The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-01-19
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH
Midnight Report.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
" WAsHisGros, Jan. IS

SENATE.
Mr.. HENDERSON presented 9 bill de-
claring the bridge built by the North Missouri
Railroad Company over he Missouri river at
St. Charles, Missouri, legal structure and
post road. Referred.
The bill to regulate the tenure of Office was
taken up The question was upon Mr.. SUN
SER'S additional section, providing that oil
officers Of the Government. except clerks Of
departments whose salaries exceed 1000
per annum, shall be appointed by the Presi-
ident, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate.
Mr.. SUMNER said it is now little more
than year ago since | felt il M duty to
characterize q message Of the President, as
'whitewashing' that message presenting the
condition Of things in the rebel States as fair
and promising, when prevailing evidence
was the other way. Ioa do not forget how
certain Senators, horror struck at this PLAIN
ness, leaped forward to vindcate the Presi
dent. Yesterday some of these came Senas
tors, horror struck. leaped forward again to
the same task. Time has shown on former
occasions that ] was right. Ii anybody
doubts that was right. commend him to
the time, and he will not have to wait long.
Already the country gees that Andrew John
son, who came 10 supreme power by bloody
accident, has become the successor of JEFF.
Davis j; in the spirit By which he is governed,
and the misery which he has inflicted on his
country, sees the President Of the rebellion
released by the President of the United
States. II sees the violence which took the
life of his illustrious predecessor nov, by
his perverse completely, extending through
the rebel States, making all who love the
Union its victims, and filling the land with
ha tsF.n hxa
faithful Unionists is still continued under
his powerful auspices without any distinction
of color, 30 that both white and black are
sacrificed 1t sees be is monster Of discord
and not minister Of peace ; il sees SO long
as his opinion prevail there is small securi-
ty, or tranquility, o5nreconstrnction; that the
restoration of property In the rebel States so
much longed for, must be the business Of the
whole country, must be embarrassed as those
conditions upon which rests a sound eurren
cy must be postponed Sir in holding up
Andrew Johnson to judgement | do not
allude TO his exposure of himselfin making
a beast Of himself, by being intoxicated while
taking his oath of office, nor 10 the maudlin
speech, nor to the reports of pardon sales or
corruption. This is not the cause against him
The President has usurped the powers of
Congress on a coiosal scale, and he EN-
ployed these ursurped powers in following the
rebel spirit and awakening anew the DYING
fires Of the rebellion. This is a great and
objectionable offence. He ia usafper
through whom infinite wrong has been done
to his country he is usurper who employ
ed his power for removing those who would
not become his partisans. TO use his own
words, kicked out those who would not be
sold by his means.
Mr. JOHNSON regretted that Mr. Sumner
in discussing this proposition, had seen
f. to allude TO the President in terms in
which he was sure he would, upon reflection,
see reason to regret. He fSumner) had said
almost in words that the power of removal
IRON office ought to be taken from the Presi-
pent, because he had proved himself an en-
emy 10 his country.
HOUSE.
On motion Of Mr.. RITTER the Commit,
tee on Agriculture was instructed to inquire
into the expediency of reporting bill pro-
hibitng the Commissioner Of Agriculture
from the purchase and distribution of seeds,
plants, and flowers common to the United
States, A
The House agreed to hold an evening ses-
sion, for deliberations on the reconstruction
bill
Mr.. HILL gave notice that he would intro
duce. q bill suspending, for two years, the
farther cancellation of United States legal
tender treasury notes.
The House then proceeded to the consider
alton of Mr.. Stevens reconstruction bill.
The pending question being on Mr. BING-
HAMS motion to refer it the Joint Commit
tee on Reconstruction.
Mr. DONNELLY spoke in favor of the
bill. He said the Government had the same
right to subordinate the wishes of rebels to
the welfare of the nation now taat it lad
during the war. II Was the duty OF
Congress to commence at the very bottom and
build upward Slavery having ceased and
the black become inssanter Part of the
people, Congress should recognize no
reconstruction which ignored them. Sooner
reconstruction of the rebel States on basis
of impartial justice aud equal rights and all
attempts at . re orqaization on q different
basis would be but temporary, and destructive,
and the American people would not long
tolerate the carnival of violence and murder
now raging in the rebel States.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE spoke in opposition to
the bill. He knew Il was Of little avail to Of
fer any resistance to the settled decree of a
majsa:yof the -Heuse, but il was sad 10 Ut
silent and see the Republic 60 to ruin. With
the passage of this bill It must kill ever yes
tige Of : Constitutional Government Hthe
bill itself did not proclaim the facts, its m.
thor, Mr.. Stevens, had loudly proclaimed
that it was revolutionary and Submissive
There never was more abominable doctrine
than that which asserted the right of the
Government TO hold the late rehe.lious
States as conquered territory. II persisted
in and acquiesced in by the people, it would
overthrow the Republic and establish des-
potam on it's ruins. a1
Mr. RANDALL from the Committee on
Currency, reported bill to authorize the is.
sue Of treasury notes, not bearing interest,"
to be used in providing sinking fund for the
extinguishment of the National debt. It
was ordered printed and recommended