The New York Herald Newspaper, March 25, 1869, Page 3

WASHINGTON’ REPEAL OF THE TENURE OF OFFICE ACT. A Modified Bill assed in the Sevate. Noratnation of Moses H. Grinnell as Col- lector of Customs in New York. * President Grant’s Views on Recon- struction in Mississippi. Preparations for the Ninth Census in the House. Democratic Tribute to Gene- ; ral Grant. WASHINGTON, March 24, 1809. ‘The Modified Tenure of Office Bill Passed in the Senates ‘The Senate this afternoon passed the bill modify- Jog the Tenure of Office bill, which had been agreed upon in caucus and which is said to be satisfactory to President Grant. This is the result of weeks of discussion, caucusing, bickering and almost open ‘war between the radical and conservative elements of the dominant party in ube Senate, The new bill 1g substantially as I foreshadowed in my despatches last night, and a caucus was also held this morning, as indicated would be the case, arranging and per- fecting the details of the bill, At this caucus ‘the report of the Sub-Judiciary Committee, which had had an interview with the President the preceding evening, was submitted. Senator Anthony presided over the caucus, which was very fully attended. Mr. Trumbull, aa chairman of the sub-committee, stated that last evening himself and Messrs, Conkling and Carpenter called on the President and presented to ‘Am a draft of a substitute tor the House bill, The President first read the bill himself, when the committee again read it, at the same time commenting upon its features. The President re- marked that he preferred the substitute to an actual repeal of the bill; that it was upon the violation of the Tenure of Office law that the impeachment of Andrew Johnson was based, and that his object in desiring a modification of the law was that he might have proper freedom in making removals. This was perfectly satisfactory to the sub-committee, the President and themselves agreeing that the spirit of She bill was right and should be retained, though its Working, would be modified as provided in the bill. After the President had again expressed himself perfectly satisfied the committee retifed. « _ This statement of Mr, Trumbull at once united mest of thé Opposifidn into @ support of the new phase of the question. Those who opposed repeal all voted for the conviction of Andrew Johnson, ‘and now to be compelled to vote for the repeal of ‘the bill would be an unpardonable inconsistency. At ‘One time there was evident alarm inthe ranks of this class, and the anti-impeachers were jubilant, so that the report of the sub-committee was a grate ful relief, The harmony thus restored put every one in good bumor and but little was said on the pro- posed substitute. Some explanation of the practi- ¢ai workings of the bill were made. A few minutes before twelve o'clock the caucus adjourned, Senator Grimes did not atvend the caucus, but daring its session remained in the Senate chamber conversing with some friends, Early If the delibe- rations of the Senate to-day Senator Trumbull rose and reported from the Judiciary Committee the pro- posed substitute for the flonse bill. The democrats, favoring an out and out repeal, attempted to throw obstructions in the way by moving to lay the bill on the table and order it to be printed, in order, as they stated, to give time for more mature consideration. The proposition, however, was voted down. Seve- ral Senators who had forgotten to speak when the House bill was up now took an opportunity, and @t one time there were serious indications of another windy spell. Senator Sprague made some further observations, it is supposed in reply to he remarks of Senator Nye several days since. The Senator held forth Gt some length, and made some wholesoiné points in regard to the quibbiing which of late has been taking thé place of legitimate de- bate, The substitute proposed by the committee ‘was adopted by the decisive vote of thirty-seven * yeas to fifteen nays. ‘rhe bill was then carried with- ‘Sut adivision. The following Senators were absent or not voting:—Mesara, Cameron, Cole, Corbett, Fen- ton, Hamilton, Morton, Nye, Pomeroy, Pool, Robert- gon, Sherman and Thayer. The democrats voted against the substitute, and were Joined by Messrs. Fessenden, Fowler, Grimes, McDonald, Ross, Sprague gud Warner. Four of these were the anti- impeachers. It 18 expected that the House will act upon the ‘ill to-morrow. Mr. Bingham, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, obtained @ copy of it as re- ported from the Senate Judiciary Committee this afternoon and brought it to the attention of the members of his committee, so that when it is taken up in the House to-morrow they will be able to ex- plain and defend it. General Butler, who introduced the bill in the House repealing the act, called this morning upon the President with the view, it is understood, of ascertaining whether the bill as modified met his approbatien. He was informed that it did, and Butler stated to several members of the House that he should not oppose the Senate bill when it came over, as he is anxious to have the question settled, and if the President was satisfied he was. Nomi lons Sent to the Senate. ‘The following nominations were sent to the Senate ee Hi. Grinnell, to be Collector of Customs at Ww General Giles A. Smith, to be Second Assistant Postmaster G Simon J. Stine, to be Collector of Internal Revenue for the Tenth district of cpg od Adam H. Schuster, to be Collector of Internal Rovenve for the Sixth district of Missouri. P. G. Watmough, to be Collector of Customs at be Postmasters:—Albert Wh : John R. Dodson, at Phoemix- ;Jesse Mears, at Bristol, Pa.; Charles T, Pa.; Philip Hoerr, Buchanan, Pa.; Wm. t, Pa.; Harvey G. Baker, Geneseo, |. G. ‘Smith, Flemington, N. J.; John D. Clev- finger, Mount Holly, N.J.; James Furman, Borden- town, N. J.; Richard H. Fountain, Mishawaka, 3. “&. MePheeters, Bloomington, Ind.; ind.; Canna, ae fowa; Hd. Wiliams, Dubuque, « , Wini jowa; H. J. m8, aque, Jowa: Jullus Wagner, Indianola, Texas; Frederick A. Benton, Newton, Mass.; Wiliam Price, Grenada, Birt Sool Songs Wain aus a lum n.; John W. Wnt M. H. Ganing, Fort Atkinson, Mo. The nomination for Register of the Treasury and weveral other important offices will go to the Senate to-morrow. Considerable curiosity is manifested to Snow who will be named for Register. V. B. Halsey, of New Jersey, was tendered the position to-day, He walked through the rooms and made some Inquires in relation to the business of the office, aster which he informed the Secretary that he would ecline the appointment. It is thought Colonel (Burnside will be the man. Jt is provable that a suc- @easor to the present Third Auditor will also be minated to-morrow, low Mr. Grinneil’s Nomination te Received. The appointment of Moses H. Grinneil aa Collector satisfaction here among all classes, saving and excepting afew disappointed politicians who ex- tohave anice chance for the pickings and Btealings in case An old fashioned politician should fhe giver the position. iemed by the Senate. xecative session, confirmed at of Henty D. Moore, to De Collector os Customs pf the port of Phiiadeipuia, Cabinet Meeting. All of the