The New York Herald Newspaper, December 10, 1868, Page 3

WASHINGTO! Reception of the President's Message in Congress, ineourtcous Treatment of the Doc- _ Bment in Both Houses, _ Additional Reconstruction Pro- «> posed for Georgia. Passage in the House of a Bill Providing for an Election in Virginia. Wasainaron, Dec. 9, 1868. ixettement im the Seuate Over the Rending ‘| © ‘of the Presidents Message. ‘The President's Message reached the Capito) to-day shortly before one P. M., in custody of two of bis eecretaries, Colonch Wm. G. Moore and Mr. W. W. Warden. It was first presented in the Senate, and about ten minutes later was announced in the House. ‘Its reception in both branches was, to put it in the mildest possible form, very extraordinary. Before it Was haif read the flery Conness, of California, ob- Jected to listening to it any longer, and a very flat debate followed, leaving the auditory rather in doubt, ‘as to whether the dignified Senate approved the course of the California Senator or condenined it. Whether or nota majority of the Upper House sus- tained the extraordinary motion of Mr. Conness, the result amounted to a substantial victory for the anti- Johnson element. What they sought was vw stop the reading of the President’s annual communication and and in this they certainly succeeded. One of the honorablg Senators remarked that It was evident from the discussion that the ses- sion was destined to be profitiess, and moved fo ad- journ, which was declared carried, and the engust assemblage dispersed, some laughing as persons who had achieved a very clever feat and others looking thoughtful and serious. The result was brought about in such an unusual manner that no one pre- sent was sure whether any decided disrespect of the Executive was intended or not. A@otabie feature of the performance was supplied by Senator Drake, of Missouri. Drake, who, perhaps, is as radical as Wendell Phillips himself, awa who has heretofore steadily planted himself foremost in the front rank of President Johnson’s opponents, raised his voice against the motion of Mr. Conness, and rather favored than otherwise. heari the en- tire Measage read by Secretary Gorham, senator Morton interposed his objections, also, to such an act of flagrant disrespect to the Executive of the mation, and in amost dispassioned tone endeavored to point ont to the Sénate reasons why so great a ‘departure from the custom of the body should not ibe upheld. Old Simon Cameron, however, came to ‘the rescue of Mr. Conness, and perhaps tt was the [rear that the motion might be adopted that led to so sudden and unexpected an adjournment, This re- eultleaves the question in the condition of untin- ‘shed business, which must come up Orit. thing to- morrow morning, and be met fairly and square. Reception of the Messnge by the House— ij Disgracefal Proceedings, Inthe House, though the reading of the Message ‘was completed without interruption, the darespect ‘was even greater than that displayed by the Senate. During the reading by Mr. McPheraon, the Olerk of tne House, members employed themselves in chat (ting and laughing, paying about as much attention ‘as in shown daring discussions in Committee of the jWhole. When finally the last sentence had been ‘read.by the Clerk @ scene, not paralleled even by ‘which occurred when Boutwell made bis fainous Bpeech that led to the subsequent ar- and trial of President Johnson, followed, ‘Washburne was apparently disposed to be moderate in his manceuvres, but the course subsequently \parsued by Broomall, of Pennsylvania, avd \Bchenek, of Ohio, swept Washburne’s moderation completely out ef sight. Schenck was ferocious as @ bulldog, and moved that no printing of she Message whatever bo authorized. Breomall, gounted on, the Clerk’s desk, read his vituperative preambles and resolutions amid the jeers of Fer-'| will probably finish it to-morrow. gando Wood and the rest of.the democratic side, and the scene alt was of a be se hy oa ‘worthy ofa ‘on Water street than the Lower House of Congress. The result of the wholg thing was the half defeat of Schenck, who attempted to play the part of leader for the first time since poor Old Thad’s taking off, and who put on all the aire ‘and authority that pertain to that position. Schenck Bad to yield to Washburne’s compromise rerelution ‘in the end, which provided that, instead of not print- ing the Message at all, the usual number be printed, jut no extra copies. Thus, though the antiJohneon @ecling predominated and triumphed, Schengk had to draw in his horns and suluait to be overruled by Grant’s mouthpiece and the Jack Bluut Ligby or California. - Constitutioual. Election In Virginia. ‘The Reconstruction Commitive held its fr-t meet- ‘tng during the present sessiog this morning, ‘the death of Thaddeus Stevens has virtually made Bing- ham, of Ohio, its chairman,.a position which he constantly coveted while the oid man lived, The committee instructed Binghain to report the bill in- trodaced last session providing for holding an elec- tion in Virginia. At an early stage of the proceed. ings he arose in his seat and with a manifesi sense of satiafaction at being at the head of the committee, reported the billin @ somewhat pompous manner; he then demanded. the previous question on its pas- sage, and proceeded to explan the bill by making a epread-eagie stump speech about the foundation of the government. Binghain’s first attempt to take the piace of Ojd Thad Stevens ‘was @ miserable fuilure. He evidently expected to carry his bill through with a rush @nd to beat down all opposition, just as Old Thad used to do; but he was doomed to disappointment. Pirst of all, E. B, Wasuburne found some fault with the tumed fixed by the bill for holding the election. This wasehint which was quickly improved by Butler, who, in a five minntes’ speech, turned the tide against Bingham. It was in vain that Bingham attempted to frighten the House with @ prophecy of Tevelation in case the bill did not pass as he had reported it. Butier hinted that Bingham wanted to give the democrats @ chance to carry the election in ‘Virginia, and he proposed to postpone the election ati) after the 4th of March. Bingham foughiygtte = A ashe could, but Butler carried hia point hy ry Majority. In fact, Bingham was #0 badiy de- feated that he could not muster strength caough to deuwand the yeas and nays. Senator Yates’ Suffrage Bilis, Senator Yates will introduce in a few daya a bill to make suffrage universal, which, in conjunction with his bill on naturalization, will form tue most ex- traordinary