Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-11-26
THE RUMP.

OF the occasion to let their constituents know
that they had arrived safely at the capitol
After few hours spent in the House over
the admission Of the delegates from the king.
dom Of BrOwnlOw, both Houses took recess
until yesterday. The Washington correE
pendent of the Baltimore San writes as fol-
lows Of the first days dOings:
Congress opened to-day to full audiences
in both chambers, though the event created
but little interest in the city outside of the
Capitol. On the House side, especially, the
galleries were we'll filed, everybody expecting
that something would be said or done with
regard to the subject of impeachment. The
House was opened, as usual, with prayer bv
Rev. DIR. BOyntOn, the chaplain, upon whom
the election, or something else seems to have
had a moderating effect, as his prayer was
more in the nature of a real petition to the
Throne of Grace than his prayers on these
occasions have at times been. When the
business of the day commenced there were
but few vacant seats on the floor, the members
all seeming to be determined to be present
at the opening OF the session. Maryland was
fully represented, except by Mr.. Stone, who
is detained at home by recent severe Attic
ton in his family.
The first business in order was the admin
istering Of the oath of Office to such members
who were either absent at the special session
or have been recently elected, and all went
we'll enough until the Tennessee delegation
was called, when Mr.. EIdridge objected to
Mr.. Stokes, and produced the famous Duncan
letter as proof of dsloyalty. This was fol-
lowed by motion of Mr.. Brooks to make
the whole delegation a subject of investiga-
ton. and the republican members were thus
made to partake of the medicine administered
by them at the July session in the Kentucky
case. The radicals squirmeG good deal ut
this unexpected blast, but they got out of it
gracefully and got in all the members except
MIR. Butler. y long discussion ensued upon
the different motions relating to the Tennes.
see delegation. and in all of it Mr. Shel!abar.
ger alone seemed to have courage enough to
say that he would adhere strictly to the test
oath, and would admit no man Of any party
who could not take that oath.
The time when the Impeachment reports
may be looked for has now been definitely
settled by the announcement of Mr.. Wilson,
OF. Iowa, to day, that the reports would be
made on Monday. Before the House was
called to order tO>day the subject of impcach-
meut was the interesting topic Of converse.
ton. Mr.. Impcacher Ashley and Mcssrs.
Julian, Boutwell,, Lawrence. Williams aud
others, earnest advocates of impeachment,
had long consultation upon the subject, aud
Mcssrs. Julian and Ashley both declared that
the House would order impeachment without
reference to what the report Of the majority
of the committee might be, and it is well un-
derstoOd that desperate effort will be made
to have the house adopt the minority report.
In view of this the radicals ale determined
to be prepared to get matters into their own
hands, and hence Mr.. kelscy's resolution de-
claring the effect of impeachment. which
simply provides for the termination of the
official functions Of a President aud Vice
President so soon as Impeachment shall be
ordered. 1t is not seriOusl y believed, how.
ever, that the democrats and moderate repub-
llcaEs. all of whom oppose impeachment, can
be overwhelmed by the radical element
Mr. Thaddeus Stevens came into the House
to day shortly after it was called to order, aud
received the congratulations Of his iricnds-
lie appears very feeble, and moves about with
apparent great difficulty. lie had nothing
to say during the discussion of the Tennessee
case, but seemed ia take lively interest in
all that was being said and done
There seem to be indications that men,
bers will persistently ride their special hob
bies this session, and force them through
Some of these hobbies are, however, caIcula-
are driven the better. Mar. Robinson's hobby
is Fenianism and he opened upon it to. day
in a resolution consuming Minister Adams for
not taking better care Of Americans arrested
in Europe as Fenians. The hject was ev>
identity distastcful to the republicans, who
wanfed none of it at this time.
Mr.. Blaine, of Maine, has hobby in the
shape Of the repeal OF the cotton tax. That,
too, was brOached to day. and it will occupy
no small part of the business, first of the
ways and means committee and afterwards of
the House. Mr.. IDgersoll, who last year
made several efforts against u reduction of
the currency, introduced n resolution to day
showing that he has not forgotten his hobby,
aud that he intends to urge it forward again
this session.
Mr.. Cobb, of Wis, endeavored to have a
resolution passed directing the re,rcuchment
committee to inquire into alleged whiskey
frauds in New York and the conduct of GER
tain revenue officers, but it was objected to.
The resolution will be Introduced. how
ever, at some future time. and some startling
developments are promised when this inves-
tigatiOn shall be made. I-have authority for
saying that the inquiry will not be confined
to New York, but that it will touch heavily
upon certain parties in this vicinity. whose
names have been freely used in relation to
this business. The inquiry will extend also
into the removal of Col. Messmore as deputy
commissioner Of internal revenue.
Mr.. ColtaX stated to day that he would an.
nounce his committees on Monday lie no
doubt deSiTcs to get rid of the task, on ac-
count of the manner in which lie is besieged
for eligible positions.