Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-15
wAsHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Grant Proposed for DietafOr-Imbe.
clEity of TlRd. SteVens-The stan

Grant Proposed for DtetafOr-Imbes
ciEity of TkRd. SteVens-The Stan
ton Case-WEat Johnson Wi1A do.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13.-The House was
in state of excitement during the day,
and even after nightfall, over the revolu-
tionary bill introduced BY that body.
Bingham, of Ohio, moved to suspend
the rules to enable him to offer a new re-
construction bill, making Grant dictator
over ten Southern States, with fair pros-
peet to extend his powers over the Others.
This motion was so ingeniously worded
that all dilatory motions are cut of, and
when debate closes 1t will be passed under
the gag rule
MIR. Bingham will contend the leading
feature ef his bill is contained in the first
section, which says, Said States shall not
be recognized as legal State governments
by executive or judicial authority of the
United States" He argues that if the
Supreme Court can decide that Alabama
or Mississippi are States within the Union,
then it can decide that Ohio and Kentucky
are not within the Union. Bingham does
not defend the propositions giving Grant
absolute power, but leaves that to his Rad
ical friends.
To-day, in. reply to an inquiry why
Thad. Stevens opposed the bill in commit
tee and pronounced ita miserable political
trick 20 secure Grants elevation to the
Presidency, Mr.. Bingham said, Mr.. Ste
vens assented to each section of the bill a
few days since but, poor old man, his
memory was so shattered he forgot the
provisions, and when vote was taken on
the bill ITSELF he voted against it. To this
1t may be added, when some Of the Radi-
calsin the committee were talking abont
the constitution, Stevens said i know this
whole proceeding is outside of the consti-
tuition, and you know it too. am sick Of
your talk about constitution"
The bill reported from the Judiciary
Committee requiring two-thirds of the Su-
preme Court to agree in order TO decide
any act Of Congress unconstitutional led TO
an animated debate, which run into the
night. The amendment requiring the
unanimous concurrence of the court on
acts of Congress was voted down by the
Radicals. They only want two thirds at
present, as that is enough to prevent de-
clsiOn which would upset all this abomi-
nable legislation.
The Senate has occupied all day with the
stanton case. Some Radicals regret es-
pousing his cause, and feel that his resto-
ration viii be dead weight on their par
ty. They admit they have no respect for
him, but they intend to humiliate the
President, forcing upon him this political
leper. II is settled that Grant will turn
over the department to the ex-Secretary
Immediately on being advised of its action.
What may now be JohnsOn's course is
probiematical. If he follows the advice of
his friends, he will remove Stanton ont
right but he has not indicated what he will
do. One remarkable feature of this trans
action is that Stanton was allowed in the
Senate during the executive session, where
he made any statement he chose, however
false and scandalous, the President not
being permitted to see, much less reply to
such statements.