The Sun. — 1868-02-18 (London, England)

CONGRESS.  SENATE.  Jan. 24.—The unfinished business of the House Supplementary Reconstruction Bill was taken up, and Mr. Morton, of Indiana, spoke at length on the subject. There was nothing remarkable in his speech, except a shout from the gallery, " I move we adjourn," the mover being arrested on the motion of Mr. Thayer.  Jan. 25.—The Senate was not in Session.  Jan. 27.—Mr. Ferry introduced a bill to provide for the importation of dye stuffs free of duty. After a debate on removing the political disabilities from Governor Patton, of Alabama, the Supplementary Reconstruction Bill was taken up. Mr. Wilson, during the 13 years he had been in the Senate, had heard the demurring Davis, the blustering Tombs, the plausible Mason, the wily Slidell, but he had never listened to a more wicked speech than that of Mr. Doolittle on Thursday. Under the policy of the President murder and riot had reigned supreme in the South ; under that of Congress and the protection of the army so maligned by the Senator there was there to-day more peace, quiet, and order than for a century before. That policy was swiftly working to its end, and the Senator and the Administration for which he spoke knew that within 90 days those States would all be here with Constitutions equal to the best in the country. Mr. Johnson discussed the subject in its legal bearing. The Constitution went into operation in 1789, and the same year the law organizing the Judiciary was passed giving to the Court jurisdiction upon all questions of law and equity arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States. He cited numerous decisions of the Supreme Court, in which no judge had ever expressed any doubt of its power. Chief Justice Marshall, it is true, had delivered a learned and elaborate opinion on the powers and jurisdiction of the Court. Hamilton believed that liberty itself was involved in this jurisdiction ; writers and Federalists had taken the same ground and instances were cited by him from Chancellor Kent, wherein the jurisdiction of the Courts over the legislation of Congress is distinctly affirmed. Yet in one of the Bills now on the table it was proposed to deny to this Court the power conferred upon it, and to make the legislation of Congress conclusive upon the people and on the country. Mr. Johnson rebutted the arguments of Senator Morton. Governor Patton's Bill was then again taken up after he concluded. While Mr. Hendricks was speaking he; was interrupted from the gallery with a cry, " That's so, my lad," and $3 violently did the speaker resist ejection that considerable disturbance was caused, after which the Senate adjourned. Jan. 28.—Mr. Edmonds introduced a Bill to regulate procedures in cases of impeachment, and to enforce the orders of the Senate in such cases, and Mr. Paterson, an addition to the Act regulating the tenure of certain civil offices. It was a substitute for the Bill lately introduced by him, and he would call it up to-morrow. .0n the Supplemental Reconstruction Bill being taken up, Mr. Frelinghuysen upheld the course of Congress, and denounced the opposition of the President. lle maintained the supremacy of Congress, and asserted that the President had no moo right to lend a blessage to Confirm assert,