Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-14
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE.-Saturday, April "A short, ex-
ecutive session was held for the purpose OF re-
moving the injunction of secrecy from certain
documents which the managers OF Impeachment
desired to use At IL. 80 A. NJ. the doors were
reopened. At II M. the Chief Justice appear
ed and the impeachment trial was resumed
Mr.. L. W. Walbridge, short hand writer OF
St. Louis, was sworn and testlhed relative 10
the report of the President speech at that point
in the fall of 1866. Witness was at that u m
connected with the Missouri Democrat. Mr.
Jos. A. Deer, another shorthand writer, was
called and sworn He testified to making re-
port of the Presidents speeches tor the Ut.
Louis Times Mr. Butler offered the MANY u
script COPY thereof in evidence. Robert ..
Chew, ESQ, of the State Department. was call
ed, sworn and examined with reference to the
alleged changes in the form of commissions
issued to officers of the Government since the
passage of the ''Tenure-of Office act. MIR. T..
E. Creecy, of the Treasury Department, was
recalled and examined. A letter from the Pres
ident to the Secretary of the Treasury was then
read to show that the former recognized the
Tenure of Office act in his suspension OF STAN
ton. Mr.. Creecy was also Intercepted in regard
to letters which passed between the different
bureaus of the Treasury Department relative to
the suspension of Mr.. Stanton under the pro-
visions of the Tenure of Office act. A long dis
cussion took place, during which number OF
documents were produced and read In relation
to the removal of Mr.. Pickering, Secretary OF
State, in May, 1SOO by President Adams and
the nomination of Mr. Marshall in his place.
The discussion was as to the circumstances OF
the case, and whether the nomination was sent
to the Senate before or after the removal was
made. Mr.. Bingham read portions of various
messages of the President during the past year
- of tho Hau11rn of 1tf1cn
act. Mr.. Butler then announced that the case
on the part of the prosecution was substantially
closed. The Court, after some discussion, ad
journed until Thursday next to allow the Presl-
dents counsel time to prepare their case. Ihe
President pro tenn. resumed the chair and called
the Senate to order, and without transactlng
any business the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE commune
cation from the Secretary of State, in relation
to the rights of naturalized citizens, was laid
before the House and referred to the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs. The House in Commit
tee of the Whole attended the Impeachment
trial The House re-assembled at $50 L. NJ.
Mr.. Washburne reported the action taken by
the Senate in adjournlng as Court until Thurs,
day next After some discussion it was stated
by the Speaker that there was not quorum Of
members in the city, and the House adjourned
until Wednesday next.
SENATE. Monday, April GA number Of
bills and resolutions were introduced and tenn
porarily disposed Of The joint resolution a az
thorizing the payment of the owners OF the
steamer Monitor for damages received by being
fired on by japanese batteries, the same to be
paid from the indemnity fund received from the
Japanese Government. After long discussion,
the bill was passed. The Naval Appropriation
bill was taken up in Committee of the, Whole.
An amendment was adopted limiting the mum,
Der Of apprentices and boys to twelve hundred
and fifty An amendment was passed limiting
the number of effective men in the navy to
seven thousand FIVE hundred. Amendments
were also adopted providing that all balances OF
unexpended appropriations on July lst, 1863
shall be covered into the Treasury, except such
as are necessary to fulfil contracts, and that the
Secretary shall furnish statement Of all such
balances up to July 1st, 1863 The bill was
then reported to the Senate. Pending its dis
cussion the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. House
was not in session to-day.