The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-20

On motion OF Mr. IHAYER, Of Pennsylvania,
an amendment was inserted that the grant made
by the bill should not embrace any mineral lands
Of the United States.
The bill was passed-yeas 7G, nays %.
Mr.. BRIGGS, from the same committee report
ed a bill to amend the act of March 3d 1sG3 grant
ing land to Kansas for railroad PURPOSES II an.
thorizes the construction of any portion of the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, in a
way suitable for the use of a steam traction en-
CINE, with its train of cars and reduces the grant
OF land from ten sections per mile to five sections.
The bill after some debate, was recommitted.
Mr. HOLMES, from the same committee, re-
ported back the bill to amend the second section Of
the act TO authorize the Legislature of illinois,
Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee to sell school
lands Inc Dill proposes to permit these Legisla-
lures to lease for fifteen years the mineral lands
contained in the grants
Mr.. ASHLEY, of Ohio, SAID he should not voto
LOT any Dill recognizing any of those rebel egisG-
lures or bogus States. He suggested q proyiso
bel States.
The, amendment was agreed to, and the bill
Mr.. ASHLEY, of Ohio, offered a resolution to
pay to MessTs. ATnell, Cambell and Hawkins,
members from Tennessee, mileage for the last ses-
sion. He said they had been in attendance during
part of the session before the State was admitted.
Referred to the Committee on Mileage,
. On motion of Mr.. JULIAN, the Committee on
Public Lands was instructed to inquire into the
eXpediency of amending the Homestead act, so as
to require from the settler oath that he had not
borne arms against the United States.
Mr.. lNGERSOLL offered a resolution in refer
ehee TO contracts TOR Indian goods, which had
oeen objected to this morning, and it was agreed
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union Mr. LAW
RENCE, OF Pennsylvania in the chair, and re-
sumed the consideration of the Legislative. Execu-
tive and Judicial Appropriation bill
Mr.. GRlNNELL, of Iowa, moved to strike out
OF the paragraph for clerical assistants in the Ex
ecutive department the words "clerk of pardons."
doning power, and referred to the fact that the
greatest pirate of the century had received par
don and had been elected professor OF moral phi
losophy in southern college
Mr.. WENTWORTH of Illinois, opposed the
amendment on the ground that the President had
been called upon for information in reference to
pardons, and it would be impossible for the Presi-
dent to rake them all out with his own hands. He
found that the Florida Legislature of traitors mad
been recently visiting the Dry Tortugas and in
vesugating the claims of persons there TO pardon,
and had taken up the case OF Grenfe the notorious
leader of the conspiracy to burn Chicago He
thought the President would certainly require the
services OF clerk of pardons.
Mr.. SCOF1ELD, of Pennsylvania sustained
the amendment, and SAID he had learned that all
the pardons sent south by the, Adams Express
Company were marked with the letters and figures
&c. q. ID. $500" meaning collect on delivery, and
that that sum was collected on each of them.
MIR. WARD, of New York, suggested that it
was cheap enough. (Laughter)
Mr.. SCOFlELD would not assert tnat such was
the fact, although he had thought the authority for
the statement was good.
The amendment was agreed to, and the words
"clerk of pardonsn were struck from the bill.
Mr.. BEN JAMIN, of Missouri, moved to add to
the paragraph appropriaung six millions for col
lectors and assessors of internal revenue q pro-
yso that no collector or assessor should be enti-
Mr.. ClIANLER, of New York. opposed the
amendment, arguing that it would simply amount
TO an intimation to those officers that they should
help themselves. He thought there was quite cor
ruption enough in the Internal revenue depart
ment without holding out an additional incentive
to fraud.
Mr., BINGHAM, of Ohio, suggested a modihca-
ton TO the amendment so as to except cases of
commissions to fill vacancies that may have hap
pened, by death or resignation, during the OF
the Senate. He declared that while the President
was armed by the Constitution with all executive
hnh ENaa,, xNaA tHpf
pretence of executing the laws ne could remove
men from Office, not because of incapaciy, be-
cause Of intidety to duty, but because of eminent
capacity, stern fidelity to duty, and an unwilling
ness to be corrupt to their trust.
Mr.. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania, inquired
whether President Lincoln did not, during his
whole term, exercise that poWer.in the same man
ner as President johnson was said to have done!
Mr.. BINGHAM reminded Mr.. Randall that he
spoke of removals for corrupt purposes.
Mr.. RANDALL suggested that it was not for
him to examine into the motives OF either President
Lincoln or President Johnson in the exercise OF
Mr.! BINGHAM went on to explain his ideas on
the subject OF appointments to and removals from
office, and said that if they made by the Pre-
sident for corrupt purposes he was guilty OF
high crime and misdemeanor, and the decision of
that question belonged, in the first place, to the
House.
Mir. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania, suggested
that the gentleman from Ohio (mr. Bingham) had
given him some sort of notice OF what he was 60
ing TO do with the President. He (Mr. Randall)
doubted not that the Presidents acts would stand
by themselves, and therefore the sooner ne Mr..
Bingham commenced his work and ceased threat
ening the better
Mr.. BINGHAM remarked that he had not said
what he was going to do.
Mr.. BENJAMIN modified his amendment so as
to make it read, "PrOvided that no assessor COL
lector not appointed TO fill a vacancy caused by
death or resignation shall be entitled to or paid
any portion Of the salary pertaining to the office,
unCOntiTmed by the Senate"
Mr.. O'NElLL. of Pennsylvania, desired TO
state the difference between MIR. Lincoln's and Mr..
Johnsons acts in reference to political appoint
mar n wi
Mr.. STEVENS insisted that the debate should
be confined closely TO the subject OF the bill.
Mr.. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania, hoped mis-
colleague (Mr. O'Nell) would be allowed TO go on,
as he (Mr. Randal) would like to clean him out on
that issue. (Laughter)
Mr.. O'NEILL went on to say that within the
last few months Board OF Naval Officers sat in
the Philadelphia Navy-yard, in judgment on the
political status of the poor mechanics of the yard,
inqulTing whether they belonged to the political
organization opposed to the policy OF Andrew
Mr RANDALL said he condemned as much as
his colleague did, the act to which he alluded, but
that that board emanated from the Commodore OF
the yard, a Republican, and, so soon as IL became
known 10 the Navy Department, 1t was counter
manded
Mr O'NEILL said that men were discharged
from the Philadelphia Navy. yard who dared to
say they were in favor of Congress.
MI RANDALL, OF Pennsyl vania, said that Mr..
Lincoln, while he was President, had written an
autograph letter to the workingmen in the Phila-
delpha Navy-yard, expressing the sentiment that
he MIR. Randall,) who was then a candidate for
Congress, should be defeated at all hazards. He
felt humiliated that the President should have
done such act. His colleague was aware that
during the administration of President Lincoln
secret committee was organized IN Philadelphia,
headed by an exsherih, to inquire into the politics
of every man, woman and child VINO was in the
employment of the government. Every woman
employed in the United States Arsenal whose bro
ther happened to be a Democrat was dismissed.
And yet his distinguished colleague had the eff
fronteTy TO complain of removals by President
johnson. He (Alr. Randah) was only sorry the