Cabinets members were dropping in and Out of the President’s room from time to time during the day, Secretaries Cox and Borie came early. ‘The latter departed soon, but the former remained all day. Secretary Rawlins came about two o'clock, and was followed by Secretary Fish and Mr. Cresgwell, A few minutes before three Secretary Boutwell and Attorney General Hoar came, and the Cabinet remained in session until after four, The usual throng of people gatnered in the portico, but could see no further into the Mansion than the door- keeper's face peering over the new chain lastening Jately adopted. Arrival of the Envoy of the Cuban Provisional Government, Sefior Lemos, agent of the Cuban provisional gov- erument, arrived here to-day, and had interviews with several members of Congress and officers of the government. It is thought his presence will hasten the recognition of the Cuban revolutionists by our government, A Mississippi Delegation at the White House— Unsatisfactory Interview With the Presle dent. 4 At half-past two o'clock to-day a Gelegation of Mississippians had an interview with President Grant, The members of the delegation present were Colonel L. W. Perce, A. Mygatt, General B. B. Eggleston, Wiliam H. Gibbs, Major E. J. Castello, A. Alderson, Dr. C. A. Foster, Major J. G. Jewell, Rev. Dr. T, W. Stinger, Colonel C. P, E. Johnson, Colonel J. R. Webster, J. A. Jamison and General H. W. Barry. They were introduced individually by Jolonel L, W. Perce, Aftey the iatroduction Colonel Perce addressed the President briefly and stated that they had called upon him to congratulate him upon his election and to ask his assistance in passing the Mississippi bill now pefore Congress. The President remarked that he had seen the bill reported, but he did not know in what shape it would pass Congress. He had con- versed with at least three of the Reconstruction Committee upon the subject, and he did not think it likely that the bill would be passed in a form to bring peace to Mississippi. Still Congress had ail the evi- dence on the subject before them. Colonel Perce expressed @ confidence in the wisdom of Congress. ‘The President said there was no way for the restora- tion of Mississippi except by the action of Congress. To him the most, feasible, the least expensive and the quickest way to restore the State seemed to be to give the Governor of the State, who is also the military commander, time to appoint all the officers under the recent law of Congress, then resubmit the constitution to the vote of the people, allowing all to vole who are qualified under the reconstruc- tion acts, and no others, Congress selecting such articles as they deem necessary to be voted on sepa- rately, without allowing them to affect the constitu- tion as @whole. There were, he said, portions of the constitution that might be rejected, and perhaps ought to be. Colonel Perce here suggested and urged that the President of the Convention, who is authorized by the bill under consideration to ap- point the State oMfcers—being better acquainted with the people and their wants—would be better able to make judicious appointments than the Milt- tary Governor, The President, without making any definite reply, arose and the delegation retired, highly disgusted and indignant at the unsatisfactory result of their interview, They expressed them- selves when away from the White House in strong language against President Grant, and even went so far ag jo wish him in @ warmer climate than Wash- ington, 4 The Policy of the Government Towards the Indians—A Delegation of Indian Sympu- thizers Visit the President. At noon to-day a delegation, composed of George H. Stuart, William Welsh, Judge Strong, Eli K. Price, Samuel Shepley and John Hilles, of Philadelphia, and Edward 8. Tobey, of Boston, called upon the President relative to the policy of the government towards the Indians. The delegation was formally introduced to the President by Mr. Stuart, after which Mr. Welsh stated the ob- Ject of the visit tobe to urge upon the President the importance of adopting @ humane and Christian- izing policy towards the Indians. Re said a portion of the delegation were members of the Society of Friends, and the remainder were citizens who enter- tained similar views to theirs relative to the man- agement of the Indians. They had been encouraged to present their wishes by the principle relative to the treatment of the Indians announced by the President in his inaugural address,” when he said “the proper treatment of the original occupants of this land—the Indians—is one deserving of careful consideration. I will favor any course toward them which tends to their civilization, Christianization and ultimate citizenship.” They proposed that the President should select a commission of five or seven gentlemen, who should give their services gratuitously to the government, to act with the Sec- retary of the Interior in the management of Indian Affairs and superintend the disbursement of the money appropriated from time to time by Congress for the Indians, By this means it was thotght much, if not all, of the dishonesty and corruption known to exist in connection with the management of Indian affairs would be abolished. Mr. Welsh was followed by other members of the delegation, when Mr. Stuart closed by saying that he had resided for a great number of years among the meinbers of the Society of Friends, and he felt sure that if their advice was followed we would have less cause for Indian wars and fewer com- plaints about the dishonesty of Indian agents. The President replied that the views expressed by the delegation met his approbation, and it was his de- sire to make a radical change in the Indian policy of the government, The Secretary of the interior, who was present at the interview, also expressed him- self satisfied with the project of the delegation, and intimated his readiness to co-operate in any plan that might be adopted for the civilization of the In- diane and the prevention of Indian wars. After the interview with the President, which lasted for nearly two hours, the delegation proceeded to the Capitol, where they had @ conference with General Butler and Speaker Blaine on the same sub- ject. The delegation detatied the result of the inter- view with the President and the Secretary of the Interior, and General Butier expressed himself fa- vorable to the proposition. The deisgation, with the exception of Mr. Stuart, who left for Philadelphia to-night, will appear before the Senate Committee on Indian Afairs to-morrow aud present their views, ‘The Pennsylvania Contested Election Case. The Committee on Elections decided to-day, by a vote of five to four, to report in favor of John Co- vode's prima Jacte right to @ seat in the House from the Twenty-first district of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cessna will submit the report of the committee to the House to-morrow and endeavor to force it to a tote, Secretary Fist’s Residence. Secretary Fish has rented the house of ex-Senator Morgan, at the southwest corner of Fifteenth and I streets, furniture included, for his future residence. Relense of an American Citizen by the Turke ish Government. The