AMERICA.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 167, 7 February 1867, Page 3

AMERICA.

(From the Panama Star and Herald.) THE UNITED STATES. New Yoek, Dec. 10. Congress, met .on the 4th instant, and no sooner were its doors open than the Radical Senators and Representatives commenced an active crusade against the President, and they continue to keep it up with a will, evidently being determined to " rule or ruin." Mr Thaddeus Stevens declared that he had bSen altogether too conservative at the last session, but during the present one he intended to bo decidedly Radical. Bills have beon introduced to take away the pardoning power of the President ; •to j prevent him from making appointments to and removals from office without the . consent of Congress ; to force the Secretary of the Treasury to maice weekly sales of gold whether it will be beneficial to the government to do so or not, and various other bills showings a small and petty spite against the President and his administration, altogether unworthy- of men claiming to be enlightened statesmen. Senator Sumner, by way of a finishing touch, has presented a petition, praying that Hannibal Hamlin might be declared President of the United States, and this instead of being promptly laid on the table was referred to the Judiciary Committee by the " grave and reverend Sjnators." Sj matters go on from day to day, and there is no telling when the sad and unsettled condition of our country is to receive the attention which' it deserves, fixmi those who ought to be able to apply the proper remedies for all present ills, so that the future might look bright and glad and prosperous. But nothing else is thought about but how bait to circumvent the President and his policy. They would get rid of him if they dared by impeaching him at once, but being rather afraid to do tliis, they are determined to reduce him to the position of a mere clerk, making him a perfect cipher so far as the affairs of the government are concerned. They are so afraid of the President that they have passed a resolution to . keep Congress in continuous session. Therefore they will not adjourn on the 4th of March, as has been the custom of the country ever since the government was formed, but keep on "legislating" indefinitely. Heaven help the people ! The President sent his message into Congress on the 4fch insfc. He says :— - " After a brief interval, the Congress of the United States resumes its annual legislative labor. An all- wise and merciful Providence has abated the pestilence which visited our shores, leaving its calamitous traces upon some portions of our country. Peace, order, tranquility and civil authority have been formally declared to exist throughout the whole of the United States. In all of the States civil authority has superseded the coercion of arms and the people, by their voluntary action, are maintaining their governments in full activity and complete operation. "The enforcement of the laws is no longer • obstructed in any State by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings";' and the animosities^engendered by the war are rapidly yielding to the \ beneficent influences of our free institutions, and to the kindly effects of unrestricted social and commercial intercourse. An entire restoration of fraternal feeling must ha the' earnest wish of every patriotic heart ; and we will. have accomplished our grandest national achievement when, forgetting the sad events of the past, and remembering only their instructive lessons, we' resume pur onward career as a free, prosperous and united p ople." _ •-'■■ • He adheres firmly and closely to his policy for the reconstruction of the Union aud urges it with renewed vigor upon the attention of Congress. In concluding the message, the President says : — •'■ -r ■ " The interests of the nation are best promoted by the revival of fraternal relations, the complete . obliteration of our differences, and the inauguration of all the pursuits of peace. Directing, our efforts to the early accomplishment bf these great ends, let us endeavor to preserve harmony •between the co-ordinate departments of the government, that each in its proper sphere may cordially cooperate with the other in securing the , maintenance of the Constitution, the preservation of the. Union, and. the perpetuity of free institutions.". , ' IMPEACHMENT OF THE U.S. PRESIDENT. . Tl^e Washington correspondent of the Boston AdveHiser- says :— ..' . "Proininent Administration Men talk as if they seriously feel that an attempt at impeachment will be made. The talk of forcible resistance to such a step, which was cora.mon before the elections, lias ceased, and their hope now appears to be principally in diversions which they seem confident the Administration will be able to. make. A bill covering adisputed point in regard, to trials under impeachment has already- been prepared by a leading member of the House. It provides that any officer, while on trial xinder imj>eachment, shall be suspended from exercising tthe functions of his office during trial Action upon this bill will probably be taken, whatever course Congress may pursue towards the President." The notorious General Butler, now the acknowledged leader of the Radicals, made a highly bitter and inflamatory speech at the Academy of Music; in Brooklyn, on the 24th instant, in which he accused the President of being implicated in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and of committing every crime known to the decalogue. He charged the President with wickedly, tyrannically, and unconstitutionally usurping the lawful rights of the Congress of the United States ; with degrading and debasing . his office Hby indecently exhibiting and exposingliimself upon official and public occasions in a state of drunkenness r- with making inflamatory harangues, in derogation of his high office, dangerous to the permanency of our republican form of government, and with intent amd design to excite the ridicule, fear, hatreid, and c^nt'empt of the people against the legislative and judicial departments thereof ; with usurping the lawful rights and powers of the Congress of * the ; United [ States ; with nominating men to office during the recess of the Senate for the corrupt purpose of controlling the freedom bf election by the people of members of the House of Representatives, in order to put that ■department of the government hi the hands of men lately in rebellion against ;the government ; ..with refusing to execute

and carry out the constitutional laws of Congress in the r surrectionary Etites, in o lev to favor and encourage men lately iii rebellion and arms against tlu United States, to the oppression and injury of the loyal and true citizens of such States, and I witli being the instigator of the New Orleans massacre. For these and othergrave offences, General Butler declared that the President must be impeached at the coming Session of Congress. EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGES TO JEFFERSON DAVIS. The parole granted Jefferson Davis some months ago, giving him the privileges of the ground of the Fortress during the day, has been extended, through Executive clemency, in l'emoving all surveillance over him, and the guards from Ids rooms to Carroll Hall at night. Instructions to this effect have been sent from Washington t:> General Burton, Commandant of the Fort, thus divesting his imprisonment of anything like severity, and paving the way, as is generally presumed, for final parole and release. All the guards over him, both during day and '-.night, being removed, he now enjoys every possible -means of comfort and pleasure while held a prisoner in thefort. It is said he has expressed great gratification hi this action of the Government, ancValready contemplates vacating Carroll Hall, and taking up his residence with Mrs Davis at the apartments assigned her shortly after her arrival here.