The Portland daily press., 1865-03-06
xxxv111 coNaREss-second Session.
SEN ATE
WASHINGTON, March g

"AShlNGTON, March 3.
EVENING Observation-Disclosures
| Ats O'Clock, after a long debate The civil
appropriation bill was informally laid aside
The report of the committee on Conteronoa
on the amendatory enrolment act was con-
CURED In.
The amendment to the civil appropriation
bill was then taken up. -''''oA
An amendment that per ons employed as
well as those drafted or enlisted should he snb-
ject to trial by Court Marshal was adopted.
The amendment thus amended was then
agreed to.
Mr.. Harris here reported that the Conference
committee on the army appropriation bill was
unable to agree.
The Senate insisted onits action.
An amendment to the Omnibus bill that
Pennsylvania be reimbursed for expenses in
calling out the troops to oppose Lees advance
| in that State in 1863 was adopted.
An amendment providing for the repair OF
the Annapolis Naval Academy was adopted.
Several minor amendments were adopted,
and at o'clock the bill passed.
Several private bills were then passed, and
at nearly O'Clock the Senate went into Exec
utive session. ~
WASHINGTON, March 4. :
The Senate met at 10 o'clock this morning.
The bill authorizing the coinage OF three
cent pieces was passed.
/ The resolution authorizing a committee of
investigation on the subject of trade with
the rebel States was taken up and laid on the
table. 90
The bill regulating commerce between the
States was taken up. ~
The pending question being on the amend
ment lorbidding the exclusion of any citizen
from any railroad car, steamboat or convey
ance on account of any State law. The amend
ment to this amendment was adopted to the
effect that no citizen shall be excluded from
any meeting house, chul ch or hotel on account
OF any State law or any regulation of any cor
poration.
The amendment thus amended was adopted.
Several motions were made to refer or post
pone the bill, but all were disagreed to-
A committee was appointed to wait on the
President and inquire il he had any commune
cation to make to the Senate.
At quarter to IL o'clock noon, Mr.. Ham
lin escorted Vice President elect, johnson, in
to the Senate, soon after which the members
of the Cabinet and Judges of the Supreme
Court entered and took seats near the Chair.
At IL o'clock Mr.. Hamlin thanked the Senate
for the kindness shown him. His speech was
not heard owing to the confusion made in the
galleries by women talking.
Before taking the oath of office Mr.. johnson
made short speech to the Senate. He said
by the choice of the people he had been made
presiding officer of this body, and in present
ing himself here in obedience to the behests OF
the Consultation of, the United States, it
would perhaps not be out of place to remark
just here what a striking thing the Constitu-
ton was. 1t was the Constitution of the peo-
pie of the country, and under it here to-day
before the American Senate he felt that he
was man and an American citizen. He
would say to the Senators and others before
him, to the Supreme Court which sat before
him, that they all got their power from the
people Of the country. Turning to Mr.. Chase
Mr.. johnson said, your exaltation and position
depend upon the people. Then turning to-
ward the Cabinet Ministers he said, and will
say to you Mr.. Secretary Stanton and to you,
Mr.. Secretary Welles, you all derive your
power from the people. Mr.. johnson then re-
marked that the great element of vitality in
this government was its nearness and proxim-
ity to the people. He wanted to say to all
who heard him, in the face of the American
people, that all power was derived from the
people. He would say in the hearing of the
foreign ministers, for he was going to tell the
truth here to-day, that he was plebian. He
thanked God for il. 1t was the popular heat
OF this nation that was beating to sustain the
Cabinet officials and the President of the
United States. 1t was strange occasion that
called forth plebian like him to tell such
things as these.
Mr. johnson next adverted to the affairs in
Tennessee and the abolition of slavery there
lie thanked God that Tennessee was a State
in the Union and had never been out. The
state government had been discontinued for
Time. There had been an ''interre0nuyn, O.
hiatas," but she had never been out of the
Union. He stood here to-day as her repre-
sentative On this day she would elect a
Governor and Legislature, and she would
very soon send Senators and members to Con-
gress.
Mr.. johnson then took the oath of office and
Mr. Hamlin declared the Senate adjourned
sine die.
There was an extra session after the above
proceedings. The proclamation calling the
Senate in an extra session was read by the
Secretary. The Senators elect were next
sworn in, after which the procession formed
and proceeded to the east front OF the Capitol
building.
All the other general appropriation bills were
passed; also the bills to establish Bureau for
Refugees and Freedmen; to authorize the
coinage OF three cent pieces of copper and
nickle, and to prohibit the issue OF fractional
currency under five cents.
The Bankrupt and Niagara Ship Canal bills
were lost In the Senate while the bill to pay
extra compensation to the builders of iron
cl3ds was also lost.
Nothing was done with the Camden Rail.
road Go. bill, the House bill remaining in the
Senate clogged with amendments.
The floor OF the Senate Chamber was crowd
ed to-day to its utmost capacity by Senators,
members elect and ex-members of Congress,
the Justices of the Supreme Court, Army and
Naval officers, Foreign Ministers in full dress,
Governors of State and Territories, all the
members OF the Cabinet, together with other
distinguished personages. To night the Ex-
ecutlye Mansion was thrown open for public
reception. The pressure was immense.