The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-01-18
ADMISSION OF VIRGINIA.
Remarks Of Mr.. Wiley In the Senate
last Monday on the PROPOSE
tiOn TO Postpone.

/ Va AAAN " AAANg AA NAN
last Monday on the PROPOSE
tiOn TO Postpone.
Mn WILLEY-Mr President, II strikes
me tint there IL more involved In this
question Of pOStpOnCncnt tllan might ap-
pear ut the first blush. What do We pro-
jNse to postpone: The Committee onthe
Judiciary have reported Il joint resolution
declaring that the State of Virginia il now
entitled to representation; and that brings
up no ordinary question, 1t brings up the
highest question Ofprivilcgc, inmy cslima.
ii0n, which could be presented TO this
body; not Il question OfpCnSOnal privilege;
moi Il question Of the privilege Ofany limi.
ted number Of persons; but the question
of privilege upon the part Of State Of
this Union, u whole community. That
committee hive declared Il us their judg-
ment TINT tue State of Virginia is now Ell.
titled TO representation. II that Should
iun out to be true what do wedO by pOst-
pOncmcnt? We kGepa whole State from
her voice upon this floor. We assume to
paSs laws which arG to affect the interests
Of that whole State, the lives Of her pcO-
nlc, the interests Of her people, without
her having any voice upon this linOr
where, according to the joint resolution Of
the judiciary Committee, she is now enti-
tied to have u voice. Therefore l consider
this question ofthe highest moment, and
one that should not be postponed Il minute
longer tlan il absolutely necessary.
but il is alIetIgcd that time Is required
to consider this question properly. Why,
sir, this joint resolution was reported
before the recess We have had three
weeks time to reflect upon Il without
anyihiug to interfere with our reflections.
1t Is alleged that there Is information
which may he brought to the cOnSidera.
tion of the Senate highly important anil
fundamentally affecting the question. Why
isnOt that Information here to-Ilayf llnS
any excuse bpen offered why II is'nol here:
IIaS any SOM reason lecn alleged why
We should not consider this question now!
Sir, do not mean to say how shall vote
uInn this question when 1t finally comes
un; will hear tho discussion upon II
hut llO not mean 10 say that this isa QucS.
tiun of the highest character, question Of
the privilege Of II State; and II SHE is IN.
titled 10 voice in the enactment Of the
laws which are to govern her citizens she
ought not To hc excluded from this tlOnr
for one moment unless upon the pnlneSt
and most pnlMhle and best reasons.
There is another thing that | will say
here before ! take my seat, for did not
rise To discuss the merits Of the question.
The Congress Of the United States, In my
estimation, stands pledged tO admit Vir-
ginia unless good reason hc shown to the
contrary. Ii is alleged, the President in
his message liilS alleged, that she lns com
piled with every condition which We im'
posed upon her. The Judiciary Commit
ice have moi made n written report Oh the
subject, but the Joint resolution which
,hey present to the Senate is the best rr-
port they could make in regard to that
fact, that she has complied with every
condition which we have imposed upon
her, and they have reported the inct that
she isnnw entitled TO representation. llav-
ing iiillv complied with every condition,
W fnr aS we know, being now entitled to
representation, If such bC the fact how
can we consistently stand here in our
places and postpone her rights upon this
ilOOr and in this Government one moment
more than is necessary To rItity the con.
clusinn, il II hc u correct conclusion; and
il il is not correct let Senators ullcge the
reasons why ii is not correct.
Senators say, Give lis time" Have
they mot had ample time? Have they not
had all the leisure time they could desire:
Shall We stand here intrrpteing mere dila'
tory pleas in the way Of II State in this
Union, prohibiting liCr iinm her voice on
this tlOGr, when the higherSt committee Of
this body has SOlemnly reported To us TINT
she is entitled to representation in Con
grCHSS:
Sir, | cannot, consistently, with my
views Of pr0prirty in this case, consent 10
one moments delay. with the dislin-
r1lishsl Senator from lndiana, II had had
INV will in this measure. would have placed
additional restrictions in the original bills
hynnd thoIc which are included In those
bills. too, would have required that
the members Of her Legislature before
they came into court, like parties conn
ing into court ni equity, should COME
with CLEAN hands But, sir, We did nrl
make that rclIuiSitiun; We did nnt imISrr
that condition. We presented ln the l"n.
pie 0l Virginia conditions upon their com.
rlinnrr with which We snlrmnly declared
| hv our rnarimcnlS we would receive them
into practical relations with the Govern.
mrnt. It has been reported by the eXrcu-
tive government that Virginia has cam.
plirl; the Judiciary Committee Of the
Senate have implicitly reported I" the
same fact; and to-day M "Illrial reason,
no authentic reason ur fact has been All
durrl to the contrary Therefore, am
unwilling tn src this high question, this
fundamental question, this question OF the
highest privilege and imp"rt postponed
one minute longer tlAn Is necessary IN
take the vote on the subject.