The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-02-29
Congressional Synopsis.
FRIDAY. Feb. 21.

FRIDAY, Feb. 81.
, Seaate-The Senate took up as the special or
der, the bill to amend the reconstruction acts 80
that majority of votes cast shall decide cleo
tions and To allow registered persons 10 vote in
any part of the State. Mr. Conklng replied to
Mr.. Trumbulls argument yesterday agains, tho
principle of the bill Mr.. Trumbull defended
his position after which, nj o'clock, the Sem
ale. having received the communication of the
President announcing his removal OF Secretary
Stanton,) went into executive secret session,
continuing therein until after o'clock.
House-The Speaker presented letter from
Mr.. Randall, Postmaster General, ind gnantly
repelling the charge contained in certain evi-
dence laid before the house of having received
pay for letting contracts to carry the southern
mail.
On motion of Ingersoll. bill was passed
making Hannibal, Mo, and Peoria, H., ports Of
entry.
The House went into committee OF the whole
on the naval appropriation bill. 1t appropriates
$1S,0S6,04j. While engaged on the BILL a com.
munication was received from Secretary Stanton
informing the House of his removal. After some
discussion, il was referred to the reconstruction
committee and the navy bill resumed. But the
exciting topic Of Mr.. Stanton being uppermost
with the members, the committee rose, and the
first motion was to reconsider the vote by which
tomorrow was set aside Tor debate, which was
carried
Mr.. Covode, as question of privilege, offered
the following resolution
Rtsoiced, That Andrew johnson, President of
the United States, be impeached for high crimes
and msdcmcanors. Objection on the democratic
side TO the question Of privilege, but overruled
BY the Speaker The resolution was then re-
ferrcd to the reconstruction committee, aud the
House adjourned.
SATURDAY, Feb. 30.
Stnate-Mr. Anthony moved that, this was
Washingson's birth day the Senate adjourn,
which was agreed TO.
XouSe-Eldrdge moved n read Washington's
Farewell Address. Spaulding objected to the
motion as not in order. 1ngersoll suggested
that the address could he read next week. or at
some time whsn there was less important busi-
| ness before the House than expected to be
to-day. The time was thus consumed in trivial
motions until ten minutes past o'clock when
Thad Stevens, chairman of the reconstruction
committed, catered the hall, announcing that he
was about to make report from the reconstruc-
ton committee. The report was read. 1t sim
| ply recites the fact of the appointment by the
! President of Lorenzo Thomas as Secretary Of
| War 6d tntertm in place of i. NJ. Stanton, Civ
ing copy of the Presidents order to that effect,
and stating that such order, made while the
Senate was in session, being in coutraventon of
the tenure Of office bill, therefore it is the opin-
ion of the committee that the President ought to
be iInpeacbed, the report closing with the reso-
/ luton of Mr.. Covode, given above.
/ Mr.. Stevens, after the reading of the report,
said he had no intention of debating the ques-
ton on the resolution: bat if Others desired to
debate it, he was willing to give way to them.
|, Mr.. Brooks, of \. Y, then took the floor, and
| occupied one hour in bitter dcnunciatlon of the
proposed impeachment outrage, comparing the
action OF Congress to that Of the Cromwell par
| lament in the days of Charles l, and of the
! Directory during the French revolution. The
President is to be removed, said Mr.. Brooks, be-
cause we are told he is an obstruction in the way
of reconstruction. Every democratic member
of the House, and the whole democratic party
of the country. embracing vast majority of the
people, an obstruction, in the same sense
DIR. b. showed the unconsttutonality of the
tcRure-of-otiice bill, and maintained that the
President had rs good right to Judge of its
Fcoustitrtonality as the House had. av.
Mr. Spaulding spoke in favor of impeachment
ustifyiny it by the 9th section of the tenure.of.
Office bill, which denounced the violation of its
provisions high crime and misdemeanor.
Mr. Bingham took the floor.
Mr. Pruyn enquircd as to the probable course
of the debate, whether all would have a chance
| in .,.......
Mr. Stevens said hc had no objection to the
debate lasting till midnight, but he wanted u
vote before the House adjourned.
Mr. Bingham proceeded to use up his hour in
speech in favor of the impeachment He was
followed by Farnsworth, ON the same side.
Farnsworth gave way to Mr.. Kelly, after which
the House took u recess until o'clock. The
debate in the evening, was continued by Baker,
Phelps, Beck, Logan, lngcrsoll and Others until
after II o'clock. when the house took u recess
until Monday morning.
MONDAY Feb. "a
lScnate--After the morning hour, the proceed.
ings of which were unimportant, Il message was
| laid before the Senate from the President commu-
] nicating his appointment Of Thomas Ewing, Sen