tnnovation. that has yet been attempted in the direction of entrasting the affairs of government tw tha whole + People without any distinction save that of sex, _ ‘The Senator is in the yan of the progressive spirite of the day, and ardentiy desires to see ihe realizn- tion of Jefferson's doctrine that all wen are created free and equal. His idea of citizenship ia that ir should embrace every male beiag on tis continent who swears allegiance to the United States govern. ment. Every foreigner, no matter from whence he is to be declared a citizen of the republic the + moment he lands on these shores and takes the pre- @oribed oath, His right to vote according to longth of residence is simply to be reyrulated by State pro- vision, ag at present. He thinks the experiment should be tried, thonghlt may lead to strange re- wulta, He is satisfidd that no danger to our free ta- Btitutions need be apprehended from the measure, He ‘proposes, as there will always be a pre- Donderance of intelligenve in the country, to correct, the wayward excesses of igaorauce. He would not be willingto commit the control of the government to one or two hundred men as eulightened even as Charies Sumner, and believea that only in the repre- soutation of every eloment, whether Wise ot Jguor ant, the true safety of representative institutions lies, His natdralization bill will do away with fraud ‘and give the honest foreigner the same chance that the dishonest one now enjoys. Public Debt statement. ‘The statement of the public debt for the month of November willbe pablisned to-morrow. The state- ment has been prepared and ready for issue for the past three or four days, but wes withheld by the Secretary until bia annual report should be pub- lished, Arbitration Between Spain and Chile. ‘The Departinent of Stute tas informal advices that Chile, as well as ait the otuer South American re- ‘and Spain now accept the'plan of @ conven- of plenipotentiaries at Washington, as proposed by this government, for the restoration of peace on she Breedmen’s Bureaa ministration of the affaire of the bureau. Howard feels greatly aggrieved at the attacks which have been made upon his management of the bureau in the newspapers. His chief object in asking this in- vestigation is to certain charges brought. against him by 4. V. Boynton. The mat- mittee of that committce will be directed to make the investigation. Standing Comrattices of the Senate. ‘The committee appointed to reorganize the etand- ing committees of the. Senate for the present seseion gotthrough with thelr worts this evening, but as each one pledged himself to gay nothing about who was put on or who was put off any particular com- mitteeuntil the report is made to the Senate to- morrow at noon, the arrangements cannot be ascer- Assistant Deerkeeper of the House. John Boyd, of lowa, has recetved the appointment of Assistant Doorkeeper of the House, in place of 0. 8. Buxton, recently elected Doork: aa The Union Pacific psa Special Commissioner Barnes has addressed the following letter to Hon. O, H. Browning, Secretary of the Intertor:— StR—In the report of the special commissioners 8} ted to examine the sen Pacitlc Railroad it wi be noticed we have omitted to take into account the amounts expended by the company or appropriated th stock, station for construc! material, roliii ni at the of making our examination process of completion or S transiiu A repel pe bed iertons ae ay cont ions. wil also ebocrved” that many of the estimates true meee will extend ber 0 ri (or economy over @ number obs Son Lee ty while ee pective int tratiic, which enteey @ matier of judgment, and lation to Ww. actual resuite only can establish the necessity. I would to be permitted to state that for my own part I not intend the improvements, to which the report alluded, should be at once fumaiieds 6:%0. suggest that the govern- ment should stiil secure their accomplish- ment by withholding any large pri of ite promiens assistance, The work alre: completed, in progress and under contract constitutes, in my opinion, an ample security for the improvements Suggested by your commissioners, as well as for the good faith of the managers df this great. enterprise, aud tt would be to. me a matier of grave regret that should be considered as havmg given authority by assent to the resort to any measures on be- half of the government which will retard the early completion of this national work. Tam, with great respecy your obedient servant, “d JAMES BARNES, Special Conunissioner Union Pacific Railroad. The Ohio itiver Disaster—Kerape of a Ken- \ mucky Me t Fears wore entertained that Jacob 8. Golladay, mémber of Congress from the Third district of Ken- Ky, Was lost by the late disaster on the Ohio river, but letters have been received from bim stating that he was on the steamboat America at the time the colhsion occurred, though he escaped injury and suffered nothing worse than the loss of his baggage. Supervisors Appointed. Thomas I. Young, of Cincinnati, has been inated Supervisor of the Southern district of Ohio, He is now Recorder of Cincinnati, an office which ie worth $10,000 per year. Secrétary McCulloch has appointed Ira M. Harrison Supervisor for New Jersey. _ Héary Clapp, dre ter been. appointed Assistant Assessor 6f InternalbRevenue for the Sixth district of New York. Supreme Court Proceedings. ‘The Supreme Court was to-day further engaged in the hearing of the legal tender cases. Messrs. Potter and Townsend concluded their arguments. Mr. Evarte commenced the concluding argument, which ig made on the part of the government. He The court ordered the New York tax caxes to be argued on Monday next or to await the regular call of the docket. THE FORTIETH CONGRESS. ‘Third Session. SENATE. