Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-21

permits such State to assume the responsi-
biiity for direct taxes remaining unpaid. and
allows the same 70 remain in the hands of
the States for ten years. Laid on the table
ayes go, noes 81.
Mr.. STEVENS offered the following as a
question of privilege:
ResOlued, the Senate e0neuTinq. That when
Congress adjourn Il will adjourn TO meet
again on Saturday, the first day Of Decem-
Der next unless sooner convened by the
President, or the joint call Of the Speakers
Of both Houses, who are hereby authorized
to exercise this power in case Of emergency.
The SPEAKER stated that it was for the
House to decide whether the resolution
should be entertained as a question of priyi-
lege.
Mr.. STEVENS made a speech declaring
that his object was to guard against any i'm
proper action on the part of the President.
He believed that Congress could DELEGATE
the right of converting the House to the
DOOrkeeper, if it chooses. So he expressed
his apprehension that coup de 'etdt would
be attempted during the recess, but hoped it
would not be. Congress should take meas
ures to protect ITSELF
The resolution was entertained as a priv
ileged question and then rejected by a vote
of 40 yeas, IS nays.
The House then adjourned.
SENATE.-Mr. STEWART called M the
bill granting the right to all citizens Of the
United States or who have declared their
intentions to become citizens, to enter and
explore the unOccupied mineral lands. and
prescribing the manner in which they NAV
obtain and retain possession.
a bill was passed to have Messrs. VAN
WINKLE and DAVIS appointed a committee
OF conference on the bill increasing the PEN
slons Of widows and orphans of soldiers who
fell during the war of the rebellion.
Mr. POLAND introduced n bill to pre-
vent courts from being used as instruments
OF persecution against loyal persons, which
was referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
1t provides that in any action of a court to
persons or property done between April Is.
1861, and July l, 1865, it shall be lawful to
plead or give in evidence in bar of said &C
tion-lst that at the time when the wrong
was committed the plaintiff was disloyal to
the Government Of the United States ID.
that the plaintiff was engaged in the insur-
rectlon and rebellion against the United
States; Sd, that the plaintiff aided, comfort
ed and sympathized with rebels and insur-
gents against the Government OF the United
States; 4th, that the plaintiff applied for or
obtained pardon from the President. reliey
ing him Of the penalties of treason. The es-
Enlistment of either point shall be a good
defense.
Mr.. FESSENDEN, from the Committee
on Finance, reported a bill to protect the
revenue and toT other purposes, with ameud-
ments.
Mr.. SUMNER from Conference Com
mittee on the consular and diplomatic an
preparation bill, made report which was
read.
Mr.. JOHNSON. desire to ask the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts, whether the mission
to Portugal has been abolished, or whether
it continues.
Mr.. SUMNER. Compensation has been
taken away from the present incumbent and
there Is no appropriation for him for the
present year. He explained that it was in
consequence Of a letter written by the Min
lister at Portugal, JAMES Z. HARVEY, TO the
Secretary of State, an animadverting on the
action Of Congress, and which was shown to
the President and by him recommended TO
be published, which was done in the New
York Times. After some discussion the
letter referred to was read.
Mr.. SUMNER said he sympathized with
the House and saying that the writer of
such letter, setting forth such sentiments
thus hostile to those principles which the
majority of the Congress of the United
States regarded so essential 10 the public
welfare, ought not to hold Office abroad. /
do no wish any such man to speak for our
country in a foreign land, but this whole dis
cussiOn seems to be a good deal out of place.
The question involves a great many matters
Of which this is only one and involves the
fate of the bill.
Mr.. WOOD said: 1t has been remarked
that the letter under consideration was pub-
Ished at the request of the President Of the
United States. I would like to inquire of
the Senator from Massachusetts, whether
there is evidence of that fact.
Mr.. SUMNER. Certainly, the Secretary
of State says so in his letter.
Mr.. HOWARD. ! am inclined tc think
the House has done exactly right in calling
off all compensation to the present Minister
resident in Portugal.
Mr.. SUMNER. The letter was written
in April.
Mr.. HOWARD. Then Congress had
been in session some months before the date
Of the letter. | do not understand what
right an American Minister, abroad, has to
pass such reflections upon the legislative
authority of any country, whether they
could be found in a private letter or public
one We can draw no distinction Of land,
sir. An American citizen who assumes to
censure the conduct of his country at home,
or its policy, or to set himself up as a Judge
or censor ofthe public conduct Of his cOun.
try at home is not in my opinion fit to be
the representative of that country. / lis
tened, sir, with good deal Of pain 10 the
sentiments contained in that letter. IL Is
written in a spirit of partisanship-a spirit
of hired and paid partisanship. Ii is writ
ten for the very purpose Of being nsed as a
partisan document, and the person TO whom
It was addressed saw fit to use il for that DUR
pose, and it has been used for the promotion
of the interest in which It was written. /
prefer, sir, 70 teach the gentleman who thus
assumes to reprehend the American Gov
eminent abroad that, for the future, he can
not be paid for spending his time in Portu-
gal in such vile and unworthy employment
Mr.. HENDRICKS said he would regret
very much to see the report adopted. Con-
gress would not, he thought be sustained by
the country in any such action. He had
heard it stated over and over again, that
the fate Of the bill depended on the agreeing
70 the report Of Conference Committee. |
He did not believe it in this case, there |
we're four days Of this session still remain |
ing, and he had not seen any appropriation |
bills passed within two days Of an adjourn |
ment, and there was no danger Of the failure |
Of the bill, and he hoped the Senate would /
not be'driven into agreeing 70 what il did |
not indorse. There was no Justification for /
refusing 10 pay this salary, except il could /
be found in the fact that the minister had /
written a private letter, which had become /
public without his knowledge or consent. |
But suppose il was public letter address,
ed to one Of the journals Of the country by
himself for publication, would that be suf- /
icient justification for refusing 10 pay his 4
salary? He thought not. He constructed /
there was nothing In HARvEY's letter
which merited the punishment proposed by
he Conference Committee.
Mr.. COWAH defended Mr. HARVEY, and |
IN the course Of his remarks read the fol-
loving dispatch received yesterday from
GOV. BRowSLOw, which he said Wasa filthy
lllusion to the President, written by a high
Jfheial and published by the Secretary Of
he Senate
NASHVILLE, July 20.-T6 Hon. j. w.
ForHey, u. O. We have fought battle AID
Won it. We have ratified the constitutional
lmendment n the House BY 43 TO II against,