Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-03-07
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

W
introduced resolution reciting the charges
which he made in the House in the las ses
sion against the President, recountlng the
course OF the Judiciary Committee thereon,
and directing that the same committee further
prosecute the investigations with ample pow
er to'send for persons and papers, aad with
leave 10 sit during the sessions of the House
and to SIT during any recess of the House.
Mr.. Covode moved to amend Ashley rsso.
luton by substituting a select committee of
thirteen in place of the Judiciary Committee,
but to Include the seven members of the Ju-
dietary Committee holding over.
This resolution of Govede's was drawn by
General Butler, and was agreed upon in
caucus OF d Few who arc resolutely determined
on impeach ment, at all hazards. -'.r ~
Judge Spalding. OF Ohio, mo we'd 70 inquire
at the outset, whether the judiciary Com nit
tee were in possession Of any in formation
touching the qaestIon OF impeachment not
already communicated to the public If not.
the whole thing, In his opinion, had better be
dropped, for two months OF in vestigation had
brought Iorth nothing. % .........
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, chairman OF the Ju.
dietary Committee, replied that IL would be
improper for him to answer that questi
MI Pike, OF Maine, thought that the cues
uon OF adjournment was the one which yitanv
affected the question Of Impeachment, and was
more deserving of discussion tnan the reIatiye
merits OF committees. For one. he was willing
To vote 10 adjourn until December, wing
the committee ample time to Investigate the
charges.
Gen. Farnsworth, of Illinois, spoke in favor
OF having the Investigation continued bv the
judiciary Committee instead OF by a select
committee
Judge Kelley, of Philadelphia, also adyo.
Gated the prosecute of the in vestigation nv
the judiciary Committee.
General Butler made an earnest appeal in
favor OF an investigation by q select co mmit
tee 1t was, be said, the habit Of the British
Parliament, in cases ofimpeachment. ALWAYS
10 nave select committee. and the present
case eminently deserved one. No disrespsct
was intended 10 the Judiciary COMMITTEES, as
was evident from the fact that those gentle
men who were members of that committee in
the Thirty ninth Congress, and who were also
members OF the Fortieth Congaess, were to be
specially included il the select committee
Mr.. Blame, OF Maine, replied to GenT But.
lsr, conten ing thst however it might be made
10 appear In this meeting. the public would
understand the substitution Of a Select Com.
Inittee as in some sort rebuke to the late In.
dietary Committee. In his opinion that Com
mittee did not need to be braced up or pieced
out, or IN any way sustained by outside help
its mem ers were among the ablest of the
ooey To prove this he need only recount the
names OF Wilson, of iowa; Boutwell,, Of Mas
sachusetts; Thomas, Of Maryland: Williams. Of
Pennsyivania; Woodbridge, of Vermont: Cook
OF Illinois, and Lawrence, of Ohio. III these
men are not competent to conciude the inyes.
tsasion they have begun, we might well
despair OF finding competent men elsew where
Mr.W iison, of Iowa, suggested that IL a select
committee were determined on, the Speaker
shouio De lett free TO select all the members
and not have the Judiciary Committee forced
Oh 10 MIN as part Of 1t. He objected to any
such course. =
Gen. Logan, of Illinois, spoke earnestly in
Iavor or select com mIttee, main tanning that
the Judiciary Committee had no pre.empuvs
right in the premises.
Mr.. Brom well, from the same State. onnosad
General Logan, and advocated intrustinp the
JUDICIARY Committee with the Investigation.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, spoke earnestly in
iayor Of the Judiciary Committee. In si,bt
cases OF impeachment in this Government. ALI
but one had been referred to the Judiciary
COMMITTEE, and that one had been badly man.
aged in the hands of a select committee.
Gen. Butler enquired IL Mr.. Bingham WAS
IN any event in favor Of impeachment!
MI. Bingham replied that he was not like
certain gentlemen, in favor OF preferrrne ar
ticies OF impeachment and hearing the tesri-
mony afterwards. or
The question was then taken on Mr.. Co.
Vodes resolution as an amendment, and II was
voted down BY large majority. AshIey's
resolution, referring the whole matter to the
Judiciary Committee, was then adopted with.
out a dissenting voice. -r-..s-s -I--a - |
The question Of impeachment having been
disposed OF, that of adjournment to some time
hence came before lhe caucus, Mr.. Tnad
stevens designating the sth day of May, while
Mr.. Wilson, OF Iowa, preferred the 10Th OF
October.
Gen. Butler and Mr.. Boutwell, urged the
shortest recess, and the General very plainly
told Mr.. Wilson that the question of impeacn.
ment should not DE referred TO a committee of
which be WILSON, was chairman. A post
ponement until October was virtually an
abandonment. i.=-i H.1at ...-if y N. .l
Mr.. Bingham replied sharply to General
Butler, intimatng that ii was arrogant and
TO thus attempt TO dictate 70 his
peers. -n .ar Il % -
Mr. Wilson'S amendment, fixing Octobsr
2Otb, was defeated by a vote Of 81 yeas To 50
nays; and Mr.. Stevens motion, fix ing NAV 8.
was then adopted. -IFa lFie % -. no 'as I'8
Mr.. Pomeroy, of New York, moved tina,
Congress adjourn from Monday mex. unit a
May sth; whieh was adopted by vote of-yeas
81, nays 81 I: and the caucus then adjourned