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 1868, FEMALE SUFFRAGE. Mr. PowtpRoy, (rep) of Kan., presented petitions, one from the citizens of Nashua, N. H., and the other from citizens of Massachusetts, praying that if any amendment be made to the constitution in regard to suffrage it be such as to extend the privilege equally to males and females, Tabied. ORBGON BRANCH OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD. Mr. W1.L14Ms, (rep.) of Oregon, by consent, intro- duced oill to aid in the construction of the Ogegon branch of the Pacific Railroad, which, on his mo- won, Was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. REQONSTRUCTION IN GEORGIA. Mr. SUMNER, (rep.) Of Mass. introduced a bill to carry out the reconstruction acts in the State of Geo! which, on his motion, was laid on the table and ordered to be printed. The mii, after premising that the Legislature of Georgia fatled to comply with the requirements of the Keconstrnotion acts by omitting to exact from its members the prescribed oath of office, and that this illegal ization has done certain things utterly unjustidabie, and requiring the intervention of, Congres#, then proceeds to declare that | government now existing tn Georgia is provisional only, and imall respects subject to the permanent authority of the United States at any time to abolish moalty or control the same, until a Legisiature shall have duly complied with all the irements of the Reconstraction acts and ratified the constitutional amendment known as “article fourteen,” when the State shafl be subject to the fundamental condition that no bey mr outrage io ee in- fringing on of eu! of any ¢ of the United States, ¥ is further provided that the Gov- erpor elect shall direct the aseemblage at Atlanta, on or before the first Wednesday of mext April, of the ‘General oo bly elected last oy : it -# bhall ae ae eo the oath al See ot been relieved of disability by act of Con; ‘The Provisional Governor is also given power to suspend or remove from office any civil Officer of the #0-called State, or of any of its munici- ities, and = be med another ta his stead, Final: the President is directed to place at the dia posal of the Provisional Governor elect of G such portion of the army and navy as may be re- quired by biw for the preservation of the lives and property of persons, the peace and good order of the community, and te protection of citizens in the tree expression of their political 0) RELIEF OF THE DISABILITIAS OF JODUR Moss. On motion of Mr. Roprergon, (rep.) of 8. C., the Senate too up the bill for the relief of the political disabilities of F. J. Moses, Unief Justice of South Carolina. Mr. KoMUNDs, (Tep,) of Vt., said he had objected to the consideration of the bill on Monday becatse did not Kaow then the facts upon which it wus b | but he had since become enurely satisfied that Mr. Moses was deserving of the proposed cienency, and that the loyal people of the country would be willing to extend it to him, and, therefore, he would make no objection vo the Passage of the bill, Mr. Hopwerson said he desired the of the bill because {t Would only be doing jusuce to Mr. | Moses, whose ctief disability arose irom tua having been a State Senator before and during the War for twenty-five consecutive years. At the end of the war he had been elected a judge of the Supreme Court of South Carolina, and in that position uis de- cixions had given satisfaction to both ties, Mr. Davis, dew.) of Ky., moved amend the | BID eo as to extend the fame relief to all other Citizens of South Corolitt® laboring under political | disability, The motion was lost, all the Senators present vot- | ing in the negative except Mesara, ra, Davis, Dixen, Doolittle, Ferry, McUreery, Norton, Patierson of Tenn. and Saulsbury. Mr. Davis remarked that the bill would be more acceptame to him if it Was amended as he had pro- Poned; ut that even then he would vote against It, ecanse he held that there was no fourteentl fe as oo tay hd ue oes 1 LOR broom eett pur. orting to be such amendinent Wing been rati- fan by three-/ourths of the States, bod ‘The bili was then read @ third time and passed, yehs 40, nays d. DELLS FROM THN rovsE, A mensige wae reggived from the Louse of Kepre- | ecatalives stating that hat Bape! passed the bill rega- ising the dutiss o» imported copper anc Eo Toe Si'iudian ‘ifre w ke War bsparuuest. Ths was a re} laid on the table. a ex) of which is employed in: Ghilecescary aud unconstitutional,” when Mr, Conxinss, of and 3 oy Fnac Aeag gon of the etion Wala hare ta patoreako een raoaived ing a President of ie From the i= Oe Davis—It seems to Mr. President, that message susisins taal I lope it will be read Mr. Lee eee ir. Conness’ motion and partment go bw the constitution was authorize the Presigent to communicate to the lature from year to — such facts and special formation as he might me possessed of as the Executive of the nation, and not to authorize him to ind Coe Loree of the Legislature. tainly Congress taust be supposed to know what tt Bas done as well as the President can know it, I know of nothing either in the laws or the constitution of the United which makes it obligatory yess sive message from the President any more than from any other person; and inasmuch as I do conceive that the language employed in this message is not Tespectiul to Congress 1 shall vote to hen, spe wih the further reading of it. The country will have tie beuefit of it all the same. Mr. WilY7e, (dem.) of Md.—I trust that a due sense of its own diguity and a proper regard for the pubitc pinion of the country, which demands of the lative respect for the exeoutive branch of the gov- ernment, will induce this to have the message of the President read in full. ‘The President 1s called upon te disc! great public duties, and in pursu- ance of the command laid os hum by the constita- on of the United st seeks to give to the Senate and the Howe Representatives, in this a oper gear as to 7 state of the hipaa may be that in doing #0 he uses language stroi in ats as ators often do in the discus sion of subjects before tie Senate, He may even use igritatmg in character, but it should be remembered that he occupies the exaited position of President of the Untted States and in the discharge of lis duty is communicating iuformation which he conceives ougkt to be communicated to this co- ordinate brauch of the government, and therefore that he is entitled to the respectful attention even of those who ditier from him. 1 do trust that now, and a this session of Congress, we may have here, if not harmony of sentiment, at least an hearing of both sides—of those whose views of the manner m which the government should be con- ducted may differ trom ours; and bens 1 trust ( dai tt ade by thi tor from Oalliprnia Ot sess wi nsf Wass. —t think ti idea . WILSON, of — ) is disrespect 7 untrathfal. — It 1s the acrid out- pouring of @ disappointed, bad man, who has dis- turbed the country for years, and who has been at last not only tejécted by those who were politically associated with lim, but condemned by the whoie merican le, Who, In condemaing him, have but anio) the verdict of history. But hie is still the President of the United States, and he has sent in his annuad Message here, and J think we had better read tt and v ag we ordinarily do on such > occasions. I have no anxiety about the judgment of the American pecnie as between