National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-03-04

Mississippi River, and made some alteration in the
terms of the contract with him. requiring the
same depth as the original contract required, but
not the same width, and also paying him for each
loot of depth, instead Of each two feet. IL also
contained provision for bridge over the Arkan-
| sas River at Little Rock
| lie was questioned particularly about the Eads
matter, and made long explanation ON the sub
| ject
I Mr.. HANNA demanded the yeas and nays on tho
adoption of the report, romarking that that was
| the only mode that members had OF recording
their protests against the bill.
Thc yeas and nays were ordered aud taken anu
resulted--yeas, fG5 nays, G2, so the report was
agreed TO-, The House then, at halfpast six, took
recess Till nine this evening
| EVENING SESSION.
When the House reasscmblcd Mt nine o'clock the
galleries were closely packed with spectators ana
all the halls aud corridors were swarming with
people.
The Senate amendments to the postroutc bill
were taken from the Speakers table and concnrrcd
Mr.. SPARKS asked leave to have the Senate
amendments 10 the arrears Of pension bill taken
from the Speakers table and concurred in.
Mr. ROBERTS objected
The Seward impenchment case was then taken
| mp and Mr.. Bundy presented an argument against
| the Springer report lie contrasted the character
| OF the witnesses for and against Mr., Seward The
witnesses (Myer and PhGnix) had followed Mr.
Seward In n spirit of revenge, smartng under the
removal for which they believed him to be inai.
other side showed that the verdict of the best peo
| pie in Shanghai was that the name and fame of
| no man ever stood higher
Mr.. FRYE asked whether Mr.. Seward, while
holding the Office Of Minister could be impeached
| for acts done as Consul. Goneral2
Mr.. BuNDY. To my recollection that question
| has not come up before the committee.
Mr. SPRINGER. Oh, yes Mr.. Carpenter discussed
u very enborately taking the ground that IL could
be done.
Mr.. FRYE 10 Mr. springer). Is it your opinion
That Minister Seward can be npeached as Minister
| for acts done as Consul. General?
Mr.. SPRINGER. Mr. Carpenter discussed II very
fully, and was Of opinion shared by all the mem
bers of the committee who signed the reportl that
Mr.. Seward can be impeached for high crimes and
| misdcmcanors while In Office. The object of im-
parchment is to have him removed from office rs
| an improper person.
Mr.. DAYNE The minority of the committee ell
| terrain no such opinion.
The discussion was again interrupted TO allow
Mr. Blount TO present the conference report on the
deficiency bill The report was read and was, with
out explanation, agreed to.
| The Seward impeachment case was resumed. and
Mr. Bundy concluded his argument, and advo-
Gated the sending of the whole case to The Judiciary
Committee and letting thatcommittee say whether
articles of impeachment can be maintained, and If
| So letting 1t formulate them.
Mr.. GARFIELD represented to the Democratic side
of the House the utter mpactcability of carrying
| articles of impeachment tonight. No possible
action could be taken between now aud the death
Of this Congress new House and II new Senate
would be in session before any trial could
take place, and the only effect of adopting the re-
port now would be to leave Mr.. Seward under II
cloud, without any possibility of vindieating him
self
He suggested doing what had been done In q
similar caso-ordcr the Clerk of the House TO seal
up the testimony and reports and to transmit them
to the Speaker Of the next House when organized,
and the next House could take what order II chose.
Mr.. Cox IN. Ylasked whether Mr.. Garfield would
| say TINT the books which had not been produced
would be produced and sealed up aud delivered to
the next House.
Mr.. GARFIELD said he did not know anything
about Mr. Stewards books but he took it for grant
| nl Int no nnnn wOull tnkp of
any books that belonged to II. He did not under
stand that Mr. Seward hnd ever refused to give his
books to the state Department.
Mr.. SPRINGER replied to Mr. Garfield lie said that
the House was acting as grand jury. 1t could act
only on its own friendship. The next Congress
would not have the question unless 1t rcinvesti
gated It, The Senate was the court where articles OF
Impeachment could be tried, and, rs soon as they
were presented. that court would continue the case
10 the next term. If the House stopped now all OF
this work would fall to the ground new House
could not present the findings Of this House. The
G HPtr Mi S T ~ Rer Some fifteen months
work the committee had presented the facts, and
now asked n vote upon them.
Mr.. CoNGER moved to lay the articles of i'm
parchment OIL the table. Nesatived-yeas Ill
nays, 1873.
Sir POTTER presented the report of his commit
tee and the views of minority, and OF one mem
Der MIR. ButlcrG
Mr. TowSsEND IN. " demanded that the paper,
be read, adding, in an undertonc, that hc wanted
the vlndication of Sammy, who had been suffering
| Il long time for want ofit.'
Mr.. BlOUST, ut lO2O presented Inc conference
report on the Post-Otlcc appropriation BILL and i
was adopted without explanation or debate.
On motion of Mr. EDES the Senate amendments
were agreed to ON the bill for the payment OF claims
reported allowed by the accounting officers Of til,
Treasury Department.
The conference report upon the bill concerning
street railroads in the District Of Columbia wa'
agreed to-
Mr. LYSDE from the Judiciary Committee sub
mttcd the report Of that committee on the charges
against John |. Davenport Printed and recon-
mitted.
Mr.. CoSGER then insisted upon the reading oil
the reports presented by Mr.. Potter
Mr.. SPRINGER amid calls of order from the
Republican side said that it might be as well to dc
that as to do anything else. II the other side in
tended to 6libustcr until twelve o'clock tomorrow
for the purpose of preventing one of their part!
frauds from being brought to the bar of the House
it could do So and take the responsibility for IT,
| At 1915 the Seward impeachment case was still
dragging on in the House. The minority repOr
trcierrmg the whole subject TO tie Judiciary Com
, mitteeJ had just been voted dOwn-0S W 20. The
i Potter report, which was presented about clever
p. H., had to be Withdrawn, because the Republi
cans insisted on having the report, with the views
! Of the minority, read.
, A separate vote is now demanded on each Of thu
: seventeen articles.