Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-30
XXxvlth CONGRESS-FIRST SESSION
Proceedings Of Yesterday Afternoon.

IN THE SENATE, yesterday, after We went to
press, the bill supplementary to the act entitled
An act to authorize protection to be given to
citizens Of the United States who may discover
agreed TO- and the BILL after having been amended,
On motion by Mr.. Davis, the Senate proceeded
to consider the bill to prevent desertion and to
facilitate enlistment OF soldiers In the army Of the
United States and the bill was amended and
passed.
Mr.. Grimes offered a resolution that the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire
into the expediency of providing by law that
o .sa Ee no more to the grade
formed by officers Of this grade shall be performed
10y officers of the line; also that they inc uire into
the expediency Of providing by law that all ap,,
pointments to the marine corps of the United
States shall be made from graduates of the United
States Naval Academy; adopted.
Mr. Pearce presented a memorial from John F.
Rice, Baird Hubner, and representing that said
hrm had &C knowledged that it was imposs BILE to
execute their contract for the furnishing Of one
hundred monolithic marble column shafts for the
Port!co OF the Capitol; and also that Capt. Meigs
had inspected the Lee quarry and reported to the
Secretary Of War that fact, although six years had
been allowed them to do SO, and also showing
that they had no claim to exact damages for their
failure to execute their contract, their real and
only object being to substitute Italian for Ameri-
can marble; and ask that Congress will not inter
iere with the Secretary Of Wars order to purchase
After a short executive session the Senate ad-
journed.
HoUsE.-Mr. Grow, from the Committee on
Territories, reported back House bill for the ad-
mission Of Kansas, and said he desired the sense
Of the House rs to whether it should be discussed
at the present time or postponed.
Mr.. Clark, OF Mo said he was preparing a
to submit.
BY unanimous consent the bill and accompany
ing report was ordered to be printed, and will
come up as unfinished business on Tuesday
A message having been received from the Pres
ident of the United States
On motion by Mr.. Bocock, the message was
taken up and read.
MIR. Sherman, Of Ohio, said the President had,
ior the frst time in our political history, made an
Issue with this House as to its constitutional power
He was willing to i've that communicable all the
consideration It's importance demands. He was
Wiling thft the House shouid 90 into ttpe
ana consider whether not il has power Ia inyes-
tlgate any thing that may he done by any branch
OF the Executive, for if this high privilege set up
by the President was correct il would extend To
every one of his subordinates The Constitution
of the United States declared that the President or
any civil ofiCer may be removed from office ny
Impeachment Tor treason or other high crime or
inlsdemeanor. IT also made the House the sole
power for impeachment. Under these two
clauses the House had power to investigate the
conduct of any officer, from the President down
this power to investigate, except upon impeach-
ment. How, then, were they to found an impeach.
ment Should they inquire and examine wit
nesses, or found imPeachments upon the rumors
OF the street and the newspapers When they
heard the President implicated in grave and Sc
rlous transactions they had right to inc uire into
the truth of those things and if they found them
true 1t was their duty to impeach the President
and send the accusation TO the Senate for trial
| Mr.. Craige, of n C., regarded Mr. Sherman s
| argument as most extraordinary. The President
dld not deny the power; and, therefore, the gen.
| tlemdn,s argument fell to the ground The Pfesi-
| dent admits the RIG ht Of the House to impeach,
but denies that his accusers should be his Judges
He could not sit quiet and permit such en- allega-
| hon 70 20 forth uncontfddiCted
Mr.. BOCcck hoped gentlemen would come IN
70 the consideration Of the message in a manner
| worthy OF the occasion. The President did not
onlect 70 the instltuting Of an inquiry agains,
MN, ou. askea 10 Dc treated as any other citizen,
| sven the most humble. He repeated for the
honor and dignity eff the country this ought TO be
| accorded to him.
Mr.. crow said if the House proposed TO i'm.
| would then DE nigh: in his positions But the
| inquiry proposed by hIr. Covodes resolution was
merely 10 ascertain what influences had been
used To affect the legislation Of the country
| Mr.. toyode said II was true be had made nc
dehnite charge againstthe President The Presi.
g. - ! L,r.oeif 100 n Large, IN his letter
| money was used in Pennsylvania 70 influence the
| elections; and the truth Of this he mir Covode
wanted TO ascertain. and who spent the money.
Mr.. Curtis said if he had been in the House
! when the message was sent in. be should have
objected to its reception twas an attempted In.
reference with the rights and privileges of the
| House
Mr.. Bocock resumed, showing that the trans.
mission OF such message was not without prece-
| deht Old Hickory, 1t would be recollected sent
| 10 The Senate protest against one of its acts
| agains. him.
After further proceedings.
| MI Haskin thought the name, Of discussing
this subject was unworthy the dignity Of this
House. This going into party politics was not la
order The President had insulted the House nv
| this Napoleonic decree
| MT Bocock bowed very low to Mr. IIaskin for
Els brief lecture OIL dignity. IA Voice-"That's
| good He concluded his remarks
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the mpssaCe w,s
referred to the Committee OH the Judiciary, witt
power to report at any time.
| The House went into Committee of the Whole
| on the state of the Union on the Deficiency bill
when '''.i
| NJ Montgomery made speech in defence OF
Judge Douglass views on the subject Of souatter
sovereignty.
The Committee rose, and the House adjourned
Proceedings Of To-Day.