New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-22
XLTH CONGRESS--IIID SESSION.
SENATE. WASHINGTON. Feb. 20. 1869.

Mr. COLE rep CALI presented the petition OF citizens
Of California praying for woman suffrage III the Disrcs
OF Columbia.
MI SUMNER dep, Mass) called up the Joint resou.
ton authorizing the Attorney to investigate the
claim OF Mott Co. for damages for the SEIZURE OF the
steamer Neva by the Chinese Government and providing
for their indemnify. Passed ,..i,-. n,
the NeW.York Chamber Of Commerce relative to the
bridge between New-YOrk and Brooklyn Also, peIuh
SontttioD adoped nv tie Convention in Richmond in
1867. and solemnly protesting against the reino' "
on motion Of MI SHERMAN REP Ohio, the bin for
the relief Of Abbott O. Ross OF Ohio was passed. ~
him 5000 for the use OF his Invention u'ni-NS ' "
on motion Of Mr. WILLIAMS Gcp oregon the bin In
relation 20 certain private laho cAaiAnS III 1'0"
was taken up and passed. ...--... -. -.
Mr. MORGAN, from the Committee on commerce. re,
ported with amendment the House bill to repeal the
act approved March 1861 regulating the disposition OF
fines penalties and forfeitures received undeI te
prevention and punishment Of frauds on the revenue
and for the prosecution OF smugShng, Inc Ith c
the repeal OF the second thrd ana IOul sec
tons Of said act, ......... , ~, 4.
more accurately define the boundaries Of the District OF
Tr' SHERMAN, from the Committee on Finance, re-
ported a bill to allow the City NATIONAL Bank OF new
Orleans and the Second National Bank OF Patsburg 10
Mr RAMSEY rep, Minn) introduced bill authorlz-
ing the claim OF Minnesota to land Tor the suppor' VI
State University.
NJ
izng the Secretary OF the Treasury 10 issue an American
register to the ship Agra Of Boston which was PuI
Mr. ME- rep, New said he was strongly opposed 70
allowing American shpowners who, from selfish motives,
again under the protection of the American flag.
Mr. CORBETr said that the transfer OF the Agra was
made without the consent OF her owners He called at
tenton 10 the statement in the memorial OF the owners
Mr.. SUMNER said this bill was an exceptional case e.,
MIR NYE insisted that there was nothing eXcepuOnal
about IT, and moved an amendment extending the proV
sions Of the bil to all vessels similarly situated , ,o
The discussion continued until the expiration OF the
morning hour which brought up, as unfinished business
the blll TO repeal the Tenureoi-on act ...,,
effort to have it set aside for the purpose Of taking MP
the business Of the Committee on Commerce Dut me
consideration OF the business OF that Committee.
On motion of Mr.. WILSON Rep; Mass "Wednesday 1,aI
ness FROM the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mfr FREIINGHUYSEN Rep., n. j. moved to set aside
the bill temporarily, that he might move 70 assign next
Wednesday for the consideration OF his Naturalization
The motion Of Mr.. Frelnghuysen was lost and the
Senate then proceeded 10 consider the Dill TO repeal the
TenureotOHce act - - ~ ..
Mr. CoNKLlNG, lRep. n " said It was generally be
Ing tie best alternative and in that way the passage
OF the TenureOf Office act could be easily and fully )ns
led 1t had been enacted 20 meet an attempt made ID
the interest of slavery and treason TO make
Of the offices and honors OF the country anu % 1e an
10 enrich and aggrendize tie nations Toes now, now
ever the egeacy hsd PSssea va avn had set
himself above the law, but who everywhere Dau eVnee9
such moderation capacity ana m as TSe
question was how to dispose Win 30 nucn Vi Ilo
Venient, and 10 dispense with no more Look,
ing merely at the requirements Oh the Tho he a6
soute repeal of the law or its complete SUSPENSION on
neither was necessary and for other reasons he preferred
TO RATTAN the low in the modified form in which " VII
stand IL the report Of the Judiciary Committee should D
adopted. II this proposition shonld be adopted II Eonia
be lawful for the President during the recess OF the
Senate whenever in his opinion the public good should
require" The law therefore, would really impose no re,
Ibs trne construction Of the Constitution upon this
pont-a construction which had already been asserted
Which could not with consistency safely be abandoned
Mr.. MORTON rep, Ind said that inasmueh as the
law advocated by the Senator from New-1ork would re-
oure the Senate pass upon the proprey or Improperly
Of the Presidents action in removing officers during
recess of the Senate 1t would not be mere mater OF
phraseOlogY the Senator from Newfork had SAID II
Mr. CoNKIING replied that the Constitution expressly
provided that the Senate should revise the appointments
of the President made during a recess
Mr. MORTON said that under the law as the senator
from NewYork would have IT, the refusal OF the senate
onld put into again the officer removed SO that
would non vi ING reSed that at moment, with
i,Sont fine law tbs President would become clothed
with the power oil Vacant s mi the senate confirms thu
appointment of one to MI IT, and without tue nav
and appoint substitute to hold the place during The
WIPE Mr opooiITTIE Dem Wis., said that the question
whether under the Constitution OF the United states h'
means new one, 1t had arisen IN the beginning
the Government and had been decided nthe affirmative
But the TenureOfOfie act had introduced new Gle
ment by requiring that removals should DC LOT cause
Tins putting every officer whom the President desired L
remove upon trial before the Senate and subjectng hi
character public scrutiny but 1t would fail for want o.
time the part OF the Senate TO Investigate the case
theory and incapable of practical execution; and, there
fore, he would vote for It's repeal a. $500, =.
the Tenure.of ONCE bl when on rs passage ana snon
nov vote for ITS repeal ne @gTesGd T bs a9
their State Convention, that they would not wag
TaS So far as he nppored ana Upheld the ConsH
ton, they would support nun or any other p[esaen
"a serve The country by a generous and magnanimou
policy moved far above the atmosphere OF the Radica
barty he should repeal the Civil Tenure bill
M, ROBERTSON rep, s. CT was in favor OF repeal
The act had been necessary at the tim
of its enactment but il longer necessary and Z
refuse TO repeal IL would be to manifest want Of conf
dence in Gen. Grant
Mr.. HOWE rep, Wis., opposed the repeal The argu
ent that the TenureofOoe act should be repealed be
cause Gen. could be trusted. had no effect upoI
upon the ground that johnson could not be trusted
but because he regarded that as an opportune time
correct great mistake made by the first Congress thai
ever assembled under the Constitution IL true tna
evil resulted from ntrusng the first President with
the lth OF next March there would be naugurated 0
had @ snG few Years inspired tie Whole
country with unlimited confidence In his wisdom, the
purity his purposes and his ability TO them out
and was wonder that Senators and others should be
willing trust him with extraordinary powers. But he
(Olr. H0Me) LlaQ no guarantee
would be like Gen. Grant. He was In favor OF keeping
the Tenure-oOice act upon the statute book as de-
caratiOn OF the true measure OF Presidential power IN
this direction, under the Constitution.
Mr. SAWYER Rep, s. c. said he was In favor OF con-
tnung the in force at least for the present and
he disposed to repeal IT, he would bot do II
the of administration, because 1t would look
too much like falling before the rising sun.
Mr. MORTON rose to address the Senate, but gave way
motion 70 adjourn, which carried, SO at 1902
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. MOORE (Rep., n. j. presented petition Of tho
shpowners Association OF NewYorh for the protection
Of navigation from illegal exactons by the State and
mnnicinal oornnrafinns.