The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-12-26


at great length the transactions of Mr..
George D. Morgan, of this city, who
was appointed government agent for
the purchase of vessels, and deem the
amount of his commission, $95, 900, ex-
tremely large. The purchase of arms
by General Fremont, and the placing
of 80, 600, 900 in the hands of the Union
Defense Committee by the Secretaries
of War and Treasury are condemned.
The dealings of the quartermaster's de-
partment Of st. Louis, while in charge
of Major McKinstry, with the firm of
Child, Pratt & Fox, at profit to the
latter of s2sO,OOO upon 100000, re-
ceives the severest censure. Mr.. Van
Wyck, chairman of the committee,
then submitted series of resolutions,
requesting the Secretary of the Treas
ury to decline making any further pay
ments to the parties interested in the
chartering of the steamer Cataline, and
pay the claims against the government
on the 5000 carbines purchased by
Gen. Fremont at the rate of 1880
each, and that the practice of employ
ing reasonable persons, having no Off
cial connection with the government,
is injurious to the public service and is
disapproyed by the House. The con-
Grafton of the report was postponed
until next Thursday. The bill provid-.
ing for the allotmentof pay certificates
among the volunteer forces was then
passed. Mr.. Cox, from the committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported bill APP
propriating one thousand dollars as full
compensation to the owners of the
British ship Perthshire, in consequence
of her detention by the steamer Massa-
chusetts in June last, for a supposed
breach of our blockade at the port of
Mobile. This Mr.. Cox supported by
an earnest speech, urging that its pas
sage was peculiarly important at the
the present time. After some debate
the bill was passed. Mr. Sedgwick,
from the committee on Naval Affairs,
reported bill which was passed, fur
Their to promote the efficiency Of the
navy by the retiracya of officers, DC.
He also reported bill authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to construct
twenty iron-clad steam gunboats, by
contract or otherwise. He stated that
each would cost from $500, 900 to $780,
600. After brief debate the consid.
Grafton of the bill was postponed, and
the House adjourned. if:s sd. 81 go
80 Pig THURSDAY, Dec. 19. FL. 'o 2.
Petitions were presented to the Sen.
ate yesterday for the establishment of a
national armory on Burlington Island,
New Jersey, and for the emancipation
of slaves. A resolution asking the
Secretary of War to furnish the Sem
ate with copy of Gen. Phelps proc
lamation was laid over. Mr.. Doolittle
introduced bill for the collection of
direct taxes in the insurrectionary dis
tricts. Itprovides for taking the land
in such districts to pay the direct tax !;
that the President shall, before the 23d
of February next, make proclamation
specifying what districts are in such in
surrection, the owners to have power
of redemption. MIR. Sumner offered
resolution that Trusten Polk, now a
traitor to the United States, be expelled
from the Senate, which was referred to
the Committee on Judiciary On mo-
ton of Mr.. Wilson, the Military Com
mittee were instructed to inquire if any
legislation was necessary to correctthe
evils which now exist in the manage
ment of the military hospitals. The
report of the Committee on the Judi
ciary on the contested seat of Senator
Lane was recommitted; the report is
that Mr.. Stanton is entitled to the seat
The resolution offered by Mr. Sumner
that the army shall not be used to SUR
render fugitive slaves was taken up,
and, after few remarks i'm favor of it
by Mr.. Sumner and against it. by Mfr.
Cowan, was passed.. Mr.. Latham's
resolution asking the Secretary of State
why passports were required from pas
sengers going from New Y DIRK to San
Francisco, was also adopted.
The Committee on Electionsreported
to the House that Charles III. Foster is
not entitled to seat in Congress either
from the First or Second Congression-
al District of North Carolina they
were satisfied that his claim was foun-
ded on imposition, as was Mr. Foster
himself. The report was adopted.
The Homestead bill was then taken up
and was supported by Messrs. Holman,
Covode, Edwards, Potter, and Bing-
ham, and opposed by Messrs. Vallan-
digham, Vandevere, Morrill,, and Crit
tenden. It's further consideration was
finally postponed until the first Mon
day in January, by vote of SO to so.
The bill for the appropriation of ST.
100000 for gunboats in the western
waters was passed. The bill for the
payment of invalid and other pensions
was discussed ike committee of the
whole, and after being amended SO as
to exempt all such persons as have in
any way aided therebellion, was passed.
The House also passed the bill author
izing and requiring the Secretary of
War to pay to the officers and men
heretofore actually employed or mus
tered into service in the Western or
Missouri Military Department the pay
and bounty as in regular enlistments.
This covers the forces under General
Fremont and other commanding gene
rails. Mr.. Steele offered resolution,
which was adopted, that the select
committee or alleged contract abuses