Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-01

reinstated ut the end of the next sessio
OF the Senate, unless the nomination
his successor had been confirmed.
Mr. Thurman would not vote for repol
of the committee because, according [
his understanding, it would preVeI
the President from removing an
member of the cabinet durin
recess, no matter how obnoxious tina
member should have become He sup
posed the dominant party would pas
the bill in the form that best suited them
but it was at least fair that the minorit'
should be allowed to know what the,
were voting for, and therefore he movel
that the bill as it had passed the Senat
before and the report of the Committee
of Conference should be laid on the tabl
and ordered printed Lost-yeas
nays 45.
The report of the committee was ther
agreed to-yeas Il, nays s.
Proceedings I'm the House.
An order was adopted to clear the
floor of persons not entitled to the priv.
ilege ten minutes before the hour O
meeting.
A resolution was adopted directing the
Committee on Public Lands to inquire
into the expediency of amending the
homestead laws so as to count service in
the army as part Of the five years res
1uired of settlers.
A bill prohibiting the secret purchase
or sale of gold or bonds on account
OF the government. was referred to the
Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate bill authorizing the pre-
payment of interest on the public
debt, was reported back from the Com.
mittee oR Ways and Means, and the
committee discharged from its further
consideration. 1t appears a similar bill
passed in 1864.
A joint resolution postponing the elec>
ton in Texas was referred to the Recon-
struction Committee.
A resolution was adopted that the
Ways and Means Committee consider
the expediency of revising and enforcing
a direct tax on the late rebel States.
The House then proceeded to the con
sideration of the bill reported from the
Reconstruction Committee for the organi-
zation of provisional government for
Mississippi.
Mr.. Farnsworth, member of the Re-
construction Committee, offered substi-
tute for the bill proposing a resubmission
to the people of Mississippi of constitu-
ton framed with separate votes on some
of its Objectionable features. He argued
against the bill reported from the COM
mittee, which provides to re>asseRble
the convention and authorizes it to ap-
point Provisional Governor, with power
on his past to fill all other State offices.
That convention, hesaid, was not popu>
lar with the best classes Of Union people
in Mississippi. To revive it would throw
a fresh apple Of discOrd and prolong
instead Of quieting the disorders reigning.
The discussion was interrupted at two
O'Clock, when Mr.. Butler rose and made
report from the Conference Committee
on the tenure-of>ofiice bill The bill as
proposed 10 be adopted repeals the first
and second sections of the original tenure
of-office act of March 2, 1867. The first
section Of the Senate amendment is left
untouched. The second section is
amended so as to read as follows: That
during any recess Of the Senate the Presi-
dent is hereby empowered in his discre-
ton 10 suspend any civil officer appointed
by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, except Judges of the United
session Of the Senate, and to designate
some person subject to be removed in
his discretion by the designation Of an.
other to perform the duties Of such susS
pended officer in the meantime, and such
person so designated shall take the oath
and give the bonds required by law to
be taken and given by the suspended Of
ficer, and shall, during the time he per-
formed his duties, be entitled to the sal
airy and emoluments of such office, no
part Of which shall belong to the officer
suspended. And it shall be the duty
Of the President within thirty days after
the commencement Of every session Of
the Senate except any Office which, in his
opinion, ought not TO be filled, to nominate
persons to fill all vacancies in office
which exist at the meeting Of the Senate
whether temporarily filled or not, and so
in the place Of all officers suspended, and
if the Senate during such session shall
refuse to advise and consent to an ap-
pointment in the place Of any suspended
officer, then and not otherwise the Presi-
dent shall dominate another person as
soon as practicable TO said session of the
Senate for SAID Office
Mr.. Dawes desired TO vote understand
ingly, and therefore suggested that the
matter should go over until TO morrow in
order that the report might be printed
Mr.. Butler moved the previous guess
ton on the report.
Mr.. Davis hoped that the previous
question would not be seconded.
The previous question was seconded
by a vote of IS to 81, and the report
agreed to by l07 yeas against 67 nays.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts, from the
Judiciary Committee, reported bill to
allow defendants in criminal cases in the
United States Courts to testify. Ordered
to be printed and recommitted.
He also, from the Reconstruction Conn
mittee, reported bill for removal of
disabilities from loyal citizens. Ordered
printed and recommitted.
Mr.. Eldridge inquired whether it was
a general bill.
Mr.. Butler replied it was.
Mr.. Eldridge; Does it apply to every
body?
Mr.. Butler: Yes, sir, to everybody
to every loyal man. The bill provides
for general system for removal Of po-
litical disabilities by petition in the
United States courts in States and terri
tories where the persons applying resided
during the war, admitting that the appli~
cant believes the Confederate general
and State government to have been re-
bellious and reasonable, and truly re-
penis of all acts done by him in mainte-
nance thereof.
The House resumed the consideration
Of the Mississippi bill.
Mr.. Dawes addressed the House in ia
vor OF its postponemeht till the next
session. He argued that the military
arm was sufficiently strong, and the
military head sufficiently earnest, and
the military heart sufficiently true to the
pulsations Of patriotism TO justify leaving
the State of Mississippi for the present
snder military control. Life would BIZ
more secure down there under that Tia,
under any other form of government
The speaker thought it better L
bear these ills we have than fly TO other!
we know not of.
| Without dispOsing Of the bill, the Sen
ate amendment to The currency act was
j ON motion Of Mr. Garfield. taken from