Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-02-09
Our Washington Letter.


variance with it, usual course and inconsistent
with its settled policy, which sometimes chauc-
terize the movements Of all large bodies lhe
last most striking and most inexcusablo instance
OF this Inconsistency was exhibited in the ndnlls-
sion OF Messrs. Mckenzie and Booker OF Virginia,
to their seats representatives from that state IN
Congress. The other members whose seats we're
not contested, and against whom no objection
was made, had been admitted the week before.
The seats of Mckenzie and Booker, however,
were contested on tho ground that they were in
eligible under the Fourteenth Amendment, and
their consequent inability 10 take the oath pre-
scribed therein. Both these cases had been re-
ierrod 10, and were pending before the Committee
ON Elections, whose duty IL WIS 10 carefully cx-
anime and report upon all such cases. II is CON
trary to their own rules, and to all precedent for
the House TO act upon u contested election casc,
especially Of the character of the one in question
until the committee has fully investigated it and
and reported thereon. Notwithstanding this, on
Monday Of last week, Mr. Bingham of Ohio
moved that Mr.. Mckenzie be admitted TO his seat
and sworn, notwithstanding the charges of dis
loyalty pending against him before the Commit
tee Of Elections. This was earnestly opposed by
the members OF the committee, but Mr.. Bingham =
motion prevailed, and Mr.. Mckenzie came for
ward and took Ia test oath. IL is not probable
that the charges against this gentleman would
have been sustained, but the committee felt that
dignity. Accordingly the next day they reyenged
themselves upon the House by reporting The case
OF George w. Booker, and recommending his adj
mission, assigning as reason that 50 far rs the
committee were concerned, his case stood upon
precisely the same grounds as that Of Mckenzie,
which had been taken out of their hands.
In response to an inquiry by Hon l.. p. Po-
land. Mr.. Paine, the Chairman of the Committee,
admitted that they had not read The erde,lc, before
them, but had been told that Mr.. Booker would
take the " iron clad " oath if permitted BY the
House to do so. Mr.. Poland informed the House
that the contestant in this case was friend Of
his, that he had read the testimony which had
been for weeks in the hands Of the Committee,
and which fheV had ncper read The evidence was
in the form of unimpedchaJie record testimony, 10
the effect that Booker had held office and sworn to
support the Constitution Of the United States be-
fore the rebellion, that subsequently he had voted
for the Ordinance of Secession and held Office I'M
der the Confederate Government, and that he had
been active during the rebellion in recruiting the
rebel armies and in raising funds to pay and
cOthe the rebel troops from his vicinity. Mr.
Poland declared that Mr.. Booker could no more
take the oath prescribed, without wiliully COM
hitting the crime of PERJURY, than could jeff
Davis
For nearly nm hour Judge Poland earnestly,
ably, but unsuccessfully fought this attempted
iniquity. The House by vote of 50 to 70 voted
W MT DpOktf us seat. anu ne Mt once
illustrated the old rebel contempt Cor oaths, and
defiance of their penalties, by appearing at the
Speakers stand and swearing that, " haze
never voluntarily borne arms against the United
States since | have been citizen thereof that |
have Voluntarily given no aid, countenancc,
counsel or encouragement 10 persons engaged in
armed hostility thereto that | have neither
sought nor accepted, nor attempted 10 exercise the
functions of any office whatever under any author
ity attempted authority in hostility 10 the Uni
ted States that have not yielded voluntary
support TO any pretended government, authority,
power, or Constitution within the United States,
hostile or inimoal thereto, etc" And all this
with full knowledge that there slumhercd in the
hands of the Committee on Elections, unimpeach-
able and conclusive evidence Of its ialsity. How
was il possible that the Committee could have
reported with a recommendation, without having
even glanced at the testimony before them and
how was it possible for the House under the cir
cumstances to receive their report and act upon
their recommendation
BY the most solemn and permanent act Of
legislation possible, the principle has been incor-
porated into the Constitution that rebels shall be
excluded from all federal offices until their dis
abilities have been removed by Congressional ac-
ton, (which Mr.. Booker's have not) BY the yari-
Gus reconstruction acts, and even by the recent
act of admission Of the State of Virginia, Mr.
