The Portland daily press., 1869-04-01
Thursday Morning, April !, 1859.
XLIst CONGRESS First Session.

WASHINGTON, March 31-The Vice Pres
dent laid before the Senate the House concur
rent resolution to adjoin on the 9Th proximo.
Mr Sumner moved to lay it on the table.
Mr howe and other Senators opposed it.
long debate ensued between Messrs. Fes-
senden, Howe, Sumner, Anthony, eonkling,
ana Others, during which Mr. Robertson
moved to amend by fixing the 10th OF April as
the day of adjournment, when, the morning
hour having expired, the resolution went over,
ana the Indian appropriation Dill caine up as
Several amendments reported from the Com
mittee on Appropriations were agreed to.
At345 the bill was informally laid aside.
and Mr. Trumbull, from the committee of con-
ference on the bill to repeal the tenure of office
act. made a report which will be found in the
proceedings of the House. He explained the
bill as agreed upon by the committee. The
bill, as It mad passed the Senate, required a di-
rect vote of the Senate, refusing to confirm
the nomination of new appointee, in order to
reinstate the old officer, and the change made
by the conference committee simply provided
that when an officer was suspended by the
President he could be reinstated at the end OF
the next session of the Senate, unless the
nomination of his successor had been con-
hrmed in the meantime.
Mr. Thurman said he could not vote for the
report of the committee, because, according to
his understanding. it would prevent the Presi-
dent from removing any member OF MS Cabl-
net during a recess, no matter how obnoxious
that member should have become, and moved
to lay on the table and print. Lest-yeas 8,
nays 40.
The report of the committee was then agreed
to-yeas A. nays 8. The nays were Messrs.
BayaEd, Casserly, Davis, McCrsery Sprague,
Stockton, Thurman and Vickers.
The Senate, at 4.15 O'Clock, went into execu-
tive session, and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cake introduced bill to incorporate
the Government Anthracite Railroad Com
pany: Referred to the Committee on Roads
and Canals.
Mr.. Bingham introduced a bill extending to
corporators the privileges and immunities
guar anteed by the Constitution to citizens OF
respective States. Referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr. Schenck, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported back the Senate bill to
authorize the prepayment of interest on the
public debt and asked that the committee be
discharged from the further consideration of it.
Agreed to.
p Mr.. Dawes, from tle Committee ON Appro-
priations, reported bill authorizing an appro-
priation of $25000 for the Bangor (Maine)
Custom House for the next fiscal year; to be
expended during the present fiscal year. He
explained that the work could be completed
next May, and referred the House to the as
surapce given at the last session by the mem
Der from that district Mr.. Peters) that no fur
ther appropriation would be asked for that
purpose. Passed.
Mr. Julian offered a resolution instructing
the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire
into the expediency of revising and enforcing
direct tax in the States lately in rebellion.
Adopted.
TIE House, at o'clock, then proceeded to
the consideration of the bill reported from the
Reconstruction Committee, for the organize
tion OF Provisional Government for Mssis-
sippi.
Mr.. Farnsworth, a member of the Recon
struc.ion Committee, offered substitute for
I'LL ~s.~s1~ T.. Al
pie of Mississippi of the Constitution already
framed, with separate votes on some of its OBJ
jectlve features. He argued against the bill
reported from the committee.
Mr.. Farnsworth speech was interrupted by
Mr. Butler, who made a report from the COM
mittee of conference on the tenure of office
law.
The bill, as proposed to be adopted, rope ais
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 was amended.
Mr.. Bingham, one of the conference COM
mittee, made an explanation of the report, and
said it would be acceptable to the Republican
party and to the country.
After discussion the previous question was
seconded by vote of 98 to 81, and the report |
was agreed to by vote of 107 yeas to 81 nays.
Mr.. Woodward introduced bill to test the
constitutlonality OF the questionable acts OF |
Congress. Referred.
Mr.. Dawes, from the Committee on Appro-
priations, reported the deficiency bill, which |
was made the special order for clock to-
morrow.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, from the Ju-
dietary Committee, reported bill to allow de-
PENDANTS in criminal cases in the United States
Courts to testify. Ordered to be printed and
recommitted. He also reported, from the Re-
construction Committee, a bill for the removal
of disabilities from loyal citizens. Ordered to
be printed and recommitted. The bill pro-
vides for general system fer the removal of
political disabilities by petition to the United |
States Courts in the states and territories |
where the persons applying resided during the |
war, admitting that the applicant believes the |
Confederate General and State Governments |
TO have been rebellious and reasonable, and |
truly repents of all acts done by him in main |
tenance thereof, &c.
The House then resumed the consideration
of the Mississippi bill.
Mr.. Dawes addressed the House in favor of
the postponement of the bill to the next sss-
sion.'
Without disposing Of the bill, the Senate
bill, supplementary to the currency act, was
taken from the Speakers table and referred to
the Committee on Banking.
The Senate joint resolution respecting the
pay and allowances of enlisted men of the
army was passed
Mr.. Whittemore introduced bill to remove
political disabilities. Referred to Committee
on Reconstruction Adjourned.