Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-17
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE. Friday, March Ono business of
Importance was transacted during the . morning
hour. At l o'clock P. NJ the Chief Justice
appeared, took the chair, and the consideration
of the impeachment trial was resumed, the quess
ton being on motion to postpone the swear
ing in of Mr. Wade, until the oath had been
administered to all the other Senators. After
long discussion, in which number OF points
of order were made, Mr.. Hendricks withdrew
his objection temporarily. Mr.. Wade and the
remaining Senators were then sworn IN. The
Chief Justice then declared the court organized
to proceed with the consideration OF the I'M
peachment of Mr.. Johnson, and proclamation
to that effect was made by the Sergeant Arms.
The Chief Justice then said that in his opinion,
the Senate sitting as Court OF Impeachment,
was an entirely different body from the Senate
in legislative session, and could not be bound
by the rules heretofore adopted, unless again
adopted by the Court He submitted the point
to the Court, whether the said rules should be
binding, and it was decided in the affirmative.
The Managers, on the part of the House, were
notified of the formation of the Court and at
As P. Nj. appeared, with the exception OF Mr..
Stevens, and took their seats. The chairman
of the Managers demanded that an order should
be issued commanding Mr. johnson to appear
at the bar of the Senate to answer to the charges
of impeachment preferred by the House. The
summons was issued, and made returnable on
Friday, March 18th inst, at l O'Clock ?. M
The Senate sitting as Court, adjourned until
Friday, the 18th inst. Mr.. Wade then resum.
ed the chair, and called the Senate to order
Without transacting any business, the Senate
went into executive session, and at its close ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, resolution
was passed authorizing the managers of i'm
parchment to sit during the sessions OF the
House, and giving them power to send for per-
sons and papers, and to examine witnesses I'M
der oath. A bill was reported relieving Mr..
Butler, the applicant from the First Tennessee
District, from his political disabilities After
discussion the bill was passed yeas 81, nays
%. At three o'clock ?. M: the managers of
impeachment appeared, and announced the ac
ton taken by the Senate in that matter A bill
was introduced removing the political disabilities
from Jno. Young Brown. 1t was referred to
the Committee on Elections. The House soon
after adjourned.
SENATE Saturday, March THE Pension
Appropriation bill was then taken up amended
and passed The Consular and Diplomatic
Appropriation bill was taken up. A long dis
cussion took place in relation to the amend
ment striking out the appropriation for the
salary of Mr. Harvey Minister to Portugal
Pending discussion, at P. NJ, it was ascertain
ed that no quorum was present, and the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, day in
the House was devoted to general debate. Mr.
Blaine, of Maine, delivered long speech on the
finances, in which he laboriously attempted to
explain the payment of 20 bonds In coin in a
plausible manner, and to show how the imitation
of the currency caused by their redemption in
greenbacks would result in a corresponding de-
probation. He was followed by Mr. Holman,
of Indiana, who spoke on the same subject
Several other speeches were made on various
subjects.
SENATE Monday March 9.-The creden
tials Of Hon. George Vickers, Senator elect from
Maryland, were presented and read. Mr.. Sum
ner asked that they be referred to the Judiciary
Committee with instructions to inquire whether
the government of that State is republican in
form, and whether said State is entitled to elect
| a Senator He made a speech in favor Of this
motion on the ground that the Constitution Of
Maryland does not allow negro suffrage. After
| a brief discussion Mr.. Sumner withdrew his
motion and Mr.. Vickers was sworn in and took
| his seat Mr. Wilson introduced bill to amend
| the present banking laws 1t provides for the
conversion of all interest bearing Government
bonds, except the 20 and five per cent forty
years bonds, into bonds payable in fifty years,
bearing six per cent. interest for twenty years,
and five per cent. thereafter, principal and in
terest to be paid in coin, &C., &c. The bill to
restore the State of Alabama to the right of re-
presentation in the Union, was taken up and
Mr.. Wilson made speech in favor of it. The
Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was
| then taken up. The Senate refused to concur
| in the House amendment striking out the ap-
preparation for the salary of Mr.. Harvey, Min
lister to Portugal. Several other changes were
made, and pending discussion the Senate went
into Executive session, and at it's close adjourn
| ed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES "A number
of bills and resolutions were introduced and re-
ferrred to various committees The Judiciary
Committee was instructed to inquire into the
status of the State Of Texas in relation to the
validity of acts done under the Confederate and
Federal Government A resolution providing
| for the gradual withdrawal of interest bearing
bonds and the substitution Of greenbacks there
| for was referred to the Committee on Ways and
| Means. The House bill requiring certain
moneys now in the hands Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury, resulting from certain cases Of
abandoned cotton, &C., &C., to be placed in the
Treasury of the United States, with the Senate
amendments thereto, was taken up. After a
| long discussion, the bill was passed.