Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-02

SENATE. Saturday, March 23rd.-Ihe Sup
Elemental bill was passed over he vetO-40 to 7.
A concurrent resolution to adjourn on Tues
day to the first Monday in December, was
adopted.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House passed the Supplemental bill over
the veto-l14 to 25.
1t failed to fix upon day for adjournment.
SENATE, Monday, March 25th.-A petition
from the Union league asking the application of
the military reconstruction bill to Maryland, was
referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The Senate withdrew its Saturday proceed
ings relative to adjournment. The other bust
ness was unimportant.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The resolution that the House adjourn on
Thursday to meet on the first Wednesday in
May, June, September, November and Deem
her, unless the presiding officers jointly proclaim
ten days previously to the time of meeting that
there is no necessity of meeting, was adopted
SO to 81.
Several bills for connecting the Mississippi
with the lakes by ship canal, were referred to
the Committee of Commerce.
A resolution authorizing the Secretary of War
to employ two dredge- boats to open the channel
at the mouth of the Mississippi, was adopted.
The petition of a minority of the Maryland
Legislature asking Congress not to adjourn until
that State has Republican form of government,
was ordered to be printed. Adjourned.
SENATE, Tuesday, March 26th.-The bill APP
pointing three commissioners to hear claims
against money seized from the Citizens Bank
Of New Orleans, was passed.
The bill Withholding agricultural college scrip
from the rebel States will until they are repre-
sented was passed, and goes to the President
The bill fixing the day upon which the Bank
rupt bill will take effect was referred
A resolution that both Houses adjourn on
Thursday was passed. Adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
A resolution ordering survey for a ship canal
around the Louisville falls was passed.
Butter and Bingham, in personal explanations,
assailed each other furiousy. Butler said he
had examined evidence for other purposes than
proving Mrs. Surratt's hanging unjustifable.
He said the memorandum book, in which Booth
kept day by day his thoughts, plans and motives,
taken from his dead body, was withheld, though
his pipe, spurs and knife were presented to the
court. This book was in possession of the Judi
ciary Committee, with eighteen pages of entries,
made prior to Lincon's assassination.
Mr.. Butler wanted to know was that book
complete when it fell into the hands of the Gov
eminent? Why was the diary withheld from
the court? He did not charge the gallant sol
diers who composed the court with wrong. They
did not see the diary, otherwise they would have
judged differently. Who spoliated that book :?
Who suppressed that evidence? Who caused
still in the diary these words, written few house
before Booth death, which he (Butler) quoted
from memory: II have endeavored to cross
the Potomac FIVE times but failed. [ propose
to return to Washington, give myself up and
clear myself from the great crime" Butler con-
tinued. Why was not Colonel Conyer allowed
to tell what was found on Booths body. He
believed the diary would show up to certain
hour that Booth intended to abduct Lincoln.
Mr. Bingham replied excitedy and was call
ed to order for using words disrespectful to the
the act were inadmissible as evidence. Hedenied
any knowledge of the spoliation of the diary,
and disavowed responsibility for the conduct of
the prosecution.
The Senate amendment, providing commits
sioners to adjust sequestrated debts, was reterr-
ed to the Judiciary Committee.
Adjourned.
SENATE, Wednesday, March 9th. The state
ment Of the Bank of Commerce that Senator
Thomas, of Maryland, withdrew from the bank
large amount Of funds for the purpose OF dis
crediting Federal bonds was referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee.
A joint resolution devoting $4,000 of Freed
mems Bureau fund to the purchase and dis
tribution Of seeds in the South, was passed.
A resolution forbidding an increase of price,
but allowing the clerk of the House to designate
the Northern papers to publish the laws and
treaties, was passed.
The Judiciary Committee reported On the
New York Custom House fraud evidence fur
nished by the House, and said there was not
thing in it to implicate Senators Doolittle or
Patterson. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. Stevens moved the appointment Of a
select committee On Southern railroads AdOp-
ted.
Senate bill appointing commissioners to hear
claimants for sequestrated Southern debt was
tabled.
The Senate adjournment resolution was
| amended to meet first Wednesday in June and
September IS, noes 81
This vote indicates the strength of the i'm
peachers in the House.
Aresolution adverse to the allowance offorelgn
claims for property destroyed by the army during
the war was passed.
The protest against the formation OF the
Dominion of Canada was passed.
A resolution expressing sympathy with the
people Of Ireland was passed.
An amendment disparagng the Fenian move
ments as leading to useless bloodshed was re-
jected-ayes 10, nays lO2.
A resolution declaring that Smythe, the New
York Collector, ought to be removed, and send
ing the evidence in the case to the President,
was passed. ,
A resolution amending the wool tariff by strik-
ing out of the paragraph commencing web
bings'' the words ''unmixed with silk. was
passed.
The House then adjourned till - o clock to-
morrow, which defeats the pending joint reso-
luton for adjournment.
SENATE, Thursday, March 2Sth.-A resolu-
ton of the Republican Convention OF Maryland,
asking for republican form of government, was
referred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill authorizing the Secretary OF War to
employ two dredge boats to keep open the
mouth of the Mississippi was passed, and goes
to the President
The second section of the wool taaiH was
amended so as to include silk and mohair
cloth.
The bill confirming South Carolina fax sales
to soldiers, sailors, and members Of the marine
corps, was passed.
In an incidental discussion of suffrage, it was
urged that a constitutional amendment proclaim
ing universal suffrage throughout the Union
should be adopted. The idea met but little
favor, and it was argued that if let alone the
States would soon adopt negro suffrage; where
as, if coercion was attempted at the North, the
people would become stubborn. A majority of
the Senate seemed unapprehensive ofthe Pres
ident's failure to execute the laws.