The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-01-29
Washington.

or of the | nitcd States, in which capacity
they were required to take an oath to sup
port the Constitution of the lnited States,
and afterward engaged in the rebellion, or
having done so that they have been relieved
from the disabilities imposed by the four
tesnth amendment; and also the Consttu-
ton of Virginia shall never be SO amended
OF changed as to deprive any citizen OF
class of citizens of the United States of the
right to vote who are entitled to vote by
the constitution herein recognized, except
as a punishment for such crimes as are
now felonies at common law. whereof they
shall have been duly convicted under laws
equally applicable to all the inhabitants of
SAID State; provided, that any alteration of
said constitution, prospective in its effects,
may be made in regard to the time and
place of residence of voters; that it shall
never he lawful for the same State to de-
privc any citizen of the United States, on
account of his race color, or previous con-
ditien of servitudc. of the right to hold
Office under the constitution and laws of
said State. or upon any such ground to re-
quire of him any other qualifications for
office than such as is required of all other
citizens: that the constitution of Virginia
shall never he so amended or changed as to
deprive any citizen or class of citizens of
the United States of the school rights and
privileges secured by the constitution of
said State.
The United States Senate was not in ses-
sion on Saturday. Ia the House of Repre-
scntatives the day was devoted to general
discussion. Mr.. Moore and Mr.. Logan each
made speeches in favor of the removal of
the capital to the West, the latter stating his
willingness to leave the public buildings in
Washington and turn them over to the
State of Maryland. Mr.. Washburne, of
Wisconsin, utterly dissented from all prop
ositions to remove the Capital
The debate in the house on Monday Oh
the motion to concur with the Senate upon
the amendments to the Virginia bill was
sharp short and decisive, and probably the
most exciting as well as amusing of the
session. The whole subject was disposed
of in little over an hour, during which time
there were six or seven speeches made, all
of them compact and full of well sustained
points, from the several standpoints of the
members who took part in the discussion.
The vote was taken very quietly. and
before the yeas and nays had been announc-
ed about half the audience and third Of
the members had left for dinner, it being
apparent from the first that the only dis
sentients upon the motion to concur were
of tine Democratic side of the House, and
that the Senate bill would pass by large
majority, and Virginia was admitted with
out the slightest manifestation of feeling.
At noon Secretary Fish officially informed
the President that Mr.. Thornton, the Brit
ish Minister, would be pleased to present
to himself and lady His Royal Highness
Prince Arthur. third son of Queen Victoria,
who was at this time paying friendly
visit to this city, as the guest of Mr.. Thorn
ton. The President signiiied his readiness
to receive him. Shortly after the British
Minister, accompanied by the Prince, Colo
mel Elphinstone, Captain Picard and
Lieutenant Fizroy three of the suite,
drove up to the door of the White House,
and were ushered into the Blue Room.
where they were received by Secretary Fish,
and introduced to the Presidents Secreta-
ries, General Porter, General Babcock,
General Badeau. General Dent and Colonel
Douglass In few moments Gen. Grant
entered the Blue Room, and the royal par
ty were formally presented to the Chief
Magistrate of the American Republic
The young Prince shook the President by
the hand in avery cordial manner. The
President said: :" M glad to see you, and
| am sure you will like our country. The
Prince replied: 81 have had thus far a
delightful time: | feel honored. sir, in
knowing the great American Captain. =
General Grant then said: Gentleman will
you walk into the adjoining room; desire
to present you to Mrs. Grant"
They then repaired to the Red Parlor,
where were Mrs. Grant and her father, Mr..
Dent Tie formal introduction over a
general and pleasant conversation was
INDUCED in by all parties present. The
Prince paid especial attention to Mrs. Grant,
conversing with her for twenty minutes
The conversation was entirely commonplace
the usual small talk of society. The
Prince. however, "trusted that he would
have the henor of seeiHg Mrs. and Mr.
President at home Mrs. Grant and hel
father both spoke of the Queen in high
terms, to which the Prince replied: lam
sincerely proud and delighted at the esti-
nation in which my good mother is held
in this country
After half an hour stay the royal party
withdrew. There were few ladies and
gentlemen around the door, and some mem,
bers of the Press inside the White House.
After the interview with the President
the Prince, Mr.. Thornton, and suite took
carriages and proceeded directly to the
Capitol. The party approached by the
east front of the Senate wing of the build
ing and entered through the main portice
| They proceeded at once to the diplomatic
gallery. The Prince and Mr.. Thornton
occupied the front seats, and the rest
of the party the rear. At this time Sena
tor Howe was reading his views on the
! Currency bill recently reported from the
Senate Committee on Finances. About
| half of the Senators were absent. Shortly
after the Prince reached the diplomatic
gallery Senator Cameron joined the party
and was introduced by Mr.. Thornton
| Senator Cameron extended an invitation tc
take seats upon the floor of the chamber
| The Prince stated that he would be most
happy to accept the invitation some other
| time during his stay in the Capitol. but as
he understood Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Bingham
were to speak inthe Houseof Representatives
remained but few minutes in the Senate,
when they left for the House of Representa-
| tiveS.
The marble staircases and the Rotunda
we're much admired by the Prince, and as
he walked from one wing to the other his
attention appeared to be constantly arrested
by the busy public passing to and fro witt
an air of business and anxiety over the
affairs of legislation. Finally the Prince
arrived at the House of Representatives
He came in for field day. Several big
things were to be put up, and the Prince
had heard of it, and, like thousands o.
others, anticipated a rare Parliamentary
treat. The galleries were crowded, and
the floor of the hall was full. Nearly every
seat was occupied. The unusual threne
was occasioned partly by the expected visit
of the Prince and partly because great
debate on the Virginia bill, with an newt
able tilt between the two great BIS,
was anticipated. 1t was after , o'clock
when Farnsworths moved to proceed t.
business on the Speakers table, with {
view of getting at the Virginia bill. HI
did not accomplish his object, inasmuch a:
some Democrat objected to taking the bill
up out of its regular order, and it wa
buried under mass of executive docu
ments which it took considerable time t.
dispose of. Upon one of these commu
nication from the Secretary Of War relative
to the conduct of General Terry in unseat-
ing certain members of the Georgia Legis
lature, Brooks Of New York thought i
necessary to make speech, intented, o