Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-01
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March 81, 1869.
1900

Committee on PuOlc IanOsl 10 0QulFe
! into the expedisncy OF amending the
Homestead lave, so as 10 count service
Ia the army ss part OF the five years re
quired OF settlers.
Tee bill prohibiting the recent sale of
gold TT bonds, on account of the Govern
meut, was referred to the Committee on
Ways and Means.
Tie Senate bill authorizing the pre-.
payment Of the interest on the public
debt, was reported back from the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, and the
| committee discharged from further con-
lsiderRtion OF 1t, as it appears q similar
bill was passed in 1854.
The Joint resolution posfponing the
election in Texas, was referred TO the
Reconstruction Committee.
A resolution was adopted that the
Committee on Ways and Means shall
consider the eXPeiiency of revising and
enforcing g direct tax on the late rebel
States.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration OF the bill reported from the
Rec instruction Committee for the or
ganizstion Of a Provisional Government
for Mississippi.
Mr.. FsrnsWOrtn, q member Of the Re-
construction Committee, offered . SUBJ
StANHto AOA LhC UNI PAopoSAbE 0ACo0O
mission to the people of that State OF the
! Constitution already framed, with seps-
rate votes on some Of its Objectionable
features. He argued against the bill re-
ported from the Committee, which pro-
poses to reasonable the Convention and
authorize il to appoint a Provisional
Governor, with power IN his part
to appoint and fill af1 other
State offices. That Constitution, he
said, was not popular with the best
class Of Uaion people, in. Mississippi,
and il revised it would be to throw in 9
fresh apple OF discord, and 70 proIong,
instead OF qUieting, the discord now
reigning there.
The discussion was interrupted at two
o'clock, when Nj. Butler rose and made
q report from the ConfeTerce Committee
on the Ten1re-of office bill. The bill, IS
proposed to be adopted, repeats the fret
and second sections Of the original Ten
| ure-of-ofice act of March %, 1861. The
| first section of the Sen2te's amendment
is left untouched, and the second section
Is amended 50 3 to read as follows /:
g That during any recess of the Senate
\ the President is hereby empowered, in
his discretion, 10 suspend any civil officer
spp0iated by him, and with the advice
and consent tf the. Senate, except Judges
\ Of the United States Courts, until the
cad Of the next session OF the Senate,
and to designate-sbme able person-sub-
\ feet to be removed at his discretion, by
! the designation of another, TO perform
the duties of such Suspended officer in
| the meantime, and such person Sd desig
mated shaH takethe bath and give the
bonds required to be taken and
given by the suspended officer, and
| SHALL during the time he performs
! his duties, be entitled to the salary and
! emoIuments Of such officer, no part Of
which-shail belong 10 the officer sus-
pended and 1t shall be tho duty Of the
| President, within thirty days after the
com meleementIof every session Of the
lSsuate, except br spySafiee which in
his opinion ougI& to be flied, to nomi-
nate siI persons b. fiLaH vacancies in
office which exieS to the meeting of the
! Senate, whether Temporarily hHed or
not, and 50 10 the place Of all oli GERS sus-
pended; and if he Senate during such
! session shah refuse to advise or consent
80 an sppnintee in the plaza of such fu.
psndnd oiieery {fal. ana not Otherwise.
ss@so p' ss ss5n IS sneshs g
| sion Of the Senate fer said Office.
NJ. Dawes said he desired to vote IN
| dsrstandihgiy, and therefore suggested
| that the matter should 60 over Until
| 10. morrow, 10 order that the report
might be printed.
Nc. BuIIeF moved theapreSiou5 ques-
| ton on the report
Mr.. Dawes said he hopedthe previous
question would DSt be seconded, but 1t
was, by q vote OF as to 81, and the report
was arr9ed to by a vote ef-yeas, lO7
nays, e..
Mr.. Butler, of III Massachusetts, from the
| judiciary Committee, reported q bill to
\ allow the defendants IN criminal cases,
in United States Courts, to testify, which
was ordered to be printed, and reeOm-
mitted.
MI. E bridge inquired whether it was
a general bill.
Mr.. Butler-"1 l. ISL
M, Eldridge-'D Does it apply to every
body ?'
Mr.. Butler-"Y Yes, sir, to everybody
to every loyal man."
The BILL provides for q general system
for the removal Of political disabilities
by petition to thu United States
Courts, in the States or Ter
~ritories where the person applying re-
sided during the war, admitting that
the applicant believed the Confederate
\ General and State Governments to have
been rebellious and reasonable, and
truly repenis all aels done by him in
pursuance thereof.
The House then resumed the consider
alton Of the Mississippi Bill.
Mr.. Dawes addressed the House in IA
VOr OF q postponement Of the bill until
the next session. He argued that
the military arm was sufficiently
strong, and that the military head
was sufficiently earnest, and the mill
issry heart sufficiently true to the pu!sa-
lions OF patriotism to justify leaving the
State Of Mississippi for the present under
military custody. Life would be more
secure there under that than under any
other form OF government, and he
thought it better to bear the ills we
have tnan fly to those We know not of
! Without ~desp0siDg Of the bill, the Senate
! bill supplementary to the currency act
| the Sposker's table and referred to the
Committee on Banking,
The Ssnate's joint resolution respect
jig the pay and allowance OF enlisted
msn Of the army was passed, and the
House adjourned.
sEEArh
me concurrent resolution to adjourn
on the 9th Of April was received, and q
motion made b. Summer to table it was
lost.
Considerable discussion ensued.
At the expiration OF the morning hour
the resolution went over, and the Indian
appropriation bill came up as UNI nished
business, and the several amendments
reported from the Committee on Appro-
pristlons were agreed to.
AZ 3:45 pm. The bill was informally
laid aside, and Trumbull, from the COM
mi,tss on Conference, on the bill to re.
pea, the Tenure-of-offiee set, made q re-
port, which will be found in the pro-
eeedinfs OF the House. He explained il
as il hgd been agreed upon by the COM
mittee. The bill, as il had passed the
Senate, required Z direct vote Of the
Senate refusing to confirm the nomina.
ton OF a new appOintee in order to
Fe-instate the old officer, and the change
made by the committee simply provided
that when an officer was suspended BY
the President he should be re-instated at
the end of the next session Of the Senate,
unless the nomination Of his successor