Turkish Minister, Blacqae Bey, received from Constantinople to-day intelligence of the release by the Turkish government of Mr. Henry M. Canfield, formerly United States Consul at Piraeus, Greece. Mr. Canfield, it will be remembered, disappeared from his post more than a year ago, and the (rat in- formation received of his whereabouts was of his capture by the Turkish government among the fili- dusters who entered Syria under the command of O'Reilly. Canfield was taken with arms in bis hands, and was liable to be shot, but he was taken to Con- stantinople and imprisoned. In .the expedition he passed under the name of Lamar. About three months ago Mr. Canfield’s father came to this city and besought Mr. Seward to make an effort to obtain his release. Mr. Seward promised to do what he could, and accordingly laid the matter be- fore the Turkish Minister, requesting him unomi- clally to intercede with his government for the re lease of the prisoner. This the Turkish Minister en- aged to do, but stated that he could entertain very littie hope of success, fram the fact that Canfleld, alias Lamar, had been gutity of @ heinous offerice, ana moreover there was a large number of prisoners taken with him of different nationalities, all of whom would probably seek for the same indulgence, Biacque Bey wrote to the Grand Vizier a Atrong letter, urging compliance with Mr. Seward’s request, and gave it to the father of Canfleld, who to Constantinople and presented it to the Grana Vizier in person. To-day Biacque Bay re- Colyed the ipformatiog thay the Yizipy had pubmytoog to the Emperor Mr. Seward’s reasons for making the request, 2nd the Emperor had been pleased to immediately order Mr. Canfleld’s release. This act 16 regarded here as an unequivocal manifestation of g00d feeling towards the United Sthtes by the Turk- ish government, BESUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS, Ancther Pian to Meet the Financial Ques- Uon—Letters from Amasa Walker and G. S. Coc=The Issue of Compound Interest Treasury Notes and Withdrawal of Green- backw Recommended—How the Plan Will Work—Its Way to Specic Payments. WASHINGTON, March 24, 1869, The following correspondence, giving the views of Mr. Amasa Walker, of Massachusetts, aud Mr. Coe, President of the American Exchange Bank, of New York, on the subject of the resumption of specie pay- ments, &c., has been received by Mr. Garfield, chair- man of the House Committee on Banking and Cur- rency:— MR. AMASA WALKER TO HON, J. A. GARFIELD. Hon. JAMES A. GARFIELD— My Dear Sim:—Having observed with great ae your course hitherto upon all questions re- jating to money and finance, I take the liberty in this manner to present for your consideration the follow- ‘mg plan for the gradual but voluntary reduction of the currency and its restoration to the specie stand- ard. Iam induced to do this becanse ali the plang heretofore brought forward in Con; have con- tomplated either the absolute withdrawal of a part of the existing circulation or the compulsory re- sumption of specie payments by the national Treasury and benks in obedience to legislative en- actment, All such measures being entirely arbitrary in their character do not recognize those laws of supply and demand which should always be carefully regarded in every Pica relating to the currency, commerce and industry of the country. At present there are two kinds of currency in use— the issues of the National banks, and the Treasury notes known as greenbacks. The circulation of both of these is under control of Congress, which can compel the withdrawal of either or both pro rata, ag it shall deem most advantageous to the public interests; but in either case vhe contraction effected would be a compulsory one, made by force of law, apd without rence to the existing de- mauds of trade or the needs of the currency, and itis quite apparent from what we have already seen, it 18 notin accordance with the popular will, and it seems desirable therefore, that some pian, which, while it shall be certain to secure the intended objects—the restoration of the currency to the specie value—will not be lable to those objections which have been urged against every measure hitherto proposed for that purpose; some plan more in harmony with pub- 1n10n and the jaws of trade. Believing that this lie can be done I venture to present the follow: rO- posiuons:— ing P First.—That Congress authorize the issue of com- pound interest notes, precisely like those with which uhe people are already familiar, toan extent equal to its Treasury notes, say $60,000,000, or so many a8 may be required to redeem the greenbacks, Let them be of the denomination of five, ten, twenty and fifty dollars, with a sultable proportion of $100 and $1,000 for large operations. Second.—Let these notes be dated on the first day of each successive month, commencing with the 1st day of ney next, when $10,000,000 should be made ready for issue, and an equal araount on each suc- ceeding month until the entire quantity bas been furnished, Third.—Let these notes be convertible into ten- forty bonds, at five per cent, like those heretofore oe at the end of two years trom date, but not fore. Fourth.—Let Congress imperatively require that these notes, and no other, be paid out for all dis- bursements of the Treasury, except those payabie in. coin, 80 long as there are sufMicient to meet the wants of the government, and, if the whole monthly issues are not thus put in circulation, let the Secretary of the Treasury be required to exchange them for greenbacks, as he will undoubtedly be abie to do, since they must be much preferred to the latter, RESULTS. Such is the general outline of the plan here pro- posed, and the ioliowing results may be confidently anticipated :— First.—The notes deing widely diffased throughout the entire nation will come into the hands of all classes and eventually supersede the present green- backs, and consequently if persons anywhere are able and disposed to hoard them or lay them by as investment they will have abundant opportunity to do 80, and from what we have seen in relation to the compound interest notes heretofore issued we may be certain that this will, to a great extent, take ploce, and that finally the whole mass wii be con- verted into ten-forty bonds. Second,—Under this plan there can be no contrac- tion of the currency that is not wholly voluntary on the part of the people; for so far as it takes place it Will be done, not by the arbitrary act of ‘the govern- ment or banks, or by the speculative classes, but entirely by the individual holders of the notes, Third,—It \s evident that since those who buy the notes, do so for the sake of the interest upon them they will be certain to put them into circulation again if the demand for money is such that they can fe more by using or loaning them than by eeping them on ‘This will, of course, pre- veut the possibility of any extravagant security of money, or high rate of interest, since whenever the rate is much above six per cent, the cOmpound notes will be brought into circulation and ali danger of a panig jn the money market will be effectually pre- vented. Fourth.