The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-06
IIIT1th C0NGRESS-Second Session.
WAsH1NeroN, Dec. S.

The bill was read a second time and.
laid on the table for the time being.
Mr.. Sherman offered a resolution
providing that reporters of the United
States and European News Associa-
ton and the Associated Press be pro-
yided with seats on the floor. 4oie
MIR. COnness asked to have it lie;
over for the present, and it took that
course. taAi sitaA4
A bill was passed by the House to
repeal the confscation section of the
act of 1862, in regard to suppress
| ing insurrection, and was discussed at
some length on motion of Mr..
Chandler to proceed to its considera-
ton. Mr.. Chandler reiterates the
| charge that woman of questionable
character had hawked pardons about
this city, giving as his authority a
Judge of the Supreme Court of this
city and District. He urged the pas
sage of the bill passed by the House.
He thought the bill should be sent to
the Judiciary Committee. 1t should
not. be hurried. $500, ~
Mr.. Grimes opposed the considering
/ of the resolution now. He. feared
that the country will regard this haste
as an attempt to incite the President
to the very thing sought to be avoided.
Mr.. Dickson, of Connecticut, con-
tradicted the statement made by Mr..
Chandler, in regard to the sale of
pardons, and said there was no truth
in it, although he was not at liberty
to state the facts in the case now, He
hoped the bill would be referred to
the Judiciary Committee. &. 80. 60.
Trumbull advocated referring the
bill for the present, but hoped il
would not be supposed that he oppos-
ed the bill. q
Chandler withdrew his objection to
the reference, and it took that course.
The regular standing committees were
then appointed by resolution. /,
On motion, various portions of the
Presidents message were referred to
appropriate committees.
Sumner introduced his resolution in
regard to the reconstruction, and the
duty Of Congress in. relation thereto.
He then read a letter from Texas, al
leging that the governments of that
State was shame, and was in opposi-
ton to the Union, as well as that of
/ the State Legislature, to practically
restore the institution of slavery, and
the resolutian was laid over. go
I A number of bills introduced were
then passed to appropriate commit
tees.
The Senate eoncurred in the reso-
luton from the House, empowering
the Committee on Reconstruction ap-
pointed last session, to continue its
! session.
Senate then adjourned.
HoUsE-The House met at II M.
After prayer by the Chaplain, the
journal of yesterday was read. aH.i
The Speaker laid before the House
the laws of the Territory of Dacotah.
Washburne, of Illinois, offered
resolutions calling on the Secretary
| of War to communicate to the House
| the report of the tour of inspection of
Brevet Brig. Gen. Babcock, made
during the past season, or such por-
tions thereof as he may deem proper
to communicate. Hla- han g
Williams, of Pennsylvania, moved
to reconsider the bill regulating ap-
| pointments to Office, which was re-
ported by him last season, and pro-
! ceeded to state his reasons for ma
king the motion at this time. The
bill, he said, was of great Importance.
He discussed elaborately the policy
which should govern appointments
and removals from Office, combating
the idea that the President has, or
should have, a responsible power to
appoint and remove; and quoting
freely from political and legal de-
cisions in support of his position.
Adopted. bna bnns on 90 +
3 Williams, of Pa, moved to recon
slider the bill regulating appointments
to office, exported by him at the last
session. He then proceeded to argue
in favor of the bill. 1t rested, he
said, on the hypothesis that the power
of removal did not rightfully belong
to the President alone under the Con-
stitution, and that it could not be
safely left with him without restraint
upon its exercise, and this upon a
general principle and without any
reference to the merits or dement's OF
the existing functionary. 1t aimed at
the reformation of great wee ID the
administration of the Government by
bringing its practice back to the true
spirit and meaning of the fundamental
law In doing SO, it disturbed no
principle and attacked no judicial pre-
eedent It contemplated merely re-
view of the Legislative opinion of yes D.
terday. and itwas not the first time
that opinion had been questioned. 1t
had been anticipated by a denial
of an authoritive character; it
was the opinion of a divided
court. and it was not even old
enough to be venerable; but to esti-
mate Justly the weight to which it was
entitled, it would be necessary to 4
state its precise extent and the cir
cumstances by which it was sustained.
It was noted that while those who
were opposed to the adoption of the
Constitution, had objected that it
would give to the President the ex-