the Congress of the United States ana Andrew Johnson—noue at all— And therefore I think we had better proceed as we do in this matter. departments 19 certainly not a reason the re- ata nd Message. At boahty 7 ge ht oa had m reached m the reading of Message when the wi is Motion Was Marie, the goes on to make suggestions of ie Te ehies return to ecouomy. These proper for - dent to discuss and for ry for the people to hear discussed by the #rcadent ani » Congress, Ido not tuink, sir, that the dignity or the respect of the Chief the Congress is invoived im this motion. It ts am ex; ny by Congress of an wenecessary and me oy tiveness when its conduct becomes the subject of criticism, No body can relieve iteelf from public responsibility by showing an excessive degree Of sensitiveness when the propriety of ite gonduct is questioned. Mr. Conness—The Senator from Indiana (Mr. Fen- Gricks) 18 & little in error, sir, When he atitibates the motion that [ made to sensitiveness in 'd bo the discussion proposed or begun by the President. We can well atiord to go mto that discussion, We can well afford to “iet the galled jade wince,” for “our withers are unwrung.”’ Lf my motion can result in What the Senator has told us it will, namely, in securing a wider reading for this extraordinary sles- sage than it would otherwise have, I sli be more than satisfied, and be Willing, as [now am, with the consent of the Senate, to withdraw the motion, be- Meving and knowing that to secure the reading of this document will to secure its cou- demnation. A President of the United States, sir, has no right under the constitutional require- Ment that he shall communicate with the logtsiative department of the government to ofenstvely thrust language and opinions before them, and in this document, as im others preceding, the Prestdeut has taken that course, this being, Lowever, a 1 Ulink, the mosé offensive one tat has ever yet been pre- sented, 1 Noe now to agree with iy friend, the Senator tm Massachusetis (Mr. Wilson), an with the cousent of the Senate I withdraw the mo- tion Lbave made, but [made it because J thoaghi tue opportunity onght not to be aliowpd to pass without noticing the extraordinary oilensiveness of this extraordinary Message. Now, sir, if the senate consent J withdraw the mation. Mr. CAMERON, (rep.) of P'a.--If the motion Is with- drawn I renew it. in this Meseage the President has endeavored to make an ubjost impression on the pubic mind, Pf te not his duty to lecture us, but to cojatmunicate suck mformation as may be tu his possession 84 to the actu! condition of the country. in this Messago,he does avtempt to lecture us, and I do not think it 44 iu accordance with the dignity of the senate thet we should allow him to insult us in that way, This is the iast opportunity he will have, as President, of addressing Ulmeell Ww the people, aud} wm not willing that he should make ue the channel through which to present to tie public hw misrepresentations and uatrucis. |, thegefore, re- new tue motion; or, if ithae not ovou withdrawn, I ot vo tte Withdrawal. Fr. MORTON, (rep.,) of Ind.—! cannot agree with the Senator from Fennsyivania. it is the daty of the President, under the constitution, Wo sead us this Message, and it is our daty io heer it A refusal to hear it would be regarded generally as & mere niani- Teatation of spite on onr part, and I think the Seu. ate would only beliitle iiself by such action. | hope therefore that the Senate will hear the message through. Mr. DRAKR, (rep) of Mo.—1 coufose fo some sur- prise at the #onsitiveness nmianifested by some gen- Genmen here with regard to this Message. A year Ago the President of the United States sept ‘us a message very considerably more offensive i its char- acter tian this, and we took it with Ue most exem- plary patience and good humor. L deemed it my duty at that time to intcoduce a resolution of censure upon the President for that message, and T addreased the Senate in support of that resolution; but Leet no response here, and | do not see that we should manifest any more xeusitiveness Low than we did then. On the contrary, I titink we have rather fot Used to Hxecutive kicks, and 1f Is hardly worth While now, whon the last onc ia given, to tra around aud resent tf, Lthink the time to have begun ro- senting them was a yeer ago. 1am in favor, sir, of having this Message read, becanse [do not see that We are any inore insulted now than we have beew heretofore when we have tamely borne it. Mr. Howr—The Senator from In liana (Mr. Morton) states that it Was the duty of the President under the constitution to send us this Message, and he adda that itis the daty of the Senate to hear tt, I diger from the Senator on both propositions. I donot concetve that it was the duty or the priv@ege of the Presidept uuder tue eougiitution tO fend us this “| in the execution of laws both unnecessary and Mergage, Ibis his cut; he conatisaliae nd ud & MeRBAgo Fan Foy A me us AGB as he may have Gecowe posseased of as Ne Eecoutive of the uation and ‘which he may . Message to ie I object in wus é Ee BE ee a sj g f if H i 83 nF better em- ne poe ie eae riapeps anne a — is | gully of pevaustionsry action, which under- count PCBS en repeal aud character of the Presiden bag ion Dee 0 me and my motives, I have noes ightest objection to the country reading be printed it of the United States, But for us to sit in our places and quietiy listen to such statements as this Message containg—for instance, “a bold declaration that | that ‘one hundred millions are annually ex) military force, # large portion of which is employed constitutional”’—if the Senator from Indiana wil fi any use the constitution which makes it our duty to sit then 1 it a good many times—why, then, I submit to the constitution as I always do: but l think it will trouble the Senator to dnd any such clause, ADJOURNMENT. Mr. Epmunps—I think, Mr. President, that the transactions of the business of the session will be facilitated by an adjournment at this time, and I move therefore that the Senate do now rn. ‘The yeas and nays were called upon this motion, and the Senate adjourned at thirty-five minutes past two o'clock, by a vove of 26 yeas to 22 nays, without taking any jormer action on the motion of Mr. Cameron. