The New York herald., 1868-05-07
WASHINGTON, May Q, 1868.


THE COAsY sURvER REPORT.
The SPEAKER laid before the House letter from
the Secretary OF the Treasury transmitting the Coast
Survey Report for 1867.
Mr.. LAWRENCE, (rep.) OF Ohio offered resolution
that there be printed $4,000 copies Of the report
one thousand to be distributed by the Snperntend-
ant OF the Coast Survey and the remainder by the
members of the House.
PROPOSED RAILROAD BETWEEN NEW YORK AND
WASHINGTON.
Mr.. KELSEY. trep.) OF n: T., presented the memo.
that bill be passed by COngrass authorizing the
construction OF a railroad between New YORK ana
washington Also memorial OF sne ci',zens o' a tne
authorizing the construction OF an air line raiir0ad
from New York city TO Washington.
THE TENTH ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT.
The SPEAKER said the pending question was on the
consideration OF the preamble and resolutions sub
mitted yesterday by Mr.. Cary, and ON which the
yeas and nays had been ordered but - time would
be consumed in taking them, and as the House was
now about to proceed TO the bar Of the Senate action
on that subject would De postponed until their RETURN
Mr.. WAsHBuRNE. TepD Of ILL.,, said that after the
House snail nave disposed OF Mr.. Carey's PROPOSE
ton he would move TO go into Committee OF the
Whole the State Of the Union to enable the gentle
men to make speeches.
MR.. STEVENS AND ALTA vELA
Mr. STEVENS, (rep.l Of Pa wished to say that after
the House should return from the Senate he proposed
TO make personal explanation as to the Alta Vela
affair." which he was prevented from doing on Friday
by the laying OF the resolution on that subject on the
table.
The members of the House then proceeded to the
bar Of the Senate.
THE ORDER OF BUSINESS
After the members returned from the Senate at
quarter to four O'Clock, Mr.. WAsHBURNE, Of ILL.,,
inquired whether 1t was In order to make report
from the chairman OF the committeeY
The SPEAKER caused to be read the rule adopted
on the Goth OF March, substantially as fOllows:-
Mr.. Boutwell,, from the impeachment Managers reported
resolution that the days the shall sit for the
Whoe VIII attend with the Managers at the bar OF the Sem
ate at the hour named for the proceedings.
The SPEAKER said that the Senate, having gone
into secret session for deberation it was impossible
for the House and Managers to remain Therefore
they had to return to the House and await an invita-
ton to return thither.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE, (dem.) OF Wis.,, rose to question of
order.
The SPEAKER asked whether he appealed
Mr.. ELDRDGE SAID he insisted that, according to
the resolution, the House could do no business while
the Senate were considering the question OF i'm
peachment.
The SPEAKER said the members must be either In
the Senate or in their own hall.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE suggested fact OF which the
Speaker and every member must be aware He did
not do this with any intention OF disrespect to the
Chair, or to re ist any decis the Chair m ght
| make. He was in the Senate when the order OR
secret session was adopted for the purpose as he
understood of considering the pending questions.
The Senate might be In session only i've minutes He
insisted that this was merely a suspension OF the
public acts Of the Senate and that, therefore, the
House could transact no business without violation
Of its own order.
The SPEAKER said he had taken some pains to
suit with excellent parliamentardns The House
might have had to remain in the corridors Of the
Senate for hours owing to the Senate going into
secret session. The House having thus been excluded
it was their duty to return to their own hail.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE asked whether In case the Senate
doors should be open the House could he considered
IN session when they were there In pursuance OF
their own OrderY
The SPEAKER said 1t could not be; that theoreti-
cally the House was now at the bar OF the Senate
Mr.. ROBINSON (dem.I Of N. Y, rose TO point Of
order He moved that the House adjourn. That
would bring up the question.
The SPEAKER replied that the motion to adjourn
admitted of no other question.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE, OF Ill., reported that the House,
as Committee OF the Whole, had attended at the
bar of the Senate, that the arguments had been
consideration. Therenpon the committee returned
to the House in company with the Managers.
Mr.. ROBINSON said II the House was regularly In
session they had the right to adjourn.
The SPEAKER remarked that u the House adjourned
it could not respond to the invitation OF the senate
TO return.
Mr.. ROBINSON withdrew his motion.
THE ALTA vELA CONTROVERSY.
| Mr.. STEVENS, Fcp) OF Pa, asked leave to make .
personal explanation. He would not occupy more
then ten minutes.
Mr. ELDRIDGE said that yesterday he asked only
five minutes for explanation and that the House re-
fused to accord It,
| Mr.. STEVENS replied that he did not object.
Unanimous permission was given to the last named
gentleman. when he began to read from his seat a
manuscript Many SAID they could not hear him,
| and, complying with requests from several drec.
tions he took position at The Clerks desk and read
as follows:-
Personal explanations are not to my taste; but in
the case of Alta vea my Managers having deemed
piclous circumstance that have not done When
that question before the House u was laid ON
the table before II reached me. ! VIII now briefly
state all know of the matter. Some time early in
the session some person. whose name do not recol-
lect asked me what was the law OF nations In case
the citizens OF one country were in quiet possession
OF an island and had been orcibly elected by another
nation in favor Of other catmantsS had not for
gotten the heated discussion which took place reia-
hi, vaInn nIS niln nf hn
of no value, except far as the national honor was
concerned, and answered that the nation whose
citizens had been orc,o elctseG ,se1 ~ WSua .st pe
their bill In the ordinary way. declined To give
written opinion. as was not In the practice OF the
law heard no more OF the subject until about
two months ago General Gariied called at my seat
with paper letter which he said was copy o
the opinion / had gwen ana asked me II woulo
Al this point Mr. STEVENS asked the Clerk to con
tnue tho reading, remarking that his throat wa
sore.
The Clerk accordingly rcad-I took II withou
reading and put my name to II with others. Ill,
not then know Its contents, but having since read
more until within a few weeks. when II was pro
duced In the Senate by Mr.. Nelson, one Of the coun
sci for the President Al the time signed II hat
l any idea that Judge Black or his son had any
thing to do with H. Had known that fact, however
| Judge BLACK for more than thirty years. and aside
| from his unfortunate politics. have known him 70
he a very able lawyer and upright Judge, whO nas
hardly been equaled by any member oil the pencl.
This letter. find, written by General Butter 70
j. W. Shafer. When written do not Know. J
gives mis- opinion as to the right Of reganng posses
| sion OF Alta vela 1t Is nowhere addressed y tne
President or any Of his counsel or to any member on
his government. 1t makes no alus0D 70 ihpeaeY
| ment nor contains any nsipuation oi clemency on
any condition. II IL was ever to be shown 70 III nun,
his counsel Cabinet II was without te saucsion o
the wr,ters at least so far az am concerned.
What then had this letter 10 do vita he prosecution
| which Mr.. Nelson was discussing VI was no. at
dressed 20 the President his advisers OF Kindred;
did not make the most distant reference 10 any one
OF the charges in the articles OF Impeachment, nor
could II be construed by any homes, nian 10 nave any
not been given in evidence nor referred 70 untll
| some days after the testimony was closed and when
| tne counsel were summing up. think no honora.
ble man would have used II TO assa the motives of
brother counsel, as It was dragged IN irreevantly
gap,,eman 4 can easily forgive him. Ills speech
does NOT profess to touch the question OF impcach.