The sun., 1861-12-17
THE LATEST NEWS.
Congressional Proceedings.
Debate upon Kentucky Troops.
-o-
Aft "a AhaI!sl e,t-
ACT to Abolish Slavery in { be Dis
trict Of Columbia.
RECKLESS WAR RESOLUTIONS
PRESENTED IN TIE HOUSE.
Their Over -Whelming Defeat.
or INQUIRY INTO 70.
BITICAB ARHESrs
xNXvu CONGRESS-Sruntc.

zcns Of lows, for change Of the law which
exclude jewish chapl aims from the army.
Mr. Crimes also presented petition that In
consequence Of the present rebellion, slavcry be
sb, olu,ely and unconditionally abb lishod.
Mr.. Sumner presented several petitions ask
ing that the slaves of tho rebels be emancipated.
Mr. sumner also presented petition from
tho Mayor Of Boston and others, asking for
repeal Of the law in respect to jewish Chap
lains
Mr. Chandler presented a petition for an eK.
change Of prisoners.
Mr. Ten EyCk offered resolution that the
present war is for the Union, according TO tho
Constitution; that the object Of tho war Is TO
sayo the former, and enforce the latter; that II
was so in the beginning, and should bo no TO tho
last; and that measures extreme and radio al and
lisruptive in themselves involving in a com.
mon fate the loyal and disloyal, should not DO
resortcd to, and that in suppreasing treason the
Government cannot prove traitor " the nr-
Vanic law nf tho ls-d -
asaiu over.
Mr. Hale offered a roSolutiOn that the Conn
mittco on Military Affairs bo requested TO in
quirc into the eXpodency Of providing uniform
manner fZ dealing with the slaves Of the
rebels, anfNhobe IN .do prisoners or escaping
from their masters. Agreed TO.
Mr.. Lane (Ind.) offered resolution that tho
Committee on the judiciary 10 requested TO
provide 10y law, so that the aiders and abottors
Of treason may bo prevented from bringing suits
for the collection Of debts In the Courts Of the
United States. Agreed TO.
Mr.. Sumner offered resolution that tho
Commissioner Of Patents inquire If any adj.
tiOnal legislation is necessary to secure per-
sons Of African decent the right TO tako out
patents. Agreed to.
Mr.. wilkinson offered tho following preamble
and resolution:
Whereas, Jetse u. Bright. Senator from In.
| Il nm tha LAT ri last tfa a
letter TO Jefferson Davis, letter was hero read
introducing Mr.. Lincoln to Mr.. Davis as hav.
| ing on improvement in firearms, and
lYhrod', Such letter Is evidence Of disloyal
| ty; therefore
| Resolr,d That jesse d. Bright be expelled
| from the Senate Of tho United States.
Mr.. COwan moved the reference of tho sub
| jtct to tho Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Bright rose and said;
| pcThaIs IL was not improper TO say few
| wolds AZ to the truth of tho charges making
| against him through lcentious press. 1t hac
| been charged that he had absonted himself from
! the Senate from fear of such resolution as hat
1 Just been offered. IL was not 40. lie had bceI
| c,nined TO his room by Illness. llo had N
objection to tho resolution. lie believed thi
| in u service OF seventeen years las had done nc
hing inconsistent with his duty as an Amer
can Senator, As a citizen, or as gentleman
I lie courted an Investigation into all his ACT
ION pn'!ic ana TDaksi,J va, oppo..a 80 a.
apoitiohls's but had always been for the pr,
soiN"tloh ana integrity OF The Union; also tha
| Government FV"N' VI vi
| ihe resolution cNpelling Mr. Bright was re-
ferred 10 the Committee on Ito Judiciary.
| Mr.. sumner gave not CO that he should intro
| duce bill TO satisfy claims for French spolia.
| tions. 'f'''"
communication was received from tho Mar
4lal oi the District In reply to tho resolution
heretofore adopted in regard TO slaves confined
m the jail. The Marshal said tho slaves have
l'ech 30 confined in consequence of old and uni.
