Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-02-12
NEsISs,
TssxaTx-es~Tsa CONGRESS.
ny TEkECR.fpFF,

ne rEaE gsAIp.y DEMOCRAT.
s'sEgksTx-SFNTss CONGRESS.
WAsnikaros, Feb. 1l.-SESArE--
char presented certificate from the Gov
error OF Ohio, atiestiug the ratification Of
the constitutional amendment, by the Leg
isla,ure of that sia,e. Tabled.
ir Sumner offered a resolution instruct
lug the judiciary Committee TO inquire in>
10 the expcaiensy Of amending the Civil
Rights bill, ~ extend its operations, 50 that
when residents Of any State being citizens
Of tic United States, are dcbarred from any
privileges Of citizens Of such States, then
all such cases arising out Of any one ase
against any such residents Of the one part,
and any citizens Of such State not dsbarrsd
from any Of the privileges on the other
part, shall be heard and delivered by The
Courts of the United States and no, by the
Courts Of the States.
Mr.. Sumner asked for the immediate con.
sideration.
Mr.. Salisbury objected and the resolution
goes over.
Mr. Chandler moved that the Senate take
up the resolution offered by him On Saturn
day last, ins,ructng the judiciary Com.
mittco to inquire whether or lot Andrew
johnson, Vice President and acting Presi-
Dent, al any authority to appoint Provis-
ional Governors for States recently IN re.
belhon Mr.. chandler said think this
resolution very important at this time. II
the President had no authority Of Law under
he Constitution TO appoint Provisional Gov
errors for States lately IN rebellion, then
tic action OF those Governors fails. Now,
sir, desire that the Committee on Judicia-
~ should make an early report upon this
subject. 1t is due to the President and TO
the country TINT these points should be
settled, ard settled at an early day
] ain not q lawyer aud am hardly
to decide for myself,
still less for the Senate whether
there was any such authority
We knew. Mr.. President, that when An
drew johnson, through the bullet Of }.
Wilkes Booth, became President OF the Uni
ted States, the rebels had laid down their
arms. When President Lincoln desired
Governor in Tennessee, he appointed AM
drew johnson Brisader General in the
army, and Ms Brigadier General in the
United States army, he appointed him Mill
tary Governor Of Tennessee. This be had q
right to do ~ Commander~in.C Chief But,
sir, il is a different thing to appoint Pro-
visional Governor. l believe, cir, il is an
office unknown to the Constitution and laws
of our Government, and an office which in
my opinion he had no authority 10 create.
IL -..1o III =.
Of war, in violation Of the Constitution, and
without authority under the laws of war, has
assumed and exercised power that did not
belong TO him, but which belonged 10 Co1>
gress, then do not hesitate TO say, and say
with delberaticn, then for this one act, and
this nlone. Andrew johnson should be i'm
peached.
But there are other allegations made
against Mr.. johnson. tits alleged, know
not whether true or false, that Andrew
Johnson delivered over property seized from
rebels in railroad rolling stock throughout
the South without the authority Of law, TO
rebel railroad agents, and that railroad roll
ing stock sent from the Moth, worth mil
lions, was without authority and in violation
of Law, b. express authority OF Andrew
Ii this be true. | say Andrew johnson
should be mpeaci,cd and removed.
IL is alleged again, know not whether
true or false, that Andrew johnson, without
authority OF law, and in violation Of the
law, ordered the collection of district tax
levied on these rebel States to be stopped, ii
1t is true, Andrew johnson should be inn
pcachei and removed.
1t Is aledsed know not whether true or
false, that Andrew johnson made appoint
ments during the recess Of the Senate by
removing incunbents. and during the late
and long session Of Congress did not send
the names 10 the Senate at all, but on ad>
journnent. without consulting the Senate,
and in direct violation Of the Constitution
and his oath Of Office, he re appointed these
men. never having sent them TO tho Senate
al all; ii it be true, Andrew johnson should
be inpeached.
Mr. Chandler denied that tho President
had any right 10 have a plea, after it had
been neglected by Congress, lot him obey
the laws or diso5ey them at his peril, there
is dread. he said, that we in executing our
constitutional powers, will bring some
d. eadiul calamity on this nation this ma
ton has come off victorious out Of the most
horrible rebellion the world ever saw. The
removal Of the man who has violated tho
Constitution of the United States, would
produce about the same amount OF exci,o-
ment in the country that tho removal Of
custom house officers IN city would pros
ducc-no mole. The people have dec AIRED ;,
ana that decree has been registered Oh high,
and this motion Shall stand and no man or
set OF men, and 10 combination OF men,
whether headed by jeff. Davis or Andrew
johnson, or and other living man, can over
brow it, 1t will stand any and every as
sault that can be made upon it.
The resolution was taken up. Messrs.
Dixon, Fessenden and Pomeroy, opposed
the resolution for the reason that ~ the
Senate might be called upon to fulfill the
functions of high court Of Impeachment,
they ought not to order an investigation or
any ihing which mi ght tend to make other
than impartial Judges.
On motion Of Mr.. Grimes the resolution
MAS tabled without division.
The Senate requested the return from the
House OF tho bin amending the postal laws,
which passed on Saturday, when it ap>
peared there were only or 10 Senators
present.
Mr.. krkwoOd, from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported with an amendment
Of the joint resolution, exten ding the tlme
for the improvement Of the Fox and Wis>
consin rivers.
The invalid pension bill and post office
appropriation bill were passed.
MIR. Wade called up the joint resolution
to amend the Constitution by making the
President ineligible for reelection. The
judiciary Committee propose to amend it to
read: mo person elected President or
Vice President, who has once served a.
President, shall afterwards be eligible TO
either office"
Mr.. Dixon Was willing to vote for this,
provided il be so .wordsd q not to reflect
upon the present Executive. lie hoped Il
would be SO amended Is to read that here.
after no person elected" &c.
Nj. Wade had no objection to making il
prospective in its operations.
Nj. Poland would agree to the proposi>
ton provided it we're 60 amended Is to
make the Presidential term six, instead Of