The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-03-16
Congress.


first movements in the impeachment, by its
avOwed champion Ben. Butler, and in this
respect curiority has been gratitied Butler
proposed at once to put himself at the head of
the business, by having it turned over to a
special committee, of which he should be chair
man. But as the House is not really serious
in the movement, and makes use of it only as
club to be held over the head of the Presi-
dent, Buffers ideas were not to their liking.
So he was Immediately squelched, and the
matter turned over to the Judiciary committee,
by whom it is placed in special charge of MIR.
Ashley, as man not possessed Of brains
enough to be dangerous. That the matter
might thus be put at rest, the Speaker, though
he steadily refuses to appoint the standing
committee generally, has appointed the judi
ciary committee, re-appointing all the old
members except one, whom he replaced by
adding a second democrat to the committee.
About the first business day of the new
congress was marked by the introduction Of
at least four new reconstruction bills, in spite
of the pledge that the bill passed by the late
late congress was to be submitted to the South
as a finality Sumner wants an additional
guarantee that the South shall provide for the
education Of the negroes. Stevens wants the
voters who are to elect the conventions, &c,
registered by the military commanders. But
the most important OF the new Supplemented"
reconstruction bills proposed, is that of Mr.
Wilson, who, besides providing for the regis
tration of voters, also provides that, in case
the military commander of any department
shall deem it safe and expedent, he may turn
the whole business of the government Of his
department over to the Governors and other
civil authorities of the states. The House
passed the Stevens supplement on the l1th
simply providing for a registration Of voters
in the southern states by the military, and ap-
propriating five millions to pay the expense
The Senate, however, has substituted the Will
son bill for that passed by IN" House, and the
latter will probably go through.
The two houses are still wide apart on the
question of adjournment The House, on the
Sth passed resolution to adjoun on the nth
I over to the 9Th Of May. The Senate caucus
decided tc oppose an adjournment at so early
day-indeed that they would agree to no
adjournment until the supplemental recon
struction bill is disposed Of and until about
600 appointments can be acted upon in eXecu-
tive session, and then they want to adjourn
over to October or November. SO the adjourn
ment hangs fire. The House is impatient, be-
cause it cannot 60 seriously to work without
committees, and the Senate have too much work
on hand to think Of dropping it.
The Senate has appointed its new commit
tees The material changes from the old COM
mittess are, that Sherman takes Fessenden's
place at the head of the Finance committee,
and Morrill, is at the head of the new commit
tee on Appropriations. Yates is chairman OF
the comlnitte on Territories, position so long
and ably filled by Douglas. What a falling
off, from Douglas to Yates!
The nomination Of Cowan as minister to
Vienna was rejected, Is to 80.
The name of Geo. c. Bates, of Chicago, has
been sent to the Senate rs Governor Of Idaho.
1t will hardly be confirmed.
The Morrill, tariff BILL in spite of its igno-
minious defeat in the late congress, has again
been introduced and ordered to be printed. 1t
will receive no serious attention fefore next
winter.
The Senate has passed an appropriation OF
81 ,OOO, 900 for the relief of the destitute in the
| South. There is some doubt, however, about
the Houses concurring.
Henry Barnard, of Connecticut, has been
appointed commissioner of the new depart
ment of Education 1t turns out that there
has been no appropriation made either for it'
organization or to pay the commissioners sal
larry. A bill to supply the omission has beer
introduced, appropriating $4,000.
The commanders of the Military Depart
ments created by the reconstruction bill have
been announced. Gen. Scofeld is placed il
charge OF Virginia; Gen. Sickles has NORTH
and South Carolina: Gen. Thomas has Geor
gia, Alabama and Florida; Gen. ORD, Missis
sippi and Arkansas: and Gen. Sheridan, Lou
isiana and Texas.
I,erislative Paw