The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-04


make himself heard by the House from
his own seat, came up to the Clerks desk
and asked leave to Introduce bill and
oiutlons, as follows:
Al bill to esl ablish a system of Common
Schools for the District of Columbia, was
referred to a select comn,ittee, the same
that served last session, viz: stevens, Of
Penns ylvania; Van Arman and Williams,
OF Indiana.
stevens introduced resolut- on relative
70 the partition OF Texas. 1t fnstructs the
Committee on Reconstruction to inquire
into the expedfency OF dividing the Terri
tory lately known as the Stale of Texas
into two or more States, to be sdmitted
into the Union when duly qualified.
Eldridge objected, remarking that the
State of Texas was enough to be held un-
der despotie Governme t.
stevens explained. His resolution was
merely one OF inquiry
The Speaker stated that the effect of the
resolution would be TO revive the Commit
tee on Reconstruction.
Eldridge persisted in his objection, and
the resolution was not received
A resolution was introduced by Stevens
concer ming the tax on spirits, directing
the Committee on Ways and Means 10 in
qu1re into the proprIety OF SO amending
the Revenue Law as to ascertain and
assess the value, according TO the capacity
of he still. instead of the present mode.
Adopted.
Stevens introduced q resolution relative
to the census in the Southern States.
Chandler objected, when Ste VenS, after
stating the esOution to be merely one of
inquiry into its eXpediency, withdrew the
On motion of CoYode, his colleague, Fin
Rey, obtained indefinite leave of absence
on account of sickness in Switzerland.
Cook, nom Election Committee, made
report in the matter OF the Kentucky Rep
resentative>, and asked for action to-day.
The Clerk proceeded torsad the report. but
before concluding it. the Presidents An
nual " essage was delivered, and the read
ing of the election report was suspended.
1t recommends admission TO seats OF Knott,
Grover, Jones and Beck. As to TrimSle
and Young, the committee has not dis
posed OF them.
lege, Sai1: : understand that the paper
now presented is the Annual Message OF
the fresident OF the United states wish
70 call the attention of the House TO the
fact that that Me, sage was published this
morning IN all the papers of the leading
cities of the Union. / hold in my hand
the Baltimore Gdzette, with a copy of the
Mes age in full. It is pa per addressed to
the Senate and House of Representatives
Constitution. hold ii to be disreS pectful
to Congress that This paper should first
make lis appearance in the public prints
OF the country before its being communi
Gated 10 congress. Rumor saws some
hanger-on about the White House, or
some favorite individual. has made traffic
with the Message and sold it to different
newspapers. Ifthat be the case, il renders
1t more d1sreSpectful to this Congress. I
although 1 might properly do so
under the circumstances, because we
owe respect to the great office
which that man holds, although we
may not respect the incumbent. The pub
ltcation of the message is certainly an act
OF disreSpect, but who is the guilty party?
The President. in sending out the message
in advance of its official PRONUNCIATION,
has done nothing more or less than has
been done by his predecessors in Office,
pledge OF honor that 1t viii not be pu 5lish-
ed until officially promulgated. l, as a
member Of the press, deeply regret that the
pledge of honor has been violated, 1 think,
for game which is not worth the candle.
FsrnswOrth insisted on the regular order
OF business. which was the reading of the
annual message.
CovOde desired to say that the message
was sold in open market, but his remarks
order.
The Clerk, at thirty-five minutes past
one O'Clock, p NJ, proceeded TO read the
Presidents Message.
schenck, In moving a reference of the
message to the Com mittee of the Whole,
said There Is great deal in that message
which 1 think 1t probable will Command
the assent OF most of US, ant there is a
great deal more, and especially in that
part which relates to the reconstruction OF
states that have been In rebellion, breath
ing, as IL does, a spirit not only defiant. but
even of Ill temper towards Congress, which
/ aDprehend will not when we come to
discuss the contents of the message in
Committee OF the Whole, pass without
challenging criticism and comment
When the message first came in, | spoke
that the annual message OF the President L
should find its way in;o the public prints
of the country; at least in all cities, before
1t had been communicated TO Congress- to
which IL is addressed. cid not wish to
be understood as charging that the Presi-
dent himself was directly party to such
a disposition of the message; did say
am somewhat confirmed in my belief, by
Information which have had since that
with without the President being a
party to the arrangement, persons in his
confidence have made traffic of the mes
sage for money.
Schenck also alluded to the address on
the title page of the officially printed
copies of the message, which says, +" To
the two Houses of Congress" / do not
know what is intended by that. 1t seems
| to nave been thought by Congress when it
| passed the act of the I'D OF January last,
providing that. in addition co the present
regular time of the meeting of Congress,
/ there shall be a meeting on the 4th day OF
March at the beginning of each Congress,
| that 1t was adding another TO the already
| existing number of regular meetings OF
Congress. and doing IL by la 7. / do not
| know who isreSp pnSible for this title page,
! but 1t LOOKS to me as il some body else,
/ having the confidence of the President,
! has undertaken petty fling at Congress,
by an intimation at the very threshold,
that lis legislation is not worthy of being
regarded as legal or within its Constitu-
tiOnaI powers.
Logan, referring to the paragraph in the
| message as to the possibility OF a violent
| collision between the Executive and Leg
| iSlative departments Of tue Government,
/ said that, feeling very sorry that there
/ should be such contingency, and that,
| in order that all danger might be avoided,
\ he would offer a resolution 10 tDat effect.
| The resolution was read for Information,
as follows:
! Resolved, That the corps of pages which
constitute the military force OF this House
/ be and the same is hereby abolished. TO The
| end that the civil conflict so vlvidly de-
| scribed in a communication published III
the morning papers, and sikned Andrew
! johnson, NAV be avoided. Laughter.
Z SChAs1ek declined admit the rPSOiu-
1 ton and insisted on the previous ques-
/ ton.
CovOde said the message had got tC
I the newspapers, through direct purchase
| maze Yesterday evening. of one of the