The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-06
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
THURsDAY, APRIL 8, 1860.
SEN ATE.

II. Edmunds appointed BY the Governor of Vermont
to all the yaoancy in the Senate occasoned by the
death Of the Hon Solomon Foot.
Mr.. Edmunds appeared and took the oath
Mr. Pomeroy presented q petition from oitiEens
Of Kansas asking for an equalization OF bounties.
Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Harris presented the petition Of Workingmen
of Rochester, N. Y, asking Congress TO provide
eight hours as DAVIS work throughout the country;
and falling in this the proprety OF eight hours as
aday's work for all artisans and mechanics In the
employ of the Government. Referred to the Com.
mittee on Naval Affairs
Mr. Sherman introduced bill to incorporate the
National Telegraph Company Referred to special
committee Of Ave.
Mr. Hendricks from tho COMMITTEES on National
Affairs, reported bill for the relief Of Commodore
Thomas Turner. ."
The bill to furnish arms and ammunition for the
defence Of the Inhabitants of Dakota Territory was
taken up and passed.
Mr.. Wilson called up the Joint resolution respect.
ing bounties TO colored soldiers which, after
amendment was passed,
The regular order Of the day being the bill to
protect all persons in their civil rights returned by
the President with his objections, was then taken
up; upon which Mr.. johnson, Of Maryiand. was en-
titled 10 the floor ... b. ..
Mr.. johnson said, that In the discussion Of tho
bill before the Senate the question was not strictly
legal one. There are questions Of policy 10 be
considered-questions Of oxpediency. The objeo.
tons which tho President makes TO the bill In re-
turning Il without his approval relate as well to
the expediency Of the measure rs to its alleged un.
constitutionality. The purpose Of clothing the
President with the veto power were to guard his
own department against enoroachments BY any
other; to guard the States against like influence
and to guard the individual oitizens also. In ad-
diion 10 these Objects one Of the purposes Of the
Convention was to guard against fnexpedient and
III considered legislation Looking TO what had
taken place in the Congress Of the and
TO what had occurred in the several State Govern
ments, tho members Of tho Convention Of 1887 were
satisfied that II was lust as necessary for the public
veal to protect the country against ins.pedient
Legislation, or almost as necessary as Il was to pro-
tect Il against legislation II has
heretofore been denied BY some, and doubted by
others, whether the President Is justified in using
the power except upon constitutional grounds.
That principle was urged by the leading members
of the Whig party at the head Of which stood Mr.
Clay, when they became very much dissatisfied with
the exercise Of that power by the then President Of
the United States, General Jackson.) The fact
then called the attention Of Mr.. Madison. lie ex-
pressed his opinion on II In a letter written with
the ability which always marked his writings dated
on the 18th of October 1884 Mr. johnson here
onoted from The letter referred 10. and Continued
The honorable member from Illinois. TMr Trum
bulI.i seems To suppose that he finds as valid OBJ.
iectons 10 the exercise of this power BY the Presi
as.1 IN p tba Hos. a. mOo tSsn tnobra. ,Ss
members az each House and he oited in supnort Of
that doctrine A speecb delivered by the President
-, n. wos \ ,namhar 81 this hoSv In 1897 and
40, The Senate. perbaps. were induced by what
he read from that speeoh 10 believe that the PEST
dent stated the prnciple 10 bo that a bill passed
BY a two.thirds vote could not utionally be
sIbiscted 10 IN, yeto nover IT bs had road thu
latter mart of the same sentence he would have
found that the President intended no such.thipg
The soundness of the doctrine expressed in that
spcech cannot be- questioned, Mr., johnson, when
he was a member Of this body, merely said that the
fact that bill was passed BY the majority rendered
necessary for The pnrpose OF oyerruIing veto was
A reason why he should very cautiously apply the
power for il exercise But, so far from III being
In the Judgment of the Senate as Il certainly was
not In the mind of Mr.. johnson AT the time that
hill being passed by that majority plaoed II beyond
tho veto mower, the honorable members [Mr Trum.
bull answer to question which put to him shows
that in the Judgment Of the Senate the veto power
was properly eSereised and bin which in that in
stance had been passed by more than two thirds of
both Houses did not become law, as many who
had voted for the bill changed their votes under the
influence Of the President's veto message.
Mr.. johnson proceeded at great length and with
nnsh faros. to oppsss the Hi upon legal grounds
Mr.. Cowan followed In opposition TO the bill.
| Aher some further discussion, motion Of Mr..
Hendricks, the Senate adjourned, with the under.
standing that vote shall be taken tomorrow at
four o'clock
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| Mr. Ashley, Of Ohio, introduced bill to aid in
the construction OF railroad and postal route from
Great Salt Lake City to the Colorado river which
was referred 10 the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr. Julian, Of Indiana, asked, but failed to OBJ
tain, leave to report from the Committee on Public
Lands bill for the survey and sale Of mineral
lands
Mr.. schenck, Of Ohio, from the COMMITTEES on
Military Affairs reported back the memorial Of the
Legislature of Minnesota, asking that soldiers be
reimbursed for money taken from them by rebels
with a Recommendation that the same be referred to
the Committee on Claims; and II was so ordered.
ALSO, the memorial of citizens Of Upshur county,
West Virginia, asking compensation for injuries
done TO churches by the Union army, with a recon.
mendation that the same should lie upon the table;
| and IL was 90 ordered. ..'
Also, a resolution instructing the Committee on
Appropriationa 10 pouire into the pronrietv Of mali
ing an appropriation to complete the work iuaugu.
rated by Mai. Gen Thomas and other officers Of the
army, contemplating the dsinterment and gather.
ing into suitable Of the remains Of Union
soldiers who fell In battle, and Empowering the
| committee to send for persons and papers
Tho Committee on Military Affairs reported that
while full power was already vested In the Presi.
dent TO establish cemeteries for the intermsnt of
the remains of Union soldiers wherever he might
deem IL advisable vet thew Thought h but nronsr
that suitable appropriation should be made Tor Inc
purchase Of oroupd and for he encIo,nra and Ia
inc ont of the same. The resolution was passed
!