Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-31
gg 0eIeltaph.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
WAsHINdT0N, Dec. 80

} WARRINGTON, Dec. 80.
The Chaplain, In his opening prayer,
trusted that Providence would sustain the
nation for the moment when it was forced
u to suecumb under the plastic forms of soft
diplomacy,
Mr.. Sumner, Of Mass, presented petit
ton of citizens of Steuben comfy, N. y,
abolition of slavery in all the States.
Mr.. Foster, of Conn.,, presented similar
petition.
Mr.. Sumner also presented petitions from
citizens of Massachusetts and Penusylya-
mia, praying for the emancipation of slaves
under the war power. =
4 A communication was received from the
/ Secretary of War: in reply to resolution
of the Senate, stating that it was incom-
patible with public interests to furnish the
correspondence which las passed between
Gen. Scott and Gen. Patterson.
Mr.. Grimes introduced a bill to acquire
titles in the District of Columbia.
| Mr.. Davis introduced a bill declaring
certain persons alien enemies and for con-
fscating their property for the beneft'of
loyal persons. Referred.
The Senate then adjourned till Thurs
day next, s.4
Mr.. Potter has reported the following
resolution which was adopted;
Resolped, That the Secretary of the
Treasury be requested to furnish without
unnecessary delay to the Select Committee,
instructed to inquire into the alleged dis
loyalty of the government employees, the
Information asked for by the letter of the
Sd inst, addressed by the chairman of the
committee to the Secretary of the Treasury.
Mr.Potter also reported resolution call
~, fI,a S3acrato,+u Off thu m aim
ilarly respond He said it was necessary
that the Select Committee should have this
information in order to make their report.
Mr.. Wickliffe, of Ky, not caring to vote
blindly on this question, enquired what
was the character of the information called
for.
Mr.. Potter explained that in July last,
the heads of the departments were request
ed to furnish lists oftheir respective clerks,
which they did, and the last request which
the Secretaries of the Treasury and Interi-
or have not complied with, was to furnish
the committee with the names of such
clerks mentioned in their first communities
ton, who have since been removed, desig-
mating such by name. It was necessary
for the committee to haye the information
in order to ascertain whether the depart
ments have removed those who have been
reported to them as disloyal. So far as
the committee could learn this act from the
evidence before them, and if such persons
have not been removed, the departments
by this call would have an opportunity to
furnish the reasons.
Mr.. Wtckliffe said he did not feel himself
called upon to defend the departments
named, but he did not understand how far
this House has the right to assume the ex-
ecutive powers of this government. II he
understood tho merits of the pending qnes-
ton, it twas an inquiry why the heads of
departments had not removed certain per-
sons.
Mr.. Oliver said the persons who had
been charged with disloyalty ought to have
an opportunity of refuting the allega-
lions which he had learned incidentally
| had been afforded them.
Mr.. WicklifFe resuming, said that if we
have heads of departments who are not
competent to judge ofthe qualifications or
loyalty of their subordinates, We should
strike and remove them. We should aim
at higher game than mere clerks,
Mr.. Mallory of Kentucky, objected to the
introduction of the resolution calling on
the Secretary OF the Interior for informa-
ton.
Mr.. Potter said the remarks of the gen
tleman from Kentucky, (Mr. Wicklife,)
would be proper if the question were on the
appointment of the committee, but the
committee has already been appointed
The very object of sending to the DEPART
ment the testimony affecting the disloyalty
of the clerks was to afford an opportunity
for vindication. The committee have not
decided in any matter, they have merely
taken testimony and submitted it to the
heads of the departments for their consid-
Grafton and action, he would inform the
H.. ,..Irr 81
to-day in the employment of the govern
ment 1--WE hundred clerks who are disloyal
to the Union. There are also men in the
department who have never uttered one
word of sympathy for the government,
Notwithstanding the perils which surround
it, and the departments have NOT in this re-
spect performed their duty. In great
many cases where clerks have been charged
with ltsloyalty, parties hays come before
the committee and called on God to wit.
ness that they were loyal men, while others
brought letters from Senators and mem
bers of the House, declaring them to be
loyal men. In many instances the persons
SO certified to as loyal men have left this
District and arenoW to be found IN tne ranks
ofthe enemy. Everyman employed should
have the opportunity to give evidence OF
his loyalty and this was the object of the
TO was not received for considerations.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pa, from the Committee
of Ways and means, reported a bill repeal
ing certain laws creating ports of entry,
the consideration of which was postponed
It'll the second Tuesday of February.
Mr., Stevens briefly expressed his views,
saying, among other things, that the
blockade was a great admission of the
Neutrality of. those whose ports are block
- - -
1 pie for nation to blockade its own ports.
| incidentally abiding to the Trent affair, he
| said that the conduct of France was impet-
tinent, as she was not invited to intervene
in tho affair. But when we shall have set
tied our domestic troubles, we must look
into the holy alliance of those powers, and
see how far they shall be permitted to con-
troll our conduct.
Mr.. Spaulding, of N. T., introduced
4