The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-06-04
BY TELEGRAPH.
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, June 8

| ciary Commlttee.
Mr.. Thayer presented a bill granting
land to the Iowa and Missouri State
Railroad Company. Referred to Com
mlttee on Finance.
Mr.. Sumner offered resolutions,
! which were placed on the calendar and
ordered to be printed, declaring the
constitutional responsibility of Sena-
tors for votes on impeachment.
| WHEREAS, PretensioH has been put
forth to the effect that the vote OF a
Senator on an impeachment is so far
different in character from his vote on
any other question that the people
have no right TO criticise it; and,
WHEREAS, The pretension, If not dis
conntenanCed. is calculated to impair
that freedom of judgment which be-
| longs TO the people on all that is done
by their representatives, therefore, in
order to remove all doubts on the ques-
ton, and to declare the Constitutional
rights of the people in cnses of i'm
parchment,
ReSolved, That then assuming that
the Senate is a court in the exercise of
| Judicial power, Senators cannot claim
that their votes are exempt from the
Judgment OF the people; that the Su-
preme Court, when it has under
taken TO act on questions essen
TALLY political in character, has
not escaped this Judgment; that
the decision of this high tribunal
in support of slavery has been openly
condemned; that the memorable utter
ance known as the Dred Scott decision
was Indignantly denounced and repu-
dated, while the Chief Justice who
pronounced it became mark of GEN.
sure and rebuke; and that plainly that
the vote OF a Senator on impeachment
cannot enjoy an immunity from popu-
lar Judgment which has been denied to
tho Supreme Court, with Taney AS
Chief Justice.
ReSOLUed, That the Senate is not ut
any time n court invested with judicial
power, but that it is always Senate,
with specific functions declared by the
| Constitutions; that according to the eX-
press words, the Judicial power of the
United States is vested in our Supreme
Court and such inferior courts as Con-
PreSS NAV Ordain and establish,
while it is further provided that the
Senate shall have the sole power to try
oil impeachment, thus positively max
ing a distinction between the judicial
power and the power to try impeach-
ment; that the Senate on an impeach-
ment does not exercise any portion of
the judicial power, but another and a
different power exclusively delegated
to tho Senate, having tor its sole object
the removal from office and disquaIiti-
cation therefrom, that by the terms of
conviction or impeachment, further
trial and punishment according to law,
thus making u discrimination between
proceeding by impeachment and a
proceeding according to law; that the
proceeding by impeachment is not ac-
cording to law, and not attended by
legal punishment, but is of an opposite
character and from the beginning to
the end political. Being instituted by
political body, and on account of
political effenses being conducted be-
lore another political body having
political power only, and ending in Il
judgment which is political only and,
therefore, that the vote of Senator on
impeachment, though different in form
is not different in the responsibility
from his vote on any other political
question, nor can any Senator on such
decision claim immunity from that Just
responsibility which a Representative
at all times owes to his constituents.
RESOLVED, That Senators in all that
they do are under the obligation of an
oath, binding them TO the strictest rec
titude; that on trials of impeachment
they take the further oath according TO
the requirements of the Constitution,
which says: Senators when sitting TO
try Impeachment shall be on onth or
affirmation; that this simple require
ment was never intended to change
the character of the Senate as
political body, and cannot have any
such operations; and therefore Senators,
whether before or after the supplement
tary oath, are equally responsibletot TO the
people for their votes, 1t being the con,
stitutional right of the people at all
times to sit in judgment on their repre-
sentntives.
Mr.. Chandler called up the bill to
regulate the foreign coasting trade of
the United States on the northwestern
and northeastern coasts. ~.
Mr.. morrill,, of Vermont, thought
the bill, as ut present framed, was de-
fective.
amendments to meet most of the
grounds of objection, which were
agreed to, and the bill passed.
A bill to provide for the temporary
government of the territory of Wyom-
ing was considered, amended and
passed.
Mr.. sherman, from the Committee on
Finance, reported the following amend
ment to the bill reported January 10Th,
relating to U. s. notes, to strike out all
after the enacting clause and Insert as
follows: That any contract hereafter
made specifically paying in coin, shall
be legal and valid, and may be en-
forced according 10 its terms-any-
thing in the several acts relating to U.
S, notes to hecontrary moth withstand.
ing.
Mr.. Hendricks moved TO take mp the
bill to make eight hours days labor
in Government workshops.
Mr.. Trumbull urged the considera-
ton of the bill for the admission OF
North Carolina, South Carolina, Louis
lana, Georgia and Florida.
There was some discussion, and with
out action the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker presented several COM
munications, Including letter from
the Secretary of war, with communi-
cations from General Sheridan relative
to the Government aid to the Pacific
Railroad, Eastern division.
Mr.. Burr proceeded to congratulate
the House and the country on the
Democratic victory in Oregon, but Mr..
Farnsworth called for the regular busi-
ness.
The House proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the Ohio contested election
case.
Mr.. Morgan, the sitting member,
concluded his argument.
Messrs. .Schofeld, ,Schenck and Dawes
spoke in favor of the claim of the con.
testant.
The previous question was seconded
and the resolution giving the seat to
Mr.. Delano adopted by vote of so to
35. He appeared at the Clerks desk
and took tho oath of office.
Mr.. woodward offered resolution
that whatever diversfties of opinion
may prevail relative to the administra-
tion of James Buchanan, the members
of the House can cordially unite in
honoring the purity of his character,
his ability and patriotic motives, and
requesting the Speaker to appoint
committee of seven members 10 at
fand his fnnaral and communicate a