Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-12-12
Congressional.
SENATE.

| SENAlE.
| WAsHiNGToN, Dec. 4.
Mr.. HOWE, of Wisconsin, appeared in
his seat for the first time.
| The CHAIR laid before the Senate a
communication from the Legislature of
Nebraska, transmitting a joint resolution
ratifying the amendment proposed by Con-
gress to the constitution. Also, q resolu-
tion from the convention of Federal sol
dier's of Kentucky, requesting that certain
property in the hands of the Governor of
Kentucky shall not be allowed 10 pass into
the hands of disloyal persons.
On motion of Mr.. SUMNER, it was re-
solved that the President Of the United
States be requested to communicate TO the
Senate, if not incompatible with the public
interest, copies of any correspondence be-
tween the Governments of the United
States and Great Britain relating to the ex-
listing claims of these governments on each
other.
Mr., DRAKE offered the following con-
current resolution:
| ResOlUed, That the President Of the
United States, in declaring in his annual
message to the two Houses Of Congress at
the present session, that the acts hereto
| fore passed by these houses relative to the
reconstruction Of the revolutionary States,
are mot only Objectionable for their as
sumption of unguaranteed power, but many
of their provisions are in conflict with the
direct provisions of the constitution, and
that those acts are as plainly unconstitu-
tiOnal as any that can be imagined" has
transcribed the just limits of his unconsti-
tutional prerogative to give TO the Congress
information of the state of the Union, and
recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall judge necessary and
expedient; that the use of such language
by him in his official character is. in our
judgment, calculated to derOgate from the
rightful authority of the law making power
of the nation, and incite insubOrdinatiOn, il
not violent resistance, to the laws which il
| is his duty as President TO take care shall
be faithfully executed, that as between the
Congress and the President, the former is
the exclusive Judge in the first instance,
of the conformity of IFS acts TO the consti-
tuition, and that when any act has been
passed by two-thirds of both houses over
the Presidents objections any subsequent
official announcement Oft by him as uncon-
stituiiOnal, in the absence of any adjudica-
tion to that effect by the Supreme Judicia-
ry of the nation, is a departure from Off
cial propriety and breach of official obli-
CATIONS, justifying and calling for distinct
apprehension on the part of the Senale and
House of Representatives. Laid on the
table and ordered printed.
Mr.. ANTHONY, from the Committee on
Printing. reported resolution TO print the
Prsident's message and reports.
Mr.. HOWARD hoped the resolution
would be laid over. Under the present
circumstances he could not vote for printing
the Presidents message. He did not
tink it worthy of that attention. He con-
sidered il a wanton libel on Congress. so
far as it alluded TO the reconstruction poll
cy of Congress and those who voted for il,
and he would not vote to circulate it. 1t
was an insidious indication TO the rebe.
States to use violence in resistance to that
policy. 1t was unconstitutional and reyo-
llutionary.
Considerable debate followed. participa-
ted in by Messrs. SUMNER, AN
TuONY, WILSON. BUCKALEW. DIN
ON and others--the two latter in defence
of the message.
Pending discussion. bill was introdu-
ced by Mr. TRUMBULL to make five
Judges of the Supreme Court a quorum.
Passed.
Also, bill by Mr.. WILSON, amending
the bill for the government of the Southern
States, by allowing majority of those vo-
ting, instead of these registered, 10 call a
convention. Referred.
A communication was received from the
President enclosing correspondence in the
case of Mr. Motley.
Mr.. EDMUNDS bill, pledging the pay
ment of bonds in coin, was taken up and
debated until half-past two. when the Sen
ate went into executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The galleries were crowded in expecta-
ton of the Impeachment question coming
before the House.
! The House took up the regular order OF
business, the bill to repeal the tax on cot
ton. In the course of debate Mr.. Gov
ODE gave notice of an amendment to re-
duce the tax on cotton to one cent PEI
pound.
none Of them were adopted. The bill
passed.--ayes, AS; nays, 20.
The SPEAKER presented communi-
cation from special correspondents of the
press in reference to the premature publ
cation OF the Presidents message, asking
an investigation as to the responsibility for
|
ferred to the Judiciary Committee. He
also presented a concurrent resolution for
the appointment of Joint Committee on
Retrenchmcnt, Tabled, as the proposed
action was taken in March last.
The resolution calling for the report OF
the committee on the ordinance question
was bronght up, but no action was taken.
The report Of Burton Cook, from the
Committee on Elections, recommending
the swearing in Of Messrs Breck. Jones,
Grover and Knott, contains the following
concerning the general positions Of the
committee on the admission of Southern
members:
awhile the committee entertain no doubt
that il is the right and duty of this House
to turn back from its very thHshhold every
one seeking to enter who has been EN-,
ployed in armed hostility to the govern
ment of the United States, or has given aid
or comfort TO its enemies during the late
rebellion, yet We believe that in our gov
ernment the right of representation is so
sacred that no man who has been duly elect
,ed by the legal vote of his district should be
refused his seat upon grounds of personal
disloyalty unless it has been proved that he
has been guilty of such open acts Of dis
loyalty that he cannot honestly and truly
take the oath prescribed by the act of July
I'd, 1862; and further, that the commits
sion of such acts of disloyalty TO the gov
ernment should not be suspected only, but
prOyenby clear and satisfactory testimony. .
WAsHINGroN, Dec. 5.
SENATE.