Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-02-26

A funny scene transplred In the session of
the House of Representatives on Friday
night last After the business progressed
for a while it was discovered that there was
not a quorum present and call of the House
was ordered and many members were excused
on the ground Of i'll health, when.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE moved that all further pro-
ceedings under the call be dispensed with,
as the excuses made showed an alarming
state of bad health among members. He
was afraid it would prevent a large atten
dance at the Inauguration. Rejected.
Several others being excused on the ground
Of sickness.
Mr.. ELDR1DGE moved that all the sick
members of the House be referred to the
| Committee on Reconstruction for restora-
ton.
Mr.. BURR objected, saying that that would
kill off the last man Of them. daughter.
Mr.. ASHLEY was present OF the first call
but then absented himself, which Mr.. Ell
bridge, observing, mentioned and moved
that he be excused on account of his emin-
ent services in the impeachment of the Presi-
dent. Rejected. 3d.
Mr. AsuLEY's name was then inserted in
the warrant issued to the Sergeant alarms
to bring in the unexcuscd abscntees.
Just here the House become so entanglcd
that the best Parliamentarian could scarcely
extricate it, when the Sergeant alarms
appeared with Messrs BAKER and ASHLEY
in custody. The former had no excuse to Of
fer and was excused. IS: .,..,s. ri. Ri,
Mr. ASHLEY offered as his excuse that he
had gone to his committee-room to write
letters, the House being too noisy.
Mr., PETERS moved that he be impeached
| Loud laughter. ..s. ....as... ..a.
Mr.. ASHLEY was excused on the payment
of costs.
One by one the ubsentecs were brought in,
and it was after midnight before the farce
ended by the adjournment of the House.
In the Lower House Of Congress. on Sat-
urday last, the Senate amendment to the
proposed suffrage amendment to the Consti-
tuition was amended and passed as follows,
by vote of 14O to 80:
| "The right of citizens Of the United States
to vote and hold Office shall not be denied
Or abridged by any State on account of race,
color, nativity, property, creed. Or previous
condition Of servitude."
The special correspondent of the Balti-
more Sun, on the 21st, says:
Considerable eanyassing of the members
Of the Senate has taken place to test the
sense of the Senate on this amendment. The
result of this sitting shows that the action of
the Senate is somewhat doubtful, the repub-
lican Senator's being pretty well divided up
on the House resolution. Senator Stewart,
who takes charge in the Senate Of the pro
posed amendment, has hopes of sufficient
number Of votes to carry a motion to refer
the resolution to a committee circumference,
which motion he proposes to make, but fail
ing in that motion, he will move that the
Senate concur with the House amendment.
There is much anxiety manifested by the
republicans on the subject, as they regard
this opportunity the only hope of carrying
the amendment. Left to future Congress,
the probability is that a two-thirds vote
could not be obtained sp fav9r Of the resolu-
ton. 49,.
| On the 23rd the Senate agreed to the
House proposition for conference commit
tee on the proposed amendment
The Committee of Nine have through the
columns of the Richmond Wings postponed
the time for holding the convention at which
they we're to report progress, to that indeG-
mite period when Congress shall have ia.
ken definite action on the subject" We
rather think this is the last we shall ever
hear of this Convention.