Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-01-31
Congress-.

In the Senate yesterday, Mr.. Patterson called
up his bill providing for terminating the tenure
of office of certain special agents appointed by
the Government, and explained its provisions.
He said these agents we're mostly appointed tor
political and personal reasons, and many OF them,
instead of being the agents Of the Government,
were agents of the whiskey ring. One of them
now was under arrest in Chicago for malfeasance
in office, who, it was said, had made from fit
teen to twenty thousand dollars in ten days.
During the discussions letter was read from
the Secretary of State asking that the secret
agents Of that Department be excepted from
the operations of the bill. On inquiry as to
who these secret agents were, Mr. Sumner
said he never knew the name OF but one OF
thcm-the McCracken-and he had been una.
bic to find out who he was Without taking
action on the sui ject, the Senate took up the
Supplementary Reconstruction bill, and the
discussion thereon was continued by'Mr. Cragln
in favor of the bill, and by Mr.. Hendricks in
opposition. During the speech Of the latter
Senator he referred to the declaration of Mr..
Thaddeus Stevens that the Reconstruction
Committee were acting outside Of the .Constl
tuition Mr.. Howard, Mr.. Conkl'ng and Mr.
Fesscnden, asmcmbcrs of the committee denied
Mr.. Stcvcns's right to make the assertion, and
asserted the constitutionality of the Reconstruct
ton acts. ,saanE
], In the House Of Representatives, yesterday,
resolution was introduced by Mr.. Scholield,
giving an extract from the Washington Express
of Wednesday, to the effect that one Of the
Justices of the Supreme Count had declared at
/. a private gathering, that the Reconstruction
acts were unconstitutional, and the Court would
SO decide them; and that on its being suggested
that it was indiscreet for q Judge OF the Court
to make such declarations, he again repeated
bis views in more emphatic manner. The
resolution authorized the judiciary Committee
to examine into the matter and ascertain tho
truth Of the statement; and if SO, whether it
docs not constitute a misdemeanor in office
sufficient to cause articles of impeachment to
be preferred against the said Judge Several
Democratic members made inquiries as to who
was the Judge referred to, the authority for
the statement etc. Objection was aftcrward
made to the Introduction of the resolution, but
the Speaker decided that it came too late, and
that tho resolution was before the House for
aclIon In the debate that cnsued, it was stated
that the Judge charged with this improper
conductWas Associate Justice Field. The rcso
luton was finally adepted-yeas 81, nays ST.
Mr.. Stevens reported from the Committee on
Appropriations, the General Appropriation
bill for 1869. It appropriates total OF SIT,
fll9, 49, OF something over Sc, 900, 900 less
than the regular estimates A provso is
coupled with the appropriation for the Court
of Claims-that no judgment Of said court tor
any sum exceeding $4,000 shall hereafter be
paid without the approval Of Congress. The
bill for the protection Of the rights of Amerl-
can citizens whilst in foreign countries was
further discussed, without action.