Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-12-12
FIRST MEETING OF CON
.cr1s ar GRESSMEN. nsra
PROGRAMME OF ACTION.
WAsnrNeroN. Dec. 2. Is65.


had anything to say against the Presi-
dent was vociferously eheered, and no
one attempted TO say anything in his
favor.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, was called
to the chair, and Mr.. IngeFsoll, of Hi
nois, was appointed Secretary.
The first man on the floor was Thad.
Stevens, who suggested that a commit
tee of nine be appointed to report
programme Of action to the joint eau
eus of the House and Senate, which is
to meet on Wednesday evening. He
merely wished, he said, to make the
suggestion. He wished some one else
to make the motion because he did not
want to be Chairman of the Commit
tee.
Several gentlemen insisted that the
motion should be put as coming from
Thad. Stevens, and it was so DONE
This made Mr.. Stevens Chairman Of
the Committee.
The Committee was then appointed.
1t consists of Messrs. Stevens, Sehenck,
E. B. WashbuIn, Boutwell,, Pike, Hart,
Allison, Paine, and Orth.
On motion, Mr.. Garfield was added,
making ten in all.
The next subject taken up was the
Congressional reception to come off to-
morrow. The programme was annOUn
ced. Mr.. Colfax was appointed to
respond to the welcome speech on be-
half of the House. Thad. Stevens was
appointed to respond on behalf Of the
House at the banquet on Monday
night.
This matter having been disposed of,
Thad. Stevens offered resolution that
the Republican members of the Senate
be requested not to confirm any ap-
pointees to the Presinent, when there
is good reason to believe men were re-
moved for political purposes. 4 per-
feet storm of applause followed this
Desks ratified and hands clapped.
When the applause had subsided,
Mr.. Spalding, Of Ohio, arose and ques-
toned the rightfulness of the PROPOSE
ton. He did not see how he could
vote for any such request. He believed
the Senate was as well acquainted with
the needs Of the country as the House
was, and that Senators knew as well as
Representatives what was best to be
done in such an emergency.
This drew Thad. Stevens from his
chair. He'pitched into Spanlding in a
terrible way. Said he, 1--WE are the
Representatives of the people, and we
know quite as well as the Senate, what
the country demands. We have q
right to advise the Senate, and as we
are fresh from the people, we ought to
know what the people want" In con-
clusion, he cast a Withering look at
Spaulding and quietly remarked that
he didn't know what selfish purpose
that gentleman had in view. He didn't
know what vacancies were to be filed
in Ohio. He had heard of judgeship
or something Of that sort, but he hoped
the representatives of the people would
stand up to the work before them, and
do it as become men of principle and
courage.
Judge Kelley, of Philadelphia, was
glad the resolution had been offered.
He didn't know how it was in other
parts of the country, but in his city
the appointing power had been horri-
bly, abused. Many men whom he as
criminal Judge had sentenced to the
/
Offices of high trust and profit, and he
was willing to take the risk of request
ing the Senate not to confirm any such
appointments. One case especially
occurred to Judge Kelley Just then
1t was that of a man who had once sto-
len steam engine from the Navy Y ard
and hidden it somewhere. He was
found out and brought it back. As
soon as the matter got hushed up he
stole it again. He had since then sto-
len all the copper and metal he could
carry off. He was one OF, tie Presi-
dents appointments.
Several members here said that was
nothing to what had been done in their
districts. One man said the Collector
in his district stole house and lot, and
another said the Assessor where he
lived had been arrested once or twice
for picking pockets. A third said the
Postmaster of his town Kas known to
have stolen twenty grind-stones.
Mr.. Darling, of New York, next took
the floor. He could heartily concur in
all that had been said in the abuse of
the appointing power. In his district
the most worthless and incapable men
had been selected for official position.
He said he would not faithfully repre-
sent his district if he did not use his
influence to prevent the confirmation
of such men.
Finally, the resolution was passed
unanimously, even Mr.. Spaulding not
voting against it.
Mr.. Stevens then read his bill about
appointments and removals, which he
intends to offer at an early day. 1t
prevents removals without the consent
of the Senate, denies payment to all
rejected by the Senate, and prevents
them from holding Office for three
years after such rejection. Every pro-
vision of it was applauded to the echo.
Mr.. Spaulding moved that the Com
mittee of nine be instructed to report
upon the expedieney of calling the
Fortieth Congress together on the 5th
of March.
Mr.. Garfield arose and said he had
bill for convening the Fortieth Con-
gress on the 4th of March, at twelve
O'Clock, already drawn up, and ne in
tended to press it early. He said he
believed the watch dogs of the nation
ought to. be kept on guard all the time.
Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,, said
he intended.to offer resolution at an
early day, calling upon Secretary Sc
ward and President johnson for any
correspondence in their possession OF
the attempt to arrest Jne. H. Surratt.
the escaped eonspirator. He had good
reason to believe that Mr.. Johnson
knew all the time where Surratt was,
and had not only made no effort to ar
rest him, but had conniYed at his
escape. This sentiment was loudly
applauded. Mr.. Boutwell, then said
there should be a Joint Committee of
the House and Senate appointed to
investigate the public acts Of Mr.. John
son from the day of his inauguration
as Vice President down to the present
time. fGreat applause. He said the
country demanded this and demanded
further, that if there was enough in
his conduct to justify articles Of i'm
peachment he should be impeached at
at once. Another storm Of applause
rose here and lasted several minutes,
Mr.. Boutwell, speaking all the time.
but nobody able to hear him.