The national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-13
THIRTY-sEVENTn CONGREss,
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, December IL, 1861,

/ The following memorials were received and
referred H
BY Mr. WILSON: From Col. J. J. Albert.
asking relief In consequence Of having been
retired by the Army Retiring Board.
BY MIR. TRUMBULL From the Rev. DR..
I,ido- Kalirch- of New York asking the repeal
u tb. law continuing the selection Of cbaplains
ia the army to ministers Of Christian denomi-
nations, aud that Jewish diviues be allowed to
serve as chaplains of regiments aud In hospitals.
BY Mr.. DOOLITTLE: From the Board Of
Trade. of Racine, Wisconsin, asking the estab.
iishment Of national armory at that place for
the Northwestern States.
By Mr.. HOWE: Seven memorials from citi
Eens of Wisconsin, asking that some point on
Fox river between Lake Winuebago and Green
Bay, be selected as a site for a northwestern
armory and foundry.
RESOLUTIONS.
Ga motion of Mr.. ANTHONY,
Resolred. That the Committee on Naval AZ.
fairs be instructed to inquire into the expedi.
| onGy of appointing the pupils IF the Naval
Academy ON tho ground of merit, to he de.
Cided by All examination Of all the candidates
eligible in each district.
On motion Of Mr.. SUMNER,
Resolved, That the Committee ON the Judi.
| ciary be directed TO consider the expediency
| of prescribing by law for the appointment Of
commissioners to revise tue public statutes OF
| The United States-to simplify the language, TO
correct their inCongruities, TO supply their de.
| aciencies, to arrange them In order, to reduce
| them to one connected text, and to report them
| thus improved TO Congress for its Anal action,
| to the end that the public statutes, which We
\ are presumed to know, may be in such form rs
to be more within the apprehension of all.
| The resolution of Mr.. Chandler reported
from the Committee on Militsry Affairs rela
tive TO the cxpediency of appointing joint
committee that shall have power to retire i'm
proper or incompetent officers, came mp, and,
a more efficient mode of retiring" instead Of
appointing joint committee" emp ,wered to
retire such officers, was adopted.
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED
By Mr.. TRUMBULE,
Resolued That the Secretary of State be di.
| rected to inform tho Senate whether, in the
| loyal States of the Union, any person or per.
sons have been arrested or imprisoned, and
are now held in confinement by orders from
| him or his Department ard, II so, under what
law such arrests have been made, and such
| persons imprisoned.
|. On motion OF Mr.. HALE,
Resoired, That the Committee on the District
| of Columbia be instructed to inquire into the
expedienoy of extending Pennsylvania avenue
| to Bridge street, in Georgetown, by way Of the
| AqHeduct.
Mr.. WILSON submitted the following reso-
| luton
| Resoired. That the Inspector General, the
Quartermaster General, and the COmmissary
General of Subsistence of the army, be directed
| to inform the Senate what articles, in their
| opinion, should be sold by suffers to the volun.
teers of the United States, as being necessary fIr
the comfort of the soldier, and which are the
| best adapted to the promotion Of the interests
of the military service.
Mr.. WILSON favored the abolition of the
sutlership system, II Its abuses could not be
remedied, considering 1t demorslizing to the
army and degrading to the men. He knew 9
case 10 which $l9 had been taken from two
charged on certain articles, aud postage stampi
Sosting three cents we're sold for six whole
loads OF the best of bread were strewed about
the camps, while soldiers were led with thS
trash Of suffers. All this TINA loyal citizen.
are supporting the families of volunteers. An
organized effort had been initiated by suffers
| expressly to prevent the action Of Congress
Money was pledged, and petitions were In cir
culation for signatures Of soldiers in favor Of
the system. Returns Of such action were to be
made to an agent, Lewis johnson, ESQ, cor
ner of Tenth street and Pennsylvania avenue.
Mr.. GRIMES. | wish to know by what al,
thuTity suffers are app rinted.
Mr.. WILSON. am unable TO say.
Mr. HARRIS said the system was Il crying
eSil This subject was one Of the most i'm
portant the Senate will have to consider. TheiI
average profit was nearly $1,000 per month
The system should be abolished.
The resolution was adopted.
A joint resolution from the House. in recoy
nition of the gallant services of Gen. Lyor
and his officers and soldiers, was referred t
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Another, relating to an exchange Of priaon
| ers had similar reference
EXPULSION or SENATOR.
The resolution expelling Waldo H. johnson
Of Missouri. was discussed by Messrs. Foot
Salisbury, Harris, McDougall, and Ten Eyck
and recommitted to the Committee on the Ju
dietary
RETIRING INCOMPETENT OFFICERS.
Mr.. UHANDLER-,h resolution for the
appointment Of joint committee, empowered
TO retire improper or incompetent officers be
ing called up favored the appointment of sucl
} committee, and announced, as notorious fact
that large number of army officers were 10
sympathy with the rebellion. and In the habi
Of declaring this damned Black Republican
war.
Mr.. CARLlLE thought there was danger il
, such interference with military authority, an(
opposed 1t.
Mr.. DOOLITTLB moved its amendment t,
secure the appointment of committee to in
Vuic iuto NC gap uicuCy VI moic
model retiring such officers The resolution
was passed AZ amended.
Il EFFICIENCY OF THE NAVY.
!, Mr.. Grimes's bill to further promote the eff
cheney of the Navy, was taken from the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, which, after discus
sion by Messrs HALE. FOSTER, FESSEN
DEN, DOOLITTLE and THOMPSON, wa
pasSad
INC bill reported from the Committee OF
Military Affairs relative to courls-martisl, wa
} read third time and passed.
The Senate went into executive session. ad
iourning over to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr. BLAIR, of Missouri rose TO persona
explanation, relative 10 the discussion Of yes
terday upon the resolution relating to the orde
of Major General Halleck excluding certai
persons from within the lines of his army, AL,
read letter received from General Halleck
} bearing date of December 8, stating that tn