Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-03
CONGRESSIONAL.

SENATE. Monday, Feb. 24th-The bill pro
viding that majority of voters shall be sufh-
cient to ratify the Constitutions of the South
ern States was taken up. Pending It's discus
sion several messages were received from the
President. 1t was announced that the bill au-
thorizing the Secretary Of War to employ coun-
sci to defend the Reconstruction acts had be-
come law without the signature Of the Presl-
dent The Senate soon went into executive
session. and at its close adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, recess
taken on Saturday night expired at 10 z. NJ.
yesterday, and the House was promptly called
to order and the discussion of the impeachment
resolution was renewed. Messrs. Ashley, of
Ohio, Cook, kelsey, Cake, Blair, briggs, Will
son, Washburne, of Iowa, Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, Woodbridge. Butler, Po-
land Stokes, Judd, Harding, Pike, Broomall,
Benton and Boutwell, advocated the immediate
passage of the resolution. They were opposed
by Messrs. Boyer, Woodward. Wood, Pruyn,
Sitgreaves, Eldridge Carey, Haght, Niblaek,
Kerr, Barnes and Marshall. Mr.. Stevens then
closed the debate in speech in favor Of i'm
parchment. At4. .55 2. NJ. the vote was taken,
and the resolution of impeachment was passed
ayes, l25; noes, At. Speaker Colfax then
desired to record his vote upon this question,
and cast it in the affirmative, making the vote
yeas, 1875; nays, At. Messrs. Stevens and
Bingham were appointed committee of two
to present the resolution of impeachment to the
Senate and Messrs Boutwell,, Stevens, Bing-
ham, Wilson, Logan, Julian and Ward COM
mittee of seven to prepare articles of impeach-
ment. The House then adjourned.
SENATE Tuesday, Feb, 25th.-The Clerk
of the House, at 1925 p NJ, announced the
passage of the impeachment resolution by that
body. A bill was passed, amending the act to
provide for the prompt settlement of public ae-
counts. At Ito P NJ. Messrs Stevens and
Bingham appeared at the bar of the Senate,
and Mr.. Stevens, on the part of the House Of
Representatives, demanded that the Senate
should take order for the appearance of Mr..
johnson to answer to the impeachment char
ges. The President of the Senate, Mr.. Wade,
said the Senate would take order in the premi-
ses The impeachment resolution was ordered
to be referred to Select committee of Seven,
appointed by the Chair, to consider and report
thereon. The bill regulating the presentation
bills to the President and the return of the
same, was taken up. After brief discussion
the bill was laid aside, and the new Reconstruc-
ton bill was taken up. Mr.. Patterson made a
speech in favor of the Reconstruction policy of
! Congress. The further consideration of the
bill was then postponed, and the bill providing
that majority of votes shall be sufficient to
ratify the Constitutions of the Southern States
was taken up. Several amendments were pro-
posed and adopted. The bill was then passed.
The Chair announced Messrs. Howard, Trum-
bull Conkling, Edmunds, Morton, Pomeroy,
and johnson as the Select Committee on the
| impeachment.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.-A haf-past
l O. clock Messrs Stevens and Bingham appear
ed at the bar of the House and, being recog
nized by the Speaker, the former said that, in
obedience to the order of the House of Rep
resentatives, the committee had appeared at
the bar of the Senate, and in the name of the
House of Representatives and of the whole
people of the United States had impeached An
drew johnson, President of the United States,
of high crimes and misdemeanors in Office, and
had demanded that the Senate take order for
the appearance Of said Andrew johnson to an
swer to said impeachment, and they informed
the Senate that the House would, in due time,
present article of impeachment, and would
prove the same. A resolution was offered di-
recting the Judiciary Committee to report in
| relation to the status of Texas now and during
| the war, and whether acts, such as marriages,
&c., consummated under the Confederate au-
| thority are lawful, and if the issue by such
marriages are legitimate. The resolution was
referred to the Committee. The New Consti-
tuition Of the State of Alabama was laid before
the House, and referred to the Committee on
Reconstruction. The House resumed the con-
sideration of the amendments to the Naval Ap-
preparation bill made in Committee of the
| Whole. The amendments were agreed to, and
the bill, as amended, was passed. The Civil
Appropriation bill was reported from the Com
mittee, ordered to be printed, and recommitted.