The New York herald., 1869-02-21
Discussion on the Proposed Repeal Of the
Tenure Of Office Act in The Senate.
Passage of the Constitutional
Amendment in the House.
Dempsey, the Stationery Contractor a Rcsr
PRINT Of Executive Clemfnsy.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1850.

propOeInR new amendment to the constitution was
adopted by the aid OF the democrats in the House to-
day. When the amendment was first voted for
many republicans were recorded against it, while
the democrats, with few exceptions voted for 1t.
when the vote was taken on the joint resolution as
amended the republicans turned In and passed by
two-thirds vote, and the democrats went against
1t to a man. The chief objection among the republi-
cans to Bingham's proposition is that it does not
provide for the disiranchsement OF persons who par
tcpated In the late rebellion does provide for
similar punishment for any persons who may here
after engage in rebellion against the government.
On this account it is known as the amnesty amend
mentn
The House Amendments to the Supplementary
Currency Bill.
The Senate Finance Committee. at their meeting to-
day, had the House amendments to the Supplement
tary Currency bill under consideration As might be
expected in committee controlled so largely IN the
interest OF the national banks, the House amend
ments 10 the bill met with little favor Senator Cat
TELL who is the President Of the Corn Exchange Ma
tional Bank. Philadelphia. made Tight upon Co
burns amendment which is now the fourth section
OF the bt] and it was stricken out. The Finance
Committee will agree tQ UQsI Qf the amendments
made by the Committee on Banking and Currency
to the original Senate BILL but they cannot swallow
Coburn's amendment, because it is supposed to be
hostile in some degree, to the national banks.
The Tenure of Ofice Act.
The Tenure of ONCE act is more revived, and
is now trembling In the balance In the house Of its
rrends-the Senate Of the United States After a
good deal Of effort it was put upon the carpet to-day
ana the fastidious Conkling took occasion to make
speech upon its merits, ending in the declaration
that it would be judicious the part or the Senate
to re. ain at least some share OF the power and
patronage conferred by the Tenure OF Office act.
Doolttle, Dixon, Robertson and Morton spoke in
favor OF its total repeal. Sawyer and Howe spoke
the other way The impression is that total repeal
will be carried. The democrats. the anti-impeach-
ment republicans and majority OF the Southern
Senators in favor Of It's total repeal, Thayer,
Sherman and Morton, members OF the radical wing,
are similarly disposed, that clear majority is
embraced in the enumeration, and when the vote is
about to be taken it viii be found that more Of the
same stripe will be found in favor Of repeal.
The Next Ccnsus-The Basis of Congressiona
Representation.
The select committee on the next census held
another meeting to-day, and continued their consul
tation on the two propositions before them to wit,
whether TO increase the basis Of representation
the number Of representatives. The committee Is
somewhat divided q portion Of the members oppos-
ing any further increase In the number Of members
Of the House Of Representatives., and another por-
ton being against an enlargement Of the basis OF
representation. The former contend that the House
s already too large and unwieldy, and that an add
ton to Its numbers would only tend to embarrass
its business. The general impression is that the
basis Of representation will be enlarged. The CON-
mittee propose to make separate bureau to the
perintendent OF the taking OF the census and to dis
connect it entirely from the United States
Narshal's once. Should the law be passed In
this shape 1t will dsappoint the numerous aspirants
for United States marshalships under Grant, The
taking the census In connection with the United
States Marshals has heretofore given considerable
patronage to that ONCE, and 1t was expected that
the same course would be pursued In the present in.
stance the once has been eagerly sought after.
Pardon Easily Obtained.
The President to-day issued pardon to Mr.. Demp-
sey, OF the stationery lrm OF Dempsey O'Tooe,
who was sentenced q day or two ago to pay flne
OF $500 and be imprisoned ten days for an assault
on Q Patent once clerk. The pardon was procured
by r. T. Merrick and owen Thorne, who represented
70 the President that the law had already been sats
ned by Mr.. Dempsey having appeared before mags-
trate. confessed the assault paid his nne, and
having been placed under bonds 10 keep the peace.
Bills which Have Become Laws without the
Presidents signature.
been presented to the President on the instant
and not having been returned by him within the
constitutional limit of ten days Sundays excepled),
have oecome aws-The bill approprating $50 900 for
the temporary relief OF the poor and destitute people
IN the District Of Columbia. The resolution relative
70 the recent contract for stationery for the Depart
ment OF the Interior; 1t suspends payment to Messrs
Dempsey O'Toole. The resolution respecting the
provisional governments OF Virginia Texas and
Mississippi. This provides that persons holding
oflces In these States who cannot take subscribe
to on oath OF once, according TO previous act OF
Congress- shall, on the passage Of This resolution,
be removed therefrom; II shall be the duty OF the
different commanders to Oil the vacancies so created
by appointment OF persons who can take the oath
provided that the provisions OF this resolution shall
not apply to persons who. by reason OF the removal
of their disabilities, provided In the fourteenth
article Of amendment to the constitution, shall have
qualified for onice.
The Cherokee Neutral Lands Monopoly.
The largest patent for lands that has been granted
for many years, excepting grants to railroads. was
signed by authority OF the President to-day. Mr..
Cowan. the secretary for signing land parents at the
Executive Mansion. signed In favor OF James r..
Jay for I1s4Ts acres OF the Cherokee neutral lands
The Great Steamboat Disaster op the Ohio
The Pilots 20 he Punished.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has instructed the
solicitor OF that department to take necessary steps
10 secure the OF the twelfth section Of
the act OF 1888 against the pilots OF the steamers
United States and America. because OF the recent
collision between those vessels, which resulted In so
large loss OF life. The section referred to provides
that every captain, engineer. pilot or other person
employed on board OF any steamboat or vessel pro-
PEELED in whole or In part by steam by whose mis-
conduct, negligence inattcnton to his respective
duties the life Of any person ON board said vessel
may oe destroyed shall be deemed guilty OF man.
slaughter, and upon conviction thereof imposes
heavy penalties.
Visitors nc Array Headquarters.
Nothing OF any special interest occurred az the
army headquarters to-day. A large number Of visi-
tors called General Grant, including several sena-
tors and Representatives Among them were senar
tors chandler, Rice, wilson, Kellogg and Senator
and 9th