Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-27
TELEGRAPH NEWS.
SPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE GAZETTE
FROM WASHINGTON.
the Reconstruction
W Committee.

the room of the Congressional Reconstruction
Committee this morning was large. Among
those present were noticed Judge Shetfey, OF
Rockbridge ex-Gov. Fayette McNIullen +;
Judge Sinclair, of Prince William W. IL.
Gray and Senator MERCER, of Loudoun Mr.
| Cowardin, of the Richmond Dispatch Doug
| las Wallack and others But three members
of the committee, Messrs. Boutwell,, Payne,
and Norris, were in the room during the first
half hour of the session, but Mr., Bingham and
two others dropped in before its close. 1t is
the subject Of remark that full committee is
absent are those supposed to be disposed to
act with leniency towards the unfortunate
people whose fate is in their hands.
The two hours-lrom ten to twelve-devoted
animation, by Mr.. Norris, Of Col. John B.
Baldwin, and in listening to the statements Of
Charles Whittlesey. Mr.. E. +. White says
Mr.. Whttlesey resides in Alexandria, and not
in Richmond, as the correspondent supposed. !
The basis of Col. Baldwin examination was
written statement by him Of the public senti
ment in Virginia, which had previously been
laid before the committee, and which was in
tended to show that the people Of the State as
whole were actuated by conscientious motives,
would abide by the laws, in their relations with
immigrants would be governed by the same
rules that obtained in other States, and, with
reference to their former slaves though not
regarding them as proper recipients OF the
privilege of suffrage, would allow them all the
rights to which they might be entitled During
| his examination he was asked whether Dem
ocratc and Radical carpet Dagger would re-
| ceive similar treatment in Virginia. He an
swered that he did not suppose in the whole
| range OF natural history such an anomaly as
| democratic carpet Dagger could be found, for it
required either national or State executive APP
pointment, or the military power, or the in
| fuence of the Freedmen's Bureau to constitute
| such an animal.
| Mr.. Baldwin, after his examination, made
statement concerning the reported ejectment Of
| the colored members of Methodist Church 10
| Stanton, which was substantiated by sworn
| evidence now in tho Office Of Gen. Stoneman,
| in Richmond and which differed very consid-
erably from the account of the same fair as
given to the committee few days since by
Rev, Mr. Phelps, Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church
Charles Whittlesey then detained the COM
mittee over an hour in futile attempt to in
validate the assertions made to the committee
last week by Col. Baldwin. He had taken
| notes of what Col. Baldwin had said at that
time, and had prepared for the occasion
| lengthy narration, the bearing OF most OF
which, however, upon the subject at issue
the plan of the committee of pine. and the re-
moval of political disabilities could not be per
ceived by the committee, land Of which fact Mr..
| Boutwell, informed him. He laid great stress
upon the fact that the people Of Virginia were
in favor Of white mans government, and
was amusingly non-pussed when Mr.. Beck
| naively asked him whether the laws of his
State-remarking that he understood he came
| from Commemorative not as rigorous IN the
exclusion of negroes from Office as any laws in
existence in Virginia. He commented at
length upon the vagrant law of Virginia as
| nullifed by General Terry, but the effect he
desired to produce was c0unteracted by Mr..
Beck, who asked him If the said law did not
| apply alike to white people and negroes He re-
heated his account of the difficulties attending
the late marriage in Warrenton Of a school
master from the North with lady from the
"forks," in CuIpeper, and read an account Of
| the marriage as published in the WarrentOn
| Index. His answer to a question by Mr.
| Norris, of Alabama, who, by the by, seems to be
the special friend of those who are opposed to
the removal of the disabilities concerning the
reliability Of some of the assertions made TO
the committee yesterday by Lewis Mckenzie,
of Alexandria, was prevented by Mr.. Bing-
ham, who asked if Mr.. Mckenzie $ evidence
was to be impeached, for il so, would it not be
proper to send for that gentleman in order that
he might substantiate or relute what he
| (Whittlcsey) might say. He, however, did
say that Mr. Mckenzie was not proper rep
resentative of the loyal men of Virginia, and
| shoud not arrogate to himself such a position
During the session it was announced that
the applications of those desiring the removal
of their disabilities, with the reasons therefore,
must hereafter, Re made in writing.
1t was also mentioned by Mr.. Beck that
General Schofeld whose opportunities for
Judging of the condition Of affairs in Virginia
had been varied and extensive, would appear
before the committee if desired.
To this Mr.. Boutwell, replied that whether
the committee would invite him or not 10 APP,
pear before them would be matter for the
consideration OF the committee in private SEES
Congressional.
In the Senate, to-day, petition was pre-
serted asking that an official phenologist be ap-
pointed TO examine the heads of all applicants