—Again it may be observed that these notes wil! form an elastic currency in the best use of that term; and although elasticity is the worst and most undesirable quality in a currency de- signed for permanent use, yet, as an alternative during the transition irom @ vastly ex- panded and wholly irredeemable currency to one equivalent to gold, such a quality will at least prevent the danger of distress or ioss which many persons fear would attend the return of specie Inent by the absolute and direct withdrawal of a part of the circulating medium, At present the currency of the country, consisting wholly of credit, or mere promises to pay at some future and indetinive period, remains a fixed quantity, ‘without any reference to the wants of trade, since it cannot, like specie, be exported and imported, according to the varying de- mands of commerce. By the substitution of com- pound interest notes, this peculiarity will no longer exist, because both a centripetal and centrifugal force will be introduced into the currency— @ centripetal force, because there will be a cer- tain and constant tendency to hoarding, as the ability of individuais will permit, and a centrifagal force, because the events of trade, the demand for money, will be certain to draw out those notes when- ever and to such an extent as they shall be ae needed. This desideratam, 60 earnestly contend for bv many persons, will be certainly secured. Fith.—But another point worthy of special notice is the very gradual manner in which the contraction Will be effected, At first only ten millions of the compounds will be issued, and these will be dis- tributed broadcast throughout the nation. ,Gradu- ally, as they fall into the hands of those who do not need them for immediate use, they will be hoarded, Another, and still another monthly instalment will be sent out, received and treated in the same way, but not adoilar of it can be absolutely withdrawn from use until the end of two years, and then only at the rate of ten millions per month; and it will be only at the end of five years that the whoie amount can be funded, while the entire three hundred and sixty millions can and, if needed, will be kept in circulation tll the end of the latter pertod. There can no doubt, however, that the contractile force will be amply sufficient under the plan here to Use &@ gradual but efect've withdra' of a large of these notes soon after they are put in circulation; thus withdrawn prices will fall cor- respot , 80 that less and less currency will be Tore, although th oy isconstantly dimitishing, fore, althor ¢ currency is constantly dimi ng, the demand-for It will decrease. In ut Yeast an equal ratio, and the money market will be as easy as be- ie contraction menced. Of such a result no Ohé Kegue:mtod with the laws of money and finance can vg te LER Boant, ee eC now Pr ILL BB SECURED. If it be asked how the resumption of specie pay- ments will be secured when the compound notes have been ng funded, it may be replied that when that event has ‘en piace there wil! be no other circulation than that issued by the national banks, Sanat te teen $00,000,000, which will be at least equal to tag Natural amount i gears by the business wants and will of course be nearly or quite on a par with gold; but to assure thatit ngress may provide that the baaks shall retain all the specie hereafter received for coupons until they resume payment, and, if needful, the banks may be prohibited from holding the cor. und Interest notes as # part of thei reserve of awful money. That would compel the banks to supply themselves with we necessary amount of specie. It will, however, be found practically that as the volume of the currency ia brought near to its natural limit much of the gold torcet out of the country during the expansi ‘will be returned (as was the case in 1857-8), while ali our own product Will be retained at home, and thus the banks, with- out effort or expense, will accumuiate all the specie their Wante require, ROONOMY OF THR MEASURE. If it be objected to the foregoing pian that ft obliges the government to pay interest on its own notes it may be replied that such a result is tnavoid~ abie. Whenever the greenbacks are funded, as in some for must ultimately be, the coverniment has proniived to pay its noves, and as i4 if not able to discharge them with spevie it is bound im common equity and honesty to pay interest upon them until it can. ‘The transitional pian now proposed by which, turongh the ‘of componnd interest notes, the Noading promises of the ‘Treasury willbe eveutuaily funded, while one that Is periectly hon- orable, will be found, tt is belleved, highly satistac- tory to the public. Certainyy tt will’ be an economt- col arrangement, because the goverment, so far from losing interest, will gain largely by the opera. tion, since it must result in @ rapid restoration of the national credit to that point ‘at whieh the whole pubvite debt may be consolidated into one uniforin stock of not over four and one-half per cent. lor the want of @ weil settled and judicions policy for Specie payment the nation is now losing more than it gains ip the anoual interest upon some $860,000, 000 of Its circulating notes, Unies the coun- try 18 to suffer soran indefinite period all the disgrace and loss inseparabie from a ciated credit, uniess it ia to be given over to all evils and dangers incident to an irredeemabie currency, some definite and efficient measure muat be A to neoure ite reatoraton to the specie standard. The foregoing plan doy Werpiore, UvaWIEG WiKh grept deiereuse, J+, = the industrial inter- p J as has thus far been Jon AMASA WALEER. r 18, 1969, MR. G. 8. COB TO MR. AMASA WALKER. THE AMERICAN EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK, New York, March 16, 1869. Mr. by wil WALKER, Bureau of Statistics, Washing- My Deak Sin—Your note of yesterday is at hand. you su; it is so enurely in accordance with my own views that I could almost believe we had heard each other think. ‘The decision of the Supreme Court legalizing gold contracts has oye the way for business upon specie measures. This 18 one of the objects attained. It is perceptibly ex- tending in practice, and wil daily gain ground be- cause Of tts inherent soundness. ‘The other half to be secured is that of dispensing with the present vicious (because indefinite and variable) measure— the currency—and the method suggested ie the best one practicable. It is jratase. $10,000,000 per month, and being legal tender for their face, the compound notes will be available still unul the accumulated interest sinks them and ultimately they become ten-forty bonds. With these two mea- sures in operation, the one advancing as the other recedes, it seems to me we shall reach specie pay- ment with absolute certainty and in harmony with natural causes, With the influence of national banks in Congress, I doubt the practicability of secui your **Fourthly.”” ‘The bank notes are receivable an payable for public dues: By excluding them you awaken opposition of the great bank interest, a for- midable power I fear, One thing is certain; the bank notes now received tor internal taxes and rev- enue should be assorted at the Treasury and pre- seuted for