The Portland daily press., 1869-01-08
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Friday Morning, January 8, 1869.
PORTLAND.
Letter from Washington.

hEASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS.
To the Editor Of the Press:
There was large majority of both bodies
in their seats when noon called them together.
The proceedings during the four hours ses-
sion in the House were comparatively unim-
portant, except the passage of bill provid-
ing for the organization of a burean of steam
engineering in the Navy Department. Mr.
Washburne's usual opposition to the creation
of new offices and salaries drew forth sharp
and severe attack by Judge Kelley, on both
the capacity and honesty of the Naval engin-
eer corps. In this he cited cases of outrage
Gus fraud and corruption, and declared that
the allegations he made would be proved
Under this arraignment the bill was passed,
even Washburne voting for it.
Mr.. LYNCH AND THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
Mr.. Lynch made personal explanation
with regard to the attack on him by the Gin
cinnati Gazette, and other journals, with re-
lation to alleged misuse of his frank. Your
Representative defence-if l may not un-
justly so term what was not needed in the US
ual sense of the word-elicited approval on
all sides and the conduct of the Gazette is
generally condemned. 1t is one of those
abuses of great power-the censorship by
the press to which nearly all such instru-
mentalities are liable. shall not undertake
to give the statement made by Mr.. Lynch, as
it will be sent through the associated press re-
port. There is one thing certain and that is,
that the ranking privilege with the reasons
for aid against continuance are sure to be
thoroughly examined. The public will find
very much more to be said in support of it
than is commonly supposed.
With some personal knowledge of the care
with which Mr.. Lynch uses this privilege
refusing, unlike majority of Representatives,
to frank letters for friends or to ever allow a
business communication TO so Or come free
to himself, l am surprised that he shouldhave
become the victim of such an ill-natured at
tack as that of the Gazette. There are not
many persons in either branch of Congress as
careful as Mr. Lynch, and but two, who to my
knowledge are more particular. They are, L
suppose, Senator Fessendea and Representa-
tive Francis Thomas of Maryland. The lat
ter is especially astidious in his use of the
privilege accruing to his position.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC ROAD.
But to pass from this ratter to the pro-
ceedings to-day. Mr.. Window, of Minneso-
ia, made notable and powerful speech in
support of the North Pacific railroad project
the facts of which, and the arguments made
to support them, will be sure to command
widespread attention. These were really all
the noteworthy incidents of the day.
RADICAL FEELING.
The House seems to grow more radical in
temper after each return to the people,
There seems to be a stronger feeling in favor
OF settlement of the suffrage question, and
if it is made apparent to the majority that
there is no present hope of securing the ratifi
cation of constitutional amendment, l be-
lieve that law securing the same end would
be passed. The historical argument cited
nearly three years since by Judge Kelley and
the enforcement of it in many ways since
has had considerable influence on the min0s
of Republicans here. 1t is understood that
the Judiciary Committee will report an
amendment affirming manhood suffrage at an
early day. The propositions hitherto present.
ed are all before that committee.
AMNESTY AND THE NEW SOUTHERN MOVE
MENT.
The power of the President to issue gem
eral amnesty proclamation was the subject of
spirited but preliminary debate in the SEN
ate to-day. So far as it progressed it only
showed how much had been taken for grant.
ed by the lawyers and politicians generally
| The precedents presented to govern our ac.
tions, and upon which such acts as this O
the amnesty proclamation are defended, arr
drawn from English sources. Senator Conk
ling put this matter in very lucid manne
to-day.
| But am anticipating. 1t can now be seel
that Mr.. Ferry's bill relieving all persons o
| disqualifications might readily have been die
tated by shrewd and sagacious appreciation
OF the issues now being evolved from the re
cent rebel defeat. To-day that Senator pre-
sented resolution asking information from
the President with regard to the recent pro
clamation-no copy of which has ever in an,
formal manner been laid before Congress-
The purpose of the inquiry was to have tn
matter referred to the judiciary Committe
for report on the Presidents constitutions
powers in that direction. The debate grey
up spontaneously, Mr.. Doolittle denying tn
pertinency of such an inquiry Roscoe
Conkling, one of the most accomplishe
lawyers and brilliant speakers of tn
Senate, denied at once the powe
of the President to issue such al procIama
ton. He declared that amnesty only coul
be exercised by the sovereign power of pee
pie through whatever representative it Nigh
recognize. In England the power of famnest
and pardon was in the hands of the crown
In this country sovereignty rested primarily
in the hands of the people, and constitution
through that of the Legislature and Executiv
combined, uniting in the framing and ratif
cation of a law. The Executive had no su
preme attribute, such as was implied in thi
of general amnesty for such offences as trea
son. Mr.. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey too
the same ground. In reply to a statemen
made by Senators Doolittle and Trumbu
that the Supreme Court in the Garland cas-
of 1865, had fayorably decided upon the Pres
ident's original right in granting of amnesty
Mr.. Conkling declared that no decision ha
been given on the principle involved, but
simple declaration that in this case under dis
cussion the power had been well exercised.
| The debate lasted about an hour; while j
progressed there was an evident interest eve
excitement on the questions involved. Sena
tors gathered about their elder colleagues
But there was no wish to go further with
at this time. Before the session closes W
shall without doubt have thorough and eS
hauStive discussion of the subject, which il
view of the divergent views that exist of th
relations of the Executive and Legislative
and of the imperaizing tendencies that in
ure in that office under accepted interprets
tions and precedents, will be of the utmos
Importance.
THE CHASE MOVEMENT NOT DEAD.
There is also another reason for the intel
est now and hereafter to be manifested !
this subject. The movement which cam
very near making Mr.. Chase the Democrat
candidate last July, did not spend itself o.
reason of its failure then, and had vita
element of strength which is yet to De pow
erfuy felt. That element finds expression
in the formula of universal suffrage an