Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, May 20.
SENATE

WASHINGTON, May 20.
SENATE.
The memorial of citizens of Milledgeville
for the removal of the State capital was re-
terred; also, the petition of Mr.. Mackey,
President of the South Carolina Conven--
tion, that the Legislature be allowed to
meet, such assemblage having been pre-
vented by General Candy until Congress
approved the Constitution; also, the petl-
ton of members of the bar OF Michigan,
| that the Eastern District be abolished and
the whole State constituted as one district.
Referred. .sl
Mr.. SHERMAN. from the Finance COM
mittee, reported amendments to the Ma
tional Currency bill. He had received a
letter on the subject from the Comptroller
of the Currency, which he would lay be-
tore the Senate and call up the bill at an
early day. -..H-.-- +,
.Mr. CHANDLER called up the bill to
regulate the coasting trade of the north
ern, northeastern and northwestern from
tiers.
Mr.. FESSENDEN intimated that the bill
had not received sufficient consideration
from the committee on Commerce, and
ought TO be referred back to them.
MIR. CHANDLER replied that the bill
had been carefully considered, and was re-
ported unanimously.
MT. NJ NJ DULL urR0u Ine passage OF
the bill. If any of the Objectionable fea-
lures appeared, amendments could be Of
fered.
At this point the bill to extend the char
ter of the city of Washington came yer
from the President with the announcement
that it became law by the lapse of ten
days since Its receipt by him.
Mr.. FESSENDEN, replying to Mr.. Chan
dler, said he had been informed by MEM
bers of the committee that they had relied
entirely on the opinion of the chairman,
upon which standing alone, however we'll
informed Senator Chandler might be, the
Senate could hardly predicate its action.
He sent to the Clerks desk the opinion of
the Treasury Department. on the subject.
The morning hour expiring, the uniin-
ished business came up, and the Arkansas
bill was considered, the question being on
Ferry's amendment striking out all the
fundamental conditions.
Mr.. EDMUNDS made a long legal argu-
ment against the amendment, holding that
Congress can impose conditions of admis-
sion.
Mr.. CONKLING followed, corroborating
Mr.. Edmunds' views.
t4:25 the Senate went into Executive
session, and subsequently adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Mr.. MORGAN offered a resolution in
the opposition party in the House to the
committee to investigate the facts in the
case of Charles w. Woolley.
Mr.. BUTLER objected, but the Speaker
rule1 it to be a question of privilege.
Mr.. UPSON raised the question of its be-
ing considered at present, and the House
refused TO consider the resolution.
Mr.. BOYER offered similar resolution,
which the Speaker ruled not a privileged
question, being substantially the same as
that the House refused to consider.
Mr.. BINGHAM called up his motion to
reconsider the vote by which Woolley was
last evening ordered to be committed.
Mr.. BINGHAM, at some length, defend
ed the action of the committee.
An exciting discussion sprung up, during
which
Mr.. BROOKS made speech covering
the statement by Mr.. Woolley as to the
manner in which he had been treated by
Mr.. Butler in the committee room, char
acterizing Mr.. Buffers actions as rude,
abusive and insulting, stating that his an
swers, when given, were modified, altered
and changed by Mr.. Butler, the witness
being denied any opportunity to explain
except on two or three occasions; that he
was refused permission to see his own evil
dence and to consult with his counsel. and
on his refusal to relate private business to
the committee, which had no reference
to the trial of the President on the
articles of impeachment, or to tine vote of
any Senator, coupled with request to be
brought to the bar of the House, Mr.. But
Ter remarked that he would offer resolu-
tion to place the witness in close confine-
ment until the 4th of March, 1869, and the
witness was thereupon consigned to the
custody OF the Sergeant-at-Arms. The
witness considers he cannot divulge mat
tiers that came to him under the protection
and sanction of the relation of client and
counsel, and if he should make such dis
closures, under any circumstances, they can
be made only when demanded by compe-
tent authority, which possesses power to
punish for refusal to disclose.
Mr.. BROOKS, after some further re-
marks, said Mr.. Buffers object in his mis-
representation of the acts of Mr.. WoOlley
is apparent. He wanted to connect Mr..
Woolley with the President, and thus per-
vert his answers to accomplish his purpose.
During Mr.. Brooks remarks, Mr.. BUT
LER objected that the enclosure was an
abusive. virulent and vituperative COM
munication, which any gentleman should
have been ashamed of.
Mr.. BROOKS said he could not be taught
gentility by the gentleman from Massa-
chusetts.
Mr.. BUTLER stated that the relations
between the gentleman and himself were
known and should have taught him cour-
tesy.
The SPEAKER said it was presumed by
parliamentary law that the relations be-
tween all members are cordial, and asked
if the House consented to the gentleman
from New York proceeding in order.
MIR. BROOKS withdrew the offensive
words, but the House refused him permis-
sion to proceed.
Mr.. ELDRIDGE insisted that the wit
ness iWoolley) had done nothing to bring
him in contempt of the House. The re-
fusal to answer what the witness consider
ed ali improper question was not contempt,
unless the House directed him specifically
to answer it.
Mr.. MORGAN referred to the threats
made by an Indiana member to Miss Vim
ME Ream, the artist, because she refused to
influence Senator Ross to vote for impeach-
ment.
Mr.. JULIAN, the member alluded to,
explained the conversation he had with
Miss Ream, but denied having used any
threats.
Finally, MIR. BUTLER defended the ac-
tion of the managers, and alluding to the
complaint that there were no members of
the opposition party on the committee,
said it was impudent tor Alibaba, if he
were before grand jury, to require the
rest of the forty thieves to be put on the
grand jury.
The SPEAKER ruled this out of order.
though Mr.. Butler disclaimed aDy Iersonal
application of it. On vote by the Heuse
he was allowed to proceed.
The hour having expired, Mr.. BING-
HAM M withdrew the motion to reconsider,