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 1868. REMOVAL OF THB DIGABILIVIES OF JUDGE MOSES. Tunmediatoly, alter the reading of the journal Mr. PALE, (rep.) of Wis., from the Committee on Recon- be einewhere sup- | attended to his wores he would have understood pele should be broadity made before the American LEN. ¥.. @ member of the Re- idee, remarked that he constr 2 "com z suouid i have risen & word on tie sul if the from » Bingham) bad not made feventa toasnr being the unanimous ac- B ‘that perhaps he ought not to the two democratic members acquiesce in the action of the that all he meant to say. “We do nol a vo tant but we are not blind to events. ‘lous, for | Bs é | a a $i 33 Ey £ i . ir. Bingham what he that “states were in revolution and but revolution.’” . BINGHAM reinarked that he thought he had made himself opty Apnea Mr. ELpnipok said he did not understand him, and be desired to know whether, if the State of Virginia should refuse to adopt the constitution submitted to it, that would be an act of revolution? Mr. BInaHaM replied in the tive, and said that if the gentleman from Wisconsin (air. Eldridge) had 5 him, as he generally made himself understood. He ventured to assert here that when the question le (aud if those movements went on it woula'inevi- bly be made) whether any State is in revolution prior action on aa amendment of the constitution, the people would, by an over- yideernorny, declare that it was revolutionary. ‘To make himself tully underswood he desired to say the State of Oregon was guilty of revoiution ta the action it had taken, ‘That mode was not a proper mode of amending the constitution; on the contrary it was an dot of revolution, a step towards anarchy, and, for one, he desired to hasten such action on the parc of the people of Virginia as would result in putting an end to any further coutroversy to the uestion as to whether the fourteent& article of the constitution had been ratified. That was one reason why he desired ta see this bill passed, and passed speedily, so that there might be an end of this trial. 1f the people of the United States desired to throw otf that amendment they knew how to dy it in the mode prescribed by the constitauon, Mr. Van ‘RUMP, (dem.) of Ohio, asked his col- league whether the ratification of tie amendment of the Legislature of Ohio was @ consummate act until the certificate of the Secreiary of Suile of the United States was furnished ? Mr. BINGHAM replied that undowbtedly it was, and that the rere of Stale was bub Lhe register of the people of the United Siates speaking through its Congress. He did uot adnut ear the recent action of the lature of Ohio was valid; but de- clared that it was revolution, and he desired to put @ stop to such revolutionary movements on the part ‘of legisiative assemblies, and to give quiet, peace and security to this great people. Mr. FARNSWORTH, (rep.) of LIL, another member of the Reconstruction Committee, stated the reasons whicl controlled his judgment aud made him favor struction, reported @ bill to relieve from all legal | the bill. He thought the ciection la Virginia should and political disabilities arising out of his connec- tiou with the rebellion franklin J. Moses, of South Carolina, lately elected Chief Justice of that State. After an explanation by Mr. Paine the bill was passed by the tequisite two-thirds vote, SALE OF THE STEAMSHIP ATLANITC. Mr. WaSHBURNE, (rep.) of Ill, introduced a joint resolution directing the sale of the steamship Atlantic, | would occur within twenty of the old Collins line, and asked to have it put upon | was the its passage. The bill having been read, directing the Secretary of the "Navy to have the vessel sold with- out further delay and report to Congress, it wag | certainty without a division. BT ENON THE soy Mr. Washhtrye, of NL, from the @n Appropriations, made » statement to in reference to its business. mates on which that committee would have to would not reach the House tll the close of this we TE ON APPROPRIA- ti ‘Yexas would not be re-enact epee have the fourth He said that the esti- | usual i | ah eva take place before the adjournment of Congress, in order that if the constitution were not adopted such action might be taken by Congress as would be neediul in the premises. He believed that the pre- vailing opunion was that the coustituilon would be adopted. ‘Ihe people there wanted security, peace and prosperity, aud the sooner the election was held the better, Mr, BuTLER, (rep.) of Mass., advocated a later day for the election, ‘Tne day Xxed in the bill, he said, days of the time when it 6 in Virginia to enter into contracts for labor and when it would be within the power of the landholder to starve the laboring le. At was to be held ata time when there was no at all of the co-operation of the Executive in reatoring or maintaining order or pun- ishing violence, at a time when there was no cer- the schemes of Louisiana, Georgia and vled, ile should like to ‘Thursday of May fixed, that being the of holding elections in Virginia, At that iMeta'spite Sf ena Teudieiders Dagan oe tho néxt week, aud not in season | Who might be opposed to them. At that time the tovallow t or the committee to perfect and report the regular appropriation bill before the time wi the Christas recess is usually taken, There were ten regular appropriation bills to be considered by the House—t ve bill, the Army bill, the Navy bill, the Pension bill, the ib Office bill, the Muintary Academy bill, the Civil bil, the De- icieucy bill and the Consular and Diplomatic. of country would have an Execative who would sup- m | port law and order; at that time they would have the power, which, they had not now, of punishing murder and riot; at that time they could assure to the people of Virginia what they have not had since 1860, a iuir election, Sor these reasons\ he favored the postponement of the election till the fourth Thursday of May, and he offered an amendment to tion bill. In case of @ recess @ majority of the | that effect. it ropriation Committee Mr. WASHBURNE, of Ill, had no objection to ere Ot adn ang alent te tie cn have that time fixed instead of the time indicated Nothing would, fore, be gained by the House | by himevif. He believed the result of holding the continuing in session, ‘and he was ted tion in January next would be to throw that f ‘on of next week that om-the following inevit into the hands of the other side. d nanny Re Porn Congress should to } Not a single person would be elected who would not Tuesday, fea ieee. to the tion acts and te f. gavanet MEMBERS—Make the motion now, connecied with them. If the . WASHBURNE—Gentlemen around ine desire to vote all ean shall ‘Mr. SCHENOK, rep.) of Z about the Commitfee on Ways and Means. Mr. HiaByY, (rep.)of Cal., calied for the regular order of business; the subject was therefore dropped for Ohio, f to say ITUTIONAL