American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-24
XLTH CONGRESS.
THE VETO MESSAGE.

WASHINGTON. July 19, 1S67.-The
principal feature Of to>days Congressional
proceedings was the reception of the
Presidents veto message of tho supple
mental reconstruction bill. 1t was con,
sidered in the regular cabinet meeting.
to-day, and sent to the House, the body
in which the bill originated, about 2 P. NJ.
1t is asserted on excellent authority that
an elaboration of the Presidential views
op the Sonther debt question was cut off
| the message at the cabinet meeting. The
reading of the document was listened to
throughout with close attention, every
member being in his seat. No demons
strations of assent or dissent were made,
but severe onslaught followed its read>
ing. Thad. Stevens took the floor in de-
nunciation of it, and was succeeded by
Mr.. Boutwell,. who proceeded in an earn
est aud excited manner to state that the,
Pre- ident had defiantly declared in the
message that he would not execute law
of Congress, despite tho fact that Con-.
gress would make the bill to which the,
President objected the supreme law Of
the land. This was sufficient, he said,
even if no other reason existed, why this
House should continue in session, and
proceed at once to impeach the President
Mr.. Boutwell, proceeded in this strain,
and insisted that if the President were
removed for but an hour before his term
of Office expired, that Congress and the
nation would be vindicated.
The message aud Boutwell's excited
manner of speaking caused considerable
excitement on both sides Of the hall As
he sat down, Mr.. Randall, of Pa, sprang,
out of his seat on the Democratic side,
and pointing his finger at Mr.. Boutwell,,
said:
We dare you to impeach the Presi-
dent. Go on and do it if you dare" ~
Mr.. Butler then took the floor, and
SAID the remark of Mr.. Randall would
apply, he was afraid, to some members of
the Republican side, who dared not pro-
ceed with the work of impeachment. He
| (Butler) was not among that number,
and went on then to answer the Presis
dents objections to the bill.
Mr.. Williams, of Pa, followed in the
same strain, demanding that Congress
should remain in session, and declaring
that there was abundant evidence for inn
parchment.
Thad. Stevens then resumed the floor.
All of the members gathered around him..
aud the crowdee galleries listened atten-
lively. lie looked, he said, upon the
impeachment matter as dead, aud be-
lleved that there were invisible influences
at work in the House which would pres
vent impeachment.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, Chairman of tho
Judiciary Committee, then took the floor,
and alluding to the remarks of Mr.. Will
liams and Mr.. Stevens, said that he Was
not to be drawn from the conscientious
discharge of his duty. although the pclit-
ical opponent of Andrew johnson, by no
man or set Of men. A round ofapplause
greeted the sentiment.] Nor was he to.
be hunted down because he choose to
entertain his own opinion about impeach-
ment.
The Democrats occupied ten minutes
of the hours debate the vote was then
taken, and the bill passed over the Pres
ident's veto, by party vote.
III was tuen beuI TO Tue DendIc, where,
to the surprise of many, the bill was
passed over the veto without any debate,
| the moment the message was read, by
thirty to six. Reverdy johnson voted to
sustain the veto.
ANOTHER VETO.
AS soon as the House disposed of one
veto, another came in, refusing Presiden-
tial approval to the Appropriation bill to
carry out the Reconstruction act This
was speedily passed over the veto in both
houses without debate. ..,
ADJOURNMENT TILL DECEMBER.
Tho Senate then agreed to adjourn
from to- morrow until November next, and
1t is generally understood tonight that
the House will acquiesce. Mr.. Sumner,
however, insisted that the President
should be impeached at once, or that
Congress should continue in perpetual
| session.