Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-21
F0RTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.

New York Custom House.
| Mr. Gilmes rose to a personal explanation,
ana quoted rom the reported remarks of Mr.
hendricks on NJ eDday last, relative 10 the MA
foIcsmsn Mt CT Fort Sumter r and the letter or tee-
RsSsl su,sor1,ss Of mn nm nsr'ey sPprans The
| that in his statement al the time of these re-
marks that Nr. Harvey telgrsphed that the
Fort was 10 lie reiniorced he believed he ex-
pressed the universal sentiment of the Senate
the opinion being that Mr.. Harvey sent such a
telegram, but from a letter received from thai
e.ntI. nan this morning IL seemed that this i'm
litss1on was incorrt ct. Mr.. Grimes then as ked
Tor tie reading Of the letter Of Mr. Harvey in
which 1t is stated that tor three days before the
hIing ON Sumter the telegraph was in the hands
OF The government and no private q tspatc hes
were allowed TO be sent; that the Rebel au thori
Les had determined TO attack Fort Sumter be-
lore They had received any notification of the
intsnt TO reinforce that Fort. MI Harvey also
enclosed correspondence with Hon John CO.
Node TO prove that all his (Mr. H.'sl CORES.
poBdence with parties in Charleston was for
the purpose OF preserving the Union and sd-
NeIting the war.
Mr.. Grimes said he was glad 10 hear that Mr..
Harvey had not the dispatch, which, up 10 this
ume, IL was the general belief of the country
thar ne had. He Mr.. Co. now understood Mr.
patch.
Mr.. Cameron knew something about this
matter. Mr.. Harvey had sent this dispatch to
the Governor Of South Carolina. and be (Mr
81 had copy Of 1t IN his pocket-book, W inch
had be-, n stolen.
s.
patches put in his hands by the Secretary of
War, but did not know that he could now
find them.
Mr.. Copkline also knew something abou, IN.
matter. He had seen these dispatches and tbey
had been ead in the House of Representatiyes
and II bad beed shown that Mr. Harvey had
been the victim OF cruel injustice, and the peo-
pie who had employed him to do this thing
were the very last ones who should have per-
mitted him 10 be assailed.
Mr.. Cameron sand he had been very much
hpr no h..~r "A l<x<, -
had done. and had carried the dispatch 10 Mr.
Lincoln, who expressed the same surprise at
its contents as he had
Mr.. Sumner intimated that the dispatch WAS
inspired by Mr.. Seward.
MIR. Anthony had always heard that the
course pursued by Mr.. Harvey was with the
concurrence of the Cabinet.
Mr.. Cameron. Not so.
Mr.. Grimes. member or members Of the
Cabinet: not the Cabinet.
Mr.. johnson was here at the time also, and
had been on terms OF intimacy with Mr.. Har-
vey, and belle we'd he was inspired by true pa-
triotism in his course. Ii was well known that
Mr. Sew ard had taken measures at that time
which might perhaps have been unknown 10
other members Of the Cabinet, but which were
considered as the acts of the Cabinet Matters
which pertained TO the War and Navy Depart
menis were also con sidered wi thout the knowl.
edge OF the heads of those Departments
Mr. Cameron, with considerable warmth re-
piled that he possessed sufficient manliness, ar
least he thought so, to conduct the affairs of his
own Department without interference from
any one, and If Mr.. Seward had meddled with
his department. he would not have done i.
more than once. He would now say here, and
OF course II would reach that gentleman that
II Mr. Seward had at any time intimated or
said that the course which M Harvey took
or the dispatches which he had sent We're with
his MIR. C.'sl approval. or with the approval
| of tie Cabinet, he had said wnat was untrue
The proper way now TO get at the whole truth
OF this matter, was for the Senate TO address
resolution OF inquiry to Mr. Seward for the
nndpr snA
Mr.. Hendricks asked whether the dispatch of
MT Harvey did not represent the policy Of the
Cabinet AT that time.
Mr.. Grimes.-He says he did not send any
dispatch.
