The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-16

ever, thereafter the Provisional Gov
ernor of said State shall, by legal en-
actment, provide that a convention
shall be called for the purpose of
framing a Constitution and civil gov
ernment, and shall furnish certified
copy thereof to the Commanding
General, he shall direct that a con-
vention shall be held, and shall ap-
point time and place for holding it. "
This gave rise to discussion which
took wide range, and was general
ly participated in, lasting from one to
four o'clock, when vote was taken
on the first { Fessenden 81 amendment,
which was disagreed to.
Fessenden said he regarded this as
a test vote, and his second amendment
being dependent upon the first, he
should withdraw it.
Buckalew moved an executive ses-
sion.
Trumbull hoped the Senators in
favor of this bill would continue it
until passed. IF it was carried over
from day to day, it was hard to tell
when the result would be reached.
The debate of yesterday had been re-
peated to-day, and would be tomorrow
if the bill was kept before the Senate.
If one amendment each day was to be
offered and voted with amendments,
as were understood ready to be offer
ed he could not tell when the bill
would be passed.
Sherman interrupted the discussion
to offer a joint resolution to remove
the disability to hold Office, from Rob
ert M. Patton, of Alabama, and Jos,
E. Brown, of Georgia, which was re-
ferred to the judiciary Committee.
The Senate then went into Execu-
tive Session, after which the resolu-
ton for recess was resclnded.
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE. Several amendments to
the rules of the House were adopted; ;
none important.
Boutwell,. on leave, introduced a
joint resolution relating to the claims
against the Government. Referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Hurbert offered resolution re-
questing the Speaker to appoint a
committee on public expenditures,
and that such committee take into
consideration the report Of the COM
mittee of the last house on the sub
ject of the New York Custom House,
and report what action, ifany, is ad-
visable in the premises.
Hurlburt replied at some length to
Collectors Smythe's card, declaring
in the course of his remarks that the
New York custom house was, under
| Smythes administration, reeking with
corruption. In reference to the bond
ed warehouse business, more hagi-
| tious, improper. disreputable, and dis
graceful transaction than that shown
in the testimony had never been made
public. He also declared that the
evidence showed that, while Smythe
took an oath every month that he re
ceived nothing for carriage, &C., he
actually did receive every month two
hundred and fifty dollars from that
source, which money was handed to
his secretary, who kept it until the
monthly oath had been taken by the
Collector, and then paid it over, by
check or otherwise.
He would never forget the indigna-
ton he felt when witness testified
that Mr.. Smythe had said to him, {" |
am damned sorry that ever undertook
to carry the Presidents daughters"
Mr.. Smythe, to be sure, denied that he
had said so; but the witness said to
him, " do not know what you
thought; | do not know what occa-
sion you had to say SO; but | do know
you used those very words.
| Referring to the name of Mrs. Per-
ry, he said she was no myth her YER
liable presence in the Executive
chamber was proved more than once,
and the soft, low words there used,
spoken to her, was in proof that she
was to have shared the third of the
profits of the General Order busi-
ness, and one of the witnesses had
told him, after he left the stand, that
Mrs. Perry had a written agreement
to that effect; and that the President
of the United States had read that
agreement, and he characterized MIR.
| Smythe as vampire, sucking out the
life blood of the commerce of New
York-hampering commerce, and
making it subordinate to his own per-
sonal agrandizement, and to political
objects.
No action was taken. la ah
The Speaker presented a message
from the President, with letter from
the Secretary of State, transmitting
an additional report from Minister
King at Rome, dated February Is, on
the subject of the reported removal
of the American Protestant Church
from Rome Referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs.
The House agreed to adjourn to- day
until Monday
Eldridge, on leave, introduced a
bill for the creation of national
bureau of insurance. Referred to
the Committee on Judiciary.
The Speaker laid before the House