New-York tribune., 1870-12-16
WASHINGTON.
MR.. sCHURz IN HIS OWN DEFENsE--HIs CRIrf-
CIsMs ON THE PREsrDENT-MR. DRAKE TO
REPLY TO-DAY-DEBATR ON GEN. BUTLER y
AMNESTY BILL IN THE HOUsE--RUhoRED
CABINET CHANGES. .
TBLKURAPH TO THE TKIBUNhJ
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Dec. 10, is7

AMNESTY BILL IN THE HOUsE-kohohbD
CABINET CHANGES.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRfBUShI
I'd, WASHINGTON, Thursday, Dec. 10, 1870
| Ever since Mr.. Schurz presented in the Sen-
ate Monday last his resolution favorng the remoyh
OF political disabilities imposed persons lately en-
| gagged in rebellion against the Government aud an
nouneed that he would call 1t up to-day, and In tho
speech which he intended TO make refer to the recent
political events IN Missouri this subect has been the
town talk. Though the Senator's position In the late
Missouri campaign, and his personal relations with the
President have been defined and explained by NJ schurz
to the newspaper correspondents with whom he has con-
versed and by them given to the public, his political
has been severely criticised and his relations
with the Administration have been 30 PECULIAR that
the desire to hear him IA his defense was
almost universal and all other events at tho Capitol have
been considered Of secondary importance As the morn
ing hour advanced therefore, and the time at which Mr.
schurzs resolution TO be called up approached tho
galleries OF the Senate rapidly filed and members OF the
House, and others who have the privilege OF the hoor
strayed In and filed the sofas or ranged themselves
about sides OF the chamber At o'clock every seat
was filed and many were unable TO gain adnittance
schurz at his desk during the morning hour
seeming to take little interest In the routine business
the port folio which contained his manuscript lying be-
fore him. when Mr. schurz began speaking silence pre-
vailed and for two hours and half he had the undivided
attention CT Senators and stranger Leaning with his
left hand the back Of his chair and using his right
only occasionally to give force to emphatic passage,
the Senator read very rapidly Referring TO the resou
ton fay ong General Amnesty which he introduced In
the Republican National Convention In 1863 he first made
able and eloquent argument In favor OF the imme-
dlao removal political disabilities, and claimed that
branch OF the party with which he identified In
Missouri the party which favored tac most liberal
treatment OF the late Rebes lie then drew In glowing
oolors, picture Of what he claims that disfranchse
nen has been his State severely critcsng the laws
ha ~ hCs at
Union men, those who never. had any sympathy with
the Rebellion and some, even, who served honoraby
IA the Union army, deprived Of the right TO vote
lie charged upon the McClurg wing OF tho Republican
party IN Missouri the most outrageous and nheard OF
frauds asserting that they not only disfranchised loyal
and legal voters by the scores and hundreds but also
their most formidable opponents, and those who
they thought had any chance OF becoming candidates
against them His history OF the Missouri Republican
state Convention listened 10 with attention, even
marked than that given TO the opening portions
of his speech. lie asserted that tho spit
in that Convention was caused By difference
OF opinion the subject Of General Amnesty
alone and that the question Of Tariff had nothing TO do
with IT, He charged the regular Republican organization
with opposing this measure by every means In their
power because they feared that the enanchisemen OF
Democrats would their defeat In future elections,
and affirmed that the boilers carried with them out OF
the Convention all the true Republicans there were In IT,
Mr. schurzs structures the OF the Admnisru-
ton during the Missouri campaign we're digbed, though
intended 10 be severe. He attributed all the hostility
winch the President showed to the Gratz Brown party
to what he characterized as the bad ad-
vice OF Senator Drake, and Others whose con-
duct he could find words strong enough to
describe But perhaps, the most Important part OF this
speech was that which referred to the socaed "New
Party Movement" He boldly asserted his belief that the
Republican party has done M work and fulfilled Its mis-
and that there many rnen now In ts ranks who
would not be there It not that they like the Demo
cratic party He thought that the was true Of
the Democrats As 20 what the basis OF the new party
will be, Mr., schurz seemed to be undecided. He said
that Il IN ight DO question agated and which
event may raise 10 national Importance; or III
may be question which is now before the people
He would say that the Republican party Is doomed
He hoped that may be the party This part OF the
speech was evidently pleasing to the Democrats, and
seemed to meet with little appreciation among the Re
publioans Senator Drake, to whom Mr.. schurZ made
some very cutting alluslons sat unmoyed throughout
the speech evidently thinking that his turn would come
too He will have the floor tomorrow, and tits expected
that other Senator's viii make speeches before the reoo
luton ia brought 10 a vote
The House spent the day IN debating Gen. Buffers
Amnesty bi with better prospect OF coming 10 an
agreement on 1t than there yesterday. Unless COM
promise is made between those who favor universal am
nesty and those who willing that there shall be but
very few EXCEPTIONS the bin will probable be killed when
Il comes to vote The most Of the speeches to-day
were In favor Of removing all political disabilities and
strong arguments favor OF this measure we're advanced
nv Messrs Farnsworth, sypher Barry. Cox. aud Wood
Mr. Lawrence was opposed general amnesty but he was
also opposed 10 Gen. Buffers bill, and Mr. Maynard
argued against even the morsel OF mercy which that bill
gives The vote called to-day and more speeches
win lie made on II on Tuesday next
In city where there are proverbally hundred
rmors to every fact is little astonishing that upon
ther excite
ment as was occasioned here, to-day, when 1t was
whispered about that Secretary Boutwell, had rendered
his resignation 10 the President account OF some ds-
greement In the Department management The creua-
on OF the ror began about midnight, when 1t was too
late to either verify dprove it, and IL has been
gathering since, until tonight 1t II accepted
as true by twohrds OF the people who have access
TO the sources Of information. Nobody knows how the
report orginated but II was circulated ns an accom-
shed fact thst the President and Secretary had quar-
Relied that latter had retired. and that he to be
succeeded by Mr Delano who IN turn wns to be followed
In the Interior Department by Pennsylvania.
REPORT was never ngeniousy circulated and few
mere runors such important character have been
40 generally believed IL 10 still subject or speculation
among the best Informed Senators whether the report'
will not be verified within few days IL IL by means
certain that Mr. Boutwell, will not retire. but ia certain
that he has thus given the President no indication Of
such q purpose. OF the truth of this, there Is
the word OF the President. the word OF his
Private Secretary Gen. Porter. and the word
OF Secretary Boutwell, himself, each Given 10 Senators
in the confidence of all The rumors were based
on the allie ged Disagreement OF the President aud secre
tary the Domingo subject the alleged bitter oppo
ston Of Mr. Boutwell, 10 tho appointment of Gen. Pleas
onton and the alleged opposition OF THE President TO the
financial policy OF the Secretary in paying the debt 80
rapidly, instead OF lessening tsKann and pssn the
debt ieisnre supposed by 10 be the Western
theory and espousedb BY the President To strengthen him
self that section. This II the Opposition view The
rumor at It's hight, and tbere Was nothing
else talked of among rbefs in either House. and it
was more generally credited than such rip,ors usually