The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-18
Proceedings Of the Repatb-
lican C0,lcaScS.
WHAT ssAS SAID, AND By WHOM
OF THE PHILADELPHIA
CONVENTION.
THE PRESIDENT DENOUNCED AS
GREAT A TRAITOR AS DAVIS.
A TERRIBLE TINE ABOUT THE
POOR oFFICE-HoLDERS.
Special dispatches to the New York Times.

sn.c;sl dispatches to the New York Times.
WASHINGTON, Sunday, July Is, 1866.
A caucus of Republican members Of
Congress was held on Wednesday evening.
General Banks, of Massachusetts,, was
chairman, and Mr.. Ferry, Of Michigan.
secretary. The caucus, so far as the
House was concerned, was quite full, but
only eight Senators were present.
Mr.. Hotchkiss, of New York, said that
the meeting was called at the request Of
himself and others, and its object was to
have an interchange Of views as to the
best course to be pursued in regard to the
rumored removal Of office holders by the
President. He had no doubt that such
removal was intended as soon as Congress
should adjourn, and in his own State IL
censed ahead butcher had already been
appointed, and stood at the door ready to
strike. He deemed II the duty Of Con-
gress to stand by rs friends, and to make
any sacrifice necessary to keep them in
office. He thought Congress should re-
main in session, so az to prevent removals.
Mr.. Cobb, of Wisconsin, offered reso-
luton declaring every one present to be in
| honor bound to act in Congress and else
where in accordance with the decisions OF
the caucus, but this was voted down. A
ton of Mr.. Cobb.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, expressed his con-
currence With what had been SAID OF the
necessity Of taking some action on the
subject Of removals. He thougm Con-
prcss should take recess instead OF al
journing.
Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, then offered
| a resolution declaring that Congress would
| remain in session until December. He
said that any party that would not stand by
its friends ought to 60 down, and we must
stand by the men nowin office. He thought,
too, it might be necessary for Congress to
take other action before next session TO
prevent the accomplishment Of schemes to
restore the rebels to power. He believed
the President was traitor to the party
and the country, and that he was ready for
any measure, however desperate, which
would put the Government into the hands
of the rebels. What his schemes were ne
did not know, but he had been told on
high authority that Mr.. Seward had said
that this Congress would never meet again
until the southern States were restored to
| (all) their rights of representation in Con-
gress.
Mr.. Hale, Of New York, asked for his
authority for this statement.
Mr.. Farnsworth replied that he had
heard it from several parties. On being
pressed for some authority, he said he
| should not give it, and several members
around said, "don't give it," Mr.. Wilson,
of Iowa, saying he had 10 doubt Mr.. Sc
| ward had said il.
Mr.. Hale said, in the absence of any au-
thority, he did not believe Mr.. Seward had
ever said anything OF the kind.
Mr.. Shelabargcr, of Ohio, concurrcd in
the necessity of taking precautions, but
he was not certain as to the best way OF
doing it. He offered substitute for Mr..
Farnsworth's resolution, appointing com
mittce of five afterwards increased to
nine, three of the Senate and six Of the
House, to report on the subject at fu-
ture caucus.
| Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, endorsed what had
been said about the treachery OF the Pre-
sident, and the necessity of adopting some
measures Of prevention. But he thought
it important that members should 60 home
and fight out the battle before the people.
The Cabinet, he was happy to say, was al
ready broken up. He was glad to announce
that Postmaster General Dennson had re-
signed, and would have nothing more to do
with the Administration, and he hoped that
other members of the Cabinet would follow
his example. He thought they should
strip to the waist and fight the battle out
on this line.
Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, said he
thought we would be obliged to do great
many other things to save the country
from the danger that threatened it. He
believed it to be beyond all doubt that a
conspiracy was on foot to put the Govern
ment into the hands Of rebels, and the
President was a party to it. He had no
doubt they contemplated resort to force,
because it was in the logic of events that
they should do so. He believed Andrew
Johnson to be just as thoroughly a traitor
as jeff. Davis, and that nothing could save
the country from destruction but the most
prompt and effective preparations for every
emergency. He believed an attempt would
be made to force the rebels into Congress,
and the Philadelphia Convention was part
of the scheme. The battle, in effect, had
already begun, and if resistance was not
made, the President would take possession
of the capitol. Any such attempt must and
would be resisted by force. (Mr. Bout
wells remarks were loudly applauded9
Mr.. Harding, of Illinois, doubted the
wisdom of going to the people on such an
issue. He was in favor of taking pre-
cautions against the President, but he did
not wish it understood that the Union
party made the holding of Office SO impor-
tont q consideration ms the action DrOpOsed
would make it.
Mr.. Ingersoll, of Illinois, denounced
President Johnson as traitor-a mad
man-in league with Rebels and Copper
heads, and insisted on measures of precau-
ton against his schemes. He said he had
no personal interest or feeling in the mat
ter. He had fought out his battle with the
President, and had won it. But he would
as soon trust bull in china-shop az An
drew Johnson in possession of power.
Mr.. Kelley, Of Pennsylvania. said
amen" to Mr.. Boutwell,, and said that
many as were the letters he received from
his constituents on the tariff, they were
few in number comparcd'with those he re-
ceived exhorting him to stand by Congress
in its measures for the salvation of the
country. He denounced the Philadelphia
Convention as conspiracy Of traitors, and
said ne believed the President had got II
up for the purpose Of destroying the Union
party aud Of putting Rebels and Copper.
heads into power. The rebel newspapers
north and south were in favor of it for that
reason.
The President, as is we'll known, regards
every h;I,nassed by Congress, while eleven