The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-11
XXxVII Congress- First Session



resolution which was adopted, requesting
the Attorney General to report his view,
as to the mems of obtaining retroccs
sion Of that part of Virginia formerly be
longing TO the District of Coumbia.
Mr.. Potter from the Committee Of Pub
lie Lands reported bill providing home
steads to actual settlers, and providing .
bounty for soldiers in lieu OF grants OF
public lands. He explained that the
homestead fenture of this bill was here
tofore passed, bnt there is an addition
that all soldiers, marines and seamen shall
be entitled to the provisions of this act.
1t also contains Il section giving bounty
Of thirty dollars to the three month vol
unteers.
The House concurred In the Senate
resolution for Joint Committee to in
quire into the conduct Of the present war,
with power to send for persons and pa
pers
Mr.. Pendeton moved that the memor-
ial of Mcssrs. Howard, Gatchell and Da-
Wis be referred back to the Committee on
Judiciary, with Instructions declaring
that Congress alone has the power under
the constitution to suspend the writ of ha
beas corpus; that the exercise of the pow
er by another Department of the Govern
ment is a usurpation and dangerous to
public liberty; that the persons above
named be delivered 10 the Marshal to the
end that they may be indicted with the
rights of speedy trial if there be probable
cause for snch proceedings. He spoke at
some length OH this subject, saying that
those gentlemen were members Of the
Board OF Police of Baltimore, and, on the
LIST of July last, in the dead of night, were
al arrested by order Of the military author
ties and without charges being preferred
against them, conveyed as prisoners 10
III. Mcilenry. They ask that Congress
may examine into the question or that
they may be heard before judicial tri-
bunal, and yet his Mr.. Pendleton' cd-
leagues on the Committee ..on the Judi
ciary could find no more fitting resp rnse
to the memorial than that ii should be
laid unread on the table The question
here presented was as to the legality of
their present punishment, which he de-
MED.
Mr.. Bingham said his colleagues po-
sition was, that Congress- pIone can sus
pend the writ While conceding that
the time has come for its suspension when
rebellion lifted up its head over a large
portion Of this Republic and essayed Ia
shake down the pillars of the Consttu
ton and drench the land in fraternaI
blood, ii was no time to be splitting hairs
81 10 whether Congress or the Presiden,
should first exercise the power. Did bis
colleague contemplate a general jail de-
livery or wish t. contne his sympathies to
the rebels and corsrirators OF the city o:
Baltimore Had he no sympathy for
those confined in the old capitol WHY
should they not also be discharged As
Stunning his colleagues position to be
right, his colleague was derelict in dut,
IN not moving suspension of the writ
in accordance with the oath he had tai
en- 10 maintalu, protect and defend the
Constitution. The laws are to be execu.
ted and no, only ~ auted bv force but By
the sword against the powers of rebel
lion 1t did not liz in the mouths of tho
memorialsts 10 claim the benefit Of tho
Constitution, every provision of which
they have tram Led under foot On mo
ton Of Nj Bingham the whole subjec,
was tabled. los against SO.
A message WIS received from the Sen
ate announcing the death of Senator
Bingham of Michigan. Eulogies wer,
delivered BY Aies>rs. Bealnan, Trow
bridge and Granger of Michigan, Mr.
Ashley Of Ohio, and Mr.. Sedgwick o
New York Tie usual res lutions Of re
spect were passed, after which the Hous,
adjourned.
SESATE-Messrs. Fesscndcn and Sum
ner presented petitions for the emancipa
ton of slaves under the war power.
Mr.. Foote offered a resolution tina
Waldo 7. Johnson, by sympathizing il
the rebellion against the United State
has been guilty of conduct incompatible
with his duties as a Senator of the Unite,
States, and that he therefore be expelle,
from the Senate of the United States
Laid over.
Mr.. Harlan introduced bill authoriz
ing the President 10 acquire territory 70
the settlement Of free persons of African
descent. Referred 90 the Committe Oh
Public Lands.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill for tn
reorganization of the medical department
OF the army. Referred to Committee o,
Military affairs.
Mr. Hale called up resolution offer
ed yesterday that Committee on Judiciar
be instructed to enquire into the expedi
eney Of abolishing the present indicia
system Of the United States, and estab
fishing another pursuant to the constitu