redemption at their agencies in New York, and unless the habit of redeeming this circulation be well established before the legal tender notes become reduced in value it wil! be impossibie for many banks to convert their assets into money. I regard this preparatory measure in- dispensable to the permanency of the banking sys- tem. If the country is to depend upon that for ite pepe and that upon a specie basis, it must be hardened to the required power. The system was born of paper and needs such regeneration, Wishing yon much success in your programme I remain, yours, uly, G. 8. Me I feel contident of being able to carry through the scheme here. It is an idea often expressed among the best of our bankers and approved. With a sys- tem of practical redemption there would be no ob- jection to throwing the banking priviege open to free and unlimited use, The disposition to expand and the dally obiigution to redeem would prove cen- trifugal and centripetal forces. With the present struggie for banking privilege im Congress might Dot this this thing be secured aud the suggestion aid your plan? THE FORTY-FIRSY CONGRESS. "Firat Seesion. SENATE. WASHINGTON, March 24, 1969, PERSONAL EXPLANATION BY SENATOR CONKLING, Mr. OONKLING, (rep.) Of N. Y., rose to a question of privilege and had read by the Secretary the follow- ing paragraph in the Washington Chronicle of yes- terday:— Senators Grimes and &; supported the views of the Indiana Senator, Senator Edmunds replying that if gen! men held such an opinion of the caucus they ought to with: draw from it, Senator Grimes replied and said be certainly bad no desire to stay. He had attended some weeks sin caucus called at the instance of Senator Conklii and found nothing but wrangling. over the sami uestion that brought them together to-day. Then for a caucus which Senator Conk- #. settle finally and Ir 8 call ling ostentatiously announced was, forever the Tenure of Oilice law. Conkling denied making any such statement and spoke in f&vor of the propo- sition to suspend for four year, and thought it would be as satisfactory to tieneral Grant as it was to him. He did not understand why there should be such a disposition among certain Senators to reject all compromise and modification and insist 80 obstinately on repeal. It had been dinned in his ears that the State Legislature of New York had instructed him to vote for repeal, but he rejected the claim of any Legislature or of any man to become the keeper of his honor and conscience, He should vote'as he tuought proper, and Rot ag the State of New York thought, or ae tho Seuator ym Indiana or any other man, Mr. CONKLING said it had never been his habit to call public attention to matters personal to himself, but as thia stateinent chargea him with utterance of language grossly disrespectful to hig State and Legislature he thought it his duty to notice it and to pronounce it without the slightest foundation in fact, as the bab yee d oficer and every other senator present at the caucus could bear witness. It was somewhat noticeable that there should be any ac- count whatever of the proceedings of a caucus, since the only persons who can have any accurate knowl- edge of them are forbidden to divulge them. He could not fe any Senator had in this case vio- lated the tions of pares, and he sup; that the extreme maccuracy of the accounts given by the reporters was to be attrivuted to the fact that they to rely altogether upon guess work. Mr. Grimes, (rep.) of lowa, said that the state- ments concerning him in this para; hb were wholly untrue; bat since his experience of last year he had ceased to care for mussiatements about him in the public prints. THE TENURE OF OFFICE ACT. Mr. TRUMBULL, (rep.) of Ill., from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported the bill to repeal the Tenure of Omice act, wit an amendment in the nature of a substitute, as follows:— Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert as fol- lows :—That the first and second sections of an act entitled “An act regulating the tevure of certain civil offices,” passed March 2, 1867, be nnd the same are hereby repealed, and in pero said repeaed sections the foliowing are hereby en- ‘acted :— ‘That every person holding any civil office to which he has been or hereafter may be appointed, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, aud who ‘shall have become duly wualified to act therein, shall be entitled to hold such ofice uring the term for which he shail ‘have been appointed, une Jess sconer removed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or by the appointment, with the like advice and consent, of a successor Iu his place, except as herein o.herwise rovided. Pisnc.% And be it further enacted, That during any recess of the Senate the President is hereby empowered in his dis- cretion to suspend any civil officer appointed by and with the advice consent of the Senate, except judges of the United States courts, until the end of the next session of, the Senate, and to designate some suitable person sabject to be ramoved in his dincretion by the resignation of another, to perform the duties of such suspended officer in the meantime, and euch person desi; shall take the Oaths and give the bonds — by law to be taken and given by the suspended officer, and shall during the time he performs his duties entitled to. the salary and emoluments of such officer, no part of which shail belong to the suspended. And it shall be the duty of the within thirty days after the commencement of each session of the nenaie, except for any ofice which jn bis opinion ought not 19 bé flied, to nominate persons to fill all vacan oflice existed at the meeting of the Senate, whether tem- ily filed or not; and also in the piace of all officers sus- pended, and if the Senate during such session aball refuse to ‘Advise ‘and consent to an appointment in the piace of any #nepended officer, and shall refuse by vote to assent to his suspension, then, and not much officer at the end of the session shall be entitled to resume the possession of the office from which he was suspended, and afterwards to discharge {te duties and receive ite emoluments as though no much jon had taken place. Mr. BAYARD, (dem.) of Del., moved to lay the re- whic Port of the committee on the table. Lost, Mr. Davis, (dem.) of Ky., moved to amend striking out the of the committee and ini ing the biil passed by the House absolutely the Tenure of Office act. Mr. TRUMBULL said that as that bill had been struck out by the Senate in Committee of the Whole it was not now in order to repiace it. The PRESIDENT pro tem, (Mr. Anthony) decided that it was not in order. Mr. Davis peg the Senate had a right to re- verse the action of the Committee of the Whole. The PRESID ask hether the Senator from en desired to Piel trom the decision of the air? "Nr. DAVrB said nos he diq not care to throw straws by og @ hurricane. ( ) AUB + ir. WARNER, (rep.) Of Ala., moved to lay the bill on the table and order It Bae eh There were Seaa- on the dem ic ot sPoftanity to consider tl We BY, is form, and circumstances he did not think it fair to under the ae tae Po i had no desire to do anything un fair; but as the