The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-11

could senator's expect to find In that g
ton the same peace and good order which
prevailed in Massachusetts,? It was in vain
TO look to test-oath and exclusion from
Office as remedy for this. For the Legis-
lature could not cure the evil. He believed
that the cardinal evil OF the reconstruction
measures rs originally passed was the re-
qulrement OF the test-oath Of officers Of
States and municipalities, and the ex.
government Of those who were mn.
turally the leaders of the southern peo-
pie. Being, therefore, in measure rem
dered irresponsible, these men took no In.
terest in upholding the peace and good
order of the communities in which they
lived. He deprecated the Introduction of
party feeling at this time, and expressed tho
apprehension that q bill would yet be intro
duced to remand tho State of Virginia to
military authority, and undo what had been
val Of the Administration, and Of large
majority of the Republican party Of vir-
gnia.
Dir. Wilson moved to postpone further
consideration Of the bill until next Thurs.
| day, and advocated the motion at length,
remarking that the reconstruction policy
OF Congress was imbedded in the very soil
OF Inc continent, and was sure to triumph.
Mr. Fowler repelled what he termed the
unjust accusations made in the Senate
the whole South. He denied that the
southern people were the murderous
crew that they had been represented
| to be. There had been comparatively less Of
violence and crime in the South since the
war than in any other section. Instead Of
going TO the South with halter in one hand
and amnesty in the other, he preferred to
strengthen the sentiments and principles of
civilization and to disseminate the blessings
Of education. He then referred to the po-
| litical condition Of Tennessee, where Union
men had been trampled under foot and
the Republican party disintegrated and
| hopelessly lost by reason Of the ambitious
| schemes Of unprincipled men.
On motion Of Mr.. Hamlin, the Senate
| then went into executive session.
WALLACE.
The Virginia <suesttOn-Mr. Bing-
hams Rcs0Iuticn-Why-.i IL Hung
Fire-Scenes I'm tho Senate.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, January 10, 1870.
Virginia occupied the attention Of the
assembled wisdom of the nation in both
branches to-day. The subject consumed
more than half the session of the House
and nearly oil of tho Senate's time. In
the House there was the customary ram
bling debate, hurry, and confusion of
tongues. Mr.. Bingham, finding his ponder
GUS adversary Butler had not arrived,
! thought it on opportune moment to pass his
resolution simply admitting Virginia to re-
presentation in Congress.
| The timo was well chosen from the then
appearances, but as the sequel proved the
count of noses was crron eous by one vote.
Had more of the Democrats been in their
seats the Bingham resolution would have
passed, and this would have substantially
settled the controversy, for the Senate
would certainly have also passed it when it
got to that body. But about twenty Demo-
Gratis were absent, not having returned
from their holiday visits. A number of
Republicans were likewise absent, but
most of them would have voted with the
friends of the resolution.
The small men of the House-the petty
politicians and most Objectionable carpet
baggers-compoSe the party in opposition
to the immediate admission of Virginia.
It is barely possible that when the subject
comes up in the House tomorrow the
friends of the State may have sufficient
number of votes to pass the Bingham reso-
luton, but the probability is that it will be
delayed some dogs.
In the Senate the discussion was of
more dignifed character, and the debate
and incidental occurrunces disclosed q very
decided majority in favor of admitting Vir-
ginia upon q simple bill providing for I'M
mediate representation in Congress.
That profound statesman and tolerant
citizen, Senator Drake, let off one of his
characteristic speeches, in which he
demanded more punishment and further
humiliation of the people of Virginia, and
this inflicted, he cared not when the State
be admitted-whether in two days, two
years, or in decade. This strabilarious
senator, however, did not meet with full
sympathy, except, perhaps, in the person
of the Massachusetts senator, Sumner.
The latter and Senator Stewart had o little
bout, III which Sumner was quite discomf-
| ted, though he had rather the better of his
opponent in the outset that is, in manner
rather than in matter. Stewart alleged
that Sumner had not voted for the fifteenth
| amendment.
The latter corrected the former in port
remark; that he had voted for it that he
knew he was right that he was always
right. Whereat the grave Senators were
amused and provoked to merriment at the
expense of the Senator from Nevada but
he soon turned the tables upon this learned
Senator from Massachusetts by producing
the Journal of the Senate, in which it is
recorded that Mr. Sumner did not vote for
the fifteenth amendment. This brought the
blood to the face of the gentleman from
Massachusetts, who, disconnected and evil
IDENTIFY much mortified, walked over to Stew
arts desk, took up the Journal, and curious
ly examined it inside, and turned it over
several times, and scrutinizcd the volume
outside as though to discover whether tho
book was On authentic copy or bogus az
fair gotten up for the occasion.
Whilst he was thus pleasantly engaged
the grave and reverend senator's were
laughing and enjoying the scene amazingly;
and here the Senate went into executive
session, thus momentarily relieving MIR.
Sumner from his embarrassment.
How the Vote Ordering the Main
Question was Reconsidered.
But for the bungling judgment of Speaker
Blaine the House would not have reconsi-
dcred the vote ordering the main question
on Bingham's resolution to admit Virginia.
The Speaker voted against reconsidering
upon q tie vote-76 to 7G. The Speakers
vote made it II against reconsidering.
Two members claimed to have been erro-
neously recorded, which made it stand, with
Blaines vote, against tie; but the Speaker
then withdrew his vote, which he had no
right to do. He votes as member OF tho
House, and member cannot withdraw his
vote without unanimous consent. Ob1ec-
ton was made to Blaine's withdrawal, but,
| in violation of rule, he recalled bis vote