Evening star., 1870-01-14
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
FRIDAY, January IA, 1870.

umbia. Referred to the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Mr.. Scott presented a memorial of manufac-
turers OF pig iron In the Lehigh, Schuylkill, and
Cumberland districts of Pennsyl ania, correct
ing certain statements of the Special Commis-
sioner OF Revenue as TO the cost of manufactur-
ing pig iron. Referred to the Committee on FL
nance.
Mr.. Pratt, from the Committee on the District
Of Columbia, reported the bill relating to ac-
knowledgments of deeds in the District of Col
umbia.
Mr.. Cole introduced bill to amend the pre-
emption laws.
Mr.. Wiley introduced a bin to abolish the
franking privilege and establish the letter car
rier system in cities Of over five thousand in
habitants.
Mr.. Cole rose and read from manuscript some
remarks relative to the late seizure of liquors in
California by the revenue officials. He criti-
cised the conduct Of Supervisor Fulton, OF Bal
timOre, in connection with this matter, and
seemed to resent the interference Of that official
with the revenue officers of California. He adj
verted to the visit of Supervisor Fulton and Mr.
Clark, of Ohio, to California, and styled them
exotics. 1t had been stated that this liquor was
to be released on the recommendation of Mr..
Fulton, and II this was done, il woud be a
great injustice to his (Mr. Cole's) constituents
Mr. c. also alluded to the action of the New
York whisky dealers and his representations to
Mr.. Fulton.
Mr.. Hamlin advocated that this matter should
be left to the Secreary of the Treasury, to whom
e had been referred by the Commissioner Of In
ternal Revenue, whose integrity had been as
sailed by the Senator, (Coleo
Mr.. Thurman said the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue was resting under imputations.
which he desired to be investigated. lie gave a
history OF the case from the other side and said
this seizure was charged to be part or an at
tempt Of the Calitornians to drive out all Eastern
whiskey, and it had been recommended to be
released, because the Supervisors found that
1t had not been properly seized.
HOUSE-The House Immediately resumed
the consideration OF the Virginia bill.
Mr.. Fitch (Nevada) was opposed to the i'm
position Of any more conditions upon the State
He could conceive Of nothing that would prove
SO disastrous to the principles and perpetuity OF
the Republican party as to be continually i'm
posing conditions on the Southern States He
then reviewed the conduct of the late war con-
tending that the whole country understood that
it was only waged for the restoration of the
Union, and thatif Congress failed to reconstruct
these States, Ii would not be fulfilling the
pledges made to the whole country during the
war. Virginia was last spring promised
admission upon certain conditions. The ,e
conditions had been fully and completely COM
phed with. The fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments to the Federal Constitution had been
adopted, and a constitution had been made a
truly republican as that Of the State of Massa-
chusetts. This being the state OF the case, the
IT did not act In good faith and admit the State
OF Virginia in good faith, and as was promised
last spring. Suppose Virginia would violate
these fundamental conditions after her admis-
on, what would come of it? Would that viola
ton psO focto remit the State TO her present con-
dition? Certainly not; but the people, consider
eress for protection. and t6ev could in inst t'a as
well appeal TO Congress without these fun
damental conditions. There was one proposition
In this bill which seemed to him most audacious
That proposition was to turn out all men,
bers who could not take the test OATH and re-
place them with men who could swear to any-
thing except that they were elected. This was
at least bold proposition, and he admired il
1or It's boldness. He had confidence In the good
faith and good intentions of the people of Vir-
ginia, and would do no act to further humiliate
Mr.. Upson (Ohio) made a brief speech IN favor
OF the bill as il came from the committee
MT. hawley tlll.) was not prepared To admit
virginia until after she had given further as
suranee for her future good behavior, and he
would therefore not vote for any bill that did
not impose additional conditions. He could not
forget that It was upon the soil of Virginia that
some OF the best blood of the country was poured
out for the preservation and perpetuation of
this Union. Sc far as his vote could do It:
therefore he was determined to have greater Sc
gress to impose these conditions ne had not the
least doubt. '
Mr.. Garfield (Ohio) here. on leave, moved that
when the House adjourn to-day it be until Mon
day, and the motion was agreed to.
=, Mr. Asper lMo) had not the least doubt of
the power Of Congress to impose the conditions
upon Virginia. He cOntended that conditions
had been imposed upon ne arly all the new States
that had been admitted from time to time. This
WAS therefore no new case.
Mr.. Ward IN. w had not intended to speak
upon this bill, and would not do 50 now but iOr
the singular conduct of the gentleman from
Illinois, MI. Farnsworth, who had been charged
with the conduct Of this blu in the House.
as its organ, not to make speech against
the bill, but to champion its passage through
the House: While he would not unveil the
impelled to say that he was surprised when the
gentleman from Illinois came into the House
and attacked the principal feature Of the bill
% the oath tn prescribed. And he was more surprized
tai condition could do no good it could, at least
do no harm. The Committee on RecOnstruction
prepared the bin in good faith; and in good faith
it was ordered to be reported to the House, and
the committee understood and expected that
Mr. FarnswOrth would support and defend the
bill. II he could not consistently do 90, his
respect and honor, should impel him to pass the
bill over to the next senior member Of the com
mittee, tMr. Beaman,) who would support and
Mr.. Farnsworth said he had done all i'm the
House that he promised the committee ne would
do, viz, that he would support all Of the bin
ing from the speeches Of the members Of the
committee, he thought he had supported the
bill as well as any other member. The speech
Oh OIL sne gentleman & from Wisconsin mt Paine)
tleman from South Carolina (Mr. WhittemOre)
spoke as much against as for the bill, and had
Itau 0Ocument against N1rgln1a's admission.
Mr.. Ward had recollection that Mr.. Farms
worth stated in committee that he would oppose
the oath feature Of the bill. He had but one
understanding about the matter. and that was
that he would support the bill. In view Of the
course the gentleman had pursued, he felt IL due
to the bill itself to say this much. He, too, had
his private grievances which he might bring in
here. and he might complain because his views
were not all recognized and acted upon.
He was utterly opposed to the admission of Vir-
gnia under any circumstances under this Walk
er government. He was opposed to these STATE
governments which had Republican hQure
heads and rebel backbones, and legs and heels,
like those Of Senter, in Tennessee, and Walker
In Virginia, and Jack Hamilton in Texas.
He had seen the effects Vf admitting
States without conditions, and would
never again admit q State without requiring
security for the future. He would say to men
like Mr.. Palmer and to Republicans who acted
with him that II We did not take the bill We
would get nothing, because there was deter
force Virginia bill through. The Demoerak
on the other side and the Conservatives who
acted with them were determined 10 admit Vir-
gnia without conditions, and ir was therefore
the duty Of all Union members in tins House 10
support this measure IS the only guarantee that
could be secured.
A STARTLING INCIDENT occurred DURING the
service at st. Peters on the occasion Of the
first congregation Of the EcumenicaI Council.
While the leading bishop was praying be1ore
the Confession q piercin acream rr,s, xhrn,,,h