The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-22
XLth 00NdRESE-Second Session.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Mr. Williams intro
duced bill to provide for the registration O
electors in territories.
Mr.. Howe introduced a bill for the Commits.
SION 70 examine claims on the War Depart
ment.
On motion of Mr.. Sumner the President was
requested to send the correspondence relative
to the abduction of Allan McDousall, an Amer
lean citizen, III Canada.
Mr. Grimes read from the Globe the report
of speech of Mr.. Hendricks on the recon
struct. on bill, difference of opinion that had
occurred between that Senator and himself
IN regard to telegram having been sent
through by j. L. Harvey, in 1861, informing
the authorities that Fort Sumter was TO be at
tackled, he (Mr. Grimes) having held that the
telegram was to that effect. He sail he re-
membered very distinctly that such had been
the impression OF majority of this body, but
it seemed from letter that bad been received
from Mr.. Harvey they had been mistaken.
The letter was read and considerable discus
sion followed, during which it was charged
that the telegram which Messrs. Cameron
Sumner and Conkling said they had seen was
sent at the instigation of Mr.. Seward, with
out the knowledge Of the rest of the Cabinet
some claiming that Mr. Lincoln had been cog
INFANT. Mr.. johnson charged Mr.. Seward at
that time with having carried on the War and
Navy Departments without the knowledge of
the heads of the Departments The matter
was allowed to drop after some time and the
The Senate took up the special order on the
bill to amend the reconstruction acts so q ma
Jority of the votes cast shall decide the cleo
tons and allow persons registered to vote in
any part of the State.
Mr.. Conkling took the floor and commented
on Mr.. TrumbuI's statement yesterday of his
continuous opposition to the principle of re-
quiring a majority of the registered votes and
be quoted from the Globe to show that that
Senator had voted for it when the bill was
pending.
Mr.. Trumbull explained that he had report
ed the act of March 23d from the Judiciary
Committee, stating that he did SO because it
was agreed to in committee, and that all its
features did not meet his appreciation. None
OF the reconstruction bills were just as he
wanted them, but his experience had shown
that in legislative bodies it was neces .ary to
be practical and have some difference of opin-
ION from his associates, and, therefore, he had
voted for the bill on its final passage.
After further discussion by Messrs. Bowen,
Conkling and Trullbull without reaching a
vote, the Senate went into executive session.
After coming out of executive -st s: ion the
Senate at $50 adjourned.
HOUSE.
The sessions tomorrow will be for general
debate only.
Mr.. Baldwin, from the Joint Committee on
Libraries, reporte an act for securing to the
authors in certain cases the benefit of an in
opement of American literature, and promot-
ing the interests of publishers and book buy
ers in the United States. Ordered to be print
ed and recommitted, with leave to Mr.. Pruyn
to make minority report.
MIR. Jackson from the Committee on Pat
ents reported bill granting leave for appi-
cation for the extension of the patent of Hor-
ace Smith and ID. B. Weston, for Improvement
in repeating firearms the same as il the appI-
cltion had been filed ninety days prior to the
nv ratif1 oft 10, oh IN
having been explained by Messrs. Jencks and
Dawes passed, yeas IS, nays So
Alter some unimportant business the House
went into committee of the whole on the naval
appropriation bill, Mr.. Dawes in the chair.
After debate Mr. Butter offered an amend
ment providing that all unexpended balances
subject to the order of the Secretary of the
NAVY on the first of july 1868, shall Be con-
verted into the Treasury, and that no amount
appropriated in The bill shall be expended or
Drawn while any other unexpended mo lies are
subject to the order OF the Secretary of the
Navy. Agreed to.
The committee rose and the Speaker pre-
sented several Executive communications
which were appropriately referred.
The Speaker presented letter from the
Postmaster General, denouncing as false the
story tending to implcate him in q fraudulent
connivance in letting Southern mail contracts,
and asking thorough searching investigation
into every off ,ial transaction Of the Post Office
Department since he has been connected with
it.
The Speaker presented letter from Secre-
tary Stanton, informing the House of the order
of the President removing him from Office, and
it was referred without debate to the Commit
tee on Reconstruction, with leave to report at
any time.
The House, on motion Of Mr.. Butler, re-
cinded the order that to-morrow's session be
devoted to general debate only, by vote of
104 to 40.
The House again went into committee on
the naval bill.
Mr.. Pike made point of order that Sc ations
3, 4 and were independent legislation, chang
iLg the existing laws, and, therefore, not in or
der in an appropriation bill. The Chairman
sustained the points.
The committee rose and reported the bill to
the House, and it was postponed until Mon
day.
Mr.. Covode, as question of privilege, offer
ed the following resolution:
ResOloed, That Andrew johnson be impeach-
ed for high crimes and misdemeanorsIR
Laughter among the Democratic mem ers
Mr.. Wood objected to the introduction Of
the resolution.
The Speaker stated that the resolution was
a question of privilege.
Mr.. Boutwell, moved a reference of the res
olution to the Committee on reconstruction
which was agreed to.-Adjourned.