form custom here, which he supposed according
10 law, but had not made investigation Of the
Mr.. Trlmbull called up the resolution. ask
ing the Secretary Of State, il persons had been
arrested IN loyal states and BY what authority.
mr. Dixon opposed the resolution. lie
.hou9ht 1t best not TO 20 into such questions In
uhles IKE these when the very safety of the
country is threatened. The time had passed by
nheh ,9ls aOomina6le rebellion could he crushed
by mild means. lie would make no discrimi.
nation between the property of rebels. A great
ueal mas been said about the opinions of con-
sefVatiye men. lie had occ lsion 10 knor,
SI I,mething about such opinions and knew them.
ne was Tor using any means for the suppress
scn of the rebellion.
MIR. Trumbull said he was as eager as any
mot
waste the powers Of the Government In arras,'
ing persons in the loyal states, but woul strike
with the power Of six hundred thousand NOR
and c'u-h the rebellion TO earth. Ii seemed tho
very essence OF despotism If me could bo ar
ieSted by telegraph without power 10 reply ar
10 nave a trial. What becomes Of conSti,ul
,lonai lIpeityI Are you willing TO trust tho
IoeflIe' oi trllens in the hands OF any ono
man no matter who9 The people are onr,yaJ
IN the defense Of constitutional liberty ami ,bo
ON titu ution as our fathers made il. That con
utution is broad enough without any violation
q It, he thought 10 harm could come Ont of
the resolution va VI
IL the reply of the Secretary showed that or.
sts hau been made, and there was no authority |
or them, but that they were still necessary |
Touid II not be better TO make law to effect |
lie like result?
MIR. Dixon said the resolution soemed n |
question the propriety of acts of department |
u the Government, but he would not m,ke
u,h question at the present time. lie dsni-
~ ia' 'nTte had been any usurpa'ion or des.
'otism. There had been used extrnorJir,r,,
'oNer rom necessity. The most danrsron,
hen now we're those men in tho North w6n ,ra
wing TO convince the people that noSoJ,
ught to lie disturbed at the North. WG
y sult mad been committed, it has been the 20
too much leniency.
mr.; Wilson was sorry the Senator from III.
...,--I '''''NNuNcu SuCn n resolution. rha |
ehalor bnQWs that the Secretary Of State male
iS arrests by order of the President OF the IInis
"a states: II the Senator did not like the |
ueis oil the President, why not bling in a biII
come , the President with all proper author.
" the government, hy the execution of tbis
'IioIlly' saved the country In the dark hour
~ ON "heh treason stalked abroad In Wash.
stoh, ana 70 was saved the state of MARYLAND
mere were traitorous men all over the North ,
no m S pressed sympathy with traitors, Then | ,
c fres'dent through the Secretary Of !
ale, mad these persons arrested, and Tho
IhIng OF The doors Of Fort Lafayette aiIencod
LutheTable traitors in the loyal states. Nins
INJURED and nlnety-nine out Of every thonsand |
en- applauded and thanked the Government
tlis action. Why, then, come into tbe y
nate and blame the Government for ,bns
wing the country? For he declared that !,
q done more In this way TO save the oonnt,n !.
an had the whole military force to this hon. y y
70 Government had been quite too leniont =
u II was time that more vigorous and detar
ned action was had. r
Mr.. Hale thought the resolution eminoD,I,, II
per and appropriate, and should feel morI. | y,
II II was not passed. Our fathers fougb, q,
principle, for constitutional liberty Regulated a.
law, and not for mere indt pendence. The n
Iernment had better fail than be faitbIaas ~
nat great principle. He wanted 10 stIen0th- l.,
ne hands OF the Government, but he wanted | a,
n TO stretch their vigilance across the Po- | ~
&C, South instead Of North. If the people A.,
pouring out their blOod and treasure. bnd tai
have been trihed with, and that imbecility sy
st00A in the place Of courage in yigOrol, ] Ssl