The New York herald., 1868-03-21
THE FORTIETH CONGRESS.
Second Session.

WASHINGTON, March 20, 1868.
prrvrynNS uTc

PETITIONS, ETC.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate q memorial ask
ing appropriations for repairing the levees on the
Mississippi river. Referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
Mr.. SUMNER, repl OF Mass, presented petitions OF
colored men In various parts Of Delaware asking to
be secured in their rights. He asked that they be
referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. MORGAN, (rep.) Of N. Y. presented a petition
in favor of an international copyright law, signed
by the Professors Of the Columbia College Law
School and others. Referred to the joint Committee
on the Library.
THE PETITION FROM DELAWARE.
Mr.. SALISBURY, (dem.) OF DEL, said that the petit
tiOns presented yesterday from the town In which he
lives Georgetown) and from Milton were all in one
handwriting; not one fthem was signed by the men
purporting TO have signed them. II was strange that
those who lived among them had never heard any
thing OF the enormities alleged to be practsed upon
them. Some person had got list OF their names and
attached them to the petition. He objected to the
reference.
Mr. SUMNER said he had received the petitions by
mail, in the usual manner Of receiving petitions and,
being respectful In their character he had presented
them in the line Of his duty, as was his habit. He
had understood from other sources that cO0red cti-
were despoiled OF their rights under the Civil
Rights bill. They have not the great right given
them, under the constitution, of suffrage. He read
the proceedings OF q meeting held in wilmington,
Del, Of the same import as the petition, and he
reminded them that the colored people OF Delaware
had been deprived Of the opportunity to learn to
read and write.
Mr. SALISBURY asked what right was denied to the
colored people OF Delaware more than the Indian ?
Senators should cast out the beam from their own
eye before they attempt to pluck the mote out Of the
eyes Of others. No class of people anywhere was
protected in their rights more than these lie moved
that the Judiciary Committee be instructed to inquire
into the authority Of !the petition. Agreed to.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
bill regulating the presentation OF bills to the Presi-
dent and the return Of the same.
Mr. DRAKE, trep.) OF Mo-, desired to have new rule
In the matter OF impeachment taken Up and disposed
of before Monday next. He read 1t as follows:-
ne the ns Gn s ss e o. as an
dent" and all papers submitted BY either party which In
shall be addressed to Il as the senate - .'~'
Mr. DRAKE referred to the fact that during the last
session Of the Senate, sitting on the trial Of mpeach
ment, counsel for the President addressed the pre-
siding officer Mr Chief Justice" while the Man
ayers addressed him as 'sMr President" They had
also had the extraordinary spectacle of paper
signed by the President entering his appearance ad-
dressed to the Chief Justice
Mr.. JOHNSON, Jdem.) OF Md, suggested that there
was question before the Senate
Mr.. DRAKE said he was giving the reason why that
duty Of the Senate to maintain its character as a
Senate and the character OF the presiding officer
when sitting on the trial Of impeachment.
relative to treaty withthe Navajoe Indians be taken
up, saying unless something is done soon the Indians
now assembled to meet the Peace Commissioners
bill would be passed Immediately.
The motion OF Mr.. Edmunds was lost.
Mr.. DRAKE then offered his rule as given above.
Several objections were made on the democratic
side, and IL went over.
FILING OF RECORDS OF RAILROADS.
Mr.. HOWARD, (rep) OF Mich, from the Committee
on the Pacific Railroad introduced bill to regulate
the fling Of records OF railroad companies Laid
over.
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY CALLED UPON
FOR INFORMATION.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, lrepl of Oregon, offered resolu-
ton inQuring or the Secretary OF the Treasury how
many clerks or employees have been removed since
January, 1867; the form OF letters circulars adj
dressed TO the heads OF bureaus &C., for that pur-
pose; how many have been appointed since, and by
appointed; from what States and by whose recon-
mendaton. IL went over under objections by Mr..
Buckaew.
DRAWBACKS ON MATERIAL USED IN sHIPBuILpING.
Mr.. FEssENpEN, (rep.) OF Me- introduced bill to
allow draw backs articles used In the construction
.of vessels, which is as follows:-
BE enacted, That after the passage OF this act
there shall allowed and paid drawback Equal In amount
the import duty all lumber, hemp (Manila copper
all iron advanced In manufacture beyond bars
rigging or upment sailing vessels states OF
burden than hundred TONS and Of
burden less than thousand tons, used In
pairing vessels OF foreign build documented IN conformity
with the provisions OF the act of December 2y, 1882
i've per the amount OF such drawback, which
shall be retained the United under such
regulations the secretary OF the Treasury prescribe
Referred to Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. CHANDLER. trepl OF Mich, rose TO personal
explanation in regard TO an error that he had been
led into, he said, by the senators from Maine the
other day. during debate the proposition TO allow
u drawback on articles used IN shipbuildinp lie
had supposed from their remarks that the shipyards
Of Maine were deserted as the streets OF Nncvel
condition OF things that had almost caused the Sena-
tors from Nevada (Mr Nye) and Indiana (Mr. Morton)
TO shed tears He then read statistics liz support Of