Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-29
FORTY-FlRST CONGRESS.
This Afternesn's Proceedings.
MONDAY. March %.

MONDAY. March %.
SsNArR.-The Vice President having re-
turned to the city, resumed the chair TODAY.
The Vice President laid before the Senate
joint resolutions Of Legislatures of Pennsyl-
.,s,,, an1 SCUM carolina, ratifyng the Con-
MT. Sumner presented memorial of Society
OF Friends, OF Richmond, asking APPROPRIATED
Oh soo,onO ior Coiored Orphan Asylum Of that
ations.
Mr. Howard presented resolution of Legisla.
tnre OF Mlcnlgan, calling attention TO the neces-
sity OF having the Indians in that State yacci-
mated. Referred TO Committee on Indian
Affairs.
Mr.. Wilson. from Committee on Military
Affairs, reported House resolution relative 70
the pay and allowances of enlisted men OF the
army, with an amendment that the present paw
shall continue until June 30, 1870.
The amendment was agreed to. and the bill
Mr.. Wilson, from the same committee, re.
ported joint resolution dropping from the rolls
OF the army certain officers absent without
Mr.. Vickers, from Committee on District of
Columbia, reported bill to amend the usury
laws Of the District Of Columb bIa.
Mr.. Sprague asked that his bill to provide
ior the loaning Of fhe public money be referred
10 the Committee on Appropriations, and pro-
ceeded to eulogize the members Of that commit
Mr.. Drake introd uced bill to establish the Of
nee OF Solicitor and Naval Judge Advocate
Geherai. Referred TO Committee on Naval AT
fairs.
Mr.. Sawyer introduced bill to prescribe an
oath for persons elected to offics VINO partic-
tpated In the rebellion and who are not dis
quannea oy the Constitution. Referred TO Ju-
0r. Wilson introduced bill to remove polit.
tcal disabilities Of Judge Alexander Elves, of
nirginm; n.,1.;.. Referred to Select Committee on
A message was here received from the House.
announcing its disagreement to the Senate
amendments to the House bill repeating the
Mr.. Trumbull moved that the Senate insist
on ITS amendments, and ask for Committee
OF Conference.
Mr.. Grimes moved that the Senate reeede
from its amendments.
Nr. Davis made some remarks in favor of
the motion OF Mr.. Crimes, cOnInuing until
one O'Clock, when the Vice President stated
that the unfinished business-being the sup
Elementary currency biil-was before the Sen.
ate.
On motion Of Mr.. TrumbulI. the unfinished
business was laid aside informally, and Ur
Davis proceeded with his remarks
Mr.. Trumbull said that there seemed to be
IN the minds OF some, particularly outside OF
the Tenure. OF. Office law He would, as briefly
as possible, state the power of the President
under the Constitution without this act, with
this Tenure-Of-Ofic act, and with the act as
modified BY the Senate. II was apparent, by
reference to the Constitution, that the Presi-
dent can appoint no one to office without the
consent OF the Senate, or OF Congress, or OF
somebody, and 1t is q matter Of demonstration
that if he can appoint no one he can remove no
one without the consent OF somebody.
The Constitution Is silent Is to the re-
moval OF an incompetent or inefficient
omcer, and hence any power which the Presi
dent may have over him must be given bv law
He denied that under the clause Of the Consti-
tuition, relative to the filing Of vacancies, the
The Presidents power to fil vacancies during
the recess is only when the vacancy comes
unexpectedly, and is not made by act Of the
President. In the absence OF law, all that the
President could do was to give a commission
which would expire at the end Of the next ses.
sion OF the Senate; and to prevent any one
holding on afterward, without the consent OF
the Senate: a law was passed forbidding ths
payment OF salary to any such person. This
was all the President could do befor.
the tenure-of-offce act was passed
been adopted by the Senate were designed 70
prevent any vacancies existing when the Sen.
ate adjourned. Mr.. T. concluded by express
ing the opinion that the desire was TO give the
President every power which he should have
all essential TO an efficient administration OF
tne Government and IL they would Cnly an.
proach THIS matter calmly it would be settled
harmoniously. He deprecated the efforts which
nad been made to stir up strife and rivalry
between the two Houses. He believed tina,
win q committee Of conference everything
houses, and the Executive left free as he
could desire.
Mr.. Morton thought the bill as modified
amounted to nothing, and why should they
struggle for a shadow. 1t was said that this
restriction was only for bad President, not
for good President, and a bad President
would not be restrained by the bill at all: he
could suspend three or four times il he pleased,
as there was no legal restraint on him, but
only moral one. What use then was il for
the Senate to insist upon its amendments.
Mr.. Sprague could not comprehend the
arguments Of the senator from IIiinsis (Trun.
bull,l whether this modified bill was substance
OF shadow 1t ought to be swept away.
whether it came from caucus or not, it
mattered not to him. That it was the WORK of
caucus did not make It right. He supposed
OF course II would 60 to Committee of Confer.
ence, and he desired to read for the instrucuon
OF that committee an extract from Euglosh his.
tory Of which our times lust now formed a
perfect parallel Mr.. s. then read from the
history Of Charles the First, that he was obsti-
nate where he should have maize concessions,
and when he should have stood firm he
yielded, &c. He had no more to say, he hoped
these wosds Of warning would not be losst upon
the " inference COMMITTEES, that this corrupt and
arbitrary power which this body had arrogated
to itself would be given up, and this law
shadow and substance would be put out of the
way.
Mr.. Howard said upon this most momen.
tus subject they should proceed carefully, eau
tlousiy and deliberately aud submit ii TO a
COMMITTEE of Conference. He could not vote
for the absolute repeal OF this act. He believed
it constitutional and salutary act and the
Sc aate should not surrender the supervision
which II now exercises.
HoUsE.-Under the call of the States for biI lis
and joint resolutions for reference, the follow
ing were introduced and referred
BY MIR. Butler. Mass. )-Btll to incorporate
the National Land Company for freedmen in
the late rebellious States. Committee ON Pub
lie Lands.
BY Mr.. Jencks, (R. I.)-BIl to repeal certain
provisions Of the appropriation acts relative
to the Patent Once. Committee on Patents
BY Mr.. Dockey, IN. C.)-Bili to amend the
charter OF Oak Hill Cemetry in the District OF
Columbia. COMMITTEE on Distr ,ct of Columbia
Mr.. Lawrence, lOhlo. )-Bin to punish per.
sons for holding office In violation OF the con-
etltutton. Committee on the judiciary.
Also, bill relative to Trust Funds. Commit.
tee on the revision Of the Laws.
MI. Julian, (lnd.) .)-Bill - declare forfeit to
the United States certain lands granted the
State OF Louisiana towards constructing . rail-
road. COMMITTEES on Public lands.
viding the manner Of ratifying Constitutional
amendments by the States. Committee on
By Mr.. Judd, (Ill.HBill to regulate the
method Of converting gold INTO currency, ano
for other purposes. Committee OF Ways and
Means. - -..t r ....
BY Mr.. Van Horn. (Mo.)-BilI to provide for
consolidating the Indian tribes, and TO furnish
them reservations in the Indian Territory.
Committee ON Indian Affairs.
By Mr. Sarge Ant, (OaL) to abolish the
Bureau of Statistics in the Treasury Depart
ment. Oommittee on Retrenchmeut Also, Q
bill TO provide q territorial goverament for
Alaska Commlttss on Territories.