The Portland daily press., 1868-04-28

uphold traitors, and to force the rebel States
into the Union on his own plan, against tne
| expressed will of Congress ana the royal
| people, and then went on 10 rec.Ie
| great number of the acts or the fresident
which he claimed were usurpatlons and Often
| ces. explicabe only on the above supposition.
| The elimination of the long series of usurpa-
| tions. violations of his oath of office and indie
| cencies, was his attempt to displace Mr.. Stan
| ton in contempt of the tenure of office law,
| Mr.. Williams then took up the answer made
by the Presidents counsel to the charge of
violating that law, and first discussed the pro-
viso which 1t was alleged excluded Mr.. Stan
ton from its operations. He had himself sug-
gested that amendment and explained It's
meaning in the committee of conference, and
that he had never dreamed that such a con-
ssructlon would be put upon 1t as read Dy tie
residents counsel. 1t would be contrary 10
the purpose of the bill. Mr.. Stantons case
was certainly meant to be covered. ne cla'n-
ed that the Drinoinles of the Cons titutlon re-
qulre the proviso to be construed III lIe lSnG
of the purposes of the law, and neld tnat the
objection made was that Mr. stanton dld not
come within its effect, because ne was not per-
snally appointed by MI oonliSon IniS MlSnG
be termed bubble.
At this point the Senate took a recess.
On reassembling at O'clock P. NJ, Mr.. Will
lians considered the point set up by the de-
fence that the law is unconstitutional, which
he characterized as a defiance and challenge
to Congress. From the fact that the.Constitu-
tion does not provide for removals except by
impeachment, he drew the inference that a
legislative body must possess the sole power
OF Judging when good behavior ceases and
When removals should be made. He also
cialmed that the right to remove in certain ca
ses was either power delegated to the execu-
i've by Congress or merely implied by the
Constitution, and therefore not to be extended
to apply to all cases. He then discussed the
Judicial authorities cited by the Presidents
counsel, arguing that they afforded no counte-
nance to his views, but settled the point that
congress may fix the tenure of office so as to
prevent removals by the President, and that
MS power to remove so far as it existed was
only implied from his power to appoint.
At this point, O'clock, on motion of Mr..
Morrill, of Vermont, who stated Mr.. Williams
was unwell and would not be able to finish his
speech to-day, the Court adjourned, and the
Senate after receiving several executive COM
munlcatlons also adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Orth by unanimous consent submitted
the following resolution which was agreed to:
ResotUed, That the Committee on Roads and
Canals be instructed to inquire whether Con-
gress has power under the Constitution to pro-
vide by law for the regulation and control of
railroads, especially those extending through
the several States, as to secure, LIST, The safe
ty of passengers. I'd, Uniform and equitable
rates of fare. Sd, Uniform and equitable
charges for freight or transportation of prop
erty. 4th, Proper connections with each other.
As to the transportation of passengers, freight,
&c, If in the opinion OF the committee Con-
gress possesses such power, then to report
Dill which will secure the foregoing objects.
Mr.. Paine by unanimous consent introduced
Dill to admit the State of Arkansas to repre-
sentation in Congress. Referred to Committee
on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Niblack by unanimous consent intro
duced a bill extending bounties to certain sol |
dlers who were discharged on account of dsa- |
blity incurred while in the service of the Unit |
ed States. Referred to the Committee on Mil |
itary Affairs.
Mr. Eckley introduced bill to repeal por- |
ton of an act entitled an act to revive and ex-
tend the provisions of an act granting the right |
Of way, and making grant of land to the |
States of Arkansas and Missouri to aid in the
construction of railroad from point ON the
mississippi, opposite the mouth of the Ohio
river, via Little Rock to the Texas boundary
near Fort Fulton, in Arkansas, with branches
TO Fort Smith and the Mississippi river, APP
proved July 28 1866. Referred to Committee
on Public Lands.
The members of the House then proceeded |
to the Senate chamber.