New-York tribune., 1868-02-06

StNDs NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF MIN
IsTER TO ENGLAND-sURkArI.
n, ,.rsasAPa &c TRIsuNr
WASHINGTON. Wednesday, Feb. s. 1868
Fbe publication of the Grant-JohnsOn corresponds
snce excites deal of comment in political and non
roHtcal circles. The Presidents friends think that
be has used up Grant badly, while Grants supporters
held that he has completely routed Johnson Ran
laIl O. Co.. but outside of the question of veracity
involved in the dispute, and on which the puphc
will form their own judgment. the correspondence
assumes another aspect more important in its conse-
sUences to one of the principals and TO the country
at large. The Reconstruction Committee was III ses
SION TODAY. and among the subjects discussed was
this correspondence, which was referred 10
them Yesterday il debated at great
length. and in cool and dispassiOnate man
aer The Committee were almost unanimously
Of tho opinion that the President, in ordering Gen
Grant to dsobey the Secretary of War; acted in clear
violation of the law and that it showed determl-
nation on his part to defeat the laws of Congress
This phase OF the correspondence was discussed nj
length. and it was finally agreed that a subcommlt-
tee. composed of Representatives Bingham and Bout
we'll should be appointed to investigate all the facts
bearing on il, and if, the Committee believe
the President has violated any of the laws said sub
committee are empowered TO draw up articles OF i'm
peachmont aud present them at the next meeting of
the Committee The conduct of certain Cabinet Off
GERS is also to be investigated by the Committee, aud
IT. as there reason for supposng conspiracy to de
rod
to include such officers in the articles of impeach-
Inent 1t is rather significant that Mr.. Bingham and
other members Of Congress who have always opposed
impeachment the ground of insufficient legal eV-
dence for so doing the prime movers in these pro
seedings aud in favor OF taking immediate steps
10 bring Mr. Johnson 10 the bar of the Senate There
seems to be little doubt in the Committee that John
son has at last oyerstepped the hne and has put him.
self completely at the mercy of Congress. 1t IS
hinted that the Committee in possession OF other
facts duplicating Mr.. johnson in actions IN direct
violation of law, and that no doubt whatever exists
that o clear case can be made out against him. Gen.
Grant is to be examined by the Committee during
the week. and the report will probably be
presented to the House on Monday. IL may
be remembered that a bill is pending in
the Senate regulating the proceedings in case OF
impeachment aud providing that on presentment OF
articles of impeachment against any officer. said
officer shall cease to act in official capacity, and
that in case the President the offender the officer
next in authority shall have power to call on the
land and naval forces 10 enforce the laws. l may
add that the two Democratic members of the com
mittee-Brooks and Beek-were not present to-day,
and that the subcommittee is In session tonight
investigating the charges against the President.
The Presidents expected rejonder to Grants letter
of the Sd instant did not get out to-day, owing to
pressure of important official duties upon the Execu
tive. This correspondence may be looked for to-
morrow, and is 10 be accompanied by a separate
statement Of four members of the Cabinet, each
sying his own account of what took place between
the President and Gen. Grant in presence of Messrs
McCuIoch, Randall Welles, and Browning at the
Cabinet meeting on the 18th of January.
In the Senate to-day, after some discussion. bill
was passed authorizing the Secretary of War TO EN-
ploy counsel to defend Gen. Meade and some of his
subordinates against whom it said Gov. Jenk-
ins of Georgia intends to bring action IN the United
States Courts Senator Howard and others thought
ch legislation necessary, as Attorney-General stan
bery. with his known views Of the uncOnstitutlon-
aty of the Reconstruction bills could not appear IN
Gen Meades defense. The debate the Re
construction bill was resumed at
o'clock Senator Morrill, of Maine made
three-bours speech Of great force
and irresistible argument. Toward the close
of his remarks ne created much amusement at the
expense Of Gauet Davis by exhuming from the re-
cords of the Senate string of resolutions which
were offered by the Kentucky Senator in paroXysln
Of patriotism during the session of 1862 One OF these
resolutions distinctly asserts the right of Congress TO
reduce tho Rebel States to territorial condition IN
the event Of their continued resistance to the
tional authority. 1t goes much further threaten
ing than Congress has yet gone in action. Garret
was considerably worried, aud wanted to explain,
but though he got opportunity to do So said that
be would not avail himself of it until he was ready
TO address the Senate at length which he threatened
to do in a few days. Everybody laughed but Garrct
when Morrill, showed whence the first announcement
of the territorial doctrine came The honor of sug-
gesting il lies between Mr. Sumner and the venerable
Kentuckian.
EThe House hal long session to-day. aud finally
disposed of Mr. Julians bill declaring forfeited GER
tain public lands that had been granted to Southern
railroads. The vote the final passage stood 50
Yeas to % Nays. There was a great deal OF oppos-
tOn to the bill from special interests represented by
members the floor. During debate on Bankss
report on the rights of American citizens abroad
Mr.. Logan obtained the floor, and made personal
explanation, which excited the House FOR at least 20
minutes He charged that Mr.. Marshall of Illinois
had recently printed in The Globe three columns
more matter than he had spoken when he made his
speech on the floor and that the speech appeared
m a.. ,I ~.