Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-05-12
CONGRESSIONAL.

| "a ~
SENATE. Tuesday, May 5.-At y NJ. the
Chief Justice took his seat and the Court of I'M
peachment was opened. NJ. Bingham then
proceeded with his a, gumenr on the part OF the
| prosecution At 4 p NJ, without concluding
| his remarks, Mr.. Bingham asked for an adjourn
ment and the Court adjourned The Senate
| Immediately afterwards adjourned ILV
| HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvE s.- The Speaker
announced the following Special Committee of
| Investigation upon the charges preferred by
Mr.. Washburne against Mr.. Donnelly Ma
| Thomas, of Maryland; Luke p. Poland, of
Vermont; John A. Grswold, of New York;
Austin Blair, of Michigan; George W. Wood
ward, of pennsylvania, and James b. Beck, OF
Kentucky. Mr. Dawes offered resolution
providing that the same committee shall In
vestigate the charges relating to the .Inlsappro-
| priation Of the sum Of sixty thousand dollars
made by Mr.. Brooks against MIR. Butler on
Friday last Without acting ON the resolution
the House went into Committee of the Whole
and proceeded to the Senate chamber. After
the return of the members the House was again
called to order and number of communications
were introduced and disposed of. Mr. Don
nelly introduced a bill providing for grant OF
lands to aid in the construction of railroad
from Taylor Falls to the western boundary OF
the State of Minnesota, which was referred to
the Committee On Public Lands. This is the
bill formerly objected to by Mr. Washburne,
from which originated the disgraceful Wash
burne Donnelly controversy. The resolution
offered by Mr.. Dawes during the morning hour
was taken up, and after long discussion avote
was ordered on it, but pending the roll call the
House adjourned. .,. 81 -s,-.
SENATE. Wednesday, May Cat II NJ.
the Court of impeachment was opened. MIR.
Bingham concluded the closing argument for
the prosecution. At the close of Mr.. Binghem'
speech there was great applause, which the
Chief Justice was unable to reparess, and he
therefore ordered the galleries to be cleared
After some discussion the order was enforced
and all the galleries, including the reporters
gallery, were cleared At P. NJ. the doors
were reopened, having been closed about fifteen
minutes. While the doors were closed motion
was made by Senator Morrill, to adjourn the
trial until Saturday but it was voted down and
the regular order Of business was taken up
The Chief Justice stated that the case on, the
part of the House of Representatives was closed
and that the question was on the amendments
to the rules An order was adopted requiring
the audience to retire, and the Court remained
in secret session until 2. NJ, when it adjourn
ed. During the secret session the motion al
lowing the official reporters to be present during
the debates In secret session. with an amend
ment restricting members to speeches Of fifteen
minutes each, was laid on the table. The Sen
ate was called to order and immediately adjourn
ed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, .-Thc House
met at II NJ. and proceeded as usual to attend
the impeachment trial. The members returned
at 8. 80 Z. N. and the House was called to order
Mr.. Stevens made an explanation in relation to
his connection with the Alta Vela case and
said that when be signed the letter which had
been sent to Mr.. johnson, he did not know that
1T was to be laid before the President or that it
was to be used at all by Judge Black He then
went on to abuse Mr. Nelson for referring to
the matter. in extremely offensive language,
which caused some discussion, and Mr. Stevens
retracted whatever was supplementary 10 his
remarks. Nlr. Banks was excused from serving
on the Washburne- Donnelly investigating COM
mlttee. A number OF communications were re-
ceived and disposed Of The House, at 5. 80, Z. |
NJ, adjourned
SENATE Thursday. May The Court of
Impeachment was opened at II NJ, and after
short discussion the doors were closed until
6.l5 7. NJ. when open session was resumed
and the Senate was called to order During !
the secret session Of the Court number of or
ders were discussed, but the only ones of i'm
portance adopted were that the final vote on
the article Of impeachment shall be taken on
Tuesday next and that the Chief Justice shall
pTCpdIG lUIilI VI QuGStiUtlS " NC W
the members when called on for their verdict.
The Court adjourned until Monday at II clock
A. NJ to allow the Chief Justice time to prepare
the questions The Senate adjourned until
Monday at 10 A. III.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, bill was
introduced by Mr.. Pike requesting the Presi-
dent to send feet to the Gulf of st. Lawrence
of sufficient force to protect the rights of Amer
lean citizens under existing treaties After a
long discussion the bill was passed-yeas 90,
nays 49, Mr.. Griswold was excused from serv-
ing on the Washbume Donnelly investigating
committee, and Messrs Jenckes and Pomeroy
were appointed to supply the vacancies in it
A bill providing for the establishment OF a line
of steamships between Philadelphia and one or
more European ports was introduced and referr-
ed to the Committee on Commerce. A bill was
introduced by Mr.. Stone to create post routes
IN Howard, Anne Arundel and Calvert counties,
Maryland. 1t was referred to the Committee
on Post offices and Post Roads. Mr.. Robinson,
of New York, offered resolution providing for
the expunging ofthe resolution of imprachment
from the records of the House, but the Speaker
decided that it was not in proper form, and it
was withdrawn. Without transacting any other
business of importance the House, at 4.25 2.
NJ, adjourned. ........,...