The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-12-06
xxx C0NGRESs---Seccnd Ses-
sion.
WAsnIxorox, Dec. 6.

WAsaIxarox, Dec. 6.
House.
|, House met st IA o'clock sndsfee prayel
By chsplsis, jourpd Of yssterlky 6as read
The speaker laid before the House laws o
the territory Of Dacotah
WASHBURNE of Illinois, offered res
olutiou calling on the Secretary of War Il
commsnicate 70 the Hoabs the report Of the
tosr Of Inspection Of Btevst Brig. Genera
Babcock, made during the past season, o.
such portion thersofas as he may deem pEopei
b cOm0 uAioocN 81 IS
sW1LkAMSAof Pemsavaniaf &Dt6d te
reconsider bill regulating appointment te
Office, which was reported BY him last season,
and proceeded TO seaes his reasons for max.
ing ths motion - the time. The bill be said
was of great national importance. He dis
cussed elaborately the policy which should
govern the appointments and removals from
Office; combating the idea that the Presi-
dent has or should have an irresponsible
power to appoint and remove, and quoting
freely from political and legal decisions in
support of his position.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, of Pa, moved to recon
slider tie bill regulating appointments to Of,
fee, reported BY him last session, and then
proceeded 70 argue in favor Of the bill II
rested, he aid, on the hypothssa tho$ the
power Of removal did not yightfully sbsaons
to the President alone under the Constitu-
ton, and that it could not be safely left
with him without restraint upon its exercise,
aud this upon q general principle, and with>
ont any reference to the merits or dement's OF
the existing functions, as it is aimed at the
formation Of great will in the administra.
tion Of the Government, by bringing its prac.
tice back 70 the true spirit and meaning Of the
fundamental law. In doing so it disturbed no
TILES, and attacked no judicial precedent 1t
merely a review Of legsla>
tive opinion, and it was not the first time that
opinion had been questioned. 1t had been
by . denial of an authorized
character Of divided court, and it was even
old enough to be venerable. But to estimate
justly the weight to which it was entitled,
il would be necessary 10 show its
precise circumstances by which it was attends
ed, and the argument by which it was sus-
tanned. II was noted that while those who
were opposed to the adoption of the Consti-
tuition had objected to that it would give to
the President the executive power of q King
Not even the advocates of its adoption adj
United that it was intended to give bin the
kingE power of, removing other officers Of
the Government at his own individual will.
On the meeting Of the first Congress the
question came up whether the head Of the
Department Of Foreign Affairs shall be re-
meved at the will Of the President. One
party claiming that the power Of removal was
included in the power to appoint, and con-
tending that it could be exercised only in
with the Senate, and the other
that it was thus entrusted with
great power, which, however, vas SO pru>
IDENTIFY and consistently exercised for long
time that the confidence reposed in the Ex-
ecutive seemed to be jutti6ed. And when
the statement of later period became
power it was found to be in vain,
6ces of the Government &s its lawful spoil,
successfully every attempt to 20 back
10 the true reading of the Constitution. Mr..
Williams then proceeded 10 argue at length
in favor of the policy of n restoring be execu.
live power, and quoted freely from political
authorities and legal decisions in support of
his views. He then reviewed the course Of
The President, and his avowals of the policy
be intended to pursue in this respect, arga-
ing that the interests of the country. the prin.
,iple of the Constitutions the wish of the
people, and of Congress as their representa-
ivee, al demanded tnat the power Of the
President should be restricted By the pasage
,f this bill, and that If the executive then
Faiied or refused to obey the will Of the peo
ple the obstacles should be removed. At the
conclusion of Mr.. Wiitane' speech he said
be did not wish to press the passage Of the
bill at this time, and that the previous ques
lion on the motion be recdnsidered.
4Ms. SCHENCn hoped The motion would be
Withdrawn if the motion to reconsider should
prevail. He desired 10 have the bill referred
10 the joint select committee on Retrench-
ment, to which the whole subject had been
committed.
Mr.. STEARNS thought it had better be
referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. KASSON inquired Il there had been
change made in the nrss section of the bill,
sExArE.
Senate met Ut nooa.
Mr.. SHERMAN introdncei bill for the
ofthe SsSte u Nebraska The
bill was read second tirs and laid on the
table for the time hsing.
Mr.. SHERMAN o1tvs1s resolution pro
viding that the repostsss 4 tAs United States
md European news aaDoe1asicn and the as
sociated press. b provided vzA seats on the
lloor.
Mr.. CONFESS asled o hAse ii lie over
isor the present, and il tosk thas coarse.
The bill passed By the House to repeal the
section Of the act of 1862 in re-
gard to the suppression of the insurrecrloa y
&c, was discussed ct some length. on motion
Of Mr. rCHANDLER,:o It's consideration. Mr.
reterutes the charge that women of
character, had hawked for
pardons about the city, giving as bis ausAorl-
ty, Judge Of the Supreme Conrt of this
District. He urged the passags Of the bill
Mr.. HOWE thought it should be sent to the
Judiciary Committee, and it should not be
considered.
Mr.. GRIMES opposed the consideration
Of The resolution now, he feared ths country
would regard this haste ss an attempf TO in-
cite the President to do the very thing
NJ. DICKSON, Oh Connecticut, contra>
dic.ed the statement made by Mr.. Chandler
in regard to the Mlescf pafdo6a, Spd I'D
there was no truth in. IL slthough he VAS
not at liberty to state the real facts of the case
ncw. He hoped the bill would be referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. ThUMBULL advocated referring the
bill for the present, but hopsd 1t would not
be supposed that he opposed the bill.
Mr.. CHANDLER withdrew bis objection
to the reference, and it took that course.
The regular standing commit ittses were then
appointed by resolution.
On motion various portions of the Presi-
dent's message were referred to thsif Appro>
pirate committees. -
Mr.. SUMNER called up the motion on re.
construction, and then read . letter from
Texas urging tnas the goverament Of that
State was . sham, aud was in opposition TO
the Union, and that the State Legislature
aimed 70 practically restore slavery. The
resolution xaa laid over s A@sss
A number Of bills. &c, previously intro
duced, were referred to appropriate commits
tees. sss
The Senate coucurredsi ID the Joint resolu-
tcn from the House empowering the Commit
tee on Reconstruction appointed last session
TO continue its labors.