The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-03-05
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON. February 2


amendment the Sena.e-Sherman- -Compro-
mise Military-Government-Negro-Suf f.
frage Bill There was no debate and less
Of the excitement and interest which have
been manifested during the past few days.
with the exception of the votes of Hub
bell, of Ohio, and Hawkins, Of Tennes-
see. The measure finally passed by a
party vote. The measure then went back
to the Senate for concurrence in the
House amendment. A long but tedious
debate sprung up in that body, remarka-
BILE only for declaration from Senator
Reverdy johnson, that he should vote for
the bill, not because he liked it, but be-
cause he believed it contained the best
terms of reconstruction which the South
could secure. Senator Doolittle offered
an amendment to the bill, that it should
not affect those who had been pardoned
by the President, but it was voted down,
and at II P. n. the bill was passed by
ayes, twenty FIVE, and nays seven. Rev
erdy johnson voted for It. 1t. now goes
to the President. He will not, it is we'll
understood, avail himself of his constitu-
tional privilege to pocket it, but will re-
turn it this week to the House in which
it originated, with his veto.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE MILITARY RE-
CONSTRUCTION BILL.
It has been .rumored here for several
days that the President would sign the
military reconstruction bill containing the
Blaine amendment, but there seems to be
nc good foundation for such report. 1t
is quite certain that Mr.. Blaine and those
who have co-operated with him in secu.
ring the passage of the measure have no
belief whatever that the President will
approve it.
February 21.
The only event in Congress to-day
worthy of special attention was the con.
sideration, in the House, of the Senate
Compsund-Interest Note Funding bill,
reported back under instructions, with an
amendment repeating all laws giving the
secretary of the Treasury the power to
contract the currency. Thad. Stevens
offered a virtual substitute for the bill,
proposing to authorize the issue of one
hundred millions of simple legal tender
notes, to take the place of the maturing
eompound.interest notes, and thereby be-
come the reserved fund Of the national
banks. 1t was contended that there was
nothing looking towards expansion in
this, but when the vote was taken every
expansienist voted for it and every con-
tractioniat against it. the East and the
West being fairly divided. The section
depriving the Secretary of his present
power to contract was stricken out, and
the bill was then passed providing for the
issue Of an additional hundred millions
of greenbacks. The bill, however, has
not the slightest chance Of passing the
Senate. The Finance Committee of that
body are united against imitation, and will
insist on funding the maturing compound
interest notes into four per cent. loan GER
| tifcates.
February 22.
General Grant was on the floor Of the
Senate to day urging the passage of the
| House bill to transfer the Indian Bureau
to the control of the War Department;
but after protraeted struggle it was de-
feated by large vote.
The House took up the gigantic claims
of the contractors of the iren-clads, and
instead of adopting the Senate measure,
passed bill referring the whole subject
to the Secretary of the Navy. This is
virtually a defeat of the claims; the
amount involved reaches millions. There
vas much waiiing and gnashing of teeth
in consequence IN the lobby.
THE MILITARY RECONSTRUCTION BILL BE-
FORE THE CABINET.
i The Cabinet, at its meeting to- day, took
up and discussed the Military Recon
struction bill passed by Congress on
Wednesday. No doubt was felt at the
adjournment butthat the President would
on Tuesday or Wednesday next, send in
his message returning the bill, with his
objections. Several conservative mem
bers of Congress, in convention to-day,
urged him to sign it, on the ground tha,
Iif he did not it would lead to extreme
Legislation against the Executive in the
next Congress.
SURRATT.
| 1t is the intention to commence the
trial of Surratt early in March. His
counsel are actively engaged in preparing
his defence. The three principal wit
nesses for the government are st. Marie,
who discovered Surratt in Rome: Welch-
man, who testified before the Military
| Commission; and Lloyd, the man who
received the firearms from Mrs. Surrat
at the tayernin Maryland. They are al
here. .ss,a l-eaa -.
A Horses Petition to the Driver