The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-12-14
REnsr aEssIoN sTTM CONGRESS-.

HLRsI SESSION s1TM CONGRESS-.
WAsuMaroN, Dec. 1l.-HoUsk.- 0n motion
Of Mr.. Holman il was resolved that the Commit
Tee on Public Lands should report what railway
companies had received donations Of lands on
conditions of transporting Of troops and mant-
lions Of war free Of charge, and whether The
Government has the unqualified right Of such
transportation. $780, go g q
Mr. Lovejoy offered resolution instsucting
the Committee on Foreign Affairs 70 report q
bill establishing diplomatic relations between
the United States and Hayd and Liberia Res
NJ. Blair Of Missouri offered . resolution de.
clarine Il lust to recognize the eminent and pa.
triotic services Of the late Gen. Lyon, and ten.
derine the thanks Of Congress to the brave
officers and soldiers under his command, who
sustained the honor of the flag, and achieved
victory At Springfield, Missouri, and in order to
commemorate the event each Regiment engaged
on that occasion have on its colors the word
"Springheldrin letters Of gold, and that these
resolutions be read at the head Of the different
Regiments Of the army Of the United States
- Blair believed that the Government had taken
no notice at all Of the death Of Gen. Lyon and
hence the propriety Of the passage of the reso-s
luton. He knew the man well; one never lived
who cared more for hiscountry and less for him.
self The resolution was adopted. a5le41
Mr.. Lansing's preamble and resolutions, Offer
ed on Monday, came up. el9 2agk9.a - 81
Mr.. Stephens Of Pa, said if the passage Of
the resolution is to have q good effect, especi-
ally in the west, the sooner it is passed the bet
ter. The allegation Of Gen. Halleck as an ex-
cuse for his order that fugitive slaves whom he
proposes to excl0je from his lines to give infor-i
nation to the enemy is too bold pretext to
justify him. 81 ssgk ea
The return Of fugitive slaves was intended by
Gen. Mcclellan and had been followed by Gems.
Dix, Kelly, and others. All these cases are q
disgrace to the profession Of arms. If such re.
turns of fugitives have been made by orders Of
the commanding Generals they deserve to have
their epauletts stripped from their shoulders,
and if Il has been done by higher authority, then
God forgive then, for they know not what they
do. sisitG a} 50 sfii Tasie GtT E z
Mr.. Loveioy, of ILL.,. expressed his honest con-
victions that such orders we're issued by the
commanding Generals of the army without or.
ders from the President. He was satisfied of
this fact while the President does not remove
and cashier them, rs he Q.ovejoy) would. He
did not believe that the commanding Generals
had power for such inhuman and shameful meas
| ures. f
Mr.. Blair, of Missouri. said Mr.. Stevens had
evidently misunderstood Gen. Halleck's order
The latter, Halleck informed him that he had no
idea Of doing anything contrary to the law OF
| the last Congress and the policy OF the Govern
ment s9i! 3+ as
Debate ensued between Blair and Lovejoy on
! the subject of Gen. Halleck's recent Orderabout
slaves. az q $50 asa g $3.50 8aa . sae !.
Mr. Julian referred to the case of Colonel
Brown of an Indiana regiment who refused to
deliver up fugitives until so ordered by Secreta-
! ~ Cameron. He presumed the administration
would sanction such proceedings. =
Mr.. Kellogg assumed to say the Administers.
ticn had nothing to do with that order, and
would not indicate such policy to the army
| The resolution which caused this debate was
tabled 10 to "a. l
The resolution looking to the recognition Of
independence of Hayti and Liberia was adopted
with the amendment that the Committee or
Foreign Affairs enquire into the expediency o.
doing 90. ~ s,e8
The subject of abolishing the franking priv
lege came up. eaE:Tsasa
Mr. Colfax remarked that the Committee OF
Post Offices and Roads had framed a bill to abo!
