Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-04
greSS.

Ia the Senate, yesterday, the Committee on
Finance was instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of repeating all laws imposing taxes
on incomes and manufactures. A bill vas
passed restoring to market all lands along the
line Of the Pacific Railroad. At y. SIS ?. NJ.
the Clerk of the House appeared and officially
informed the Senate Of the passage OF the I'M
parchment articles by the House, and OF the
appointment of managers to conduct Tie ln-
peachment. The Secretary OF the Senate was
directed to inform the House that the Senate
is ready to receive the managers appointed
The bill providing for the funding OF the ma
tional debt was taken up, and Mr.. Morrill, de-
liyered speech in relation to the hnances.-
The further consideration Of the bill was then
postponed The Senate soon after went into
executive session, and at its conclusion i'd
iourned.
In the House of Representatives the Com
mittee on the Judiciary was directed to inquire
aud report if Congress has power, under the
Constitution, to regulate charges tor freight on
railroads running from one State into another.
A motion was made to suspend the rules Tor
the purpose Of allowing the protest OF the Dem
ocratic members of Congress against the re-
strictions imposed upon debate, to be read at
the Clerks desk. After short discussion,
the motion was rejected The Postofice APP
propration bill was taken up and passed. The
appropriations amount to the sum Of $40, $780,
600. A bill was passed, allowing certain ex-
porters of distilled spirits to export the same
without payment of the tax. A bill was pass
ed, authorizing the construction OF railroad
across the Ohio river at Paducah. Mr.. Butler,
from the Impeachment Managing Committee,
reported the amendment offered by him on
Tuesday, but rejected by the House. Alter
considerable discussion, the article was adopted
by a vote Of yeas 81, nays Al. An additional
article was offered by Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio,
and was adopted by vote of yeas 100 to nays
40. The managers were then directed to pre-
sent the articles to the Senate. The House at
5 10 p. M adjourned
THE MANDAMUs CASE. At the first regis
traton of voters under the Reconstruction
Acts" General John d. Imboden, of Rich
mond, was not allowed to register because he
refused to take the oath prescribed by the said
acts, on the ground that his disfranchsemcnt
bad been removed by tie Presidents amnesty
proclamation. The result was an appeal to
Judge Underwood for writ OF manddmats.
The case was fully argued on the Goth aud 2lst
ult., on motion submitted by the counsel Tor
defendant to dismiss the writ and petition.
Yesterday Judge Underwood pronounced
lis decision. His opinion is, the Confederate
States were out OF practical relations to the
Union or to the General Government, their
State rights have by war leen suspended, and
are now in abeyance.' and that it is only con-
stitutiona and legitimate tor the claw making
authority of the victorious government to re-
store these suspended and broken relations.
He quotes from Waffle, Wheaton, and Su-
preme Court I'D Dallas page 54) to show
that the doctrine is settled that in every
country the law-making authority, and not the
Executive, must control and Tx tic conditions,
and that during the interval between Var and
peace, whether called truce, armistice or selge,
and whether short or long, the military au-
thority remains supreme"
He argues that the President usurped the
power TO define the conditions of peace, " and
that bis plan drought vengeance upon the
UnioniSts in the shape of mobs, riots, murders
and assassination" at Alexandria, New Or
leans, etc. Congress then asserted its authorl-
ty, and proposed plan Of settlement known as
the ''l4th amendment" which was rejected by
the Confederates with disdau. congress then
proposed the plan which the people are now
considering-tle truce aud military power
still remaining.
In reply to the personal reference OF General
Imboden's counsel concerning the letters re-,
Gently ranked by Underwood as ~. S. Sena;,
tor" the Judge stated that "a form of loyal
government" in Virginia has been fully recog--
nized by the National Executive, and admitted
by the United States Congress" How about
"Whereas no legal government now exists in
the States OF Virginia. etc? He says further,
that 'our full admission to the Union $50 we
are out1 nearly two years ago. was prevented
by the members Of the Legislature refusing
to qualify themselves in accordance with the
plain provisions of the Alexandria Constitu-
ton. While these questions whatquestions? =
remain undecided, the officers elected under
the Alexandria Constitution, including United
States Senators, have a right to claim their
places ergo, to frank letters and documents
Tor the Radical party This claim has mot
yet been rejected by Congress- The creden-
tals of the Senators have been referred to the
proper committee, which would long since have
reported favorably but for the violence and
legislative rebellion before mentioned"
The motion to dismiss the writ and petition
was sustained Richmond Wing.
a REMARKABLE DEATH.-A few days since
couple of youths were out in the neighbor,
hood of this city, practicing with bow and ar