ELECTION IN VIRGINIA. on ion, reported a bill provi for an election in Virginia, to be held on ctaaten the sue itor aga inst the gonstitution, adopted by the stitation or 2 e Convention which met on the “hat of December, 1867. He the bill and said it was the same as the one passed last July, except as to the time of holding th@election. He that the time was near at when there we be no further complaint io that State as to the want of local government resting on the consent of the governed. Mr. ELDRIDGE, (dew) of Wis., inquired whether the bill made any provisions in reterence to tne per- sons voting who were ex@luded under the consitiu- pnd laws of Virginis or under the Reconstruc- 8. + cl or the disqualification of citizens to vole in the pre- liminary elections. Mr, WASHBURNE, Of FiL., sailed attention to the time Nxed in the oil! for the holding of the elections, mand expressed the opinion tigt Congress sould Ox a much later day. He thought that the 201i of dan- uary was too early @ day for holding the eiéetivn, and desired to offer an ameuiment substituting tbe second Tuesday of April, trusting, he said, thatat that time the loyal peopie of Uust Siate could be pro- tected. Mr. MAYNARD, (rep.) of Tenh., femarked, in addi- Uon bo the reason abaigned by Air. Washburue, that the middie of January was ordinarily @ very in- clement season of heed and that it would be very diMicuit, if not impracticable, to secure anything like Otull vote at that time, ie wos, therefore, in favor of Postponement, Mr. BINGHAM said that the time named to the bili was not fixed by the Commitice on Reconstruction, bat nad been desigaated oy @ convention of the friends of the reconstraciion measures ia the State of Virginia. Those persons were entirely satisfied tuat a fair election woulu be lad. They were en- tirely satisied tat the result would be satisfactory to tie friends of the Union everywhere in the coan- try; aud in addition to shose suggestions he de- wired aiso to state that certain revolutiouary acts were taking isco in this country which it was in the power of the people of Virginia in 1869 to do sometiing \owards arresting, as they had done on @ iemorabie occasion 1a 1707, when there was sedition in the land; thea Virginia, under the lead of Wise, intelligentand patriotic meu, was first of a’! the States of ie Union w take action for such exeraise of original power Om the part of the whole sae og of the country 48 prouid perpetante their liber and, in tueir own language, consoli- date the Union of the States. In last September, since tha adjourument of Congress, the Legisiavure of Oregou, following the bad exampies of tue Legia- Jatures of Onio aad New Jersey, had defenved the ratification heretofore glyeu by the people of Oregon © the fourteenth eriicie of amendment. He uodertook to say tuat there were men now hving who would come to understand by absoiute experience the positive necessity of that aincpdwent to tue constitution of the United States, ii the government was to ve maintained by laws rather tian by arias. it was in the power of the peo- ple of Virginia—and be desired that they sho@ld have te Opportunity of exercising it—to put au end to the contest and to restore to tls Cougress the pow- er, before ite adjourament ou the 4th of March next, to’ wilence here aud everyWhere alt questions as to validity of the ratificution of thats amendingn:, as W the great question whetaer it is to be hence oth # partor the consuiution of the land to aii in- leols aud porposds, Evou mon lately iu rebeilion had corne to understand tue necessity of this actio fore their own personal protection. It the electi jo Virginia were postponed to April ext the could be no furtuer action by Congress wuatit {ta subsequent meeting, Which Might Hol be unl next December, and wit he asked might not take place tb the juverim, weich he bad uriteated in the ditection of @ revolution; for it was noting exe bub @ revolution on the part of those States. No man Could foresee What night wks place, aud he would let the responsibiluy of it rest upon the gen- tlemen who proposed the delay, when a deiay was dangerous, if the people of Virginia falled to ratify the constitntion proposed by the Convention, then it would be the sane as though the bill had not patsed. If, on the other band, the people of Vir- gitia aid ry ir constitution, ani ratify the fourteenth gectt f the amendment, ® great reaait would be obtained; and he begged leave lo say here, adVisedly, having tead the constiiution presented to the people of Virginia for ratifice tion, that from. the di of the first attem to blish a republican goyernment on this Conu- m to the yromes hour amore republican form of @overtinent never jiad been adopted by the Opie ay State, wad he tlerefore asked that the Frebe uid respond to the unariimous action of the Com- mittee ou Reconstruction and give to tho people of Virglaia am opportanity Ww Bpouk ab an eurly day, desired of the business of the ide CONST! Mr. BINGHAM, (fep.) of Ohio, from the Committee | services Of the col | pie have tue KELLBY, (rep.) of Pa., favored the amendment Mr. Butier. He needed nothing eise than the re- cent proceedings of the Georgia Legisiature to con- vince him that Congress wast sécure to the citizens of African descent their rights. ‘The election should be put at a time when the immediate lored laborer were of value to his pe not in the winter,when laborers could be tura: temporarily without detriment to em- i. Every guard should be ese colored: instead of leaving them as — og oppressors and betrayers. ‘Ihe con- and he ing up to obloquy, and warning to thi foam e - cans of wie House, the treachery oF the republican r. BOurweLs, (rep.) of Mass., another member of Reconstruction Cominittee, expressed his t that he had not been m the city in time w attend the meeting of tne com- mittee this moruing. He thought it better acl Mr. BINGHAM re that the bili in ng way 4 to defer any positive action in eituer of these unfor- affect the Reconstruction acts as to vinate States until the committee had completed the inquiry with which it was charged on Monday, ag to the condition of public affairs in Georgia, Vir- winia, Mississippiand Texas. He thought that the action of Cat in the admission of Georgia was & Mistake, a8 ib pus the Joyal people of that State 1nso the custody of the revels. He was not inclined to enter on the same policy in reference to the other tiree States until be Lad an assurance that when tuey were reconstructed and adinitved to represeata- ton political power in them would be kept in the hanas of the loyal people. He was, therefore, In favor of tae ameudment. THE PRESIDENTS MESMAOR. At this point of the discussion, at five minutes past one o’ciock, Mr. Moure, the President's private secretary, appeared and delivered the President's anual ¢, Which was thergupon read to tie House by its Ulerk, Mr. MePhergou. Tae reading occupied an hour and ten minates. Tue reading beimg concluded, Mr. Wasteveyr, of dil, rose and said—l move tat tie Message be laid on te table and printed. [ suppose that on thas motion discussion is in order. The SreaksR—A motion vo lay on the tabie is un- debatable. 