Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-12
Senate-Extra session.

WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Presi-
dent submitted the credentials of Senator
RAYMOND, who was qualified by taking an
oath to support the constitution, and sub
scribing to the. Congressional oath of 10y
atty.
Mr.. Sumner offered resolution that the
President be requested to furnish the Sen
ate, if in his opinion compatible, copies of
any official opinions which have been given
by the Attorney General, Solicitor of the
Treasury, or by any other officers of the
government, and the Interpretation OF all
regulating tenure of office, especially with
regard to appointments by the President TO
Office during the recess of Congress.
Mr.. Sumner said he understood an opin-
ion had been given which went far towards
showing notification of the recent act Of
Congress. 1t would thus seem to me that
we had nullifiers here in Washington in
the Executive branches of the government.
He understood that according to these
opinions, the President was to exercise the
power of appointment during the recess of
Congress, Notwithstanding the recent act of
Congress which undertook TO regulate the
tenure of Office. Now all know the astute-
ness of lawyers, and it was sometimes said
lawyers drive in coach, and six through an
act of parliament or even of Congress.
Perhaps the administration was about to
drive coach and six through the recent
act of Congress. In other words 1t was
about to force on the country officers who
cannot be officers under the law. Itseemed
important that before the Senate adjourned
it should know the precise state Of the
question; they should know whether any
such opinion had been given and the rea-
SONS for it. The resolution was agreed to.
A resolution to print 5000 copies of the
army register of 1856, and a resolution to
print 5000 extra copies of the report on the
repairs of the Mississippi levees were
passed.
Mr.. Anthony reported back the proposed
new rule Of the Senate, that all resolutions
calling upon the Executive or any of the
departments for information be first re-
ferred to a committee. ..r"
Mr.. Cameron said there were many rea-
sons why they should not be adopted. He
thought they had trouble enough now with
out being further encountered by rules. OBJ
lection being made by him, the resolution
went over. Mr.. Thayer called up his reso-
luton calling on the President to furnish
| information about the absence of the Gov
ernor of Colorado territory, and whether
| he had been paid during his absence, etc.
| At the suggestion of Mr.. Cameron, Mr.
Thayer consented 10 let the resolution go
over informally during of Mr.. Buckalew's
absence.
On motion of Mr.. Williams, the Senate
went into Executive session.
After a secret session of several hours,
/ Mr. Williams called up the resolution for
adjournment sine die, on Wednesday the
| 10th inst. 1t was moved to amend by
meeting on Saturday next.
Mr. Howe suggested Monday.
Mr.. Fessenden opposed the resolution,
| and said he did not believe the Republi-
| cans could answer to their constituents if
they went home without waiting for yacan-
| cies to be filled.
Mr.. Chandler said he was willing to take
the responsibility of adjourning now, and if
| Andy johnson was an obstacle in any way,
it would be found out by July, whether or
not they could run the government with
out him. For himself he would not be
driven into confirming Copperheads and
Rebels, because otherwise the vacancies
| would remain untitled =
Mr.. Fessenden replied that the Presi-
dent had as much right to say the Senate
stood in his way as the Senate had to say
he stood In their way, and as much right to
say he would find a way of running the
machine without Senate as they had with
| out a President He didn't commit any
improbable offense by nominating officers
but he would if he failed TO nominate them.
So long as the President preferred to nomi-
nate his political friends the Senate had the
right TO reject them.
Mr.. Conkling was willing to stay as long
as might be necessary to induce or compel
| the President to have some regard for pub
lie interest in the character of men whom
he sent TO the Senate for confirmation. He
was perfectly willing that o1t of every two
| officers, one should be filled by friend of
the President and the other by Republi-
can, but he didn't understand the President
to be willing this should be done.
Mr.. Trumbull hoped the Senate would fix
| a day for adjournment; the President would
then send in his nominations for all the
! vacancies.
| Mr.. Sumner was opposed TO this, urging
the necessity for remaining to see the tenure
/ of Office act enforced A motion was IA
vored fixing Monday for adjournment; if
the Senate and the President could come
together at all they could BY Monday at
5 o'clock. II the President continued 10
send 10 the Senate one class 0f nominations
and the Senate continued to reject them,
there would be no end 20 the session. One
or the other must yield. Were the Repub-
hcans to yield TO and confirm Democratic
nominsiions2 No one supposed that the
President would yield, but as he was not
in the Presidents confidence he was una
bic 10 say.
Mr.. Cameron was in favor Of fixing day
for adjournment He would prefer We'd
nesday at o'clock, that would afford
ample time for the business, and give
notice to the President what they intended
TO do. If the President met them by that
time, then they could adjourn and 60
1 home.