The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-03-04
THE NEWS IN THE HOUSE.

message to the President, or its reference
to the Military Committee.
THE NEWS IN THE HOUSE.
The scene in the House, too, was also
one Of great animation this afternoon.
Ponding the consideration of the naval
appropriation bill, in Committee of the
Whole, q number Of executive documents
were land upon the Speakers desk, and at
the first opportunity when the committee
had risen to close debate upon a para
graph, they were presented to the House.
The only document of special interest:
however, was the communication of the
Secretary of War announcing that he had
received notice that his services as head
of the War Department were no longer
required
The Radical members did not seem to
fully appreciate the force OF the Pres
dents action at first, and without much
comment it was referred to the Commit
tee on Reconstruction, although Mr.. Will
liam Lawrence made feeble effort to
raise select committee The House then
again went into Committee of the Whole.
After while, however, light seemed to
dawn upon them, and the result Of con-
sultation between Boutwell,, Butler, Ash
ley, Farnsworth and others was that a
motion was made that the committee
rise. the mover, Mr. Boutwcll, stating
that he thought the cxigencies of the
country demanded that tomorrow should
be devoted 10 business instead of debate,
as had been previously ordered by the
House The committee, however, re-
fused to rise, but a few minutes tlercaf-
ter Mr. Butler was more successful, and
the pleasure at his success was indicated
in the satisfied smile that ovcrspread his
countcnancc, and the manner in which he
rubbed the palms of his hands together.
He 1T once submitted Il motion TO recon
slider the vote. whereby to-morrow's SEES
sion was ordered to be devoted to debate.
and was about to give his reasons for the
motion, and got so far as to make the re.
mark about two Secretaries of War, when
his cloquence was cut short by Il point Of
| order, made by Mr.. Eldrid re, that a mo-
ton to reconsider WAS not drbateublr. The
House, however, reconSidcred the action
taken earlier in the day. aud decided that
to- m orrow's session should be devoted to
business.
No further allusion was then made t'
the subject, but there commenced at once
4 search for law books, over which But
Ter, Boutwell,, Kelley, Ashley, Williams,
of Pcnnsy lvania, Clarke, of Kansas, and
others Of the impeachment ring. earnestly
porcd. The impcachers think they now
have Mr. Johnson in a net from which he
cannot possibly escape, and their spirits
have risen in consequence.
While the vote upon reconsideration
was being taken, Mr. Pike, of Maine.
who has hitherto been cne Of the modcr-
ate men of the House, made the remark.
.up. now, all who are tor impeachment
-whercat Mr. Butler was so well pleased
that he left his seat and patronizingly
patted Mr. Pike upon the back. " hle
all this was gong on Mr.. Stevens was not
in the House, but Il messenger was dis
patched to inform him of al the circum-
stances.
Mr. Impeachcr Ashley was apparently
one of the happicst men in the House,
and lie at once set about to write some
thing, which every one supposed was
resolution Of impeachment. but lie was
too slow, for Mr. Covodc, who is also am
bilious of distinction as prominent i'm.
peachcr, just before the adjournment in
troduccd as question Of privilege reso-
luton declaring that Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States, be i'm
peachcd Of high crimes and misdemeanors.
This was referred to the Committee on
Reconstruction also, and q meeting of the
committee has been called for ten O'Clock
tomorrow, when the subject will bo dis
cussed and resolutions of impeachment
will be urged at once.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %
At five minutes past p NJ. Mr.. Ste
vens rose, amid profound silence, and
made the following report from the Com
! mittce on Reconstruction
That in addition to the papers referred
to the Committee, the Committee find
that the President on the 2lst day OF
February, 1868, signed and ordered u
commission or letter Of authority to one
Lorenzo Thomas, directing and authoriz-
ing said Thomas to act as Secretary of
War ad interim, and to take possession Of
the books, records papers and other pub
lie property in the War Department, Of
which the following is copy:
[trhe letter of the President instructing
General! Thomas to act rs Secretary OF
War, was here read.
Upon the evidence collected by the
Committee, which is hereattcred pre-
sentcd, and in virtue Of the powers with
which they have been invested by the
House, they are of opinion that Andrew
johnson. President of the United States,
be impeached of high crimes and misde-
meano.s. They therefore recommend to
the House the adoption of the accompany
ing resolution:
ISigned.] Thaddeus Stevens, George S.
Boutwell, John a. Bingham, c. 7. Hurl-