The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-02-24
HOUSE.

Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, on leave, intro
duced bill to prevent and punish un-
lawful use of public money and proper
ty, furnishing with fine and imprison-
ment United States officers or other per-
sons for loaning, depositing or other
wise using and disposing of any money
or property of the United States for
their own benefit. He explained the
necessity of the bill to be that the pres
ent law has been decided to apply only
to officers of the Government, while
this bill applies to their clerks and all
other persons. He had submitted the
bill informally to the Judiciary COM
mittee, and it had the unanimous ap-
prevail of the committee. The bill
passed.
Mr.. Ercleston, from committee on
Commerce, reported bill to regulate
the appraisement and inspection of i'm
ports in certain cases. Ordered printed,
and recommltted.
Mr.. Pile asked leave to introduce a
bill to abolish the Office of Adjutant
General.
Mr.. Glossbrenner objected.
Mr.. Williams, Of Pennsylvania, from
Judiciary committee, reported back
Senate bill for the protection i'll certain
cases of persons making disclosures as
parties, or testifyiug as witnesses. At
ter an explanation by Mr.. Williams,
from which it appeared i'll salts now
pending in English Courts for the re-
covery of property of the late Southern
| Confederacy, witness was held not
liable TO testify because his testimony
would subject his property to cOntisca-
ton, and that this bill was intended to
remedy such difficulties, the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Stevens. of Pennsylvania, at ten
minutes past two o'clock, rose to make
report from the committee on Recon-
struction.
The Speaker gave an admonition to
preserve order during the proceedings
about to take place, and to manifest
neither appreciation nor disapprobatIon.
! Mr.. Stevens said: From the commit
tee on Reconstruction | beg leave to
offer the following report:
That in addition to the papers refer
red to, the committee find that the Pres
ident OH the 2lst day of February, 1868,
signed and ordered commission ar
! letter of authority to one Lorenzo
! Thomas directing aud authorizing said
! Thomas to act as Secretary of War ad
interim, and to take possession of the
books, papers and other public property
in the War Department.
| Upon the evidence collected by the
committee, which is hereafter presented
and in virtue of the powers invested by
the House, they are of the opinion that
| Andrew johnson, President of the Uni
ted States, be impeached of high crimes
and misdemeanors. They therefore rec
ommend to the House the adoption of
the accompanying resolution.
[Signed,l Thaddeus Stevens, George
S. Boutwell,, John A. Bingham, +. c.
Beaman, G.. ID. Hubbard, John +. Farms
I worth, ii. +. Paine.
ResOlred, That Andrew johnson, Pres
ident of the United States, be impeach-
ed of high crimes and misdemeanors.
This report having been read, Mr.
Stevens said:
| Mr. Speaker: 1t is not my intention
in the first instance to discuss the ques-
| ton, and if there be no desire on the
other side to discuss it, we are will
ling that the question shall be taken, on
the knowledge which the House al
ready has; indeed, the fact of removing
o man from office while the Senate is in
session. without the consent of tho Sem
ate, is itself, if there was nsthing
else, aud always has been considered, a
high crime and misdemeanor, and was
never before practiced, bnt l will not
discuss this question unless gentlemen
on the other side desire to do so. If
they do shall for the present give way
to them and say what have TO say in
conclusion.
Mr.. Brooks then took the floor in
reply.
impeachment was supported by
speeches by Messrs. Spalding and Bing-
ham.
Mr.. Kelly moved to take a recess for
one hour and half, and that the even
ing be devoted exclusive to debate.
After remarks by several, il was agreed
to.
The debate will be continued this
evening and resumed Monday and con-
time till five o'clock on that day, when
a vote on the pending proposition will
be taken, each speaker limited to thirty
minutes.
The House then took q recess till
half-past seven.
EVENING SESSION.
Messrs. Baker, Kelly, Logan and lug
ersoll spoke in favor of Impeachment,
and Messrs. Phelps, Holmes and Beck
against it.
After some further debate, the House,
Mt quarter-past one, took q recess till
10 o'clock Monday morning.