The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-10
WASHING T0N
Virginia Before the Reconstruction
Committee.
Arguments For and Against
Her Admission.
THE PROSPECTS FOR CUBA.
The Senate Committee Opposed to Her
Recognition.
4 Bill Reported in the Senate DE-
nying Political Jurisdiction to
the Supreme Court.
An Investigation Into the Gold Corner
Called For in the House.
THE CEN US BILL .

THE CEN US BILL.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Q, 1860.
UnfavOrablo Aspect Of the Cuban Question
in Congress.
At the dinner party given by Governor Swami to
his fellow members OF the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs last evening. the question Of Cuba
was the main subject Of conversation. 1t was
brought up by incidental reference OF OF the
gentlemen present to the al!uson to Cuba IN the
Presidents Message. From the interchange
Of opinions that took race, 1t seems
that all the members Of the committee,
democrats as well as republicans. are opposed to
any action at present. especially anything like urg
ing the President to accord beligerent rights 10
tho Cubans. General Banks, the chairman Of the
committee, was not present, not having returned
from Europe; but 1t Is thought his influence would
not be sufficient, even II he were here 10 overcome
the members OF the committee SO as to get them
10 favor Cuba. The Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations II divided on Inc subject Mr. Sumner
tis chairman. is more determined than ever IN his
opposition to the recognition Of the insurgents. his
position has been greatly strengthened by tue tone
Of the Presidents Message on foreign affairs; for
whatever Interpretation other persons may put upo
the Presidents language towards Cuba Mr. Sumner
their recognition, which Is the same thing. General
Cameron, the second member on the committee, Is
friendly to the Cubans, and Is dong all he can, in
quet way, to get their case before the Senate
DO that 1t may have fair hearing. His
resolution offered to-day calling for information
from the President with regard to the progress OF
the revolution will he hopes, bring out something
which may be more convincing to Senators than II
has been to Secretary Fish, that tho Cuban cause
has assumed such shape to entte 1t to attention
from our government Senators Morton and Schurz
are also understood to be favorable to the Cubans
but Harlan, Patterson and Casscry are said to be
with Sumner, though open to argument ana con-
viction.
Admission Of virsiuia-The People Accept the
6ituation-A Colored Lcsislutcr-Defence Of
virsinin Loyalty.
The Committee from the Legislature OF Virginia
waited on the Reconstruction Committee this morn
Ing ana presented their views in writing briefly
citing what mad been done in the State toward car
rying out the Reconstruction and asserting that
what had been done by the people OF Virginia was
In good faith and that the constitution as far as
adopted, shall be carried out to the very letter
and spirit Of its intent ana law. This
was briefly advocated by Speaker Turner
and Crenshaw, OF the House delegates and by Mr.
Hine. Mr.. Plat, republican member Of Congress
dtional admission OF Virginia. without applying the
test oath to members or the Legislature. He was
followed by MIR. Porter, republican member elect
from the Third district, who opposed the immediate
admission OF the State; but In order to facilitate
reconstruction advised that the test oath be admins
tered to members OF the Legislature, excluding men,
beers who could not take it, and supplying their places
with those who could from the next highest ON the
election returns He also suggested. another
plan OF reconstruction, the submission Of the con.
sutution, with tho test oath and dsfranchising
clauses included. These views were opposed on the
ground that q new election would be rendered
necessary, as the application OF that oath would
reduce the number OF members to less than
. quorum and also involve the re.eec-
ton Of United States Senators. Mr.. Bland
. oolored member Of the Legislature, made
. speech in favor OF immediate admission
without the constitution. He made an emphatic
address declaring that the State had done every.
shing she could DO consistent with her honor to tes
ty to the national government her obedience to its
authority and to the laws Of Congress. He there
FORE protested against any administering Of the test
oath to her Legislature, and contended that the
State was loyal to the core and fully entitled TO
every privilege and right accorded to the other loyal
States. Governor Walker, who was present by re-
quest addressed the Reconstruction Committee, aud
committee that the terms OF the constitution would
be strictly adhered TO- and spoke OF the loyalty Of
the people as deserving OF prompt recognition by
the immediate admission OF the State into the
Union. t $sF
The virginians were requested to reduce their
views to writing and present their papers to the
committee at the meeting next Saturday morning.
Notwithstanding the contrarety Of Views 1t is be-
heved the committee will report bill for the I'D.
mission OF Virginia on the pledge that the c0nstitu-
zion viii be carried out in good faith.
The Ge 0rsia Casc-Obstacles to Another Re.
construction.
The Senate Judiciary Committee had up the cas,ff.
GA case to-day, but came to NJ c0pSusion. The
committee ind good deal Of dinicuty In the mat.
Ter Of setting aside the acts OF Legislatures which
have interviewed since the State was formally ad-
United to Congress- This would have to be done, it
h thought, In carrying out the suggestions
Of the Presidents Message relative to Georgia.
Rcvisjon of the TnriG-Additions to the Free
List.
There IL general disposition among members to
place articles which may be termed the necessaries
OF life on the list OF free imports. Two or
three bills have been introduced looking to this
object and referred to the Committee OF Ways and
Means Another was introduced In the House
to-day by Mr.. Stevenson, Of Ohio. 1t provides Tor
the removal Of import duties from Coffee tea. salt,
unrelned sugars, molasses, paper and lumber. II
As hardly probable that measure including SO many
articles VIII receive favorable attention from the
Ways and Means Committee. The plea OF the COM
mstce 10 that we cannot arord just now to do with
OUT the amount Of revenue derived from import du-
scs on articles 30 generally used as tea and coffee.
VI course the Southern members viii oppose the re-
movai OF the tariff from sugar and moasses.
Congressman Fox After tho Wall street Gold
Operators.
Tno enort OF MI. Fox, Of New York, to get a &c.
secs committee OF i've appointed to investigate the
csose OF tne memorable gold speculation and panic
In Wall street might have been moro sncooo,f, hod