objection of the democratic Senators was to the substance rather than the form of the Tenure of Office act, and as they would not be satia- fled with anything short of te unconditional repeal, he saw no n ity for delay. ‘The motion to lay the bill on the table was lost by & vote of 22 to 34, Mr. Grimes thought this bill, if made a law, would tend to ‘uate at least some of the evils causod by the existing Tenure of Office act, and therefore he could not vote for it. Mr, Davis moved a substitute absolutely repealing the Tenure of Office act; but ‘The PRESIDENT decided that althongh in different words it w bstantially the same as the House biil, and therefore out of order. Mr. MorTON, (rep.) of Ind., said that the bill re- ported by thé committee would remove all the objections on practical grounds to the Tenure of Oltice act by relieving the President from the obligation ‘to give reasons for suspension from office and the Senate from the duty, impos- sible of performance, of consider the reasons in cach case, It still reserved to the ate the power of vetoing the President's removals by non-concur- rence, Which at the end of the session would rein- state the officer removed. But the President might iuunediately suspend him again, #0 that practically the veto power Would amount to nothing, The re- port of the committee preserved the shadow rather than the sdbstance of the Tenure of Ottice act. It was mereiy a bad ere of & dead body, there- tore he did not feel called upon to. e against it or TO Oppose it actively in any Way, Dut be could not vote for it, because by preserving the veto power of the Senate it violated tae theory which he heid on the subject. Mr. Haw (rep.) of lowa, made an argument in favor of the existing law. He saw ho reason why the President shonid have absolute control over Jaderal officers any more than State Governors have such control over State officers, [t was only in an absolute government that the chief executive oMcer should have arbitrary power to appoint to and dis. muss from office. The argament against the Tenure of Office act because a removal under it would be disgraceful to the oMcer removed was really, when roperly viewed, an argument in favor of it, It was he sure dingrace en pon dismissal from the army and navy that made army and naval Oively pO MAUEL More Jaitasul aud OMoIEAs tian viv) NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MARCH 95, 1869—TRIPLE SHEET. attacl jad succeeded in yetting on his side the laughter of [orange and. of ‘some of his tellow denstorn teaching had mate : of a frivol ‘houghtl made them of a frivolous, thoughtless, disposition, They reminded him of ee eae an- of the class he ad spoken of before, ‘Tne people of England would not tolerate such a state of things. The men who controlled the affairs of England, Gladstone anu Disraeli, were not jawyers; they were men of wider culture, with the instincts of states- men, fit to control the destinies of a great nation. Ke had feit deeply interested im the success of the republican party in the past and iad contributed to it, he thought, as mdch in character and a good deal more in money than other Senators; indeed, he be- lieved that ins contribation of the latter kind had been ‘er than those of all the other Senators combined. When the war broke upon the poopie without warning and found them unprepared he had been among tne first to rush to the support of the overnment; but now there was a great danger pend- ing and he felt it his duty to warn the people of it. He read a jong account of the character and career of the notorious Judge Jeffreys and o1 the condition of England in his time, which, he said, was very like the condition at the present time. Engiand at that time was just after a revolution, and the coun- try was thrown under the control of despotic power and Jeffreys was the eager instrument. Four years ago this country had come out of a great civil war. Since that time the great work of Congress had been, or should have nm, to restore harmony and P erity to the country. How had that work been carried on? Is there, he asked, peace at the South ¢ Is there prosperity or contentment among the people there? Are they not rather in a state of chronic revolution? Is there justice in the land? Who that 18 a poor man dare attack one that is rich in any court in this land? Is there protection for the rights or liberties of the citizen in this boasted land of freedom? The hnmigration to this countr: had fallen off 30,000 during the last year, and it would continue to fall off, because the industry and agriculture of the country were so prostrated at the West that Immigrants could not find re- munerative employment, and if they went to farm in the West they could not sell their products for enough to supply them with the neces- saries of life. Whenever any one in the Senave or elsewhere asked the reason of the depression of our. commerce and manufactures he was sure to be met with the answer that it was owing to the fact that we were not paying specie; but the real reason was that the legislation and the administration of the government were 80 shaped as to encourage capital to speculate upon every industrial occupation in the country. If this course were to be continued in less than fivé yeats there would be @ ciamor for a tariff to keep out foreign cotton. But great a8 was the mismanagement of our na- Uonal affairs in every department, the great- est abuses were in our financial policy. That poltes was directed and controiled by the bankers; they no doubt gave as ood advice as they could, but experience had always shown that dealers in money know littie or nothing about tue relations of money to other occupations and interests, The bearing of allthis upon the pending bi!l was this: If the legislators of the country had done their own work #0 badiy, how could they dare to assume the wers and duties of the Executive also? He had tended to say a few words about the relations be- tween himselfand certain other Senators, by way of showing the uniitness of the Senate to exercise a revisory phd over the acta or the President, but he would reserve them for another occasion. He must, however, before closing, say ® word about the social condition of the couniry, which, he thought, was quite’ as bal as the financtal condition. Tne rich were striving to be richer, aud the poor were struggling to imitate the rich, and in this struggle virtue was lost. He knew something of the character of the people of other couutries, and he firmly stated that there was less virtue and morality in American society to-day than in any other civilized society on tle face of the | earth. The prevatling demoralization was trightfal, What mother could send her gon out into the world with any confidence that he would be able to resist the vemptresses that would surround him? what husband could close his door? (Laughter.) The country was on the brink of a ge = y and unless the ple could roused from their apathy ail was lost. He had wished for and aided in the election of General Grant to the Presidency, because he believed that he (President Grant) had not been contaminated by the politicians and nad the capacity recuired to sce