The Portland daily press., 1869-03-26
xLIst O0NGREsS---First Session.

charged. Other Republican clerks are to
reinstated. 3.
XLIst OONGRESS---Frst Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-Mr Hamilton al
b. peared and was sworn in.
4. Mr.. Rice Introduced bill to enforce the lat
amendment TO the Constitution and laws
the United States, and to restore to the Stat
of Georgia the Republican Government elecl
ed under the new Constitution. Laid on tn
table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Patterson introduced bill to provId
for retrenchment and greater efficiency in tn
diplomatic and consular system in the Unlte'
States Referred to Committee on ForeigI
Affairs
Mr.. Sprague submitted a preamble to thu
bill introduced by him few days ago, TO pro
vide for loaning the public money and for othel
PURPOSES and on his motion 1t was ordered Il
be printed with the bill, and also in separat,
form
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill directing tn,
continuance of freedmen's hospitals at Rich
mond and Yicksburg and in the District o
Columbia. Referred to Committee ON Mill
tarv Affairs.
ETbe bill supplementary to the act of 1854, t.
provide national currency, secured by the
pledge OF United States bonds, came up, pend
ing an amendment that was offered by Mr.
Wilson, authorizing an increase of 800 900 00(
over the issue of circulating notes, and provid.
ing that in making the issue the preference
shall be given to banking associations in such
States and sections of the country as are not
adequately supplied with banking facilities
Mr. Sherman explained in detail the provis-
ions of the bill in long speech
Mr.. Morrill, offered an amendment to the
4th section, providing that when withdrawal
of circulation from one point is required to
supply the deficiencies at another, the revis-
len shall be made up on the banks havingfa
capital exceeding 100000. Lost.
Mr.. Morrill, offered another amendment to
the 4th section, providing that where trans
fer of capital is demanded requisition shall be
made for the required sum, commencing, pro
rata, with the banks in cities having an
amount of bank circulation more than double
the amount which was held in such cities by
the State banks in 1860. Lost.
Mr. Kellogg moved to amend Mr.. Wilson's
amendment by authorizing az issue of $780,.
900, 900 instead of $350.000,OO0.
Mr.. Morton asked the Senator from Louis
lana whether the amendment contemplated
the retiring of an equal amount of greenbacks?
Mr. Kellogg said 1t did,
Mr.. Morton said that would be direct yio-
lation of the bill recently passed pledging the
United States to the payment of all their Obli-
cations in coin, and he could not consent to it.
The propriety of withdrawing the surplus
banking circulation from the Eastern States
bAted at length, upon substantially the same
grounds as in the former discussion of the
same question.
Without action on the bill, the Senate, at
410, went into executive session and soon
after adjourned.
Messrs Jencks and Benton were appointed
additional members of the Committee ON Re-
trenchment.
Mr.. Dawes rose to personal explanation
arising out of statement made by him in the
New Mexico contested election case. Mr..
Heith, Secretary of the territory of New Mex
leo, charged him (Dawes) with calling him a
REBEL He declared now he spoke the truth,
and sustained his position by proof.
MIR. Poland, from the Committee on Revision
of the Laws, reported joint resolution rela-
tive to steamboats, and other vessels owned in
the loyal States during the war; which he ex
planned and advocated at great length. 1t
gave rise to considerable discussion, which was
participated in by Messrs. Washburne of Wis
consin, Lawrence, Wrinkle, Berry, Maynard,
Hoar, Hawkins, Allison, Benjamin and Logan
The resolution then passed-yeas 81, nays 80.
Mr. Poland was, at his own request, excused
from further service on the Reconstruction
Committee, remarking that the request was
not made from any dissatisfaction with that
committee, but in order to perfect arrange
ments on another committee.
Mr.. Upson was also, at his request, excused
the Laws, and subsequently assigned to the
Committee on Reconstruction.
The Speaker announced as the special com
mittee on causes of reduction of American
tonnage, Messrs. Hotehkiss, Morrill, of Penn
sylvania, Judd, Holman, Calkins and Wells.
