The Republican journal., 1870-01-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE VIRGINIA BILL.

WASHINGTON JAN IA The Senate took
up the Virginia bill, the question being on
Mr. Edmunds's amendment
Mr. Ferry argued that Virginia had com
piled in the utmost good faith with all the
conditions required by the Reconstruction
laws. Whatever other Senators might do,
he would not by his own vote violate the
good faith in which he acted when, by i'm
posing upon her conditions precedent to res
toration, he was given to understand that
her restoration could be accomplished by
complying with those conditions. The bill
as reported by the Judiciary Committee pro
posesAo carry out this pledge, and he would
vote tor it, He was opposed TO the amend
ment of Mr. Edmunds, because of its ambig-
nous character, and liability of its being diff
ferently interpreted Believing that recent
events in Georgia where the Governor was
exercising powers equal to that Of the SOW
ereign of England, and Military Commits
sion was in session to decide upon the quail
tications of the members of the Legislature,
should admonish the Senator of the necessity
of great caution to prevent an abuse OF power
under Congressional Legislature.
Mr. Howard said the only security for
Congress now was the positive enactment of
an act to exclude and prohibit from seats in
the Virginia Legislature all persons not en-
titled to them under the Fourteenth Amend
ment. He was surprised to hear from his
Republican friend from Connecticut (Ferryl
the Democratic argument that Congress was
endeavoring to erect an immense imperial
ism He considered such apprehensions the
merest Illusions, and believed there was
nothing in the condition of Virginia which
would Justify Congress in foregoing such
precautions as the circumstances reIuir-
ed.
VIC, OF, hx- 10
the amendment OF Mr. Edmunds was modified
50 as to read that before any member of the
Legislature shall take or resume his seat, or
any officer of said State shall enter upon the
duties of his office, he shall take and sub
scribe to the oath prescribed in the amend
ment. The amendment was agreed to.
The Senate then voted upon the amend
ment Of Mr., Edmunds as amended, whic,,
was agreed to, yeas As nays 49,
Mr.. Wilson offered further amendment,
imposing certain fundamental conditions
similar to the proposition reported by the
House Reconstruction Committee.
Mr. Conklin briefly opposed the amend
ment.
1t was rejected-yeas %, nays 80.
Mr. Drake offered an amendment, max
ing the admission of the State conditional
upon its Legislatures not hereafter passing
any act purporting to resclnd its action
heretofore upon any constitutional amend
ment
Mr. Williams opposed the proposition, be-
cause of its unconstitutio nality and deny
ing the right of Congress to deprive State
of any part of its sovereignty. He held that
the Legislation which could only be made
valid by the Joint action of State iegisla-
ture with Congress, would be Of little force
Mr., Drake deemed it important 10 tie the
hands OF Virginia in reference to her action
upon Constitutional amendments, and if the
State accedeu to the condition. its validity
could not be questioned.
The amendment was not agreed to-yeas
II, nays A
Mr., Drake moved to further amend by
imposing, among other conditions, that the
State shall never deprive any class entitled
to vote under the Constitution, of such right
he said this provision was inserted in the
bill for the admission of Arkansas and all
the other nnreconstructed States, and hoped
it would be imposed in the case of Virginia
EVENING SESSION
Upon the expiration of the recess, mes
sage was received from the House OF Rep
resentatiyes transmitting the bill for the ad-
mission OF Virginia. with information that
the same had been passed by that body.
The bill was read informally, upon the
suggestion of Mr.. Trumbul, who remarked
that as the Senate was now full he would
propose to substitute the bill for the measure
now before the Senate
The consideration Of Mr. brakes amend
ment was then considered, and it was reject
ed-yeas II, nays %.
Nh Drake submitted another amendment
substantially similar to that Just voted upon
Mn. Carpenter said the guarantee of the
Union for its perpetuty and peace was in
equality Of States He would give to Vir-
ginia all the rights given to Massachusetts,
and would deal with each exactly alike when
they failed to perform their duty to the
Union. His objections to the amendment
We're, first, because il was Intellectual; second
il OF effect, it altered the Constitution which
the people had ratified and forced upon
them a Constitution which they had not rati
fled, an act which. in the case of Kansas
had been denounced by the party whose rep
resentatlves now propose its repetition
After further discussion, which was par
ticipated in by Messls. Morton, Cole Schtnrz,
1rumbull and Others ii was agreed to take
the vote on the bill at 4 O'Clock on Monday.
and the Senate, at 1880, adjourned until Mon
day.