The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-02-01
A SCENE IN TIE HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIYES At WASHINGTON.

n INOLSE OE
SENTATISES AT WASHINGTON.
a Passage Between Our Neighbour, the
Hon. John A. Bingham. and the
Hon. Nh Ashley, that did not APP
pear In the Report OF the Proceed
Ings. mr.. bingham Discovers and
DenOunces Plot Against General
Grant.
Extract from the Washington Correspondence
Of he Cincinnati Commercially
It will be remembered that about a
month ago Mr.. Ashley offered a resolu-
ton in the House of Representatives
directing the Judiciary Committee to
Inquire If anu officer of the United
States had been guilty of high crimes
or misdemeanors within the meaning
of the Constitution, or had conspired TO
subvert the Constitution OF the United
States. This looked at the time, GER
taiuly to me, and, l think, to most 9TH
ers, rather like the evasion of "A direct
charge against the President, than an
attempt TO make it more comprehen-
siye, and to include others beside that
unhappy gentleman know that most
of those who referred to the sub
ject in conversation at the
time, so regarded it. There was
one gentleman, however, on the floor of
the HOnsgOf Representatives, who, as
ny saw through IL the
instant 1t was offered, and construed
Alright the poisonous malice it conceal
ed under an apparently harmless coat
ing of words. The presentation of
such resolution, whose coming had
not been heralded by any previous an
nouucement or intention, and was
known but to half Il dozen members,
very naturally threw the House into n
temporary confusion, and created quite
stir on the Republican side. What
the public already knows on the sub
ject is only what transpired in the way
of regular business, but the by-play,
that did not come under that head, is
the important part that shows the ami
mus OF the movement. As soon as the
ed from his seat and went over to Ash
ley, to whom he addressed some very
strong language, asking him what he
meant by such II proposition as that,
and why he didn't frame it to apply to
the President only, instead of making
1t u drag-net to include every officer of
the Government. Ashley hesitated n
while, affected a knavish smile, and re-
piled that she guessed it was ali right"
mo it isn't all right" said Bingham.
ITS stab Mt General Grant, and no
such malicious thing shall go through
= House if can help it," Suppose
II does include Grant," said Ashley.
Cant we investigate his conduct too2
and can't we impeach him if he has
been guilty under the resolution"
Bingham looked mt Ashley moment
and replied in nervous wrath, "Ashley,
you're fool. Don't you know that
you can't impeach any but civil officer
of the Government under the Constitu-
tion2" BY this time quite n group had
collected where the colloquy was being
held, and Thad. Stevens, scenting a
breeze, had come over to avert "a storm.
Addressing him, Bingham asked what
was the meaning of this dnmnable as
sault upon General Grant. "Oh, moth
ing" said Stevens in his insidious way
-"only we want to investigate some
charges recently made against him. 1
don't see why Grant should be free
from investigation any more than
Johnson. He's just as bad as Johnson"
Bingham again denounced what he
termed very aptly "a foul conspiracy
against the chief officer of the Army of
the Republic" and he gave the few
friends of the resolution who were
around him fair warning that If they
passed 1t, he should expose the coward
ly proceeding as it deserved. BY this
time the resolution had gone over"
as the parliamentary phrase Is, from a
refusal OF the House to suspend the
rules. Quiet had been restored on the
floor, and the business of the day was
quietly prosecuting Bingham address,
ed Ashley, in presence of several menu
beers, in language like this: TELL the
honest truth now, who instigated that
resolutionC" "Why, what makes you
think it wasn't my OWN" inquired
Ashley. Because" said Bingham,
II know there is too much cunning in
It for you, and I'll bet you any
thing you dare that Thad. Stevens
and Ben. Butler either wrote it
or dictated its spirit" Ashley
again protested against Bingham's
Tisht 70 question the authorship; and
blnsham again repeated that there
was TOO much craft and design about
It FOR any body but Stevens and Butler.
what nom BIngham's earnestnpss and
Ashlay's family disguised eonivocs-
ton, the dispute had become unite in
teresting, and a number of Radical
members had collected around the dis
putantS. Amer some further banter
ing and badgering, on Bingham's mar,
Ashley confessed that "Steyens had y
little to do with it, and that one of its
principal objects was to give Butler an
opportunity of making and proving
certain charges against General
Mr.. Bingham deserves the approba-
ton of all true men for his timely in
terceSsiou to avert an act, the slightest
mischief done by which would have
oeen the disgrace of the men who par
ietpated in it, for in their disgrace the
whole American people would have
oeen involved in the eyes OF the civiIiz-
SURPLUS FTvE-TwKNrIEs DESTROY
ED.-over 81, OOo, 600 worth of Five-tweu-
ty Bonds were destroyed at the Treas
ury Department day or two since.
These bonds Were printed for issue, but