Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-05
FROM WASHINGTON.
Congressional Proceedings.


iorgan presented a memorial of the ma
ional academy Of designs, asking a speci-
&c duty Of 800 on imported paintings.
Mr. Towards resolution Of inquiry into
he action Of the executive branch Of the
government in reference to the intervention
f France in Mexican affairs, was laid
,ver
The petition Of the army officers for an
Increase Of pay was referred TO the Military
Committee.
The following petitions were presented
.eferred: For increase Of tariff on import
d wool for reduction of duty on railroad
ron.
The following bills were introduced: To
devote a portion of the Leavenworth reser-
walton for public roads authorizing the
Of bridge across the Missouri
river at Fort Leavenworth; one granting
pre-emption rights to settlers on Cherokee
lands in Kansas.
The bill regulating the tenure of Office
was taken up, ana the question being on
Mr.. Saulsbury's amendment to repeal the
entire confsaation bill instead Of the thir-
teenth section, Mr.. johnson argued at
length in favor Of the pardoning power
resting solely in the Executive.
Mr.. johnson said In the convention
which framed the constitution great differ
enCes Of opinion existed, bat it was finally
concluded to vest the pardoning power in
the President alone. OF course such
power could not be given to more than one
department Of the government 1t was
granted to the President in most eompre-
hensive terms, and without limitation.
First, he had the right 10 issue an amnesty
proclamation, and combatted the right OF
Congress to do 50, and quoted from Justice
Story and others in opposition to it. The
power to do a thing, he said, implied the
possession of the means to do it, which did
not rest in the hands of Congress. Its
power was solely legislative, while that OF
the President was executive.
After some further remarks Mr.. Johnson
went on TO say that party must be indicted
and tried before he could be adjudged
guilty of treason. 1t wounded his sensl-
bility as an American citizen to see incar'
cerated for two years, on a charge of treason,
man of delicate frame, who invoked and
plead for trial. 1t violated all ideas OF
American justice.
Mr.. Howard asked what power had the
courts to bring such 4 prisoner to justice
without an order from the President OF the
United States, by whose order he was in
carcerated?
Mr.. johnson said if he was prisoner o
war he could not be tried for treason at all
AZ to whose fault it was, he said the Presi,
dent had directed him to be surrendered
to the civil authorities.
Mr.. Howard asked whose business 1t wa,
to issue the warrant?
Mr.. Johnson.-The court before whom
he was directed to be tried was bound Il
issue the warrant.
Mr.. Howard said that was undoubtedly so
but on the request Of the President his
law officers had given an opinion which
prev, nted the trial from taking place.
Mr.. johnson believed it had been said
that the Chief Justice could not preside
because Congress had changed the circuits
but whoever the fault lay with he thought
it approached to an injustice that he was
kept where he was. If he (Johnson) had
been President, he would have pardoned
JEFF. Davis. In his opinion, such punish
ment TO men already subjugated, would be
called by the world inhuman. He depre'
Gated harsh measures towards those in re-
bellion, believing a conciliatory policy
would strengthen the government, while
severity would be disastrous in its re.
suits, Such course would set America
above the world and we would again be as
brothers having one flag and one country
Mr.. Howe protested against the charge
of inhumanity against the government, and
said that no government had been so sinned
against, and yet was so forgiying. The
guilt of the war rested on Rebels, who
commenced it, and, though they had forfeit.
ed their lives they hadnot been taken. The
Senator had said off he were President he
would pardon JEFF, Davis" If he (Howe)
had been President he would have tried
and punished him. "Davis might die in
Fortress Monroe" If he (Howe) had beer
President, he would have died there long
ago and no feeling of guilt would trouble
him.
After further discussion, between How
ard, Hendricks, Salisbury, Trumbull, and
Chandler, az to the Pardoning power of the
President and his use thereof the amend.
ment Of Mr.. Salisbury was lost.
The bill was read third time and
passed, by the following vote Yeas
C1ttell, Chandler, Conness, Crogan, Cres-
well, Edmunds, Fessenden, Foster, Fowler
Henderson, Howard, Howe, Kirkwood
Lane, Morgan, Morrill,, Poland, Ramsey,
Ross, Sherman, Stewart, Sumner, Trum-
bull Wade. Wiley, Williams and Wilson.
Nays-Dixons Doolittle, Hendrick, John
son, Norton, Patterson and Salisbury.
HoUsE.-Mr.K asson, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported a postOfice
appropriation bill. 1t appropriates 500
100000 for the next fiscal year, of which
SS,600,000 is for inland transportation.
Mr.. Stephens reported fortifcation APP
preparation bill. 1t appropriates $50, 600
for Fort WAYNE Michigan; 100000 for
Fort Alcatras, California, and $4,000 for
surveys in Northern and Northwestern
States.
A resolution that the people ought not
to be taxed further at present for the re
duction of the public debt was referred to
the Ways and Means Committee.
A resolution was adopted, requesting the
Secretary of the Treasury TO give the
amount of internal revenue collected in the
first Illinois district during each month Of
the past year, the amount of penalties, the
amount RENTED by the department, and
the reason for such remission.
A resolution was adopted, instructing
the Committee on Ways and Means to in
quire into the expediency of discriminat-
ing in tariff in favor of free-grown sugar,
molasses and coffee, and against slave
grown.
A bill furnishing by fine and imprison-
ment persons guilty of bribery to secure
the election of Congressman, disqualifying
such persons from holding Office, was re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
A bill giving the Court of Claims juris-
diction in Ohio and Indiana, so as TO cover
losses during Morgan's raid, was referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
The Postoffice Committee was instructed
to inquire why the mail route from Spring
field, Missouri, to San Francisco is not put
into operation.
The Secretary Of the Treasury was re-
quested to furnish information relative to
cotton claims.
The bill to restore the late Rebel States
to political rights was taken up.
Mr.. Bingham made few remarks, de-
clining TO make his argument to-day.
On motion, the House then resolved
itself into committee of the whole on the
Presidents message.
Mr. Lawrence, Of Ohio, obtained the
floor, and addressed the committee on his
bill to repeal the statute of limitations in
cases of treason. The act Of 1890, he said,
limits the time within which prosecutions
for treason can be made to three years from
the commission Of the offense, and, there
fore, the early treason of JEFF. Davis and
others cannot now be punished. The late
treason of Davis, however, would be enough
to sustain a prosecution, but for one fact
an act was issued, July u, 1862, for the
punishment of those engaged in rebellion,
and in the Chapman treason trial in San
Francisco, in October, 1863, Justice Field