The Portland daily press., 1867-07-11
XLth C0N9RESS-Extra Session,
WASHINGTON, July 10.
SENATE

SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner underworld to call up his mo-
ton to rescind the resolution passed ON Fri
day and proceeded to argue the question.
After some debate, in which Mr.. Fessenden
participated, the Senate refused to take up the
resolution.
The reconstruction bill was taken up and
Mr.. Howard took the floor and proceeded to
address the Senate in favor Of the bill. He
did not believe that upon any Just and fair
construction of the reconstruction acts there
was any necessity for additional legislation
and but for the construction given by Attorney
General Stanbery there would have been no
necessity for the passage Of this act. Mr.
Howard denounced the Presidents policy, and
reviewed the opinions of the Attorney General.
The fundamental error of the ATTORNEY Cen
eral was in ignoring the fact that these rebel
States had been subjugated and had lost theft
rights as States
The question was then taken on Mr.. Wilson's
amendment to the second section, authorizing
the commanding generals to appoint civilians
to offices vacated under this section. Inc
amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Drake moved to amend the 9th section
SO as to make it read that no person who has
has been member of the legislature or any
State, who has held any executive or Judicial
Office in any State whether he has taken an
oath to support the constitution OF the States
or not while holding any such office or after
wards engaged in instruction or rebellion, etc.
After debate, Mr.. Trumbull opposing the
amendment on suggestion of Mr.. johnson it
was modified so as to read land whether he
was holding such Office at the time OF the re-
bellion or before" 1t was agreed to.
Mr.. Howard moved as an amendment to the
9th section proviso that the mere act of hav-
ing voted for the ordinance OF secession shall
not of itself be deemed, under this act, as en-
gaging in the rebellion or instruction, nor
shall any person be deemed disqualified mere
~ by reason of his having held an Office as
instinn Of the notary nublip trus
officer, or agent OF any institution OF learning
or commissioner of banks or canals, etc. Mr..
Howard said Gen. Schofeld had made a ruling
which made the above amendment necessary
as regards those who voted for the ordinance
of secession.
A debate ensued, several senators opposing
any opening of the doors to admit rebels, and
Mr. Sumner characterized it as Noah's ark,
In which all the rebels were TO be saved. With.
out taking any action on the amendment, at
$40 the Clerk of the House announced the
action of the House on the death of Charles
Dennison
Messrs. Buckalew and Cameron delivered
eulogies on the deceased, and at P. NJ, as a
mark of respect the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Dawes, the time for taking
testimony in the kentucky case was extended
to December LIST.
Mr.. Nicholson was excused from further SER
vice on the Committee on Elections.
Mr. Shanks, of Ind, asked leave to offer
preamble and set of resolutions reciting that
there has not been any thorough and systemat.
ic investigation Of the treatment of the Union
prisoners of war by the Confederate govern
ment and people, and it is important that such
investigation shall be had and record thereof
be made, and resolving that select commit
tee of five be appointed to make such inyesti-
CATION, record the facts and report the same to
the House at any time, with such recommen-
dations as may seem proper, with power to
send for persons and papers, to appoint a stem
ographer and to report an act of grace and
amnesty for witnesses who may be implicated
Mr. Wood objected to the Introduction Of
the resolutions.
Mr.. Shanks moved to suspend the rules
After debrte the rules were suspended by a
vote of 70 to 38, and the resolutions were in
troduced promising grace and amnesty, which
was copied from that offered the other day by
Mr.. Butler.
Mr. Shanks withdrew that resolution.
Mr.. Spaulding opposed the appointment of
SO many special committees and argued that
the matter should be referred to Mr.. Buffers
committee.
Mr.. Shanks demanded the previous question
or adoption of the resolutions.
The previous question was seconded and the
first and second resolutions adopted. The
third, promising. grace and amnesty to wit
nesses implicated in the crime, was rejected,
81 to rs. The preamble was then modified and
agreed to.
Mr.. Julian introduced bill further to ex-
tend and apply the provisions OF the home
stead act in the States of Alabama, Mississip-
pi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida. Refer
red to the Committee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Robinson, of New York. offered a reso-
luton directing the Committee on Foreign At
fairs to report Immediately whether any Amer
lean citizen has been arrested, tried, convicted
or sentenced in Great Britain or ireland for
wards spoken or acts done in the United
States
Alter debate the resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Washburne, Of Ind, offered resolution
declaring that the burthen of government
should be borne equally; that taxation should
be in proportion to property; that exemption
OF any material portion of the wealth of the
country from its due proportion of taxation is
wror and unjust and should be avoided, and
that to carry out these views the right to tax
the bonds of the government should be given
in any future system of funding bonds.
The House refused to second the previous
question on theadoption of the resolution and
it was, on motion OF Mr.. Pike, referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, from the Committee
on the Judiciary, said: 81 am directed by the
committee to state that it is not prepared to
submit report, but that it will be prepased to
submit report on that subject on any session
that may be held after the 10th of October
next. have been also requested to state the
position occupied by the committee on this
question. Five members of the committee are
of opinion that snch high crimes and misde-
meancrs have not been proved against the
President as would call for his impeachment
Four members of the committee occupy an
opposite position, believing that sufficient
matter has been developed to call for the i'm
parchment of the President. That is all am
directed to state, and I believe that statement
covers all the authority given me by the COM
mittee."
Mr.. Boutwell,, in connection with that sub
ject, offered concurrent resolutions for the adj
lournment of Congress till the 10Th of Octo-
Der.
An animated debate between Messrs. Will
son, Boutwell,, Pike, Williams and Wood
bridge ensued, when, at o'clock, Mr.. Boyer
rose to announce the death of his colleague,
Mr.. Dennison.
The impeachment matter went over till to-
morrow.
After eulogistic remarks on Mr.. Dennison
the House adjourned