The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-16
xxx ooNeREss---sEooND SESSION
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
SENATE

he
thought the duty asked for was too iaro
though he was in favor of the object in view
OF the petition. Ordered to Ii on the table.
A large number of petitions were presented
Dy various Senators, generally praying for a
revision of the tariff which is onpressiye, and
also against the curtailment of the currency.
a number of petitions on other subject;
were presented, including one from1 citizens OF
beie fontaine Ohio asking Congress to pro-
hlDit any person addicted to the use OF lntoxi-
eating liquors from holding once under the
| government of the United states. All these
We're appropriately referred.
Relations reported bill entitled bill to pro-
| vide for tIle defence of the northwestern from
i tier with a motion that the bill be presented
I and recomlntted
/ Mr.. Fessenden, from the Finance Commit
/ tee, reported the bill authorizing the Secreta-
| ry Of the Treasury to delegate to one of his
/ Assistants authority to sign in his stead all
warrants Tor payment of money, etc.
| The Vice President laid before the Senate
the credentials of James b. Campbell, Senator
elect from South Carolina, with the certifi-
cate of the Governor. Laid on the table
Mr.. Howard called up the resolution preyi-
ously offered by him, inquring into the present
relations existing between France and the Re-
| public of Mexico. He stated that there had
been state of war in Mexico since 1862 1t
| sprang from the disagreements between par
ties in the Republic, and an attempt on the
part OF others to overthrow the Republican
form OF government and set up another in its
| place. In this condition of things the French
Emperor saw tit to interfere, and to adopt the
cause OF one OF the factions, and the very fac
| tion whose object was to overthrow the Repub-
lie and the Government already established
! the preteXt of this unjustitiable usurpat:on
| was that Mexico was indebted to a considera-
| bic amount to certain French subjects But
nobody can Tor moment credit the supos-
| ton that such Indebtedness was the only
| cause for a bloody and wanton intervention
| IL looked to entire subversion in Mexico, and
the establishment there of the Imperial power
of France under sort of protectorate the EN-
peroThad extended Macmillan, who is called
the head OF Mexican affairs by the priest par
| ty. The United States thus far have not made
any very strenuous efforts to procure the with
drawal Of the French army In the mean
while war had been waged with great bitter
ness for some years. 1 do not propose to enter
into history of that struggle, but what the
country wants to know is the exact political
and legal position of the Republic of Mexico,
| As regards the United States and as regards
France, our trade with Mexico is Interrupted
Ii interrupts our commerce. Our citizens, and
mankind generally, require that this war
lie brought to as speedy termination as
| practicable. L have been waiting with the
feeling of great personal indulgence to the
Honorable Chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Relations Mr. Sumner) for some re-
port, some statement, by which we could learn
! the exact position of affairs. L think others
| lCci tuc sliAicCy- Lie country mas been
for fifteen or eighteen months agitated by oc-
casional rumors that the French army was
about to be Withdrawn, and Macmillan the
usurper, follow. As long since as the 10th Of
| April, 1864, the French Emperor entered into a
| solemn covenant with Macmillan, in regard
to the amount of force the Emperor was to
furnish him in the expedition TO Mexico. In
! conclusion he called Mr.. Summers attention to
the fact that Mr.. Seward had denied the truth
of the assertion that it had been the Intention
| nf mt II, NJ
Seward had held the intention, to recox Mise
Macmillan soon after the 4th of March, 1865.
Mi. Sumner rose to reply to Mr.. Howard
but the morning hour having expired he could
only proceed by unanimous consent at
Mr.. McDougal objected unless the subject
was opened for general debate
Mr.. johnson, who was entitled to the floor
objected to postponing the regular order, which
was the bill to regulate the tenure of office
The bill was taken up at one o'clock and Mr.
johnson made a lengthy speech, giving for AN.
thorities Chief Justice Marshal, Mr.. Madison
and others. l-,t
Mr.. Buckalew made lengthy address agains,
the bill. The question was whether the con
/ sent of the Senate was necessary to the remoy.
al Of an officer appointed by the President by
and with the consent of the Senate. 1t had
been held to be a constitutional principle that
the President had the right and power of re.
moval not vested in the Senate, except when
sitting as court of impeachment Mr. Buck.
alew characterized the measure as condemned
! by the most indisputabIe argument-a meas
ure of degeneracy and not of reform-the
source OF evil instead OF good, and treating
with contempt the whole past history of the
Government. He desired the Senate to be
what it was intended to be, the great pulse OF
the States-the great body where the voice OF
the States could be expressed and heard He
did not want it TO have jurisdiction which it
could not exercise without the loss of its own
dignity.
