The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-13
VIII Probably Report on Admission
Of Virginia on that day.
telegram to the Dispatch.

WASHINGTON, December II, 1869.
The Reconstruction Committee met at 10
o'clock this morning. There was a full at
tendance. The different delegations of Vir-
ginia were present, as also several members
of Congress elect.
MI. Wardwell, Superintendent of the
State Penitentiary, was asked some ques-
tons in relation to the number Of prisoners
in that institution, white and black. After
giving the necessary statistics, the commit
tee requested that all persons who had pa
persto present should do so. Then Congress
man Platt Radical) presented a speech pray
ing the instant admission of Virginia, and
Congressman Porter presented one against
admission. Congressman Segar presented
one against the admission Of the State as at
present constituted, as did also several in
dividual citizens of the State. Mr.. Hughes,
editor and proprietor of the State Journal
t (Radical), presented a paper representing
The boiling wing of the Radical Conven-
ton, asking the speedy admission of the
State. He also presented a letter received
by him from Ex-Governor Wells, in which
the latter gentleman expressed his earnest
desire that Virginia shall be admitted at
once, without any further conditions also
that Congress shall pass an act of general
amnesty, placing all citizens OF the same
footing rs to their right to vote, hold office,
serve on juricS, etc. He further says such
, policy will remove all cause and excuse of
dissatisfaction, and place the Republican
party on the highest ground i'll State poll
tics, etc.
A dispatch was received from General
Candy by General Butler, announcing that
his report of his administration of civil JUS
ticc in Virginia whilst he has been Military
Governor has been transmitted to Congress
through the Secretary Of War.
None were allowed to deliver any
speeches, and the room was cleared, the
committee remaining in secret session for
nearly two hours. The result of the con-
sultation was the appointment of 4 sub
committee, consisting of MesSrs. Paine,
Ward, and Beck, to take charge Of the nu-
mcrous documents and prepare them for
printing, and to report the same on Tues
day morning next, to which time the COM
mittcc adjourned. Subsequently, Mr.. Paine
! presented Il numbcr Of these, documents to
the House, and they were ordered to be
printed, and again referred to the Recon-
struction Committee. The following is eN-
| Governor Weiss letter in full:
"R1cHMoND, VA, Dec. 10, 1860.
"Co1onel X. ". Hughes:
r. ~. -. lnl Izr,I tIorA r-o,,l1
be at the opening Of Congress no division
Of sentiment in Washington Oh the subject
Of the immediate restoration Of Virginia,
and am surprised at what occurred before
the Reconstruction Committee on yester-
day. We have arrived, it seems to me, at a
stage in the work Of reconstruction whcnit
is utterly idle to attempt the correction Of
any evil which may exist here by the longer
denial Of Federal representation to the
State. No Conservative or Democrat will
he made Republican,, no bitterness as
Suaged, no ostracism abated, nor any spirit
of amnesty be encouraged, or oblivion for
the past be secured, by either IN exclusion
of States or individuals from many of the
rights which belong to the most favored Of
States or citizens.
whether such deplorable results were
ever likely to be secured by the tcst-oaths
or acknowledgements or not, it is certain
they can have no operation from this time
forward. II we are ever to secure prosper
ity in our national interests, harmony in
our social relations, and justice and
equality in political rights and privileges,
it must be done by such universal act OF
notable amnesty as deprives every man of
the last vestige of excuse for intlicting in
Justice upon others in retaliation for
wrongs or political disabilities suffered by
himself.
1--WE may doubt the issue Of such libe-
rality, and it may fail Of any happy results,
still it is the only refuge now left, and wise
men ought not to hesitate about making the
trial. 1t should be done, too, in no I'M
generous spirit, but fully, freely, and with
tie broadest generosity. 1t is idle to find
fault with or cavil at the means or way by
which we have been brought to this condi-
ton. 1t is entirely immaterial how the Re-
publican party was defeated; nor shall we
be likely to contemplate its overthrow more
generously by longer INDUCING ip amino
sity, bitterness, or recrimination.
~ sincerely hope that Virginia may be
restored before the week ends without q
single dissenting vote, and that before the
Christmas holidays. by one single act Of am
nesty, the disabilities of every citizen Of this
| Commonwealth may be removed. The po-
Icy of selecting here and there individuals
for relief, not because of their superior
claims, but rather on account of the friends
| thev have at court, or the diligence with
which they move their suit, is plainly ul-
wise and manifestly unjust. 1t tends
largely to aggravate the irritation already
existing. The two hundred men whose
disabilities are in this way removed are not
thereby rendered any more the friends OF
the Government than they were before,
while all the others unrelieved find in this last
act of unjust congressional discrimination
anew cause of more substantial complaint,
| dislike, and bitterness. 1t is useless longer
to rely on half measures. Sever the knot
by one blow-untie all hands by one word.
If this policy does not succeed, then no
other Gun afford any reasonable hope Of a
better result. l hope that you will do all
in your power to secure the success and
early adoption of this policy.
"Iremain, my dear sir, yours truly,
"H. H. WELLS"
James H. Plat, n member of Congress
elect from the second district, elected by 6
large Radical majority, presented a long let
ter, setting forth his views or the subject o.
the admission of the State. In brief, he
49,, +bottba ponnIa of VIRGINIA honestly be-