ish it The bill also requires members to sho'
the absolute necessity Of new post routes. aa
Adjourned. e lasa e s#
SRNATE.-Mr. Sumner presented petition to
emancipation of slaves, those of rebels withou
compensation and those Of of Union men to b
paid for. itl
Mr. Wilson offered resolution that the Con
mittce on Military Affairs be instructed to II
quire and report to the Senate what reductio
may be made in the expenses of the arm.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Chandler offered resolution instructor
| No 70 nirQ n
, pediency of appointing Joint committee Of tt
! two Houses Of Congress, who shall have pow'
| to retire any improper officers of the army {
navy. Agreed to-
Mr.. Morrill, introduced joint resolution fe
! the confscatiOn Of the property OF rebels, al
l for the satisfaction of claims of loyal men,.
Mr.. Harris introduced a bill establishing
' new military and mail route to Baltimore. X
J. ferred to the military Committee.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to increase Il
= number of cadets at West Point. Referred
. the Military Committee.
!. Mr. Nesmith announced the death of his la
: colleague, Edward Dickinson Baker, U. s. Sen
!. tor from Oregon, paid brief and feeling Il
9 butte to his worth aud bravery and offered Il
Il usual resolutions of respect to his memory.
:. Mr.. AcDougall followed referring to The!
q cease of two distinguished Senators, Messl
Doue las and Baker. t. t
Messrs. Browning and Cowan followed.
Mr.. Latham closed with most beautiful, e
:. qucnt and touching eulogy on the deceased, wh
y the Senate adjourned. .a @
'e WASHINGTON, Dec 12.-HoUsE.-Mr. Blair
NO., rising to question of privilege, caused
be read the following extract as farther expla
= atory of the remarks which he made yesterda
u on Mr. Lovejoy's resolution, having IN view t
:. reversion Of part of Gen. Halleck's gene
= order relative to fugitivcs The resolution
= has already been stated was laid on the table
% HEADQUARTERS, Departm't Mo.
IS To Hon. F. P. Blair, Washington.
Yours of the 4th inst, is just received. o.
er number three was in my mind merely M
q tary necessity. Unauthorized persons, black
- white, free or slave, must be kept out OF {
!. camps, unless we are willing to publish to
- enemy everything we do or intend to do.
I. 1t was military and not q political order.
~ am ready to carry out my lawful instructions
( regard to fugitive slaves which my superb
may give me and enforce any laws which G.
ed gress may pass, but cannot make law and
ID not violate it. You know my private opin
-, on the policy of confscating the slave prope
-. of rebels in arms. If Congress shall pass it
,st NAV be certain that shall enforce it. PeIh
-, INV policy as to the treatment of rebels and tt
no property is as we'll set out in order No Is, ss
r. the day before your letter was written, 6
:. could now describe. Yours truly,
- i9a H. w. HALLEcE
y. Nr. Lovejoy replied, and in conclusion sal
=. any soldiers want to fight simply for the
n. pose Of returning fugitive slave, he had onl
W. remark that the army would be stronger v
om out them.
no HoUsE.-Mr Blair, of Missouri, from Com
,e9 tee on Military Affairs reported bill authe
,ed ing the raising of volunteer force for the
ne ter defence Of Kentucky.
ne Mr.. WicklifFe, who several days ago intr
., ced q bill and proceeded to show the imports
ma of passing it. Kentucky, he said, was to be
~ battle ground of this war. The people Of
'ne State hoped soon to see the day when the j
, s. der's foot would be expelled from that terri
NY which is now invaded. ,,lfrs e
n'n Properly has been rutblessly destroyed or
:. ried of, homcste ads have been made desc
Meu bridges burned, &C., and it is to protect
'lea state while the army is marched elsewhere,
sen- the volunteer force is required.
snc' Mr.. Wickliffs observed that he had reCe
'ne from the military board Of Kentucky, an III
vel application to call on the War Department
De ask for inst such corps as the bill provided
" VI had brought the subject to the attention o