Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-05-12
FeRTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
TUESDAY, Nav -.


SENATR-The Senate was called TO order AT
The Chaplain prayed for the Divine presence
in this council chamber to-day, and that the
mind of the President would be prepared for
the suspense of to-day: the mind of the PEG.
pie for the result of the issues to be there
d. cided, and that the minds of the Sem
ators might be prepared for the duties which
they are c allied In to fulfill, that thew will be
faithful to their high trusts. God bless all the
people aud preserve the Government,
The Chief Justice then took the Chair and
the Court was opened in due form.
The reading Of the minutes of yesterday
were commenced by the Secretary, and after he
had proceeded some minutes, Senator Ed
pensed with, TO which Senator Davis objected
Senator Edmunds called up the order offered
by HIM resembling the order that the vote on
the articles OF impeachment be taken at twelve
Senator Chandler stated that his colleague
(Mr. Howard) was taken very sick, and was
delirious yesterday. He was anxious TO be
here when the vote was taken, but could not be
here except at the price Of his life as his
physician had told him. His colleague thought
he would be able 10 be here on Saturday.
The motion of Senator Edmunds was agreed
Senator Chandler then moved that the SEN
ate, sitting as a Court of Impeachment, ad iourn
until Saturday.
Senator Hendricks moved TO amend by max.
ing it Friday.
Senator Chandler did not think his colleague
could be here before Saturday.
Senator Fes$ 0nden asked the effect of the
adjournment relative to the fling of opinions
The Chief Justice understood it as relating 10
the final day.
not agreed to, and the motion of Senator Chand-
Ter to adjourn the Court of Impeachment until
Saturday was agreed to.
On motion of Senator Drake, the Senate, sit
ting as Court Of impeachment, then ad-
journpd
The President pro TEN. then resumed the
Chair.
Mr. Drake moved that the Senate adjourn;
which was not agreed to.
Mr.. Yates moved that when the Senate ad-
journ il be to meet on Friday.
Mr.. Anthony said that some Of the Senators
seemed to think that they were to stay here
until September or October. There was great
deal of business now on the table, and il should
be disposed of. Every day that they did busi-
ness now would make one day less to stay here
in the Summer.
Mr. Sherman said that next week there would
probably be a necessity for taking q recess for
few days, to put the Chamber In summer
order, and that being the case, II was best 10
lose no time now.
Mr. Hendricks said there was no reason now
why legislative business should not be at once
proceed with The evidence and arguments
had all been heard, and he supposed Senators
had made up their minds. and were now in a
proper frame to attend TO legislative business
Mr.. Drake said he had made the motion TO
adleurn over because he believed Senators
We're not in a condition TO attend TO business.
Mr.. Conkling asked what was the matter.
Mr.. Drake said said II Senator's could not see
what was the matter, 1t was useless for him 10
tell them. The whole country now was trem-,
bling in an agony OF suspense. If, in view OF
the throes In which the country was now suf-
fering, there were Senators here Who Were pos
sessed OF such composure as 10 be Insenslble TO
ii, then he envied them.
Mr.. Sherman thought to-day was one Of the
least exciting which they had passed through.
They had met and without the transaction of
any business had ad journed the Court OF I'M
parchment on account OF the sickness of one
of their associates.
doing business under present circumstances.
1t was impossible that any thing could be prop
erly attended to pending the result of the trial
Mr.. Cameron felt calm enough. but thought
it was as well to adjourn for to-day, and he
therefore renewed the motion to that effect.
The concurrent resolution from the House
providing Tor an adjournment from May 15 TO
Nay 10 was on motion OF MIR. Sumner laid on
the table.
The President pro tenn presented message from
the President, endorsing the Constitutions of
Arkansas and South Carolina.
The bill 10 extend the charter of the city of
Washington as received from the House, with
amendments, was read.
The amendment making IS days residence
only in ward necessary TO vot', instead of 3
months, being read,
Mr.. Conness asked its object. He did not
know from what quarter the amendment came,
II was certainly not calculated to promote fair
voting. 1t looked TO him as if intended to pro-
vide for that species OF manipulating the bal
lots called colonization" Under the effect of
the amendment, it would be in the power of
parties to move from one ward to another, and
thus carry the whole city.
Mr.. Harlan said II was we'll known that
many people changed their residences in the
spring months, and the object was that these
people should not thereby lose their votes.
Mr.. Conness said no such provision as this
was proper in any large city. He moved to
extend the time from Is TO 80 days.
I. Hendricks sp2
ment was any worse than one of the provisions
inserted ty the Senate that the monies of the
Corporation should be deposited with one par
ucular bank. This amendment was only for
the purpose OF carrying the election, which
was TO come off in June. 1t was feared that
there was danger Of one party in this city Of
not being able TO elect their candidates, and
hence this amendment had been introduced in
their interest.
Mr.. johnson agreed with the Senator from
California, (Mr. COnness,) and should vote
for his amendment. As the amendment stood
At present, 1t was susceptible of being pervert-
ed to purposes OF fraud.
Mr.. Sumner was Of the impression that it
would not be expedient to adopt the amend
ment of the Senator from California. He uu-
derstood that 1t was the custom in most of the
large cities not to exact a residence Of more
than ten or fifteen DAYS.
Mr. Conness asked what was the custom in
Massachusetts.
Mr.. Sumner was not so well informed to
the custom IN Massachusetts, but he thought
that here IN washington the least possible time
should be exacted. There were more boarding
houses here than in any other large city, and
people were constantly changing their resi-
.nces. In addition, this bill had already been
sent back once to the House, and there were
good reasons why il should not 60 back
Mr.. Hendricks asked II that was a reason
why the bill should not be sent back.
Mr.. Sumner.-Sometimes ii is, and some-
times II is not
After some further discussion, Mr.. Conness
withdrew his amendment, when it was re.
newed by Mr.. Buckalew, and was disagreed to
by ayes Is, noes 81.
The amendment making fifteen days resi-
dence was then agreed 10.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF TATIvEs.-The Speaker
laid before the House communication from
the Postmaster General transmitting, i'm aH.
swer to q resolution of March 10, a communi.
cation in relatirn TO special agents, their COM
pensation, &c. Referred to Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads.
Tne Speaker also laid before the House a
Communication from the General of the ARMY,
submitting a statement of votes cast for or
against the State constitutions in the States
named, as follows: North Carolina-For con-
stitution, 92.59O, against, u, $50. South Caro-
hDa-For, 20, 1885, against, % ,2s6. Georgia-For
S9,CO7; against, 800. Louisiana-For, &c, l52:
against, 40, 739 Alabama--For, 69,St7; against:
1,UO5. Referred to Committee on Reconstruc.
ton.
Mr.: Ferry Uph.) presented a memorial Of
the Chamber { 8COmmerce Of New York in re.
lation to the po0D Office in that city. Referred
to Committee on Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr.. Schenck (O.), from the COMMITTEES Of