New-York tribune., 1867-03-08
WASHINGTON.

smREg RECONSTRUCTION MEASURES AND TWO cONSTTTU-
TIOSAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE sRNATE-THB
COMAITTEEs-THB IMPEACHMENT QUESTION IN THE
HorsE-A HOT DEBATB-THB ADJOURNMENT PROPOSE
Tl0N-MILITARY COMMANDERS UNDER THB MILITARY
BILL
sELIsRAPB 70 rHH sRinuSE
wAsHISoTON Tbursday, March a. 1867.
In the Senate to-day tho session lasted only an
hour but in that brief space, three Reconstruction
bills and two Constitutional amendments were pre-
scented. The Committees for the session were an
nOuDced. At his own request on account of Ill
health, Mr. Fessenden was relieved from the chair
sasnship of the Finance Committee, and Mr.. Mor-
xsn took his place. Mr. Wilson introduced o joint
resolution 20 prohibit the sale of sprtuOus bquors IN
the Capitol building which he intends to press TO an
early vote.
The House remained in session four hours to-day.
Very little IN the way Of actual business was done
Tbemelnbers seemed as fthey fully recovered
from The action Of the caucus last evening and were
not prepared for business The prospect of an early
adjournment makes them careless. However, there
Is very little to be done and members need some rest
after their auoRs duties of the last session of the
xXXIyth Congress. Mr.. Kelley introduced bill
similar 10 the one introduced in the Senate to-
day BY Mr.. Wilson, which reqaires that regis
tFaiiOn Of all the voters in The Southern States
sha be made by Sept J. nnder direction of the mill
fary commanders and 80 one shall vote who is not
registered, and that all voting shall be by ballot.
The bill goes to tho Judiciary Committee and viii be
acted on st once. The Speaker announced
Aix of the Committees, vix.: Elections, Judi
siary, Rues. Mileage, Retrenchment, and
auditing salaries of officials Of Congress The only
changes made in the Committee on Elections were
Mr. Poland in place Of Stokes, and Kerr instead of
Marshall. On the Judiciary, the new members are
Churchill in place Of Cook, Marshall in place of Nor
In, NJ Iopl
and Eldrdge are Democrats. In the last Congress
only one Democrat was the Committee The
Speaker has shown good judgment, in view OF the
important questions before the Committee placing
on sneh committee two of the, ablest Democratic
sBembers Of the House. Stevenss bill TO retrOcede
Alexandria Va, TO the District Of Columbia passed
with little opposition The latter part of the session
was occupied in a debate on a motion of Ashley of
Ohio 20 refer the question of the impeachment of the
President Of the United States TO the Jq-.
dietary Committee. Mr. Ashley accompanied
She introduction Of the resolution with q somewhat
3enetly speech, in which he renewed his charges of
high crimes and misdemeanors against Andrew John
sOn. In the course Of the debate Ashley got very
nervous and excited, and Was checked twice by the
Speaker for using intemperate language The Speaker
seems 10 have turned over new leaf since bis re-
slection, i'm regard 10 Members using personal and
aHparliamentaFy language in debate, and fTosn his
decisions to-day many Of the disgracefnl scenes of
last session are not likely be reenaeted during the
present Congress, at least not without receiving
eensure. Mr. Spalding spoke for five minutes de-
nouncing the idea of Impeachment as absurd, ana
was opposed to its being continued any longer bis
remarks brought out Butler, who satirized SpaldnS
and sustained the charges Of Ashley, thinking
the matter of impeachment of the gTsEest
Importance, and that the investigation
4 H. INN Duflpr
had finished, Ashley demanded the previous question
ON his motion. This brought complaint from Brooks
and others of the Democracy and Ashley, to appease
them, yielded fifty minutes to them. Brooks,
Wood, ChanleT, and Pruyn all spoke, but said moth
sDg that is new. The motion was finally agreed to-
aud the matter of impeachment is again With
the Judiciary where, from present indications, 1t is
apt TO die. II is evident that the caucus of last even
ing showed that a majority of the members of the
Republican party are aware of the gravity OF this
question of impeachment, and intend acting in the
matter with great caution and careful Judgment The
Senate, too is cautious the same matter and the
reason they viii refuse TO agree to tho House resolu
ton to take recess until the Stb OF May is that il
looks as though they were coming back specially 10
hurry ON with impeachment Ample time-will he
eiven. the Judiciary Committee, and when. an adj
Journment does take place it win be to meet not be-
fore the middle Of Autumn.
The Republican Senators held a caucus at o'el0ek
to consider the House resolution for recess iroIq
Monday next TO the sth of May. After some discus
sion Mr. Fessendcn moYed that the recess be nAtil
October instead OF May. Finally Mr.. Wilson moved
to table the whole subject, and it was tabled Its
.ettled that the Senate will not agree to reassembe
IN May, and they hope, by sitting few days
longer 10 reconcile the House 20 a much
longer recess. There are large number OF
Executive appointments 10 be considered and acted
on before an adjournment takes place. number oil
these appointments sent in yesterday and To-
day and have been referred for consideration IL is
thought necessary by number of Senators that
some law must be passed before adjournment To meet
several defects in the Law passed by the last Con-
sress 10 provide more efficient governments for the
Rebel States II is found that in the law as it
stands, there arc several loopholes through which
Rebels can control the proposed elections in the
Southern States aud prevent loyal men from voting
nj least To seh an extent not alter the present
governments To remedy this Senator Wilson intro
dnced to-day supplementary bill to the Williams
sherman BILL which will be considered Immediately
when this and several more important matters are
settled, the Senate win be ready to adjourn. SeBa-
ieFs don't seem to be anxious about hurfying i'm,
peachlnent, and will insist on recess until next
Oetober
Gen. Grant to-day sent 70 the President tbe names
of four Distinguished generals as commanders in the
,ilitary districts in the Southern States follows:
Gems. Sehofield, siekles, Sheridan and Thomas.
The fifth has not yei been decided on. II will he
either Hancock or Ord.
3 The vacancy which viii occur on the lst Of April
by the resignation of Assistant-SeeretaTy OF ibe
Treasury, will be filled by the appointment OF
Thomas Brown Of Ohio, very popular, honest, and
capable gentleman. who has occupied prominent po-
/. sitions in the Department, and who was one thai