The national Republican., 1867-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
EVENING SESSION.
GEN ATE

luton to provide for tho erection Of an equestrian
statue Of Gen. Scott, to be made Of guns captured
in Mexico, 70 bc placed over his grave at West
Point at cost not exceeding $50 OO0 was taken up.
Mr.. Grimes moved to strk6 out lover his grave |
at West Point - and insert 'n one Of the public |
squares in the city Of Washington, to be designated
by the Secretary Of War"
The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman moved to amend by providing that
the statue shall be placed in Franklin Square, un.
less otherwise ordered by the Secretary Of War
Adopted
Mr.. Sumner desired to enter his protest against
this statue being placed In Franklin Square. II
was the FIRST instance Of statue ever being placed
in such position.
Mr.. Sherman reminded the Senator Of the Jack.
son monument In front Of the Presidents House.
Mr.. Sumner. An abominStiop, and properly put
whore II could not be seen.
The joint resolution was then passed.
The confederation Of tho Civil Appropriation bill
was then proceeded with.
Mr. Edmunds offered the following amendment
which was adopted:
The ofiee Of Commissioner Of Public Buildings Is
hereby abolished; and IL shall be the duty Of tho
President, by and with the advice and consent Of
the Senate, to designate competent civil engineer,
who shall perform all tho duties now required by
law Of the Commissioner Of Public Buildings and
who shall also have superintendence Of the Wash.
ington aqueduot aud all the public works and i'm
provements Of the United States In the District Of
NOlunDlht unless OtneFWlso ptoNlueu py lhWi hnu
the President pro tenn of tho Senate and the
Speaker Of tho House shall hereafter appoint the
members Of tho Capitol police.
The compensation Of the now officer was fixed
at 81, 900 per annum.
Tho amendment authorizing the payment Of such
assistant assessors actually employed 10 the
collection Of the internal revenue In the rebel
States prior to August l. 1866 being under con-
sideration,
Mr, Trumbull opposed Its adoption. The socre-
tary had employed rebels who could not take the
oath prescribed by law to these petitions They
had been appointed in direct violation OF the law,
and should not be paid.
Mr.. Sherman said the Secretary had been unable
to find competent persons In many Of the rebel
States to collect the revenue who able to take
the oath and had therefore been obliged to make
these appointments.
Mr.. sumner said tho Secretary Of tho Treasury
had been guilty of,n crime. He had made this
appointment in violation Of the law, but to carry
out his insane policy Of reconstruction. The Sena-
tor from Ohio Mr.. Shermanl was endeayoring to
cover up crime when he advocated the payment
Of these men out Of the pockets Of the loyal people
Of the country.
Mr.. Sherman said the Senator had used language
which was neither parliamentary nor gentlemany
lie charged him with endeavoring to cover up
crime. 1t was false. There was no claim more
just than that Of these mon. The former Post.
master General Mr.. Denisonl had pursued the
same policy as the Secretary Of the Treasury, and
alleged the same reasons. That official had also
appointed men who could not take the oath, and
they had been paid
Mr. Chandler said the Secretary had committed
a crime, but these men were innocent, and should
be paid.
Mr.. Sumner. There is a better way. Let the
Secretary pay them out Of his pocket.
Mr.. Chandler lie is not able
Mr.. Sumner, Make him. Laughter
| Mr.. Chandler lie can't do it-he Is q pauper-
| he can't nav nna lundraIilt M ri of Tho Gny
ernment should pay these innocent people who did
the work. but the Secretary Is the criminal and he
should be impeached.
Mr.. Trumbull said the Reconstruction Commit.
tee would bear him out in. the assertion that the
great complaint Of the Southern loyalists who came
| hero was that the rebels had all the Offices.
| Mr.. BuckaleW said no persons had been ap-
pointed to the principal Offices who were unable to
take the oath These parties were merely the rs.
sistants. lie also alluded to the term pauper, as
used by Mr.. Chandler.
| Mr.. Chandler had no doubt tho Secretary could
buy q leaf Of bread but he would be pauper II he
had to pay these claims, unless he had stolen more
money from the Treasury than was probable. The
Secretary he'd made very good clerk in a little
bank in the West, and n very good clerk hero, but
q very poor Secretary. lie knew nothing about
finances and II he Mr.. Chandler was to give him
charge Of his dry goods store in Detroit, he would
soon swamp it. Turning politician had ruined him
Mr.. Sumner. He is q very bad politician.
Mr.. Chandler lie is worse dnancier. Laugh
ter.
Mr.. Lane defended the Secretary. lie had the
utmost confidence in his ability and integrity. In
stead Of his being the clerk Of little bank, he wai
the president of the State Bank Of Indiana with
thirty branches and capital Of five millions, and
had managed its affairs with great ability. Mr.
Lincoln had personal knowledge Of his capacity
and had offered him tho position he now held.
Mr.. Fessenden said If any other man had boeT
in the position Of the Secretary, and had done wha
he did, and had been in political accord with thu
majority here, not one word would have been sale
about his course. lie [Mr. I. had the creates
confidence in the integrity Of Mr.. McCulloch. Al
to tho remarks Of tho Senator from Michigan, Mr.
Chandler, he could not reply to them. Such Ian
guage and terms had been used that ho could no
consent to reply to. As to that Senator's estimate
Of Mr. McCuOch's financial abilities, he differed
entirely The Senator'S estimate of financial abil
ity seemed to bo measured by tho depth Of mani
pocket, but he would remind him that the greatest
Gnancier We ever had. Alexander Hamilton, died
poor.
Mr. Sumner said tho Senator from Maine treated
the action of the Secretary as trivial offence
! He Mr.. s. treated II as crime, and now, from
his seat as a Senator Of tho United States, he ar
raigncd that Secretary for his crime. lie wondered
that the thunder Of Congress had so long slept.
Mr.. Sprague said he should have acted just a.
the Secretary had acted.
Mr.. Wilson moved to amend by inserting tha
the Secretary of the Treasury had violated the Law
in appointing these officers but as they guilt!
Of no offence they should in equity be paid
Tho debate was continued at great length
On motion of Mr. Brown, the Senate, at ll.45 p
m adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Schenck, Of Ohio from the Committee oil
Military Affairs, reported back Senate bill providing
for temporary increase in tho pay of officers of tn
army and to to soldiers their pay Of SIG pc
month, with certain unimportant amendments
which were agreed to- and the bill passed
On motion Of Mr.. Paine Of Wisconsin, the Sec
retary Of War was directed to communicate to thi
House the report of the inspection tour made b,
General Rufus Ingalls, in 1865
The House, motion Of Mr.. Morrill,, Of Yer
mont, resolved itself into Committee Of the Who'll
on the tariff bill, Mr.. POmeroy, Of New York, il
the chair
The question recurred upon the tariff on fla
hackled the question being upon motion of MI
Farnsworth, Of Illinois, to make the duty $40 pc
ton, Agreedto
On motion of Mr.. Benjamin, of Missouri th
duty on manufactured Russian hemp was put a
$50 per ton, instead of $40, as reported by tn
Ways and Means Committee.
On motion Of Mr., McRuer, OF California th
duty on Manila, italian and other hemps unmanu
faoured was left as fixed by the Senate, at $50 pc
ton.
Mr. Schonck, of Ohio, moved to mako the dut
on flax straw So per ton Agreed to.
Mr. FarnsWOrth, of Ill, moved to make the dut