Mr.. Lynch offered a resolution for COM
mission to inquire whether the efficiency of
the naval service requires the maintenance of
two navy yards at points near together as Kit.
terry, Maine, and Charlestowp, Massachusetts.
Referred to the Naval Committee.
Mr.. Butler introduced bill to enforce the
14th amendment to the Constitution and the
laws of the United States, and to restore the
State of Georgia to the Republican Govern
ment elected under its new Constitution, Re-
ferred to the Committee on Reconstruction
and ordered to be printed
The House then took up the bill to provide
for the organization of provisional Govern
ment for Mississippi.
Mr.. Wood spoke in opposition to the bill,
when it was laid aside, and the House pro-
eeeded to the business on the Speakers table,
the first matter being the Senate amendments
to the House bill repeating the tenure of Office
act
Mr.. Butler moved to refer the bill and
amendments to the Judiciary Committee, and
desired to give some reasons therefor.
Mr.. Farnsworth desired to enter motion to
concur in the Senate amendments.
Mr.. Bingham said he had risen for the same
purpose.
Mr.. Butler declined to yield for that pur-
pose, but yielded to Mr. Logan, who moved to
amend the bill by proviso that all civil offices,
except Judges OF the q. s. Courts, that were
filled by appointment of the President Of the
United States, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, before the 4th of March,
1862 shall become vacant on the 30th of june,
1869
The discussion was continued by Messrs
Logan and Washburne of Wisconsin in oppo-
sition to the Senate amendments, and in favor
of an absolute repeal of the act.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, declared that
the Senate amendment was a new tenure Of
Office bill, more wrong in principle, more fata
in action, and more destructive to the privi-
leges OF the House and OF the people, and was
eonferring more power on the Senate than thu
present tenure OF Office bill; it fettered the
Executive more. II he (Butler) were to vott
Tor either, he would vote for the one on tht
statute book in preference; the Senate was al
irresponsible body, and an irresponsible bod,
was ever dangerous.
Mr.. Poland inquired how the gentleman from
Massachusetts justified the passage of the ten
ure of Office bill originally.
Mr. Butler replied ne had 30 occasion to *
into such justification. daughter ON th'
Democratic side).
Mr.. Poland-But the gentleman's politica
associates have abundant reason to go int
their justification.
Mr. Butler-There were many things whic
we had to do to save the life of the country i
the war. for which justification cannot be foun
in the Constitution; there were many thing
which we had to do under Andrew Johnso
which had better never be done again, (laugt
teri and had better be got rid of as soon az pos
sible. Mr.. Butler characterized the Senat
amendment rs declaration Of q want of con
fidence in tie President What good had tn
law ever done? Had it cured bad President
Ruthlessly and in defiance of it, Andrew Johr
son had turned Edwin M. Stanton out of o
fee and when the House impeached hiI
therefor, the Senate held him aequit and FIRE,
Mr. Farnsworth suggested that the Senator
who had voted to convict johnson had vote
for this amendment.
Mr.. Butler-I did not know who was in fs
vor of the amendment; it had been passed
secret caucus, but he knew that the vote o
the repeal of the law did not bear out the ger
tleman's statement.
Mr. Farnsworth-The vote ON the Senai
amendment does bear me out.
Mr. Butler-Oh, bahl fiddlesticks, (laugl
ter); it was made a matter of caucus dietatioI
it was agreed to as compromise, and all con
promises in legislation are vicious. have bee
told that the President is satisfied with th
law. l do not pretend to have the knOwlede
about that which others claim to have, but
have no doubt that if President Grant sal
anything about it it was under circumstance
of the Senate committee going to him and say
ing. "Sir. you are our President; we are
trouble in the Senate; If you don't agree I
this we shall have trouble among ourselves
and President Grant may have said, agree
that or anything else rather than you shou
have trouble: don't mean to put myself
your way: 1 don't mean to raise any difficult
in vour Darty. But if he said so it was becau
he relied on the sentiment of the country;
relied on the House of Representatives; ne
lied on our sense of our own dignity; on o.
sense of our rights; on our sense OF our oN "