Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-19
FILE FEDERAu CoNGREss.

We have the proceedings Of the l2th-the
ninth day Of the session. Blair, of Missouri, rose
to a question of privilege, and caused the follow
ing letter to be read as explanatory of some re-
marks he had made previously:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT MISSOURI
To Hon. f. p. Blair, Washington:
Yours Of the 4th inst. is Just received. Order
Nor was, in my mind, merely a military neces-
sity. Unauthorized persons, black or white, tree
OF slave, must be kept out Of our camps, unless
we are willing to publish to the enemy everything
we do OF intend to do. 1t was a military, and
not a political order.
l am ready to carry out any lawful instruc-
tons in regard to fugitive slaves which my supe-
riors may give me, and to enforce any law
which Congress may pass but cannot make
law and will not violate it. HOa know my pri-
vate opinion on the policy of confscating the
slave property Of rebels in arms, and if Congress
shall pass it, you may be certain that shall en-
force it.
Perhaps my policy as to the treatment of rebels
and their property is as well set out in order No.
Is, issued the day before your letter was written,
as / could now describe it.
Yours truly, II. w. HALLECK.
Mr.. Lovejoy replied, and in conclusion said if
any soldiers want to fight simply for the purpose
Of returning fugitive slaves, be had only to re-
mark that the army would be stronger without
them.
The committee on military affairs reported
back the bill authorizing the raising of a volun-
teer force in Kentucky, and recommended its
passage. This gave the traitors Wicklife and
Maynard a chance to utter their reasonable
opinions. The former gentleman said that Ken
lucky was to be the great battle ground Of this
war, and that her people q" hoped soon to see the
day when the invader foot would be expelled
from their territory which is now invaded.
Property has been ruthlessly destroyed or car
RED of. Homesteads have been made d~esolate,
bridges burnt, etc. and it is to protect the State
while the army is marching elsewhere that the
volunteer force is required. Mr.. Wickiife also
said he received from the military board Of Ken
lucky an urgent application to call on the War
Department, and ask for Just such a corps as the
bill provided. He had brought the subject to
the attention Of the President and Secretary Of
War, and it met not only Of their approval, but
of all the Cabinent." Maynard spoke Of a re-
cent sojourn in Kentucky, and promised that he
would allude at a future time to the distressing
affair. in East Tennessee, which 10 said be
alone had the honor to represent. His people,
he said, had been left unprotected by the govern
ment, Notwithstanding their firm devotion to the
Union. He held it to be a duty, not only to
protect loyal men in Tennessee and Kentucky,
but in North Carolina and everywhere, as much
50 as in Pennsylvania and the adjoining States.
Further consideration of the bill was postponed,
and the House then proceeded to the considera-
ton Of the various propositions involving the
question Of emancipating the persons held as
slaves by rebels.
In the Senate, Trumbul, Of Illinois, presented
a petition to repeal the law which prevents jew
ish diyines from officiating as chaplains in the
army.
Wilson, of Massachusetts, offered a resolution
that the inspector general, quartermaster general
and commissary general of subsistence, be d.
rected to inform the Senate what articles ought
to be sold by the suffers TO volunteers, and such
as would best secure their efficiency. He be-
the whole system should be promptly
abolished. The resolution was agreed to.
The Joint resolution from the House express
ing the feelings Of Congress in regard to the con-