2 Mr. WASHBURNE—I withdraw that part of the mo- on. 1 desire to vail the attention of the House and of the couatry Wo ® portion of the President's Mes- sage, On pages eleven and twelve, in reference to the various plans proposed for the payment of the publie debt. Ff consider the proposition recom- mended by the President as plain, undisguised | repudiation, and, tor one, I wish to take the earliest opportunity lo eater my emphatic protest agatust it and to denounce it a8 a disgrace to the cowutry and to the Chief Magistrate who has sent such a jmes- ee “tr BROOMALS, (vep.) of Pa., asked Mr. Wash- burle to yield to him to offer @ resolution. Mr, WASHBURNR yielded for that purpose. Mr, Wooo made the it of order that the gentie- « Mr. BRoomAr took his posiion at the Clerk's desk to read his resolution, Mr. RANDALL made @ point of order that his eol- league inust speak from bis own des ‘the SPRawoe overruled the pow: of order, and Mr. bis resolution, as followa:— Whereas the President of the United States, in his annunt Monsage w the Fortiesh Congress, at ks segund session, ays; {Here follows the extract which bad been read at the request of Mr. sche: ng ntted to two erg mig intra te there all degreen national indebtedvess are odious to the tent {0 offer tbo" publis erediior as full stuxpensation a iene ss a Smount of money’ tban tbat which the government oon, tracted to pay him, Mr. SPALDING, ) of Ohio, tn his seat, remarked that that wae ali it. Mr. SCHENCK asked to be permitted to make a sin- remi for that purpose, -[ suppose I ought to return iny rofound thanks for this privilege, 1 aim not going el in any squabble as to who shall or who not express an Opinion on this Tam ad, however, to see Luat so far as is yet indicated only earnestness seems to be developed from the intense desire of everyone who has spoken to mark pols indicated. arise for a pur- pose on which U pr yrnye ny will entirely concurs with me. Ihave had that part of the Message read with a view to state, not because of any weight that may be given to what may ay oy hepettve 0 ncloot Betty at 4 pecaruse it may be eee that having been honored by a place in this jouse a8 chairman of dhe Committee of Ways and Means I go to express My opinion decid ou the subject; Iloox upon thut part of ti! jes mage as the Most gross, less, Infamous Propo- sition to repudiate the debt of the country ' have ever yetknown to be. put forward from any quarter, aa it may be possibly in the cotumns of the r of Brick f who, | beticve, bax spread. fore the public in this moraing this jessage in advance of the other papers—(iaugh- ter)—showing possibly a “kindred feeling” on this point. ‘There is another part of the Message to which wish to attract attention before any vote ia \aken. |, On the twen fifth page of it will be found a para- graph refec! on the action of Congress in terms similar to those used by the Legislature of Oregon. It is only nee for me to recall the attention of the House to tie fact that yesterday, .when such lan- guage came from that source, we stigmatized it as scurrilous, indecorous and slanderous, 1 do not know any license which the President of the United States has to speak thus of public legiation, which may Not a8 well be accorded to the Legislature of Oregon, and I therefore class thermh together in thas reprovation which Congress has alreuly passed om one of them. Now, I trust that there will be no printing of this Message. Let \ttake its chanee in the pabdiic prints, J trust it will be simply lad upon the table as not fit to be referred to tue Committee of the Wholo siouse on the State of the Uuion, or to any committce of the House, Mr, FARNSWORTH—That is right. Mr. SCHENCK—I trust algo that no gentieman will be deterred from vollng against reierring tt to the Committee of the Whole on tite State of the Union, on the supposition that it ls necessary, in order to give jurit Betton. to the several committees of the Heuse, that its several parta should be referred to those ,com! There is nothing in the of which the standing committees of the House may netobtain jurisdiciion by the ordinary process of reference of bills, petitions and resolutions. ‘There is no necessity, therefore, of referringiit to ure Com- mitee of the Whole on the State of the Union for the usual purpose of its distribution to the ee 4 committees. There is no need of its being printed It will go broadcast to the country, as ail Vresident’s messages do,efor what itis worth. I desire titat it may be simply laid on the table, and I hope that friend from Llinois, concurring with me, will permit me to substitute that motion for his, ‘Mr. WASHBURNE, of Lil.—I fully concur with the ntieman from Onto aa to there being no necessity for referring the Message to the Comivittee of the Whole on the State of the Union; but it is uecessary that the Message be printed in order to go among the official documents of the country, ‘Mr, SCHENCK—It Will go upon the Journal. Mr. WASHBURNE—{ Will Modify iny motion #o as to lay the Message on the table and print the usa! number of copies. q Mr, BLAINE, (bep.) of Me,—No extras * Mr. WASHBURNE—NO extra copies, ¥ icu—-The mere reading of it takes it ta ti Joufnake ‘The Sr#aknRr—It does. Mr. SCHENCK—And it will be prinied journal, ‘The SPEAKER—It docs not, however, take it nto documents which go Into the public library. Mr. MAYNAnD—-1t goes Into the Globe, Mr. WasHBUKNE—I Modify My motion so as to iny the Message on the table and have it printed. Mr. SCOFIELD, (rep.) of Pa.—Would not the gentle- man be satiasied by having it sent to the hatter shops? . HIGBY, (rep.) of Cal.—T cannot agree with the ntieman from Ohio, I think that whatever comes ym the President of the United States should be done With az has been done heretofore, Let it be printed; let tt goto the nation and let the people in the read it. Poteet Magent ort atweak ier nything. Dagree e gentlemen in Ww) say as te tho character of the Messuze. 