Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-12-16
The Message Congress.

We print PRESIDENT Johnson last ues
sage, on our outside To- day. 1t is replete
with stale political reservations and mis-
statements long since exploded, and un-
worthy the Chief executive of the Unlocd
States. The character of the message may
be inferred from the following repor, of its
reception by the Senate and House OF Rep
re tativ, As given in special dis patch to
i'iusburg CoOtnerciaR
The country may properly ngratu!ate i t.
self upon having got the last Of Andrew
johnson annual messages. 1t is such a
document WAS never before sent to Con
gress, and 1t received such treatment as no
other message ever received The indgna-
ton 1t c.tei at the Capitol was something
with winch the people cannot help sympa
thlzlng, AID the condemnation poured upoI
the head of the bad man whose name it
bears will doubtless be echoed from one end
OF the iaad to the other. The Senate re-
ceived the message from the President ;
private Secretary at exactly one O'Clock
There were not many persons in the CALLER
les, Tor the popaace expected a scene at the
other end OF the Capitol The Clerk began
| its reaing just as printed copies were dis
irihuted among the Senators. He had read
about ten minutes, not having reached the
| atrocious paragraph in which the President
| advocates reputation through non payment
| of interest On our bonds, when Mr. Conness
rose and Indignantly moved to dispense with
! the further reading of the document
The wrath and contempt Of Senators had
been gradually sing. One could see that
easily enough from the galleries.. The pr p
"siIlon TO quiz reading was, however. no less
! novel 'han astounding, and at first decided
| majority OF Senator's seell: ii % be oppo sci
| 10 such severe treatment of the emergency
Garrett Davis caught at his breath, and
managed to say that the IN ,,iou was most
extraordinary.
"Yes" responded Conness. ''and the mes
sage is most extraUrdi ary; such one u,
no other President ever sent to Congress.
Warming to his subject he went on TO say
that 1t was TRADE of a3Ise, al in leceDt at
tach upon Congress, tissue of malignant
tais isehoods This language caused Il dec
ded sensation. Several Senators rose tn
speak. Two or three appealed to Conne,s
- Withdraw his motion. Others urged hi
20 press it TO Il vote, ani there Was some
confusion.
Vice Pre~id, Mt Wade called for vote on
h,. yrE, i,
cjca r"ce answer declared that it hal csr
riei, VI. Davis and pther. waotei yea
an nay vote, and 50 that was ordered
Meantime there ha been some private
consultation. and at its close Mr. Comes
said he was willing to Withdraw the motion
it it was thought best. Mr. Caner,r re
Piled he would az oice renew it and 50 i wa
not withdrawn Mr.. Howe said The
message was Indecent in It's character The
Constitution does uat give the President any
right TO send Us such IA message, nor does il
impose upon u> the duty of listening To such
message.
MeSSrS. ,rtan AMI Wilson eoncurred in
pronouncing 1t full of misrepresentation. but
thought the Senate had better read it
through. Mr.. Cameron characterized it
as unit 10 60 on the Senate journal, and
wanted it thrown upon the table at once.
Goyenor Morton reminded .he Senate that
the Preritent had ght to communicate |
AIS view ~ his own way. adding that ne |
h'h eli h"urht Inc message ~ bad one as
It could he. Mr.. Wil.on spoke of il as he /
ravitgs OF bad. disappointed man Mr.. !
b. axe chlraote-iz ii it "a, the last kick OF a !
defeated executive, which il was not worth |
while 10 mind
4 majority of the Senate seemed to think /
otherwise for when AT this point Mr. Ed
:nund- moved An adjournment it was car
red without division. Thus the Senate out /
Taged beyond restraint, refused for the first |
tine iii their lite TO hear message from the |
White House Whila there was some divi- /
sion OF opinion among Republicans as to
the propriety ot allowing il to be read, there |
was none in condemnation of It's doctrines, t
or in protest against its wicked plea for the
la;e rebellion
ThE HOUSE took the reading Of the mes
>ase very quietly. The ncn CALLER, was
crowded, though evidently not so much to
hear the dncumeni read a. to see how it
was received by the representatives. Clerk
NcP Phei son seemed impfe, ed with the grav
ny of his mission. and read the pages in a
ou1 and clear voice, easily filling the Cham
her Very lew meul ,ers paid any attention
In hun however. Many of them left the
ioor; Others wrote letters: several read
liItle knots hered for laugh
er and conversation, AMI there was a Luzz
IF small talk throughout the Hail.
As the clerk read the last lines, several
members rose. Mr.. Wa,hturne of lii
no!<, 20, ,he floor, and in 4 few grave,
words denounced the message for
repu iiation doctrines. speaking of the
o limeat as disgracefui in the extreme
h ndu Wuoi, that pink of irnpr ety,
raiiei h'in Ia order. holding ii at he had 10
r gut [" u,e the word disgra eiul IN c,uuec
'i"n with any message ficni the President.
4 ne Speaker ruled of course that ANY mem
Der had a right TO 50, ak OF it as he pleased.