The Portland daily press., 1870-01-22
Letter from Washington.


THE VIRGINIA DEBATE
This is the ninth day Virginia has occunied
IN the Senate, beside half that time in the
House, where it will 60 back again tomorrow.
or frlday to create another acrimonious dis
| cussion. This whole struggle over the upcon-
| ditonal admission has, I think, been rather
damaging to the harmony of the Republican
party. The first portion of it in the Senate
was marked and marred by personal and
splteful attack on Mr.. Sumner. which while
IL may have been in part provoked by his
manner, was as whole altogether uniustifi-
aoie. Ihe bill was seized upon as an opportu-
hity 10 attempt the resumption of that 'slost
leadership" which has marked the career OF
| MT. Irumbull and one or two others.
| The present condition is easily told The
| House voted for unconditional admission
| rather than to vote to exclude-it being Hob-
sons choice-"this or none,' with the major
ity. The Senate had previously amended so as
TO require the administration of qualify
ing oath, that the person taking it was
not disqualified by reason of the 18th
Amendment or had been relieved therehom
by act of Congress. On Monday, however
the House bill was taken up, and the struggle
began again. To-day Edmund's proviso was
ro-"doptod by larger vote than before, A
damaging expose of Gov. Walkers double
dealing was made. This had considerable eff.
lect In showing the uncertain hands into which
.fsihla was to be Internationally placed.
I, 1,no'ner reason for the pronounced growth of
sno sen'iileht IN favor of conditions was the
iact out recently noticed, that by the popular
IlY Infr ar Al
striking out OF the test oath from the new Vir-
sinia constitution there is no Obligation of all
ieglance or anything else left in the instru-
ment. 'A'''"
"hen the bill gets back, thus amended to
'ne house. there is bound to be little trial of
strength between Butler and Bingham. As
the latter has always been beaten. excent at
the first onset, in this reconstruction strife bo
VIII be most likely to obtain ouietus in This
case. Mr.. Bingham is an able and thorouobIv
honest man. but SO crotchety that it is always
peasant 10 an outsider to see him defeated.
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE CONVENTION.
Mrs. Stanton's wing of the army of woman
reformers is in session here. 1t is their second
national convention and promises to be
oriiiiaht y anu attractive gathering. Among
nose present besides the orator, Mrs. Stanton.
'nd the executive, Miss Anthony. there is
hfs' fauilne Wright Davis, the "Una" of for |
ner days, Mrs. Wright, sister of Lucretia |
Mott, Miss Phebe Cozzens of st. Louis, not |
uite up to the Miss Dickinson standard, but
very pretty and intelligent little speaker,
ladame Anneke a splendid German, full of
over and breadth, intellectual and otherwise;
.ev. Olympia Brown, who melows most
,1armingly; Mrs. Charlotte B. Wibour, an
,ssant ~ and accomplished lady; Rev. Sam
No.. -, May, James M. Scoville and others
heir nroa good deal of interest manifested in
ay. euinss. Nv ~ Senator Pomeroy spoke to-
nd there will, expected to do so tomorrow,
srs from 1sadine iI ne number of encouraging let
ss of "bosh''~ie.p puails os g men. There is much
'aoie degree of new talent, and ~ ~ consid- ,
option of the issues involved and I'earer "a con-