The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
wAsH1NGroN, March IS, 1867.

! Mr.. Johnson presented the credentials
ofPhilip J. Thomas, Senator elect from
Maryland, for six years, ending March
4, 1873, and asked that they be read and
Mr.. Thomas sworn in.
The credentials were read, when MT.
Howard moved they be referred 10 tne
Judiciary committee, stating, In reply
TO a Question from Mr.. johnson, that 1t
wns n matter of common rumor that the
centleman who was an applicant for
odm;ssion to the Senate sympathized in
the late rebellion.
Mr.. johnson did not know what ru-
mors Mr.. Howard referred to in relation
TO any particular act of the Senator
elect which had given aid and comfort
to the rebels. Perhaps he was referred
to on the floor of the Senate on Satur.
day, that Thomas, while Secretary OF
the Treasury, transferred largo amounts
of money from New York to Louisiana,
that it might be there to assist the
rebels. He (Johnson) had mentioned
that to his colleague, and was authoriz-
ed TO say there was not n word OF truth
in ii. .s-.rl. -.g - mr.
Mr.. Howard said his objection to Mr..
Thomas was the language attributed to
him in the speeches he made. After the
election, it was reported that he said
1.-THE Senate of the United States had
done all in its power to dissolve the
Union by war, in which they failed, and
were now attempting to destroy 1t by
legislation. He (Mr. Howard) thoughtit
very unkind remark on the part OF the
applicant, if he made that remark. II
a man could be called strictly loyal and
attached to- the Government OF the
United States who held that the entire
action of Congress in the prosecution
! of the late war to suppress the rebellion
was au effort on the part OF Congress to
dissolve the Union, then he (Mr. How
ard) had lost to great extent all knowl-
edge of the force of language.
| Mr.. Johnson knew, nothing OF the
speech to which Mr.. Howard referred.
What he did know was that in the let
ter accepting the nomination there
would be found nothing inconsistent
with his duties to the country.
The letter of Mr.. Thomas sent to the
Clerks desk and read, .- - ..
Mr.. Nye id il was claimed BY loyal
men Of Mary land that the election OF
the Legislature by which Thomas had
been elected was a palpable fraud upon
the existing laws of Maryland. 1t was
asserted by those Union men that they
had u law standing upon their statute
book that prevents all persons sympa-
timing with the rebellion from voting
at their elections.
At the last election that law was dis
regarded and persons Of all kinds, the
worst rebels among them, were permit
ted to vote, and by their votes Legls-
lature was elected that had sent the
honorable gentleman here as Senator.
When Mr.. Thomas resigned from Mt.
Buchanan's Cabinet he wrote letter
stating his reasons for so doing, that he
was forced to leave from the fact that
he could not concur in the act to rein
force Fort Sumter. He denied entirely
the power of coercion. -..,.
! Mr.. Tr,lnbdll spoke ut some length
on the subject. He was opposed as much
as any man could be to admitting trait
ors or enemies of the Government as
members of the Senate. He twas in IA
vor of receiving none but loyal men.
but the objections TO Thomas were sus-
tanned by nothing. but rumors; no spe-
cifc charge was made by any member
against him. Mr.. Thomas was certain
~ entitled to be sworn in unless there
was something to overcome the prima
fncie case which was now in his favor.
If any Senator could bring specific
charges against the applicant lie would
20 ~ far as was necessary III making
the investigation. lie understood Mr..
Thomas was willing to take the oath re-
quired by law; if so, he ought to be ad-
united unless there was 4 distinct
charge made against him.
Mr. FeSsenden said he was unwilling
by his vote to establish so dangerous Il
precedent to refuse TO receive Senators
who came here with the proper creden
tials, and who had been elected i'll pur-
suancc oi the law. and against whom
there was no specific charge from any
respectable source.
Mr.. Sherman read from . letter from
Mr.. Thomas, resigning his Office of Sec
Rotary of the Treasury, OF Mr.. Buchan-
ans Cabinet, i'll WHICH Mr. Thomas says:
The United States have no power to
collect the Custom Duties at the port
OF CharlastoIi.' This was the endorse
mcnt OF the right oil SECESSION; it at last
placed the applicant in an embarrassing
position, which required explanation.
But he would call attention 10 the
speech of Mr.. Thomas, to which refer
ence has been made.
In that speech the Senate was referred
to rs body Of men who always had
been and were now traitors 10 the
Union.
Mr.. Morton said the quotations he
had Just heard We're sufficient to jus tify
an inquiry; if what Mr., Thomas had
said was not true. the converse of tho
proposition was true, if the Senate was
a body Of traitors Mr.. Thomas was n
loyal man, but if the Senate was not q
body of traitors then Mr.. Thomas was u
disloyal man, ..
Mr.. Salisbury said the report of the
speech of Mr.. Thomas from which this
extract was read appeared in the Balti-
more American.
He read the speech in the Baltimore
Gazette. and there was no such Ian
guagc attributed To the Speaker in that
report. o..
After some further debate the subject
was, on motion of Mr.. Grimes, post
poned until tomorrow. - - J 3
Mr.. Pomeroy introduced q. bill for the
consolidation of the Indian tribes
and erection of q qualified territorial
government for the .lndians; also, n
joint resolution to authorize tho Com
handing General to permit traders to
remain at certain posts. Referred to
the committee Oh Foreign Affairs.
Mr.. numbdll called up joint reso-
luton 10 declare valid the laws of the
territory of New Mexico, passed during
the session of 1856 and 1867. Passed.
Mr.. Trumbull called up the supple
mentary reconstruction bill.
The question being upon concurrence
in House amendments TO the Senate
amendment, the first amendment, which
wasef an ,uiinportant character, was
agreed to.
The second was to require majority
of all the registered voters, instead of,
rs by the Senate bill. q majority of the
votes cast to adopta State Constitution.
After debate it was disagreed to.
The next amendment of the House re-
lntes to punishment for swearing false
ly under this act. Agreed to.
y u n n