The New York herald., 1870-01-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL, 1870.
TIE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Mr. WOOD, (dem.) OF n. Y, presented Joint reso-
luton OF the New York Legislature Withdrawing the
assent heretofore given TO the riacaton OF the If
teenth amendment. Laid on the table.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr. WOODWARD, tdem) Of Pa, made q personal
explanation on the subject OF colloluy which took
place between himself and Mr. sco1eld IN relation
to reputation by Aiieghany county, Pa.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. WILSON, uep.) OF Minn., introduced q bin
granting lands to the tate OF Minnesota for rail
road to the Wnnepeg bo undary OF the British pos.
SESSIONS. Referred.
Mr. GARFIELD, rel.) Of OHIO. introduced bin to
amend the act establishing the Department OF Edu-
cation, and to abolish the Bur eau of Refugees and
Free Omen anu Abandoned Lands. Referred.
Mr.. PoMEHoY, trep.l OF Iowa, introduced q bin
repeating so much OF the act OF August 1916, as
declares the Des Moines river public highway.
Passed.
Nr FERRiss, Tep.) OF n. Y, from the Committee
on Mines and Mining reported bll TO amend the
granting right or way TO diSch and canal owners
over the public lands. Rec ommitted.
Mr. CoSGEg, uep) or Mich, offered o resolution
instrucung the Committee on Commerce to inquire
into the necessity OF removing the sand bar and
otner distractions across the mouth OF the Clinton
river Lake st. Clair, Michigan. Adopted.
Mr. UPsoS trep.) OF OHIO, offered resolution dl
recting the Secretary OF the Treasury to take into
consideration the necessity or erecting suitable
building Cleveland Ohio, for the use OF the Cns-
tom House. United States courts and internal reve-
nue. ofices.
Mr. KERR, DENY OF Ind, introduced bill to re-
peal the act OF June IL, 1862, defining additional
causes OF challenge and prescribing an additional
oath 10 grand and petit jurors N United states
By Mr.. JUDD trep.) OF Il.-Refunding the duties
paid on the organ OF the Church OF tne Holy Family,
aE Chicago III Referred.
By MIR. NEGLRY, (rep.) OF Pa-Amendng the act
Of February p lSo. ior tue election Of 2 Congress
sional Printer ana providing that he shall be chosen
by concurrent Resolution.
By Mr. CREBs ldem. OF lIl.--In relation to the
payment Vi pensions.
THE PHILADELPHIA NAVY YARD
The House then proceeded. as the regular business
oi the morning hour, 10 The consideration OF the Oil
Tor tue transfer Or tie Philadelphia Navy Yard 60
League Island.
Mf. wAsHBuRE, (rep.) OF WIS.,, moved an amend
mcnt requiring the survey and sale IN lots OF The
ground cOyerea by the Pil.a delphia Navy Yard.
discussion on the merits Of the bill occupied the
whole OF the morning hour, the bill being opposed
by Messrs Wasnburn OF Wisconsin anu Dawes and
defended by Messrs. Scobeld Kelley O'Nelll, Myers
aud randall. Finally, the morning hour expired,
and the bili went over antl the next morning hour
APPoR11oNsLRT or RErREs gNTATIoS.
Mr.. JUDD proposed TO eau up the bili relating TO
the apportlonment OF representation, but as MI.
farnsN orh desired to get the Virginia bin up for
acCion MIR. Judd ylelded for that purpose, giving
Dotlce that ne would call up s Oil ~ tie earliest
OPPORTUNITY
ADMISSION OF VIRGINIA
The House then proceeded 10 The consideration of
the bnl 10 ADMIT the state OF Virginia 10 representa-
ton ~ Congress-.
air. FARSswoRTH, (rep.l OF H. who reported the
bill from the Reconstruction Committee, addressed
the House In explanation and advocacy OF 1t. lie
said that the new constitution or Virginia had re-
celveu "a more nearly unanimous vote or the people
Than the constitution OF any other reconstructed
state the vote beng two hundred and ten thousand
Tor the constitution 20 EiRe Thousand against It, As
To the test oan he conceded win The opinion Of the
Attorney General thab IL could not be e&acted from
Lhe menD efs OF the Virginia Legislature for the
constitution provided what 0at should be required,
which was an oath to observe and obey The constr
tuton oi tae Uniied states and 6ne constitution and
laws OF Virginia. BESIDES, the OATH had been
exaced from the members Of the Legislature OF any
otner reconstructed state, except in The case OF
Georgia, where n was required BY the act OF
Congress. lie Aad almost come to the conclusion
tnat lt would ne better to follow the BIble recon-
lnendaton and TO swear not at ALL than to have the
eternal multiplication OF oarhs, oaths, oattls which
excluded intelligence ana worth and wealth from
Dublc Office. there was something else wanted be-
sides oatns. IL had come TO tnis that tue only
question asked OF a caudlQate In the South now was
''Can the man swear" it was no matter whether
he had or had not brains and iuteingeuce ana mora
honesty, PROVIDED he Couid tahe the test oath IL
was hut justice 10 say that none OF the Southern
cneeIIu mess and coniormed TO the recon
strucuon acts than Virginia had DONE Sne
had complied 10 the letter with every requirement
anu condition Of Congress- aud Congress should not
get her tne example ot bad faith and treacAery by
refusing 10 do what 1t had promised.
Mr.. PAINE, Qep) OF WIS., another member OF the
Reconstruction Committee, abiding 10 Mr. Farms.
WORMS opposition TO the oaths and conditions I'M
posed bll, said he would, before sitting down,
cndeayor to characterize IN fitting terms the re-
markaoe conduct Of that gentleman, who has been
entrusted with Its. management by the committee
Irlend and supporter OF the measure, but who
had seen NJ TO attempt 10 strange II III Its birth. lie
tnen won't on to make an argument in favor OF the
b A.. AS the TEST oatn lie declared that the loyal
Gt virginia demanded tnat that oath snoad
be fequirec; and 1t the democrats, unuer
J11 1toal. ggr5.n Ypp N a F,.
lleved AL oaths whatever. This government,
he SAID III transition state. From the adon-
lion OF the constitution 10 the present time the
pubic had been the theatre of an neessant struggle
between national and Confederate IDEAS and pfincl-
pies. The democratic party had by It's rebellion
essentially narrowed the sem-sovereiPn character
OF the States and henceforward within the wide
range OF the momentous interests covered by the
thirteenth and fourteenth amendments OF the con-
Stitution The States would De practically little
than counties. This was great stride In the direc-
OF consolidated nationality and OF the transfer
or power from the representatives OF the people In
the state Legislatures to tue representatives OF the
people In Congress, and ne favored the national side
the struggle.
alterably opposed the conditions contained In the
bill Tor the admission OF Virginia 10 representation,
and In favor the substitute offered by his colleague
MR. L1ngham, not because Virginia mad complied
reconstruction aCtS, because an
older and grander law-the constitution OF the
United states. lie did not want Virginia brought
back Inanacled and chained q slave. lie argued
rs 10 the inconsistency OF all these acts by review or
the facts connected With the creation OF the State OF
West Virginia during the war; which could nor have
taken place there mad not been State OF virginia
10 give Its consent TO 1t by the fact that virginia was
represented In the senate all through the war and
By other pHD1c and oniclal acts.
Al the CONCLUSION OF Mr.. Morgans remarks at four
O'CLOCK, the aoQse adjourned.