Evening star., 1868-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL,


The bill pending, that majority of the reg
isfered voters shall determine the adoption Of
the constitutions Of the rebel States, WAS dis
cussed until 230 O'Clock, when the Senate went
into Executive session.
Hot afternoon
The House being in Committee of the W hole,
the naval appropriation bill was discussed NJ
some length, when the Committee rose, with.
out any action on the bill, and the Speaker pre-
sented the following communication from the
Secretary Of War:
WAR bEPARTMsSr, Washington City, Feb.
ruary 81. lstS.-IfOn Sehuyer Cofas, Speoker
Of ik Housc of Representdtires-Sir: :-General
Thomas has Just delivered to me q copy of tie
enclosed order, which you will please commu-
ncate to the House Of Representatives,.
T.. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, d. O.,
February 81, lS6c.-Slr: BY virtue of the pow
er and authority vested in me President, by
you are hereby removed from office as Secre-
tary for the Department of War. and your
functions as such will terminate upon receipt
of this communication.
You will transfer to Brevet Major General
Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant General of the
army, who has this day been authorized and
empowered TO act as Secretary of War od in-
terIm- all records, books, papers, and other
public property now IN your custody and
charge -s'..--
Respectfully yours, ANDREW JOHNSON
To tie Hon. Edscsn N. Stanton, WdsAsngton, u. c.
The correspondence ha wing been read
Mr.. Washburne (In) moved that it be re-
ferred to the Committee on Reconstruction, and
ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. Boutwell, suggested, " with authority to
report At any time"
Mr.. Washburne SO modified the motion. and
moved the previous question.
Mr.. Mungen wished to move, an amend
ment, it's reference to the Judiciary COMMITTEES;
but the previous question prevented.
Mr.. Lawrence (Ohio) wished TO have it re-
ferred TO a select committee.
Mr.. Washburne would not consent to that.
The Committee on Reconstruction was a COM
petent committee, and he preferred the CORES
poDdence to go TO that committee.
Mr.. Munsen intimated that the committee
should reconstruct Mr.. Stanton.
Mr.. Washburne's motion was agreed to, and
the correspondence was referred TO the Commit
tee on Reconstruction.
The House again went into committee on the
naval appropriation bill
Mr.. Van Wyck offered an amendment, pro-
yiding that no part Of the money appropriated
shall be used for paying for new guns, gun
carriages, or small arms. Adopted.
The committee rose.
MIR. Butler said: move that the order Of the
House by whIc h the session of tomorrow was
assign ed 70 general debate be rescinded. The
reas on have for asking Its RECESSION is the
municaton made to this House by the Sec reta-
ry OF War. We have now two Secretaries Of
War-one by law and one by usurpation.
Mr.. EldrIdge made the point of order that the
motion was not debatable, and the Speaker SO
decided
The House proceeded to vote by yeas and
nays on the motion to reconsider the vote or
dering session tomorrow for debate; and it
was reconsIdered-yeas, 14; nays, 80; "a strict
party voteD
During the taking the vote q laborer in
attempting TO walk across the z lass roof of
the Hall, had a narrow escape from being pre-
cipitated to the floor. The glass broke, and
fell in large fragments into the area near the
doorkeeper's seat. Mr.. Price and Mr.. Grim
nell, of Iowa, (members of the last Congress,)
were passing at the moment, and were struck
by small pieces of the glass, but not injured
The man W no caused the mischief managed TO
get on the solid part of the roof, and thus saved
his life.
The Speaker remarked that work men had
been cautioned not to walk on the glass roof,
and that caution would be repeated by himself
and the doorkeeper. The disregard Of the or
der had nearly produced a fatal accident.
The House again, a quarter before five, went
into committee on the naval appropriation bill.
The committee rose and reported the bill to
the House; and the bill was, motion of Mr.
Was hburne, of Illinois, postponed till Monday
next.
Mr.. Coyode, as question of privilege, offered
the following resolution:
Rssolved, That Andrew johnson, President of
the United States, be- impeached for high crimes
and misdemeanors. Laughter among Demo-
cratic members.
Mr.. Wood said he objected TO the introduc-
ton of the resolution.
The Speaker stated that the resolution was a
question of privilege.
Mr.. Boutwell, NOV I'd the reference of the reso-
luusn to the Committee on Reconstruction.
Agreed to.
The House then, at five o'clock, adjourned till