The preceding question was upon the amend.
ment OF the House to strike out portion of the
! Sd section. rf
Mr.. Howe withdrew his amendment and Mr.
| Hendricks renewed the ono offered yesterday
/ to strike out the latter part OF section third
which was disagreed to.
Mr.. Sumner offered as an amendment an ad.
ditional section that all officers or agents an.
pointed by the President, whose salary or COM
pensaton from fees or otherwise, exceeds S1 :.
900 annually, shall be appointed with the adj.
! vice and consent of the Senate, and that the
term of all such officers appointed since the
4 hrSt OF July, 1866, shall expire the last day OF
February, 1867
MIR. Edmunds hoped the amendment would
| not be adopted.
/ MIR: Sumner thought it was genuine, aud
hoped 1T would be adopted. The President had
proclaimed his intention to knock men out OF
Office, and the duty of Congress was to protect
the men thus threatened.
amendment. :
Mr.. Fessenden had doubts of its propriety.
he believed in doing just as much as was nee
essary and no more.
MI. salisbury offered a resolution which
called on the heads of departments for list of
those removed from office from March, 1861, to
March, 1865, with the causes OF their removals
objected to and goes over
Pending the consideration of the bill and
amendments, the Senate adjourned.
i .a.lii4 ,-a7 HOUSE.
l. On motion of Mr. Cobb, the Committee or
Claims were instructed to ascertain and re.
port the facts connected with the capture Of
/ JeH Davis, and the connection of the 18th
Michigan and LIST Wisconsin cavalry there
with power to send for persons and papers,
On motion of Mr. Ross, the Committee on
Indian Affairs was instructed to inquire dill
gently and promptly into the peonage slave
trade existing in New Mexico and Colorado
and to report an act to secure TO every person
within the nation liberty and equality before
the law, without distinction of race or color.
I MIR. Donnely introduced a bill to provide for
the construction of wagon road for military
and postal purposes, from Fort Abercrombie in
Dacotah, to Fort Benton, in Montana terrific
ry.
On motion of Mr.. Hubbard, the Committee
on Appropriations was directed to inquire into
the expectancy of reporting appropriation for
the purchase or construction of n suitable
building IN bridgeport, Connecticut, for the
accommodation of Government officers
The Secretary of the Treasury was directed
10 lnrnlsh lull copies OF all rules and regula.
tons adopted i'll reference to the export Of ar
tieles OF American manufacture, and allowance
of drawbacks therein.
On motion of Mr.. Cook, the joint Commit
| tee on Retrenchmept was directed to INQUIRE
why IN the present stringent condition OF the
New York money Market the current balance
in the New York sub-Treasury is constantly
increasing, and whether such increase, OF any
part of it arises OF has arisen from the sale OF
goid, and whether any agent of the Depart
ment or amy officer of the Government has
within the last thirty days, loaned gold belong.
ing TO the Government to any person or any
institution, and if so to whom, and for whaI
purpose, on what security and to what amount
Mr.. Ward asked leave TO introduce res8lu.
ton empowering the Committee on Elections
to inquire into the legality of the recent Mary.
land election.
Objection wis made and the resolution was
not received
On motion of Mr.. Washburne, of Indiana
the select committee on the murder of United
States soldiers in South Carolina, was instruct
ed to inquire into the facts connected with the
murder Of Capt. Montgomery by rebel soldiers
under command of George W. Chiffon, who
IS now seeking admission as a member of the
| House.
The Committee on Commerce were directed
to inquire into the expediency of placing buoys
at the inlet recently formed OH fuckers Beach
| New Jersey a. fHlI17f $500 ~
A bill to incorporate the Colored Mutual
| Building Association in the CITY of Washing
ton, was referred to the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The bill for the admission of Nebraska into
| the Union was taken up. sf.I q
| Mr. RoutpUall To