The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-02
TIIRTY.SEVENTH CONGRESS-. SPECIAL SESSION
SEN A TIE.

sion of part OF the District of Columbia to the
State of Virginia.
Mr.. WILSON reported back from the Committee
on Military Affairs bill for the organization of q
volunteer militia force to be called the National
Guard OF the United States Postponed until the
next session OF Congress.
Mr. w ILsoN also reported back from The same
r Committee House bill for the relief of John G.
" Mcdowell with amendments Considered and
passed.
t Mr.. SALISBURY moved to take up the Joint reso-
luton which he introduced a few DAYS ago, rela-
i've to the forwarding of arms and ammunition to
the State of Delaware
Mr.. SALISBURY said he had no objection that
arms should be sent to every loyal citizen of Della
ware. His object in offering the resolution to
enquire to whom the arms have been sent
Many of the Union loving people, who are willing
to sustain the Government have been deprived Of
the privilege of having He denied the
charges heaped upon the State of Delaware. that
the people were disunoniss far as tn r State
was co cerned. The Senate refused to take up the
resolution.
Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military At
fairs reported bill making appropriations for for
uhcaions and for other pu poses. Passed. This
bill arpropriates 100000 for the purposes afore-
said
Mr.. WILSON also reported back from the same
committee a bill to promote the efficiency of the
volunteer forces of the United States with amend
ments, giving the President power to discharge in
competent officers and to appoint in their places
competent aud capable officers.
The amendments were agreed to and the bill
passed.
Mr.. HALE presented memorial from Chas. S.
James, of Providence, r. l., PRAYING that
animation be made by a board of Naval officers of
bis fitied cannon ana proisctiie.
| Mr.. HALE also introduced joint resolution u
thoriziog an examination bv Board of Naval
| Officers Of said piece of ordnance; both of which
were referred to the Committee on Naval Atf+rs
Mr.. CHANDLER, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported bill to regulate the code of ma
| rine signals.
Mr.. CHANDLER, from the same committee re-
ported bill to reduce the consular fees for vessels
running to or from foreign ports. Passed.
| The Senate proceeded to the consideration of
bill No. 49, to suppress fraud the part of officers
engaged in making contracts for the government
the question being upon the House amendments.
| MIR. WILSON hoped the Senate would not adopt |
| the amendments of the House. He believed if the |
! bill was passed it would do more injury to the Gov
eminent than any bill hitherto passed.
Mr.. WILSON afterwards withdrew his objection, |
and the House amendments coneurred in.
On motion of Mr.. TRUMBULL, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of Senate bill No 49, to
suppress instruction, sedtion and for other pur-
poses.
The pending question was on the eighth section
OF the bill being stricken cut NOV, Tuesday
by Mir. Garlic.
The section alluded to, requires commanders OF
fnlitary departments to administer the oath of allie
glance to suspected persons.
MIR. CowAN moved to postpone the further con-
slderation of the bill until the first Monday in De-
cember next.
Mr.. BAYARp said the bill involved grave cousti-
tutional questions and its like had never before
been presented to the Senate He hoped the Sen
ate would postpone the bill as moved by the Sena-
tor from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cowan): if they would
not, he should proceed to discuss it and attempt to
sho" its gross incompatibility with the Constitu-
ton.
Air. WILSON obtained leave to return the report | ,
OF the Committee of Conference upon the dis gree
lng vote of the two houses the Senate bill No.
3, Tor the better organization of the military es /
Enlistment. I
The House receded from its amendments several
new but unmportant provisions we're offered, and !
the report OF the committee was agreed to.
The CHAIR (Mr. Foot) stated that the bill to I
suppress instruction, &C. was now in order. a
Mr. Harms, of New York, said that although he
had favored the bill in committee, be should vote
Tor Its postponement it novel in its propo-
sllons and too important in its principles to be
tured at the present session. that there was no $
longer civil law and civil governments; crimes were
committed with impunity, and after much hesitation n
he thought martial law should supply the place y
once occupied by civil law, but that the temper OF
the present Senate and temperature of the weather
were adverse to the maturing of the bill at this
session. n
Sir. BRowNrNG said the bill was an important one i
and hoped it would not be postponed. q
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE said that he was well aware d
that on the motion to postpone it would not be in q
order to discuss tn merits of the bill; but without
desiring to infringe on parliamentary rule, he
would merely state his intention to vote for the il
He was glad to see that the SEN 7
ate, which had hitherto passed acts which were u
at last staggered when asked to
vote for Senate bill No. 80. He old not wish to | h
vote to postpone in order that the question might
not be discussed; on the contrary, he willing b
to debate its merits and wished it printed in D
every newspaper of the country; he it b
would be universally condemned bg the people.
Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE said that bill had been pass b
ed whiehconcated property in the seeded States Il
and endangered it in adjoining States, but this bill t.
provides for the destruction Of personal and poli-
cal rights everywhere. The bill, he said, intended b
and it passed would accomplish, the abolition of
State rights and personal and political liberty.
Mr.. TRUMBuLJ said the Senator from Kentucky t
MIR Breckinridge) bad objected to the provisional "
exercise of military law; he would ask whether t.
were not arrested in Illinois, Missouri and MARYLAND
by military order-whether were not arrested D
in Baltimore and removed frem Fort WcHenry to c
other points? He that these actions,
together will the search of private houses and pa
pers, were committed by the military power and o
we might look for the authority to do so in vain,
but necessity required it to be done. He was aware
that some of the Senators willing to give the 81
bill the ''go by" but he hoped they would consult
heir duty in the case, and cothe the military with
power to crush the rebellion.
Mr.. CoLLAMER thought that the bill should be
postponed, bill had already passed which
gave the Executive all necessary power to crush
he rebellion. That war could not be regulated
~ special egislation.
Mr.. Ten EYCK not in favor of posponemant;
lie wished the Senate would vote upon the bill by
sections He thought the duty of the Senate was
% pass of the provisions of the BILL and others
hould be rejected. CT
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE said he did not know how the f.
Senate would vote on the bill before them, re
'ut that several Senators had made remarks which ~
lie felt bound to deny. The drama is now begin y
ing 10 open to us-we now have some idea of the sa
0 agnitude OF the question. III
he showed, said he, some time ago, that the .
course the Senate was pursuing tending to =
rample the Constitution under foot. Both Houses !"
lad passed q bill c"nlscating all property in the ea
ecedng States used in aiding the rebel lion, and tr
he need not to say that all property is used sup
,ort those who carving on the war To this y,
ill is added that all persons held to service or la
Tor, aiding in the rebellion, shall be freed from
UGH service or labor. This, he said, was plainly
IN act OF emancipation, as all these persons are
mpoyed in raising the very means of support of re
he people of the seeded States. o,
Mr. BREcKINR1DGE said that n New York -
ouDg man had been impris ned without direct
harge being made and the military officer refused &c
o obey the writ of habeas corpus. Why was this l.,
necessary in the State of New York? Was not -
,ew ork subordinate to the Federal Government? ai
he police C mmissoners of Baltimore were arrest an
d without charge. In vain they asked for a hear M
ng; IN vain they respectfully protested against the ~
,rongs which had been perpetrated upon them. ~
hen the PRESIDENT asked to give information to W
ne lower House OF the cause of their and of ha
heir whereabouts, he that it would be in a
Compatible with public interest. They are spirited a,
way from one fortress to another and the Presi- ca
ent refuses to state where thew are or the reasnn
Tby they were removed pl
The Senator from Illinois (Mr TrumbulD &C. W.
used me the other day of being malignant in nv n;
emarks OF the Executive. have to say that what 49,
ne acts of the President with the freedom of re-
ntave and will continue to do so as long as st;
bold seat on this floor. In regard to the Pre-. oh
dent, he thought that his actions in the war were 80
to those around him. that although he I'll
'as tramping the Constitution under foot every up
ay, he was honest, but subject to the nfiu-
noes OF those who surrounded him. Mr. be- g.
eved that the Constitution required only an oath 7
rom officers of the Government, and that only to pa
Import the Constitution.
Said Mr.. Breckenridge, suppose Kentucky, which
military district, should be declared in state
# rebellion, this bill allows the vtiaon of all the
legislative, executive and judicial powers of the
state at the VIII OF military commander. Gen hi
lemen talk about the Union rather as an end than ~
s the means; they speak of it as though the exis-
stence OF the states depended upon its preserva-
i9n as though it existed before the States but it ola
nay not survive the present issue, Take care nj
hat In pursuing one idea you NAV not discover
what remains of the Union, if you deprive them of
hose rights which dearest to them Ii the
question comes in the States between form of gov
'rnment and these priceless principles, the gov
rnment must go.
l desire the country to know that. constitutional
equations and laws are longer regarded on
his floor. This is truly war, the prisoners on
10Th sides are not hung when taken. la nv opn
on 1t is not only an unhappy, but an unconstitu
ional war. The Constitution, the very bond of
nion, is disregarded here, admitted violations of
hat document are made and justified. There are
wenty States not yet seeded from the acknowl- rs
dyed Federal Union. To these States the Consti- in
ution belongs, and they wish it respected, and | q
Vhen it is not done the people will begin to ask k
What will become of their rights and their liberties f.
dr.. President, we are on the wrong track, and pl