The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON. Jane 3.
SENATE.

Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to re-.
move political disabilities fiOm certain
citizens of Georgia who had been elect
ed to the Legislature and other Offices.
Referred to the committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Thayer presented bill granting
land to the Iowa and Missouri Railroad
Company. Referred to the committee
on Finance. vsss'Eg
Mr.. Sumner offered resolutions, which
were placed on the calendar and order
ed printed, declaring the constitutional
responsibility Of Senators forivotes on
impeachment. >
WHEREAS, A pretension has been put
forth to the effect that the vote of q
Senator on an impeachment is so far
different in character from his vote on
any other question that the people have
no right TO criticize it; and, '''
WHEREAS, This pretension, if not dis
countenanced, is calculated to impair
that freedom of judgment which be-
longs to the people on all that is done
by their representatives; therefore, In
order to remove all doubts on this ques-
ton, and to declare the constitutional
right of the people in cases of impeach-
ment, ......
Resolred, That their assuming that
the Senate is a Court in the exercise of
judicial power, Senators cannot claim
that their votes are exempt from the
Judgment of the peoples. that the Su-
preme Court when it has undertaken TO
act on questions essentially political
in character has not escaped this judg-
ment; that the decision of this high
tribunal in support of slavery has been
openly condemned; that the memorable
lutterauee known as tue bred Scott de-
cision was Indignantly denounced and
resudiated, while the Chief Justice
who pronounced it became mark OF
/ censure and rebuke, and that plainly;
that the vote of the Senator'S on Ina
peachment cannot enjoy An immunity
from popular Judgment which has been
denied to the Supreme Court with fancy
rs Chief Justice.
Second, Resolretl, That the Senate is
not at any time Court invested with
judicial power, but that 1t is always a
Senate with the specific functions de-
clared by the Constitution; that ac-
cording to the express words, the judi.
cial power of the United States is vested
in one Supreme Court and such inferior
Courts rs Congress may ordain and es-
tablish, while it is further provided
that the Senate shall have the sole
power to try all fmpeachments, thus
positively making u distinction between
the judicial power and the power to
try impeachment; that the Senate on
an impeachment does not exercise any
portion of the judicial power bat another
different power and exclusively dele
gated to the Senate, having for its sole
object removal from office and the dis
qualification therefrOm; that, by the
terms of the Constitution, there may be,
after conviction on impeachment, a fur
Their trial and punishment according to
law, thus making discrimination be-
tween a proceeding by impeachment
and a proceeding according to law;
that the proceeding by impeachment is
not according to law and not at
tended by legal punishment, but is
of an opposite character. and from
beginning to end al,-being in
stituted by political body, and on ac-
count of political offences being con-
Quoted before another political body,
having political power only and
finding in a Judgment which is
political only, and therefore that
the votes of Senator on
impeachment though different in form
is not different in responsibility from
his vote on any other political question,
nor can any other Senator on such oc-
cason claim immunity from that just
accountability which representative
at all times owes to his constituents.
Third, ResOlred, That Senators in all
that they do are under the obligation
of an oath binding them to tine strictest
rectitude, that on impeachment, they
take the further oath according to the
requirement of the Constitution, which
saws: Senators when sitting to try
Impeachment shall be on oath or affir-
nation" that this simple requirement
was never intended to change the char
acter of the Senate rs political body
and cannot have any such operation,
and, therefore, Senators, whether be-
fore or after the supplementary oath,
are equally responsible to the people for
their votes, 1t being the Constitutional
right of the people at all times to sit in
tuCil
Mr.. Chandler called up bill to regu
late the foreign coasting trade of the
United States on the Northwestern and
Northeastern coasts.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, thought the
bill as ut present framed was defective.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, proposed
amendments to meet most of the grounds
of objection, which were agreed to, and
the bill passed.
The bill to provide temporary Gov
eminent for the territory of Wyoming
was considered, amended and passed.
Mr.. Sherman, from tho committee on
Finance reported the following amend
ment to the bill reported January 10Th,
relating to United States: To strike
out all after the enacting clause and in
sert as follows: That any contract here
after made specifically paying in coin
shall be legal and valid, and may be en-
forced according to its terms, anything
in the several acts relating to United
States notes to the contrary nOtwith-
standing.
Mr.. Hendricks moved to take up the
bill to make eight hours days labor
in the Government workshops.
Mr.. Trumbull urged the consideration
of the bill for the admission of North
Carolina, South Careliua, Georgia and
Florida.
After some discussion, and witho at
action, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker presented several COM
municatious, Including letter from
the Secretary of War with commuuica-