through and defeat their machinations. He had listened to the inaugural address with tutense inter- est and had been pleased by the President's expres- sion of his purpose to be independent in the dis- charge of his official duties; but when he heard the |e asserting the sacredness of the public ae e had gone y disheartened and sorrowiul, cause it had shown him that the canker that pos- sessed the American body politic hac got possession of the President also. Still he was not without hope. He hoped that the President would yet discover the great error into which bad advisers tad led him and would turn away from this policy as from a charuel house. With an interesting biographical sketch of bimeelf Mr. Sprague finisued his speech. The report of the committee was then adopted as od ce rag for the pending bill by the rollowing vote:— Yras—Messrs, Abbott, Anthony, Boreman, Brownlow, Buckingham, Carpenter, Cattell, Chandler, Conkling, Cragin, Drake, Hdmuuds, Ferry, Gilbert, Hamiid, Hariaa, Harrie, Howard, Kellogg, Morr il, Osborn, Paterson, Pratt, Ramsey, Rice, Sawyer thurs, Scot, Spencer, Stowatt, Suraner, Pip: tor mbuil, Willey, Williams, Wilson and Yates—S7. lare—Mesira, Bayard, Casserly, Davis. Fessenden, Fow- ler, Grimes, MoO: McDonald,’ Norton, Koss, Sprague, Stockton, Thurman, Vickers and Warner—15. Mr. TRUMBULL §brieflygexplained the bill as re- from the Judiciary Comiittee. It was de- signed, he sald, to remove obstacle which the Tenure of Ufice act unchan; Might throw in the way of the President in reforming the puviic service, and at the same time to preserve the principle which some Senators thought a sound constitutonai prin- ciple underlying the Tenure of Office act. The Sen- ator from Indiana had said that the power reserved to the Senate by this bill would amount to nothing, because if the Senave refused to confirm the suspe! sion of an oficer, and thereby reinstate him, the President might suspend him again immediatel, after the adjournment of the senate. He would as! that Senator whether he had not confidence in the President to believe that he would act according to the spirigof the law? He (Trumbull) had euch con- fidence and had no fear whatever that the President would seek to evade the law in any way. Mr. Morton thought the Chairman ot the Judiciary Committe (Mr. Trumbull) ought to have explained the bill eariier in the debate, as very few Senators et understood its provisions. He briefly criticized ‘ne bil, and denied that it preserved the principle un the Tenure of Office act. The bill was then passed. . RXRCUTIVR SESSION. The Senate, at twevty-five minutes to six, went into executive session, and soon after adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASsitNGToN, March 24, 1869. ARTIFICIAL LIMBS FOR DISABLED SOLDIERS. Mr. Wann, (rep.) of N. ¥., presented a petition of the citizens of Elmira, N. ¥., to authorize the fur- pishing of artificial limbs to disabled soldiers once fa five years. On motion of Mr, Dawss, (rep.) of Mass., the House Committee on the Civil Service dil! was ordered to be continued, BILLS INTRODUCED. Mr. Warrremons, (rep.) of S. O,, introduced @ bill to regulate the manner of applytug to Congress for the removal of political disabiliies. Keferred to the R econstruction Committee. Mr. PaLMen, (rep.) of lowa, introduced a bill con- cerning the Chited States District Court ia lowa, eferred to the Judicary Committee. ia serena to estaniish a port of entry at Councit Biatis, lowa. Referred to the Conuuittee on Com- merce. Mr. PAIN ¢, (rep.) of Wis., fatroduced a bill to en- nl article of Reterred to the eo ce the third section of the fourte a amendment to tA mappa construction Committee. Recomrovides that every person who is ineligible to omice under that section, and wo holds or attempts to hold office in any State or Territory, and every civil or military officer Who has aujnority to remove such person and does not do ft, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be jiable to a fine of not less than $600 nor more than $5,000, and imprisonment not more than five years nor jess than sixty days, Mr. AXTeLT, (dem.) of Cal, introduced @ bill amendatory of the act of 27th of July, 1868, to pro- tect the rights of actual settlers, Referred to the Committee on Pablic Lands. Introduced m bill in Mr. Wi1s0y, (rep.) of Minn. reference to the lands of the Minnesota state Uni- versity. Referred to the Committee on Pubiic Landa, Mr. NtaLack, (dem.) of Ind., introduced a bill to equalize the bounties of acidiers, sailors aud mariners, Referred to the Committee on Military Aiturs. Mr. CLARKR, (rep.) of Kan., Introduced {a joint resviution to enal ctual kettlers on the Cherokee strip of jands ip Kansas to purchase (heir jands, Referred to the Committee on Public Lands. THE NINTH CENSUS, Mr. GAHFIELD, (rep.) of Ohio, from the Sciect Com mittee on the Census, reported a bil for taking the mull aud eubseyuent cOMsused. Ea ge ag ys a the Incerlor, Attorney General. and” Census cl 48 entitied in Congress. This 48 expected to give 270 members in the House, The basis of representation hereafver is to be fixed at one member for every 170,000 of the population. NATIONAL JUNCTION RAILROAD COMPANY. ‘The Senate bill to incorporate the Nattonal Junc- fin Railroad Company was taken from tne Speaker's ie. Mr, WELKER, rep.) of Ohio, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, reported various amend- ments to the bill, one of being to strike out the authority to make @ tunuel under the George- town College. Adopted. Mr. Swann, (dem.) of Md., offered an amendi requiring bridges or tunnels depth at the crossings of the é ainendment w: KER, Cook and DIcKEY, aa fo pporied by Messrs. TWITCHELL and O’N&ILL. Fivali previous ques- tion was demanded and seconded. The amendment corres. by Mr. Swann was rejected and the bill passed. PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT FOR MISSISSIPPI. Mr, Bure, (rep.) of Mass., from- the Committee on Reconstruction, reported a bill for the ea tion of a provisional government ior the of ppt. It aultorizes the reassembling forthwith. on the call of the President, of the Constitutional Conven- tion heretofore elected under the act of ope aA within thirty days the commanding general of the Fourth Military district is tosummon the conven- rociamation, The conventson is empowered int a provisional governor; to authorize him to remove and supalis registrars and judges of elec- tions, and to provide for forwarding the votes on the constitution to the provisional governor, to be counted in his presence and that of the general commanding the Military Division of Mississippi, &c. The convention shall not continue in for and the constitution framed at the tune of mediately to elect delegates under the of the com: ing general. Any one or more provi- sions may be submitced to a separate vote. The or- dinances that may be passed by the convention shall be in force untt! disapproved by Congress, or until the State shail have aaopted a constitution and it shall have been approved by Congress. The right in trial by jury shall not be taken ai this act. The military commander shall, on the requisition of the provisional governor, give aid to the officers of the provisioaal government in pre- serving the &¢c, The provisional ernor may remove Officials in the state and ap it their successors, &c., subject, however, to the orders and directions of the President of tne United States, who may remove the provisional governor and appoint his successor. Mr. Beck, (dem.)