The New York herald., 1870-01-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

Tne Senate then, at half past ten O'Clock adjourned
till Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
| WASHINGTON, JAM A. 1870.
Immediately after the reading OF the morning
journal the House resumed consideration OF
THE VIRGINIA BILL.
Mr.. FITCH (repD OF New, expressed his regret
that Virginia had not been admitted to political
equality in the Union at the same time as Georgia
lie believed that 1t would have been better for the
country ana for the republican party He was quite
convinced that act could be done go hurtrul to
the republican party, SO injurious to the best nte-
rests of the whole country, and especially damag
inc to the speedy and honest reconstruction CT the
South as to exact now from Virginia any other con-
ditions than those prescribed by the act Of
Aprll last. The war had been waged TO
build up, not to denlolsh; to protect, not to
destroy; to disenthral not to dlsfranchlse.
II they should give to simulated apprehensions and
to the spleen OF disappointed politicians such legsla.
ton rs was embraced In the bill in violation OF the
implied compact IN excess OF The previous conditions
ana not necessary for any high purpose whatever,
they would not be Ihdorsc1 by the people The COM
pact OF Apri last was to the effect that II Virginia
would provide IN the State constitution for giving
colored men the right to hold Office she would DC ad
mlttcd she had fulfilled chat condition and now II
dltlon that she would not change or alteF her con-
sttution in those particulars Did not the gentle
men on the republican side OF the House see that
they were measurably giving away their position2
that they were surrendering the fortress TO the
enemy when they admitted that Virginia could
change her organic law by disfranchisng her col
ored cltizensy He appealed to his own side OF the
House to be logical, If not iagnanimous; wise, II
not not coniaIng rS why should they Insult and harass
wealth. What had sue done to deserve such treat
hsn'f nes sae wasa State that had given four Presi
e,-.s to The republic that had entered with hest
I cation into the conspiracy 10 destroy the govern
ment and whose people mad been punished as never
people mad been punished for their folly and their
crimes. SO awluy shorn OF ralment despairlng,
she stood at the door OF the Capitol meekly asking,
not to shape the policy or The country,
and to I'LL the Capitol with her sons, but for the
right to rule herself and shape her own local laws.
For himself he could find no rejoicing IN her humi-
liation. He would not laugh at her calamity; he
would not mock when her fear cOmeth Republican
though he was che was part OF his country and he
would not insult her sorrow. On the contrary, he
could not find words for her but those OF welcome,
confidence ana cheer.
Mr.. WARD, repl OF n. T., member OF the Recon
structlon Committee, referred to the singular posi-
tion In which the bill was placed 10y the action OF
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Farnsworth), who
mad been depnted by the committee as its organ to
present the bill to the House. He was surprised to
near the opposition made by that gentleman to the
| provisions imposing an oath on the State officers.
The committee had reported the bill in good lath
| with the understanding that the gentleman from
Illinois should defend 1t the House. III that gentle.
| man could not consistently do he should have
| passed It over TO other gentleman on the COM
mlttee, for instance Nj. Beaman, VINO would have
| defended 1t and pressed t to IA vote.
Mr. FARNSWoRTH, (rep) OF ILL.,, said he had pur-
sued IN the House the course which he had ntimated
| in the committee that he should do-to w.t. advo-
cate the bill, with the exception or the provision in
regard to the oath IL seemed TO him tnat the men,
bers OF the committee who had thus far addressed
the House, except Mr. Upson, had not advocated the
bl rs much us he had. When the gentleman from
Wisconsin Mr. Paine) was addressing the House he
(ir. Farnsworth had been inquired OF as to which
side that gentleman was on and alter careful eXa
mnatio1 OF his speech since he was at O loss to
determine whether the speech was in favor Of the bill
| Mr.. WARD denied all recollection Of Mr.. Farms
worth saylnr IN committee that he should oppose in
The House the provision imposing an oath on state
officers He had understood him to say that he would
support the bill, and in that understanding he was
| upheld by all his republican colleagues on the com.
| mttee; o5lerwlse the gentleman (Mr Farnsworth)
! would not have mad charge OF tne bill individually.
die (lr. Wardl was opposed TO the admission OF Vr-
| gina under the Walker government. He was op-
posed TO the admission OF any State presenting her.
self with a republican ngurehead. buk with rebel
backbones, heels or head, like Senter, Jack Hamil-
ton Walker: but they either to take this bill
| or see Virginia admitted Internationally. He,
member Of radical tendehees Who wished 70 deeat t
| the combination or democrats and conservatives to
| support this measure as the only measure that
| couu be got, and as the only guaranty that
| could be secured with reference to Virginia. He
had no faith IN the rebels Of this generation. With
was the power Of the government. While the gov
| ernnent had the power he would insist on eniorc-
ing II.
| lowed him, explained his position on the bill. lie
intended to vote Tor the amendment offered by Mr..
II he could not get tnat he would take the next
best thing he could get for accomplishing her
admission. Not because or Nirglnia's statesmen
or warriors, living or dead but because the honor
OF the House and OF the nation was pledged to her
admission on the proposition presented by the gen.
rebel he would live by II ana stand by 1t. Congress
| had made a contract with Virginia knowing her
people to be rebels Virginia had performed her part
OF the contract and Congress was bound to perform
| It's part.
Mr. BINGHAM, (rep.) of Ohio, advocated the amend
ment which he had offered providing for the uncon-
ditlOnal admission OF virginia. lie could not, now
ever, claim the credit OF originating that amendment.
| IL had originally been introduced by the gentleman
who now had charge OF the OIL (Mr. Farnsworthj.
He appealed to the republican side OF the House
to remember the words under which that party had
| conquered during the past several years or un-
| matched trial in the history OF the country.
Equality before the law, both OF men and States .
| was the watchword, the central thought and The
idea OF the republican party The issue before
| In the future the government to have
vassa States as well as citizcns lf forced
TO vote ON tho question whether Virginia, the
mother OF States, statesmen and heroes, should
| be represented, In Congress, he would say
| who have undertaken to put feLters on her in
| violation OF the constitution stand responsible
| for rhat iInpOtent endcavor; he washed his hands
OF it, He reminded the House, regardless OF whether
| he should be taunted with 1t, that his amendment
only reflected the recommendation Of the President
Of the United States IN his last annual message. II
the conditions were imposed then Virginia would
not be admitted to her equal place in the Union as
| the President recommended ana as the constitution
enjolned, Tf the conditions were put IN this Dill the
| effect would be to drag the whole question before
| have a reckoning that would not be at
| all to the advantage OF the republican party.