Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-04-07
CONGRESSIONAL.

| SENATE.-Saturday, March 28.-The com.
mlttee OF conference reported joint resolution
providing that moneys accruing from the sale
of captured and abandoned property shall be
paid into the Treasury. The appropriation of
100000 to enable the Secretary of the Treasury
to defend suits brought against him was reduced
| to $4,000. The report of the committee was
concurred in. The President was requested to
inform the Senate whether he has established
any new Military district since August 1867.
and if so what district, and under what statute?
The. report of the committee of conference on
the bill to exempt certain manufactures from
internal tax was taken up. A long discussion
| ensued. The Senate finally refused to concur In
| the report fthe committee and appointed a new
committee of conference The Senate at5P NJ,
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. The House
resumed the consideration of the bill for the ad
mission of Alabama. Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, Of
fered a substitute for the BILL A number of
speeches were made both for and against the
BILL Mr.. Bingham and Mr.. Stevens amend
ments were rejected. The substitute for the
original bill, offered by MIR. Spadng was then
adopted-yeas II, nays 54 The preamble to
the bill was rejected. The title was amended
so as to read "A bill to provide for tempo
rary and provisional government in Alabama"
The bill, as amended was passed by vote of
yeas IO-, nays ~ ~ uCW COIuUllIChc or
ference was appointed on the bill to EXEMPT
certain manufactures from internal tax. The
House, at P. NJ, adjourned
SENATE-Tuesday, March 31st.-No legisla-
tive business was transacted up to the hour of
II NJ, when the Chief Justice appeared and
called the Court of impeachment to order, af.
| ter which the usual proclamation was made bv
the Sergeant Arms. The Presidents coun-
cll, the Impeachment managers and the mem
bers of the House entered and took their seats.
Mr.. Wilson, of the managers, proceeded to
submit the testimony in support of the charges,
| and offered the resolution passed by the Senate
in executive session In response to the message
of the President notifying that body of the sus-
pension of Mr.. Stanton and the original com.
mission of the said Stanton under which alone
he now claims to be entitled to the office of Sec
retary of War Mr.. Butler then rose for the
| purpose of calling the witnesses for the prose-
cution. William j. Mcdonald, the Chief Clerk
of the Senate j. w. Jones, Keeper of the
Senate Stationery; Charles E. Creecy, AID.
pointment Clerk in the Treasury Department
were called and examined The only testimony
of any Importance was given by Creecy, who
testified to certain alterations having been made
in the commissions issued from the Department
after the passage of the Tenure of Office act
Burt Van Horn was then examined. He testi-
fed in relation to the demand made by Gen.
eral Thomas on Secretary Stanton for the nos
session of the War Office. The witness was
asked number of questions by the Presidents
counsel Hon. j. K. Morehead, Representa-
tive in Congress from the State of Pennsylyan-
la, was then called, examined and cross. exam
ined. His testimony related to the same sub
ject as that Of the previous witness. Hon.
Walter A. Burelgh, of Dakota was then called
and examined in relation to conversation be-
tween General Thomas and himself in relation
to the demand of the former for the possession
of the War Office. During the examination of
this witness Mr.. Stanbery objected to the
Courts allowing certain statement to be
made. The Chief Justice decided that the ev-
idence should be allowed. Mr.. Drake objected
to this on the ground that the question, under
the rules, should be decided by the Court
The Chief Justice construed the rule to allow
these questions to be decided by the presiding
officer, but if any Senator asked for a vote f
would be submitted. Mr.. Drake appealed from
the decision of the Chair. Mr.. Butler asked if
this would not exclude the managers from ask
ing the decision of the Court in any question
decided by the presiding officer? The Chief
Justice said it would. A long discussion en-
sued on this question, which continued until 8
} Z. NJ, when the Court retired for consultation.
The Senate In secret session modified the sew
enth rule so as to allow the Chief Justice to
} rule In all questions of evidence, which ruling
, shall stand, unless some member of the Senate
! shall ask vote; or the Chief Justice may, at
J his option. submit the question to the Court
At go T. NJ. the Senate returned to the
7 Chamber, and the Chief Justice reported the
rule as modified in the secret session The
Court then adjourned, and the President pro
tenn. called the Senate to order. The Senate
Y soon after adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES joint reso-
luton imposing a tax on native petroleum in
a tended for expectation was referred to the same
r committee. The conference report upon the
bill to exempt certain manufactures from in
ternal tax, and which had been agreed to by
$ the Senate yesterday, was taken up After con-
p siderable discussion the report was agreed to
without division. At II NJ the House went
j into Committee of the Whole and accompanied
the managers of impeachment to the Senate
Chamber At .25 P. NJ the members of the
t House returned and the Speaker resumed the
. chair. The House then adjourned.