Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, March 10, 1866.
SCENE IN THE HoUsE--AN IRATE NExBkk-sPA1
wiru TN AD sTEvESs


SCENE" IN THE HousE--AS IRArE xExBkk-spAr
WITH THAD. STEVENS.
In the House of Representatives, to-day:
Mr. Smith, of Kentucky, rose TO personal expla-
nation, and said that he had been attacked in an
article in the Pttsbugg Gazette, rejecting on him
self and Colonel Johnson Representative elect
from Arkansas, whose admission to the courtesy Of
the floor Of this House he had unsuccessfully at
tempted in December last and February last. He
did not know the author nor the promptings Of the
article 1t was read. Mr. Smith then proceeded to
say that the doctrine which had been uttered In this
house of the .untenable and damnable heresy that
the States were without the Union prompted Just
such articles as that read at the clerks desk.
Mr.. Broomall (Rep.l, of Pennsylvania, rose to
point of order The gentleman has no right to
characterize the opinions Of this House as damn
able heresy.
Mr.. Banks (Rep.) Of Massachusetts-Th question
now recurs whether the gentleman shall be allowed
to proceed in order.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania object. We have
had enough Of it.
Mr.. smith.-very we'll, will give you more
of it.
The House then voted as to whether Mr.. Smith
should be allowed to proceed.
The House refused to allow him to 60 on-yeas
30, nays ~.
Mr.. Smith rose to another personal explanation
He said that it had been observed on the floor that
the remark made by him a few moments ago that
you Will SSb mOIt vi dpplleu W TIC
He desired to say that he intended il for the gentle
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. Stevens). He had a
regard for this House but not for the gentleman,
(Mr. Stevens.) He would say further, that he was
good and true Union man, as good as any on the
other Republican, side of the House, and he was al
ways opposed, and would be forever, to the doctrine
Of secession.
Mr.. Stevens.-l have no reply to make. As | have
said before, what no gentleman could utter no gen.
tleman can answer. (Sensaton.)
THE PRESIDENTS POWER TO REMOVE THE CoMPrROL-
LER OF THE cURRENCY-A PARTY ISSUE INVOLVED
THE sENATE's PREROGATIvE AS TO REMOVALS
WHEN IL SESSION, &C.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.
WASHINGTON, March l5.-The words of the act
under which the Comptroller of the Currency holds
his Office have been supposed by some to be such as
to prevent the President from removing him if he
should see proper. But learn that Mr.. Guthrie an
ex-Secretary of the Treasury, and several other
loyal authorities, hold the contrary opinion, and de-
clare that the President has just as much power
over this Office and officer as any other.
If the President were to remove Mr.. Clarke it is
probable that the majority in the Senate would take
the occasion to make party issue upon it. In 1910
it was held by Mr. Webster and Mr. CLAW and Others
that if the President while the Senate is in session,
remove an officer, the Senate having assented to his
appointment, must also assent to his removal. But
this doctrine was not long adhered to and never
acted upon practically. Neither Mr.. Webster nor
MI. clay aunereu 10 III aIter the accession OF the
Wings to power.
| believe, however, that the Republican majority
of the Senate court opportunity to try the ques
ton. IL Mr.. Clarke be removed, he will be held up
to the country as political martyr, and the very
first under the johnson rule. The Senate will eX-
pend the remainder of the session in debating the
question The financial question will enter the
party debate, and all who running riot with ir-
redeemable paper will sustain the insubordinate
comptroller. loTA.
MR. COMPTROLLER CLARKE TO REsIGN-MR. FOX TO
RESIGN
1t is understood that Comptroller Clarke will be
asked to resign tomorrow by the President. SecTe-
tary McCulloch treats his demonstration with con-
tempt. 1t is admitted among Republicans that Mr..
Hooper smashed him up badly in the House.
Assistant Treasurer Fox, of the Navy, will leave
the department for duty in new position, on the
last of this month.
General schepf comes back to the Patent Of
fee.
Mr. English, the democratic candidate for Cover
nor in Connecticut, is in the city,
A movement is on foot among conservative re-
publicans to carry out part at least Of the recon-
strQctiOn policy of the President