Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-08
ESSIONAL.
CoNGREss.-FIRsT SESSION
WRDERSnAy- Juna :

WEDNESDAY, j une ;.
Mr.. Davis rose to a question OF privilege,
and read a letter from Gen. Benz +. Butler,
addressed to himself, dated headquarters in
the field, June 3, 1864, as follows:
SIR: have read your resolution Of inquiry.
You can do me no greater favor than to have
every act of my political life which began on
the first Tuesday Of November 1889, and ended
on the 18th day of April, 1861, most thoroughly
scrutinized. i will thank you also to have
every act of my official life, which began as
brigadier general of the Massachusetts militia
April 16, 1851, and will end when this war
does if not sooner subjected to the like exam
ination. have no favors to ask, and but one
act of justice-that the inquisition may not be
er parte; that is, one sided Your obedient SER
want BENZ. F. BUTLER.
Mr. Davis said this letter was in terms such
as any man conscious of his innocence would
use. The terms OF the letter were calculated
to increase his estimation Of Gen. Butler, as
they make an appearance Of prima facie EVIL
dence in his favor. Gen. Butler may be in
nocent OF the charges contained in his Mr..
Davis resolution. He had no personal preju.
dice against that General, and if he was in
nocent, he would be gratif1ed to find it So as
he would of any one else; and he thought every
man should have the opportunity to prove his
General Butler has Of course read the reso.
luton and writes his letter in view Of Its char
three to be appointed by the Chair to investi-
gate, and with power to send for persons and
papers. He understood General Butler there
fore to have accepted the gauge justin the form
it has been rendered. AS Senator and a man
he felt perfectly competent to do Gen1 Butler
justice, according to the truth of his case. He
therefore hoped the Senate would at once pass
the resolution without debate, and authorize
proceedings with matter in the manner desig-
mated.
At the request of Mr.. Harris, Mr. Davis re
Trained from pressing his resolution at the mo.
ment
Mr. Trumbull, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported back the bill in relation to
the fees and emoluments of the Marshal, Attor-
ney, and Clerk Of the Supreme Court of the
District Of Columbia, and for other purposes,
with an amendment as a substitute.
MIR. Powell moved to suspend all prior Or
ders and take up the bill to prevent officers of
the army and navy, and other persons engaged
in the u. S. service, from interfering in cleo.
tons. The motion was rejected.
HOUsE-Mr Cox, from the Committee on the
Rules, reported an amendment to the same,
namely: To admit ex members to the floor of
the House, provided that such persons SUBJ
scribe to statement to be filed with the
Speaker, that they have no interest, either
directly or indirectly, in the prosecution of any
claim or bill before Congress; and that they
will not use their influence to further the inter.
est of any one before Congress
After conversation between various MEM
ters, the new rule was laid on the table.
The Senates amendments to the Internal
Revenue bill were ordered to be printed and
committed to the Committee Of Ways and
Means.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bankrupt law.
Several gentlemen expressed themselves in
favor OF the bill, and one only (aIr. Cravens)
against 1t.
Mr. Jencks, Of Rhode Island, who reported
the bill, made few remarks, urging its pass
age, and moved the previous question
Mr.. Steele, of New Jersey, moved to lay the
bill on the table, and the motion was disagreed
to-yeas 40, nays IS.
Tie bill was not further acted on, because it
had not been engrossed.