‘of Ky., moved to amend by strik- ing out the sentence authorizing the convention to appoint a provisional governor, 80 a8 to leave that Power with the President of the United States. Mr. FARNSWoRTH, (rep.) of Iil., gave notice that he would move to postpone the consideration of the bill until the next session, Mr. BuTLER expressed his acknowledgment for the confidence in tne President expressed by the. amend ment of Mr. Beck, and said he could not help admiring the new born zeal of State’s rights ‘> who now wished State officers to be appointetl by federal authority, rather than by the people of the State, The committee, however, thought that the appointment shou!d be made by the President of the convention. He proceeded to explain and advocate the various provisions of the bill. ‘The bill, he said, had been reported Irom the committee with great unanimity; it had been sanctioned by the committee of the last House; it had been carefully and thoroughly considered. If the House thought it best to have any reconstruction im Mississippi he it would stand by the bill. Mr. Beck addressed the House foran hour in favor of the amendment offered by hin. He deciared that the jast convention of Mississippi had rendered itself infanious and was utterly unfit to be the depository of power. He contended that the President of the United States having no animosities to gratify and bel presumed to desire the restoration of relations with the whole country, would apj ita provision: overnor who would see that at least there was a fair election. He urged this, not from any new bora zeal for federal authority, but as a choice of evils, The democratic minority did not look to any party advantage tn this; they not ex- pect the President to appoint any democrat to such an office; but they believed that the President wou:d do justice and see that fair men were appointed and fair elections heid. Therefore they were o| to depriving the President of powers wi ‘he- now Mr. LAWRENCE, (rep-) of Ohio, asked what powers this bill took from the President. Mr. Beox replied that the President now haa the power, under all the reconstruction laws, to appoint provisional governors and military orgs! had the antho: appol registrars \dges elections. By this rin the President was deprived of this power, and the military {commandant was de- prived of all power. All that he could do was to Bot gy governor in carrying out his ers, however infamous they might be. Mr. to give Beck proceeded illustrauons od the welypmieaiemd of the _ sippt convention, waic posed to recon- vee. Having done so at considerable! length, he asked whether it was wonderful that the white men of Mis- sissippi voted agains! the constitution. Was it won- derful that the decent negroes of Mi iL voted against it as they had? Was it not wonde iL that any set of gentlemen would now seek to restore power to such a convention without even giving to the President of the United States the mght to see that the pext — was fairly held? That was the amazing proposition. Mr. Lay RONCR replied to the comments of Mr. Beck upon depriving the President of the power to appoint a provisional governor for pot, aaa argucd that no such power was vested in tl I~ dent. Lemme Senet had aim to exer- cise the power of appoint pro’ governors, but such action on his part had never received “34 validity from Congress, and no act ‘suc! & power on the President had ever been passed by Congress. That power had been co! by the Reconstruction acts on the military commanders in the South and on the General of the Army. This bill, therefore, took no power from the President. It merely trans! from the military authorities to the mi the power to appoint a provisional vernor for MississippL. aor BECK 81 that Mr. Lincoln had exer- = the same power in the appointment of Mr. johnson. Mr. LAWRENCE replied that that was notso. Mr. Poe Leo Me yd Syecn ed eat lune teas ennessee, Which was a very a provisional governor, The one exercises martial a other civil powers. Mr. vot x Y., obtained the floor to Yoon, (dem. oppose the bill, but_yielded to a motion to urn, and thereupon the House, at fifteen minutes before four o'clock, adjourned. ‘THE NEW COLLECTOR OF THE POIT OF NEW YORM. Moses H. Grinnell, The name of Mr. Grinnell was yesterday trans- mitted by the President to the Senate for confirma- tion as Collector of the Port of New York, one of the mos} responsible officesin the country. The nomi- nee is one of the most prominent citizens of this city. Anative of New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he was porn on the 3d of March, 1803, he received an excellent education, partly at private schools and partly at Friends’ Academy. While quite a young man he moved to New York for the purpose of entering the shipping house of the late Preserved Fish, with whom his elder brother, Mr. Henry Grinnell, was associated at the time. He rapidly developed into merchant of rate foresight and ability. In fartherance of his business interests, as well a4 to gratify a desire of visiting foreign countries, he frequently went abroad as supercargo of the ships despatched by his firm, thereby extend- ing his commerce and gaining much experience In commercial affairs, After the retirement of Mr. Fish and Mr. Heary Grinnell the subject of this sketeh became the senlor member of the house of Grinnell, Minturn & Co, which for.over thirty years main- tained a commercial reputation, at home and abroad, uneurpassed for Integrity and enterprise. Taking a deep interest In the public‘amfairs of the country Mr. Grinnell naturally drifted into political life as a sup- porter of the whig party, and by that ot iy ‘was nominated for the position of Representative in Congress in 1838 and elected after a sharp con- test by some 1,300 majority. Upon the expiration of his term of ofice he was renominated; but in 1846 the democrats had gained the ascendancy aad he was deteated, although running considerably ahead of his ticket. After this Mr. Grinnell remal out of oiice for a number of yeare, quietly attending to his rivate business, which had now become Soi eres. Choe the Rote of the blican ee 1e espoused its doctrines, and in 1850 was a iden- tial elector on the Fremont ticket. This was the last political position neid by him. As @ merchant he as been President of the Chamber of which position he held for ke hn He has also been President of the Pig to rka’ Sa’ Bank, Commissioner of the Pi Union Defence Committee during the the suppression of which he gave @ hearty it time Mr. Grinnell is the President of the sud Motu Com: He is a man of wealth and, personally, bears the reputation of being @ most estimable tleman. Wiitiam A, Dietrich, @ commercial traveller from Weilsvilie, ‘as on Tuesday heid to bail in the of $900, iu the Raitimnore Crinmmal & tor goods by sample without having obtained a Ordered Ww be | Slate iveuse,