The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-13
Congregational.


Congregational.
WASHINGTON, December 12.-In
the Senate, Sherman reported the
House bill repeating the cotton tax;
it will be considered tomorrow. The
bill covering proceeds captured and
abandoned property into Treasury
was resumed. Fessenden said it
amounted to $35, 600. 1000, but he op-
posed the bill, as there are claimo
now pending in the Court of Claims
for $20,000,0OO worth of this pro
perty, to whom the bill would work
: injustice. The subject was post
poned. The joint resolution censur-
ing the President was resumed. The
Senate refused to concur in the
House resolution to adjourn, until
the bill striking "white" from the
District laws becomes q law. Ad-
journed.
In the House, Ashley, of Ohio.
offered bill relating to the Freed
mems Bureau, which was referred to
the Committee on Freedmen's At
fairs; also, bill to facilitate the re-
construction of the Southern States.
Maynard offered q resolution, pro-
viding that diplomatic and consular
representatives to Hayti and other
African Governments, be selected
from negroes; referred to Committee
on Foreign Affairs. Schenck made a
point of order, that under the Con-
stitution, no distinctions should be
made. The Speaker said the point
was we'll taken.
The Presidents message to the
Sennte, giving his reasons for the
suspension of Stanton, is regarded as
masterly and wonderfully shrewd.
The President quotes Stanton's reply
to the Presidents request that Stan
ton should resign; wherein Stanton
says that considerations of O high
public character lead him to with
hold his resignation until the next
meeting of Congress. This, the
President holds, was not only de-
claration, but was defiant and utterly
wanting in the respect due from
stanton to his superior officer. The
point Is made, that Stanton could not
appeal to the law creating the War
Department, because that law gives
the President the right to remove
Stanton. The tenure of Office bill
alone supported Stanton; but that
law did not compel Stanton TO re.
tain the Office of Secretary of War.
The President argues the necessity
OF unity. and harmony among his
constitutional advisers; alludes to his
having with but one exception, re.
tained the cabinet of his predecessor:
states incidentally that the cabinet
was unanimous on his policy of re-
construction, and upon the unconsti
tutionality of the tenure of Office bill.
Stanton, having been United States
Attorney, was specially consulted,
anu was emphatic and absolute in his
condemnation of the bill as uncon-
stitutional. The most pointed spe-
cific charge, refers to the New Or
leansriots. According to the narrative,
Gen. Baird reported to Stanton the
danger of the riots, and asked advice.
Stanton not only withheld instruc-
tions to Baird, bnt kept the despatch
from the President and his Cabinet
until after the occurrence of the riot.
The President holds, had Stanton
acted himself, or made the message
from Baird known to his superior,
the riot would have been prevented.
He produces letter from Sheridan,
to the effect that, had Sheridan been
advised Of the danger, the riot could
have been avoided. The President
concludes, that the public cannot
complain of the change. because the
judicious measures of the new Secre-
tary have already saved many mil
lions of public treasure.