out. "
Governor Walker, on behalf of the peo'
pie and as their chosen Chief Executive,
assured the committee that the Constitution
should be carried out to the very letter.
He claimed to be much older Republi.
can than many of the Reconstruction Com
mittee. He stated that it was he who gave
to Senator Stewart, of Nevada, the original
draft and idea of the fifteenth amendment
bill. The fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments had been adopted; and one OF the
best State constitutions in the country had
been adopted almost unanimously by the
voters Of his State, All the reconstruction
laws had been complied with. Fair elee'
tions had been held, and the action of the
State approved by the President. For his
own part, he had not doubt but that the
committee would do Virginia justice, and
report bill for her admission at the earliest
practicable moment. - ..r,sSsssr -.
Mr.. WardweIl, iormerly one of General
Buffers staff officers, and now superintend'
ent of the State penitentiary, protested