The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-23
TELEGRA.PHIC NEWS.
NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL.
SPECIAL TgbzeRaxs TO THE D1srArcH.
WASHINGTON, February %, 1869


Country. Some of the business houses
we're closed, the Senate took recess for a
few hours on account Of the day, and the
"Boys in Blue" paraded the streets to-
night.
The House takes up the copper bill veto
tomorrow. The advocates Of the measure
are tonight confident Of passing over the
veto. The opponents are equally confident
Of defeating it.
The caucus of Repub lican senators to-day
was attended by less than thirty members.
The subjects discussed were the repeal of
the tenure-of-office act, the suffrage amend
ment, and the naturalization laws. Conk-
ling, Edmunds, and others advocated mo-
difcation of the tenure-of-ofice act; Nor
ton, Thayer, and others advocated repeal.
By vote of % to it was decided that it is
impracticable to take up the measure now,
and that it should 60 over to the next Con-
gress, and in the mean time take advice on
the subject of President Grant. Senator
was nothing definite decided as to the suf-
frage amendment, but generally refer
ence to O conference committee was favored.
The naturalization question was touched
tenderly. The action of the German Re-
publicans and Democrats of New York at a
meeting to-day was regarded as evidence
that the proposed legislation would be very
distasteful to the adopted citizens, and
might prove disastrous, therefore, in coming
elections. The feeling was against action
on this subject for the present.
The committee appointed by the City
Councils of Baltimore to present to the
President copy of a resolution passed
recently, inviting him to visit Baltimore on
his return to Tennessee, called upon the
President OF IL o'clock this morning for
that purpose. The committee was accom-
panied by Mayor Robert T. Banks and
nearly ell the members of the Councils.
AS the party was quite large, the interview
took place in the east parlor. The mem
bers of the committee having ranged them
selves around the room, the President soon
entered, and was acquainted with the object
for which the committee had called by Hon.
Mr.. Phelps, of Md, who introduced to him
Mayor Banks and the chairman of the COM
mittee, Mr.. W lillian II. Owens.
Mayor Banks, addressing the President,
said the agreeable duty had devolved upon
him Of presenting to the President reso-
luton passed by the City Councils of Bal
timore thanking him for the manly and
upright course he had pursued amid the
many trials with which he had been sur
rounded during his eventful adminstra-
ton, and for the unfinchiDg patriotism and
great frmness he had shown in his defence
and protection of the Constitution Of the
country and the priceless liberties of the
people. That the President might be amply
assured of the high esteem in which he is
held by the citizens of Baltimore, he might
see around him the greater portion of both
branches of the City Council, who had &C
companied the committee to assist in dis
charging the pleasing task confded to it.
The resolution they now had the honor to
present was but o feeble expression OF
the respect felt for Andrew Johnson by
the citizens of Baltimore and Of Maryland.
1t WAS an Offering from the entire people to
him as testimonial of the appreciation OF
his efforts to sustain constitutional govern
ment, and to preserve inviolate the dearly
bought liberties of the people. Although
political demagogues had largely increased
the trials and anxieties which beset him in
the last year of his administration, and q
time had then arrived when former friends
and supporters fell away, the people Of
Baltimore have always been his sincere
and earnest friends. When the dark clouds
of impeachment first began to gather
around him the people Of Maryland made
all haste to fill vacancy then existing in
the highest tribunal of the land, before
which the President was to be tried on
frivolous charges, that the justice he was
go mu Oh in need Of might be secured.
Entertaining such feelings as these, the
citizens of Baltimore now invited him to
give them few hours of his time when he
had cast off the cares of Office along with
its authority, and when the respect and
homage they wish to pay may be construed
as not given to the President but to the
virtues of the man. Mr.. Owens then pre-
scented the resolution to the President, pre-
facing the act with an eloquent address, in
which he alluded to the services Of Mr..
Johnson in the several high positions
he has filed. Receiving the resolution
from the hands of the chairman,
the President replied in effect as follows
"Gentlemen of the Conmittee,-1 have
no response to make on this occasion
further than to express the feelings awaken
ed in me by the remarks you have made in
presenting the resolution adopted by the
Councils of your city, and in doing so
shall confne myself to returning my sin
cerc and heartfelt thanks for the high COM
pliment you have been pleased to pay ME.
would be doing myself injustice to affect
i~'iflerence to the evidence given here to-
'ay that my conduct as public servant is
approved of by my fellow-citizens. | do
fcol altered and much gratifed at this az
r-eciation of my services, coming as it
does from SO intelligent and estimable a
oorrce. I thank you most cordially,