Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-08

Tn motion OF Mr.. Mason the OOmlnlttee
on Weights and Measures were instructed
to attend the annual assay of the United
States Mint on Monday, and examine the
management, and report what measures, if
any, wonld tend to the greater economy in
the system of the United States mintage or
the improvement of coinage.
Mr.. Stevens, from the Committee on APP
preparations, reported bill appropriating
sums for the deficiencies in the expenses of
the contingent fund in the House as follows:
Miscellaneous items, $40, zoe folding docu-
ments, $27, 500 fuel and light, etc, $1,000 T;
total, $74,500. The bill passed.
Mr.. Paine, from the Military Committee,
reported bill for organizing, arming and
disciplining the militia. RecOmmitted and
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Dove presented a resolution from the
Legislature of New York in favor of ex-
tending for two years longer the use of gov
eminent vessels for quarantine purposes at
the port of New York, and introduced a
joint resolution for that purpose, which
passed
The House took up the bill reported yes
terday from the Reconstruction Commit
tee, to provide for a more efficient govern
ment Of the insurrectionary States.
After some discussion as to how long de
bate should last without action, Mr.. Ash
ley, of Ohio, rising to a personal question,
sent to the Clerks desk and had read a
correspondence from the Cincinnati Com
mercial, protesting to give the cireum-
stances connected with the offering of Mr..
Ashley's Impeachment resolution.
The reading caused considerable amuse-
ment.
Mr.. Ashley said that of all the falsehoods
manufactured and sent from this city by
maligners, his story was the most silly.
He had never, up to the time Of offering
the resolution, had any correspondence
with Gen. Butler on the subject nor had
he known what his views were, except from
newspaper reports. He had his own views
since his first interview with the President,
correcting himself, the "acting Presi-
dent" after the assassination of President
Lincoln. -.
The gentleman TO whom he had referred
was Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, and no one
would accuse him Of want of friendship for
General Grant. He had also shown it TO
Mr.. Stevens and two or three other gentlee
men. Certainly nothing was further from
his thoughts or thoughts of those he had
consulted, than the idea of their stabbing
General Grant in the dark. 1t was well
known no officer Of the army could be I'M
peached, therefore, the story on that point
was so stupid az TO be only worthy of con-
tempt. As to the language alleged to have
been used to him by his colleague, Mr..
Bingham, no such language was ever used.
He would not have risen to a personal ex-
plnation on his own account, but he had
yielded to the Judgment of Others.
Mr.. Schenck from Joint Select Com
mittee on Retrenchment made a report on
the charges against Mr.. Van Dyke, AS
sistant Treasurer of New York, as to the
sale of gold bearings, that there was no
foundation for the statement, allegations or
charges implied by the House resolution OF
January 18th. Report and testimony or
dered printed.
Mr.. Stevens resuming the bill to provide
for the government of the insurrectory
States prefaced his remarks by stating the
reference made to him in the correspond
ence Just read was wholly false; he sup
ported the bill and said he would move
the previous question tomorrow.
The debate was continued by Messrs.
Brandige, Pike and Farnsworth in support
and LeBlond and Finck in opposition.
Mr.. LeBlonde said the adoption of this
law would be the death knell Of civil lib
erty on thiscontinent and the establishment
of military despotism over the country
He opposed the bill because it was uncon-
stitutional
Mr.. FarRsworth said if civil liberty had
without right to slaughter and destroy at
pleasure, then he trusted this was its death
knell. The bill was framed for the pur-
pose Of protecting all people in insurrec-
tonary States. The necessity for it is
found in the fact that there was at present
no protection in these disorganized States
by courts. He believed the bin was in ac-
c0rdance with the views of Gen. Grant.
In reply TO Mr.. Preston, Mr.. FarnsWorth
said he did not claim personal knowledge
30 that effect
Mr. Bingham rising a few moments be-
fore the hour for recess, declared he was
not going to yield to the proposition Of Mr..
Stevens that one rood of territory with the
lines OF ten States was conquered territory.
Voices from the Democratic side, that's
right.") A government did not conquer
territory that owed il allegisnce. He Of
fered an amendment to strike ont the pre-
amble and insert The following;
Whereas, 1t is necessary that peace and
good order shall be enforced in the several
States lately in rebellion, till the States re
spectively shall be fully restored TO their
constitutional relations to the government
Of the United States, therefore, etc. Also,
to srike out the words "so-cslled' before
the States. Recess.