The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-07
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 6.
Mr.. Sherman from the Committee ON Finance
reported back resolution submitted by Mr..
Davis of West Virginia, early in the session in
structing the committee to examine the books
| and accounts of the Treasury Department, with
| a view OF asceItaning whether certain dscrep-
| ancies exist Herewith, written report giving
| the conclusions of the committee Order ed
| printed and to lie on the table.
Mr.. Whyte presented petition Of. Gen. G.
L. Beauregard, for the removal of his political
disabilities. Referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee.
Mr.. Spencer from the Committee on the Dis
| trict of Columbia, reported substitute for the
House bill 10 regulate the assessment and COL
lection OF taxes for the support of the govern
ment of the District for the ensuing year, and
gave notice that he would call it up for action
at an early day. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Boutwell, submitted the following:
Resolved, That the President be requested, if
in his opinion, not incompetent with the public
Interests, to furnish the Senate a fac smile
copy of the original draft of the etter of the
Secretary of State to the Minister of the Unit
ed States at the court of ST. James, in May,
1861, in relation to the proclamation of Her
Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain, recognize
ing the belligerent character of the Confederate
states. Agreed to.
Mr.. Maxcy submitted q resolution directing
the Judiciary Committee to ascertain whether
or not the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Compa-
n.y. or any of the railroad corporations mem
toned in the acts of July % and 26, 1866, grant
ing lands to aid the construction of the Kansas
q Neosho Valley railroad and its extension to
Red river, and to aid the construction of the
Southern branch of the Union Pacific railroad
from Fort Riley to Fort Smith have issued any
bonds or securities of any kind predcated upon
conditional grant of Indian land in Indian Ter
rltory, and to report amounts and holders of
the same and whether or not the public faith
of the United States is pledged for their paw
ment on redemption. The resolution proposes
granting the Commissioner power to send for
persons ard papers for these purposes. Or
dered printed and to lie on the table.
Bills on the calendar not objected to were
called up and several passed.
Alter dsposing of several private bills the
impeachment was taken up. Ex-Secretary
Belknap was present with his counsel and also
the managers from the House.
Mr.. Black filed a motion that the Senate va
cate SO much of the order recently adopted
holding as naught the plea as to Jurisdiction
filed by him, by reason that said plea was not
overruled by vote of two-thirds of the Sena-
tors present.
The order submitted by Mr.. Whyte Thursday
last directing defendant to plead further or
answer articles of impeachment within ten
Gays from date, was amended SO as to read that
defendant have leave to plead further, etc.
MT. thurman submitted an amendment that
the order be as follows: "And in default OF an
answer within ten days by the respondent to
the aftlcles OF impeachment, the trial shall pro-
ceed as upon plea OF not guilty"
The question being on the amendment vote
was TAKEN and resulted yeas 81. nays5 No
quorum voting the Sergeant-as-Arms was d-
Iected to request the attendance of the absent
Senators.
After a short time the Senators responded
and the amendment was agreed to by a vote of
30 yeas to nays.
The order as amended was then agreed to,
yeas "a, nays4
Manager Lord then submitted an order that
on the 11th day of July, 1876, the Senate, sit
ting as court of impeachment, proceed to
hear evidence on the merits of the case pre-
scented by the House.
Mr.. Sargent moved to amend by inserting
June 18th instead of July 18th.
Pending discussion Mr.. Blair, of the counsel
for the accused, gave notice that if these prop.
ositions were rejected he would move to post
pone the trial till the first of November next
Mr. Morrill, of Maine, said the question of
fixing the time for this trial was very import