The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-06
THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
Organization Of the Two H0uses-protest
OF the Radicals -Caucusing Of
the Two Parties.

The Leglsature--Tempornry Organization OF
the Housc-The Irouctad Oath Demanded
by tho Radicais-Eiection OF OGcors by the
Senate-CaucusIng for Officers OF the
House-A Candidate Objectionable TO Ben
Buter Thrown Overheard.
RICHMOND, Oct. s. 1859.
The Legislature convened at noon with full
attendance In the House a temporary organization
was Effected, with William NJ. sLangian, or Rock.
as Clerk, and adjourned till tomorrow. when per.
manent o1lceS will be elected. Mr.. Bowdin. o
Wells republican, protested against any ofncer, tom.
porarily or permanently, taking his seat. who had
not taken the "lronoad oathn
The Senate met with Lieutenant Governor Lewis
10 the chair ana elected all the officers nominated
"a me caucus last night. A Wells republican made
their entering once without taking the "ironcad"
oath. The Senate then adjourned until tomorrow.
night, the object Of the Wells men being to change
their candidate for Speaker. General D. 3: White,
as Objectionable to General Butler, having challenged
him when ne was In this city. MIR. White has with.
drawn and she ticket VIII be changed tonight the
Wells republicans ran q regularly nominated
ticket for olcers In the Senate, which received six
votes. There Is little tax about the Senatorial election
to-day In view OF the more Immediate interest OF
choice OF Speaker by the Walker men IN caucus
tonight.
Robert Douglas. private secretary to President
Radical Protest Against tho Legality Of tho
Legisiatnre-Iie construction Obstructed-At.
tempt TO Exact tho Test Oath of Legislative
Officers.
RICHMOND Oct. 6. 1869.
In the organization OF the Senate to-day the
Walker republicans elected their candidates BY a
strict party VOTE the radicals In the instance OF the
election OF an assistant d0Orkeeper, who was col.
0red, refusing to vote. radical member acting
under the course determined upon In party caucus
this morning, formally protested against any ofcer
being elected who unable to take the test oath.
The protest declaring the Legislature to be an
illegal body, mentioned in the dispatches OF
yesterday, was adopted this morning In caucus To-
night, in caucus also, motion was made 0y Major
Haskell radical Senator. to furnish the HERALD ex-
clusvely with copy OF the protest; but before O
vote could be taken 1t was moved ana determined to
defer its publication for another day. The meeting
of the radical members Of both houses tonight was
guarded with the utmost secrecy. and In conse
qnence OF their singular course the widest run.ors
are ahoar II has transpired, however that General
Candy Is to be pettloned TO require the test oath OF
all the officers Of the Legislature, which, II carried
would unseat all those elected by the Walker
republicans and indefinitely postpone the organlza
ton of either branch OF the General Assembly. One
rency is to the effect that the radical members who
can take the test oath intend to secede and form
what they style legal Legislature, and In case their
appeal to Congress to declare the seats OF all who
unable to take the test oath vacant and seat the
person receiving the next highest number OF votes.
This 10 the programme believed to be engineered by
Ben Butler and other radical leaders In Congress.
If the radical minority here are supported by either
the or Congress 81 VIII
members of the House is now In session, making
nominations OF officers 1t Is stated ut eleven r. M.
ington tomorrow TO exact the test oath from the
officers OF the Legislature.