1 have no the M we have to contend ears. {t will fully confirm nh. The question on the motion to lay on the table and be print Mr. Ross, dem.) of Ill, ited an amendment to print one handred extra copies, ‘tne Sreaxen decided the sinendtuent not tn 3 rose to « question of order, which he had to order. Mr. Broo: that that was the ouly wi he would say something, if'he could do so in order, in reply to remarks of the gentleman oa the other side. The SPRAKER etated that that was not « point of order, The Message was laid on the table and ordered to be printed—yeas 128, nays 3s. AMERICANS IMPRISONED IN GREAT WRITAIN, The resolation introduced by Mr. Koiinson yester- day, calling on the Preaident for further information and correspondence in reference wo Fenian prison- era i ireland, was offered aad adopted, * ‘ REMOVING DISABILITIES. The Senate bili removing the disabilities of Frank- liu J. Moses, Chief Justice of South Carolina, being similar to that passed on House inte moraing, ‘was taken up and DBBATK ON THE VIRGINIA BILL RASUMED, ‘The bill for an election in Virginia was again taken up, and Mr. BINCHAM made an argument against the proposition to posepone the election day ull kay and A favor of the time spectiied in the bui—the of January. fle eaid that three of the States which haw consented to the fourteenth article of amendment— Ohio, New Jersey and Oregon—had withdrawn that consent, leaving only twenty-seven States consent- ing vo it, which Was not three-fourtiis of chirty- seven, and leaving the question opea to be ehal- lenged. He hvowed hinseif ready vo vate for a law making elony for any Legisiaiure to try to pass anact deciaring (ual any amendment tie consti- tution was repealed. Having referred incidentally to the portion of the Prostdent’s Messag’ already called in queation, Mr. Evpringe asked lim if he was not satisled that the construction given to 1¢ was an unfair con- struction. ie admitted that the language was somewhat vagae, but he understood i to mean a recommendation to pay off the sx per cent indeled- ness and then apply that interest to tho extinguish. ment of the debt itself. (Laughter on the repub- lican side of the House.) Me thought that that was what the President intended and wiiat way the fair construction of his language. Mr. BrNaitam did not see that the gentieman from Wisconsin he!ped the matter at all. Mr, HgYeu, (lem.) of Pa., remarked that notwith- standing the involved nature of the language used oy the President, he belleved tuat what he alluded to Was not the sl< per cent interest om the govern ment bonds, but tial preaiun which ix paid to the national banks. Mr, FARNSWORTH inquired how the President could mean that when he proposed to pay oif the entire debt in that way in sixteen years? Mr. Jopp, (rep.) of LiL, desired Mr. Bo him the meaning of this sentence tn M _ » conciusion ts becoming prevalent Doin man frora Ulinem (Mr, Washburne) had been using Uupariamentary language. The SPEAK&G weked Mr. Wood what language he aliuded to, Mr. WOOD specified the language a8 that wherein | Mc, Washburne spoke of the Message a a disgrace w gntry and to the Uresident. The SYEAKER ruled that this being a country of | free speech tue persons eiected to represent the peo- rigut w criticise tuelr public officers, provided it be in language not indecorous or person- ally offensive—a right exercised Ww the President's Message ia referring to Congress. Mr. BROOWALL aeked to have his resolution read, | but yielded at the request of Mr. SOHENGK, who si he desired to have read a poruon of the President's | Message on pages cleven aud twelve. | The CLenk read tue followlig paragraph from the | nerve, ld hot Lorget whut Tt may be eesumed that femiy received iat amonnt than their original investment | y a guid standard. Upon thie statement of facta | {8 Would seew vit jusi and eguftadle that the six per cent in- obs bat in forest now paid by the government should be ‘ppited to the fednetion of the principal im semi-epuual lustalmenta, whlch, and eight months, would Hqvidate bt. Six per cent tn gold word, ad | ‘At present rates, Le equal lo nlue por cent 3a eu: equal to the payinent of debt one and «hair in & fraction lens than seventeen years. This, in connection ‘With the other advantages derived (rom their investment, wonld afford to the pubhie efeditors falr and liberal com: mn for tho wee of their and with this the; be satisied. The lestona ot thé past admonish the hat it a4 not well to be over atixlous im @xacting (rom wer rigid complianos with the letter of the boud. yield farther unwil | le asked to lave it KANDALL, (dem.) of Pa., objected. that the amouat which it (the goverament) obtained was in real money three or four hundred per cent legs than the obligations whieh tt issued im return.” Mr. Boyer declined to undertake w explain every- thing which tue Presiient Wad sald in lis Message. (Laugbter.) \ Mr. ELORIDOR Opposed the passage of (he Virginia Blection bill because he looked upon tt as one of those measures of reconstruction for which he conid not vote, ag he belicved Virginia to be a State extat- ing in the Uaton to-day with the same righis as the otier Staves, aad because It allowed men +o vote whe were nov legal voters ander tae eunstitution of Vir- ginia, Mr. BI¥GHAM said hits reply to that was that tre people of the country had «poken on tue sutyect and bad decided aguinst the geutieran's views. Mr. ELortpeu— i ple dechted againar the Congressiogal policy, und the gentienfan himself would hot have been elected to Congress if it bad not been for Grans, Mr. Bison ntloman's own state has de- cided that way: onstruction measures Were constitntional, were not revolutionary, were fot Usurpations, were not void, but that wey shoul be enforced aa the sovereign Will of the people. At last the discussion Was closed, and the question was taken on Mr. Washburve’s amendment faxing the fourth Thursday in May for the eleetion. ‘The awendmenat Was agreed to—7) to Gand the time for the meeting of the Legisiature was avo a on motion of Mr. Wiashburne, tor the fimo @ Tuesday 1p Septounber. The bill as thus amended was passe) withwnt division, CONDITION OF THE PREBDMEN'S DUN ‘The SPPAK KR presented g letter from of War, with @ communication from | tent of the Freedinen’s Bureau, asi PPOINE & COMIMMELES Ly ny estiymale Te of that Bareag. Keferred wo vie Our Frtea + BROOMALL Msigted that he oad a right to bave | ‘ad as & part Of nis remarks, ‘The SPRAKRY stated that having been Mede it could not be read by th® Clerk, put tual Mr. Broomali cuuid read it Mimaself asa part of die ic Warne, i ‘ of Mh CuairtaaM of Lae Comer