Booker is disqualified from holding the smallest
oHltt III Nlt DItlt Vi Nlfglnhs nut vet
Congress opens her doors and invites this I'M
shriyed and unrepentant rebel to periure himself
in her presence, and TO take a seat in her assem-
bly,.
Are they not bound by their own enactments?
or like the Arab poet are they
--" lifted abor, tho rules
The prophet made for sinners and for fools"
The democrats Of course voted solid for admis-
sion, and were joined by a large number Of" Uni
yersal Amnesty republicans under the lead Of
Mr. Bingham of Ohio the Committee on Elec-
ton, Except one member) voted with them be-
cause the House had taken the Mckenzie case
out Of their hands the day before, and they in
turn carried many of their friends with them
Considering all these things, it is a matter Of
surprise that Mr. Poland, who champoned the
opposition, was able to rally so large a minority.
This action of the House does not indeed per-
manenty secure the seat TO Mr. Booker. beyond
all danger of assault, although it does prejudice
the case very much in his favor. Upon being
convinced that he has taken the oath falsely they
can, il they please, expel him, and Judge Poland
and others who feel outraged at the action of the
House, declare that Mr.. Booker will'haye plenty
10 do 10 defend and maintain his dishonesty ac-
quired position
The contestant in this case is George Tucker,
Esq, who was formerly a resident of Mortified,
in your State, who for several years practlced law
IN Orleans county, subsequently entered the SER
close of the war settled in Virginia
The Congressional Temperance Society, which
was organized here some two or three years ago,
has already exercised great influence 10 favor Of
temperance upon society in Washington, and has
vastly strengthened and encouraged other efforts
in the same direction. II was doubtless under
its influence and inspiration that wines and liquors
were banished from the tables and sideboards Of
the Cabinet Ministers at the last New Year 5 re-
ceptions. The Society held meeting on Monday
evening Of last week, at which Senator Wilson
presided, and which was addressed by Gen. How
ard, Senators Morrill,, of Vermont, Patterson, of
New Hampshire, and Upton, Of Nebraska, and
others Senator Morrill, made strong argument
in favor Of prohibition, in which he said
Tho habtual Of intoxicating liquors Is tho gigantic
evil under which this country lzbors /; is tho grand
social evil Of the day in all chrisondom Thirty thous-
and drunkards down to the grave yearly through It's
influence, and $4,000 90 annually spent for its sup.
ply the prolific Of crime and poverty For This
there are two remedesthe first moral uason and that
is the man reliance The other method logslatIye h
in the power Of the Of the people For this
District tho power In the hands OF Congress The du-
~ Of lawmakers to PrOAibthats the word-prohb-
i what wrong, Does anybody doubt about The wrong
being done by the liquor vendersi WHY'S 1t not stop.
ped The Arguments that the prohibtory liquor law is
oppressive IL nsubteruge the part those who want
TO dodge the question Tho question Of the States hsy-
ing the right 70 prohibit the sale decided by the
Supreme Court OF the United Satas when the Boston H.
quor dealers attempted To send imported liquors into
New Hampshire. Tho Maine liquor law was explained
by Mr. Morrill, who argued that II should be put la force
In this District II have TO sneak Ia 10 buy IL
quor there will be FAR loss sold.
On Tuesday Senator Pomeroy introduced in the
Senate bill for the suppression of drinking
houses and tippling shops in the District of Co
lumbia. The bill is most stringent prohbtory
law, and provides, in addition to the usual penal
ties of fine and Imprisonment for selling liquor in
violation of the law, that the person selling
shall be liable for all injuries which any intOxi-
Gated person may commit or sustain while in an
intoxicated condition. The bill was referred 10
the Committee on the District of Columbia, and
ordered 10 DO printed.
The petitions for the abolition of the franking
privilege, which Postmaster General Creswell sent
out broadcast over the country, are returning
laden with signatures, and are falling like snow
flakes upon both Houses of Congress The House
has already passed bill granting more than the
petitioners Contemplated, If not more than they
asked innsnlich ns il cnis oil the free circnl