Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-30
CONGRESSIONAL.


lucky, in place OF Breckenridge, expelled
Mr.. Davis appeared and took the oath Of
Office.
Mr. Simmons offered resolution that a select
committee of three be appointed to consider the
expediency of connecting some Of the military
and naval stations on the coast by submarine tel
egraph Adopted.
After executive session, the bill to increase the
number of cadets at West Point was takenup.
Mr.. Wade and others opposed the bill. -
Mr. Chandler said he was ready to abolish
West Point. Altogether il was one of the causes
of the rebellion. He believed it produced more
tor.cs than anywhere else since the days of Judas
Iscariot. -Ef
The bill was postponed until to marrow. AID
journed. .-
H0USE--Mr. Rabbit introduced bill for
the preservation and improvement Of the harbor
of Erie, Pa, which was referred
Mr.. NOEL introduced joint resolution to sus-
pend for twelve months the collection of the na-
tional direct tax in Missouri. Referred.
Mr.. Watts, delegate from New Mexico. intro
duced bill providing temporary Government
for Arizona. Referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
Mr. Watts also introduced bill providing for
the examination Of claims owing to Indian depre-
dations in New Mexico.
The House then resumed the consideration of
the resolution offered on Friday by Mr. Wilson,
requesting the Committee on Military Affairs to
report bill providing for additional article of
war for the government of the army, whereby all
officers in the military service of the United
States shall be prohibited from using any portion
of the forces under their respective commands,
for the purpose of reforming fugitive slaves from
service or labor, and TO provide for tie punish
meut of such officers as may violate this article
of war by dismissal from the service.
Mr.. NOEL moved to lay the resolution on the
table. The motion was lost.
The resolution adopted-ycas 81, noes not
counted.
On motion of Mr.. Vandever, the Committee on
Territories directed to inquire into the expe-
diency of establishing Territorial Governments
along the line of disloyal States or districts, to
report by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Morrell. from the Committee on Ways and
means, asked leave to report bill to increase the
tax on tea, coffee, and sugar. The bill proposes
to make the duty on tea of all kinds to ~ cents
per pound on coffee 5 cents per pound and on
sugar 20 to 3, 5. and cents pound, according
to the quality. The bill also proposes to fix the
duty on molasses at cents per gallon.
Mr. Morrell said the bill was simply in accord
ance with the recommendations OF the Secretary
of the Treasury. 1t was supposed the increased
duties would yield seven or eight millions of dol
lars, provided the same quantities of the articles
sold be used as in 1861. The bill should
already risen in anticipation of the passage of
this bill, so that the consumers pay just as much
now as if the bill was already law of the
land.
The Committee on WAYS and Means intend
bringing in a supplementary tariff for the increase
of the revenue when the subject comes up.
Mr.. Vallandigham of Ohio briefly opposed the
bill.
The bill was subsequently, passed by yeas ~.
nays %.
Mr.. Morehead's resolution instructing the COM
mittee or persons engaged or employed in the
present rebellion be forever rendered incapable of
holding any Office or trust under the Constitution
and laws of the United States, was adopted.
Numerous resolutions of inquiry were adopted
calling on the Secretary of War to furnish the
House with information concerning the quantity
of arms purchased since the 18th of April last,
prices paid, &c.
Mr.. Fenton introduced bill providing for the
granting of lands for a railroad from the Missou-
ri river to San Francisco. Referred to a special
committee.
Mr.. Kellogg introduced the resolution, that
when the House adjourns to-day, the Senate con-
curing. it be to the I'd of January. Adopted.
Mr.. Kellogg, understanding that there was no
quorum in the Senate to act upon bis former res
adjourns day, il will be until Thursday next;
then when it adjourns it will be until the fol-
lowing Monday, and then when it adjourns it will
be until the ID of January.
This resolution passed, and the House ad-
journed.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 90.
SENATE.-On motion of Mr.. Hale, it was
agreed that when the Senate adjourn to day, il
ate meet on that day, it adjourn to meet next
Thursday.
Mr.. Grimes presented petition from citizens
of Iowa for the introduction of the Homcopa-
THO system of practice in the army.
Messrs. Sumner and Trumbull presented peti-
tons for the emancipation of slaves under the
war power.
Several petitions wese presented for the loca-
ton of a national armory at Rock Island. Ill.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution that the President
be requested, if not incompatible with the public
interest, to transmit copies of all dispatches which
have passed between this Government and Great
Britain relative to the seizure of Mason and Sill
dell, said dispatches TO be communicated either
in open executive session as may be deemed
proper.
Mr.. Sumner objected.
Mr.. Hale said he had understood from the pub
lie press and those who held more intimate rela-
tons with the Administration than himself
though the absence of the intimacy was not his
fault, as be was willing to be as confidential as
anybody, that for three or four days past the
Cabinet has had under consideration PROPOSE
ton fraught with more evil to the country than
anything that had yet marked its history, and
that was the surrender of Mason and Slidel to
Great Britain. By doing this we would yield all
that we had gained in the war of the Revolution,
and be Inundated to a second rate Power. No
man would 60 further than himself for peace; but
he would not submit TO national disgrace and
dishoDor tn otfaiu such n neace
He would favor the arbitration of another
Power, but if demand has been made by Great
Britain for the surrender of Mason and Slicell
war should be declared against her instantly. He
would make all honorable concessions for peace
but peace involving such a surrender would be
infinitely worse than war.
This friend from Indiana (Lane) had remarked
this morning that his State had now GO, 00c men
in the field, and would double that number to
maintain the national honor. If this Senate
should 60 home after such surrender and hu
initiation, it would be subject 10 the scorn and in.
dgnaton Of the country. Heregarded the AFRO
CANT demand of England as a pretext for war
She was determined TO humliate us first. and
fight us afterwards. Let our cities and villages
be pilaged and burned, but let national honor be
preserved. Francis /. said, after the battle oil
Pavia, that all was lost but honor. He HALE
would pray that this Administration might not
sacrifice our national honor. Thousands would
yet come to the field 20 defend it, If this sur.
render was made, the Administration would meet
with such irein the rear that it would behurled
from power. If we had war with England, Il
would be for the same cause that had sent one
king to the block, and another homeless and
houseless over the world, and one thar would ap.
peal TO men wherever the English language was
spoken. e'a
He believed too that if Napoleon had one de.
sire more than another, 1t was to wipe out the
stain upon the French arms at Waterloo. AL
| over Canada there were thousands of lrishmer
who would rush to arms to sustain such a cause
ours. Our principles were great strength