Mr.. Hendricks said that was not material. 8
dispatch was said to have been sent by Mr.
Harvey, and be desired to know whether what
was ssid to be in that dispatch truly repre-
sented the opinion Of the Cabinet al that time.
Mr. Cameron was not now willing to give
an opinion, The policy of the Cabinet had
been changed. He could not answer the Sana-
tors query, as he did not feel justified in dis
closing Cabinet secrets, and he did know
whether he would answer il If he could.
Mr.. johnson had not in his remarks intended
10 say That the War Department was carried
on without the knowledge Of its head All
who knew his friend (Mr. Cameron) would of
course know that such a state Of affairs could
not exist under his administration. He fMr II
had only intended to say that great MANY
things had been done by the Secretary of State
without the knowledge of other members Of the
Cabinet.
Mr.. Sumner presented a memorial LARGELY
signed by color,d citizens of Kentucky, setting
forth that they have no rights under the laws
of that State; that they not allowed TO testify
in the courts of justice, but are maltreated and
abused snd robbed, without any hopes of re-
dress, and they ask Congress, by the powers
conferred on that body under the amendment
TO the Constitution abolishing slavery, and in
pursuance OF the provisions Of the Civil Rights
Oil, TO enact such legislation as will give them
equality before the law, and also TO confer upop
the m the night Of suffrage. Mr.. Sumner had
no doubt of the truth Of the circumstance as
detailed by the petitioners. They had before
been made, and no real attempt had ever been
made TO discredit them. He had no doubt of
the absolute power of Congress to extend the
redress to these injured people that they asked
for, and he earnestly commended their PRAYER
TO the Committee on the Judiciary
Mr. Harlan, from the Committee for the Dis
trict Of Columbia, reported, With an amend
District. N
Mr. Williams introduced bin to provide for
the reg list; alton of electors i'm the Territories of
The United States. Referred to Committee on
Mr. Cole introduced bill to amend the act
modifying the duties on imports. Referred TO
Con mttee on Finance.
Mr.. Howe introduced bill TO proyide for ,ba
establishment OF commission TO examine and
audit claims in the War Department Referred
20 Judiciary Committee.
On motion Of Mr. Sumner, the President was
requtsed 10 communicate TO the Senate comics
OF any Official correspondence relative to tho
aouuct1oh OF Allen Nc Donald, q citizen of the
Cniied States in Colorado.
The bill pending, that a majority of the regis
tered voters shall determine the adoption of the
constitutions Of the rebel States, was taken up.
House OF RRPREsRNTATIvEs-Mr BALDWIN
lMass.), from the Committee on the Library.
reported bill TO secure TO authors the benefits
OF an International copyright Ordered 10 h.
printed and recommitted
NJ. Wood IN. y moved that when the Hons.
adjourn to-day 1T be until Monday next but he
gave way TO suggestion of Mr. Washburne
(lli.D that the House have q session to-morrow
for debate only.
Mr.. Jenckes (R. Ii from Committee ON Dat,
ents, reported back Senate bill granting An en-
tnsion Of time for the application for the s1.
tension OF the patent of Smith Il Wesson for
improvements In repeating fire arms,
ne bill was passed-yeAs g, nays Is
MI Jencks, from the same committee. re
ported a bill for the relief Of Martha n. Jones
adninistratrIx Of the estate Of Ssm1 p Jones
deceased, confirming the action of the (yomYnis
sioner OF Patents IN extending the letters pafent
to said Samuel p. Jones, deceased for the man.
ufacture OF white oxide Of zinc. The blli was
passed. F-EFl ! - =. ""'
MI. Kelley tPa.) introduced q bill to estab.
Iisn q uniform system Of small coinase Pc
ierred to Committee on Coinage, Weights and
Measures. sT afEgEl TF-7T' - - ~
MI. Peters, (Me,) from the Committee ON
Patents, reported Q bill for the relief of Samr |
Pierce. Pending consideration, the morning
hour expired, and the hill went ever under the |
rules. II = -
The Speaker laid before the House the follow |
lowing comm picafion fronn Hon a NJ RAN