The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-13
THE LATEST NEWS.
Congressional Proceedings,
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Another Exciting Debate on slavery
xNXyH CONGRRsS-senato.

Washington Dec. Inn. Trumbull pre-
scnted petition to repeal tho law which pre-
vents Jewith divincs officiating as chaplains in
the army.
Mr.. 1fumJull also offered resolution that
the Secretary Of State inform the Senate wheth-
cr any persons have been arrested and imprison-
I'd by his order, and If so, by what authority.
Laid over.
Mr.. Sumner introduced resolution that
the Committee on the Judiciary be directed TO
inquire into the expodiency of providing by
law FOR Commissioners to revise public state
meats Of the United States, simplify the Ian.
guage and reduce the size, so AS 10 be accessible
to all. Agreed to.
MIR. Foot introduced bill to auth orize the
President to ill up the corps Of cadets at Wost
Point.
Mr.. Wilson offered a resolution that the In
spector-General, Quartcrmaster. General and
COmmissary- General Of Subsistence 10 directcd
TO inform the Senate what articles ought 60 bs
soia Oy the suffers to the volunteers, and such
~ best would secure their efficiency lie said
II was necessary that the volunteers now in the
field should go back TO their homes without
Icing demoraliZed. lie had information from
all sources that the sutlor system as il is now Is
prolific source Of Generalization and degrade.
tion TO the volunteers. The evidence of medi-
cal men is that II tends TO sickon the men. Tho
Sanitary Commission have passed resolution
ngains, IL.
In thirty-one regiments liquor is sold with
the consent Of the officers in one hundred and
thirty-seven regiments il il sold with or with
out the consent Of the officers, and in only
twenty-three regiments is it entirely excluded.
This system today is robbing the mon of
their hard earnings, which ought TO 20 10 their
families at home. The suffers have determined
to make fight on this question, and he (Wil-
sony had read a circular sent out TO the suffers
to collect twenty-five dollars from each sutler
to defeat the bill. lie had been told defantiy
that no such measure could be passed. The
other day, when one company in regiment vas
paid twenty-three hundred dollars, over eleven
hundred " ent to tho sutler.
MT, Harris was glad tho subject had been
brought before the Senate. lie was satisfied
this was most crying evil. lie believed the
whole system should lie promptly abolished.
The resolution was then agreed to.
a joint resolution from the House. express-
ing the feelings of Congress in regard TO the
gallant conduct Of the late Gen. LYON was re-
ierred TO the Military Committee.
joint resolution from the House in regard
TO an exchange OF prisoners was referred to the
Military Committee.
Mr.. Chandler offered resolution that the
Military Committee he instructed to inauire
into the eNpediency of appointing a committee
q both houses to retire improper officers from
the army.
Mr.. Carlisle opposed the resolution. lie was
afraid that this was a political device, TO get
political control OF the army. lie CCarlisIe)
thought that Congress should not have control
of the army.
Mr.. Doolittle offered as a substitute that the
Committee on Military Affairs 10 directed to in.
qulre into the expediency Of providing more
efficient mode of retiring any improper or in
competent officers OK the army.
The substitute was accepted and agreed to-
MIR. Foote called up the resolution 10 expel
Waldo +: johnson, Senator from Missouri,
from the Senate
The Clark read an extract from the secession
speech OF Senator johnson, delivered in Mis-
souri,.
Mr., Salisbury thought the Senate could not
eNptl, member unless It was shown he had done
something unworthy the character of Sena.
tor. There seemed TO he nothing against Mr.
johnson but rumor. He moved that the reso.
luton he referred to the Judiciary Committee TO
get further evidence. so referred.
The bill to promote the efficiency of the navy,
reported by Mr.. Grimes, from the Naval Com,
mittee, WAS taken up.
The bill provides for retiring officers who have
been on the register for forty years, and that
the President may select an officer from the
grade OF captain or commander, and assign him
70 the command Of squadron with the rank of
Flag Ofhcer. 1t also provides for two hundred
medals OF honor for petty officers and selmen.
as rewards of gallantry and merit, and makes
,ome further regulations in regard TO Navy
iards
The time of retiring was made forty five years
instead q forty.
After further discussion the bill was passed.
MIR. Wilson reported back from the Military
Committee the bill relative TO court martials in
the army, which WAS passed.
Mr.. johnson (Tenn.) moved that 80 much of
the Presidents Message as refers to a railroad
TO Western Kentucky and Tennessee, be re-
Tered to select committee. Motion agreed
TO.
The Senate then went into Executive Session,
and on the opening Of the doors, adjourned till
Monday.
House of Representatives
Mr.. Mair nf No ria;n., .,,os,;.., r.