Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-03-26
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY. March g.

graph which had appeared in the ma nar. 70
the ehect that he intended TO decline a renomI-
nation, 70 enter into the man ufacsure Of brandy
and wine. He had no intention of y,oIntiuc
the principles OF his friend from M ,ssachu.
setts, (Mr. WILSON,
Mr.. Howe, from the Committee on Clsims
reported the JOINT resolution relative To the
claims OF certain Northern Creditors. with
amendments which were adopted, and the bill
Mr.. Sum ner introduced bill 10 enforce thu
| several amendments TO the Constitution, &c
by securing the elective franchise TO coIored
citizens. Laid on the table
Mr.. Harlan, from the Committee on the Dis
trict OF Columbia. reported the bill to in corpo
rate the Lincoln monument Association: which
was amended and then passed
On motion of Mr.. Nye, the bill to amend IN q
organic act of the Territory OF Colorado, was
taken up and passed.
On motion OF MIR Pomeroy. the join, resolu
ton prohibiting the Issue Of any Agricultural
college land scrip to any Of the rebellion
States was taken Hp and passed
Mr.. Sprague called up the bill fxiuz the
time for the Bankrupt Ia W to go into effect
Dir. Sprague moved 10 amend by n xing the
time at the LIST of January next
Mr.. Drake moved TO refer the pill TO the
Committee on the Judiciary.
HoUsE.-Mr. +. Thomas (Md.) introduced +,
resolution declaring that the publ, prone RI v
Iately used as an arsenal at Harper's Ferry
hould be turned 10 useful account and req mir
ing the Attorney General to examine as 10 the
\ tile of the United States 10 said propertv and
report to This House whether the tie is in fes
simple, or whether the property is held an
trust by the President for public use Agreed
TO.
Mr.. Woodbridge (yt) introduced a hill N
create the office OF Surrogate in the District of
Columbia, and to define the 90 wers and duties
OF euarsians in said District. Referred TO Com
nittee on Judiciary.
(Tbe bill is the same as that introduced last
SESSION.
MIR. Woodbridge asked but failed to obtain
ieav e 10 introduce a resolution authorizing tina
| OOOrkppDpr IN dur
recess the same number of messengers now
employed in the House.
Mr.. Holman 1nd. asked but failed to intro
duce a resolution declaring il to be the iudg.
meni OF the House thar lands and other secu
rites exempt from State or m uuicipal TAXATION
should be taxed by Congress, and Instructing
the Committee of Ways and Means TO report n
bill 10 eQusllze taxation.
Mr. Eldridge wis introduced q resolution
which was agreed to- directing the COMMITTEES
on Public Expenditures to allow Senator Pat
OF the testimony taken by such committee.
Mr. Butler, (Mass.,) rising to a personal
explanation, called attention to the debate be-
tween himself and Mr.. Bingham a day or two
ago, and SAID he had had laid upon members
desks printed sheet, showing the report of
Mr. bingham 8 remarks as they appeared in
The Globe, and as they were really uttered, as
appeared from the reporters notes The re.
port as published did him (Butler) Injustice
and he did not envy any one who could in the
cool OF be evening sit down and deliberately
pen speech that could not be ans wered and
pnt 1t Immediately preceding what purported
to be an answer. Mr.. Butler then proceeded
to refer again 10 the trial Of the eonsprators in
the assassination of Mr. Lincoln. and he reit-
Grated the statement heretofore made that the
evidence did not justify the execution of Mrs
Surratt He said ne had not, as was charged
by Mr.. Bingham, reflected upon the military
officers composing the court at the assassina-
ton Trial, Tor they were compelled TO take the
law IRON the j udge Advocate. He then init.
mated that Mr.. Bingham had as Judge Adyo.
ant evidence which was ontained in a diary
taken from the person OF Booth. This diary
mad been spoiled of some of its pages and
be intimated that the munlatIou was done
e ther by Mr. Bingham or with his conniyance.
and THESE lost pages would have shown the
real designs OF the conspirators, and wouId
have shown that while Mrs. Surratt might
have been cogniZant OF plan to abduct the
President. she was ignorant Of he assas sinatiop
one significant passage remained In the diary,
lis which Booth says he had endea vored to
cross the Potomac three times, and failed
and he proposed to return to Washington
and give himself up; and clear himself Of his
he to throw the responsibility of the crime
Why was not all this testimony placed before
th. court! 1t might have shown who the ac-
completes were; who instgated assassination
instead OF abduction who was be bene.
fitted by the assass nation, and who was To
succeed to the Presidency after the knife had
done ats work.
Mr.. Bingham, in replying to MT Butler. de.
MED that he had withheld any portion Of the
lSSunODy OF the tridl reIerreQ to. The ONLY
evidence withheld was that which came nm
after the fact, and all lawyers knew that could
not be admitted in any court. All courts de.
cided that such evidence was mad caissable
but perhaps theirs were not equal to the nm.
ccnquerable genius of the unconquerabIe
hero of Fort Fisher. The gentleman could
not produce the diary, and he (Mr BinR.
ham, did not care anything about IL, for he had
never seen It, He (Mr. Bngham) challenged
his opponent TO produce the evidence and
when produced IL would not be Of a character to
convince any one except, perhaps, one who
had lived In a bottle and was fed with a
spoon. In conclusion, Mr.. Bingham again
denied that he had withheld any portion
OF the testimony or had dealt in any particular
In an unjust manner upon the trial He was
not the organ of the Court and IL was not his
duty to bring the testimony referred to before
the Court The plan 10 kidnap the President
was all in evidence, and was completely in.
vestgated. He had never had the diary in his
possession, and denied most emphaticaiIy that
he had mutilated or permitted the mutilatlon
of any OF the testimony. The whole charge
was false, corrupt, and malicious, and for the
truth of what he uttered he was willing to be
Judged by him who would eventually Judge
all and would hold them to account for the
d. ers Of this day.
Mr.. Butler endeavored to obtain further
hearing. but it was refused, and resolution of
Mr.. Wares IN. W 70 investigate the su b,ect