New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-21
XXXVIITH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE. .WAsuivGrov, Dec. %, 1861.

SENATE. .WAsHivGroy, Dec 90, 1861.
Mr TRUMBULL Rep., H. presented petition
for tire emancipation Of the slaves OF rebels, II nee
essary 20 save che Union.
Al,o, several petitions for an Armory at ko'S
Islaud
Also, petition asking for the removal of jesse d.
Bright from tie Senate.
Mr.. WILSON (Rep., Mass) presented petition
for the establishment Of system to exchange piiS'h
els. -. IA
joint resolution expressing rccognl'ion Oh We 81
lmtry OF Gen. Lyon and The soldiers unoef AiS oo1n
mand at SpIineii field.
Mr.. POMEROY iRep., Kansas made a few re-
marks In euOgy the character OF Gen. Lyon, WIZ
a sketch of the battle of Springfield where tne w5r-
rior of this VIZ ended his gallant aud weil-sPnt
HE and with tribute to The gallantry and bravery
Mr. DIXON rep, Conn.)--The language Of
enogy is 80 often heard III this chamber, that lie
value may e impaired by It's frequency. Eut there
are certain quail les a. the character Of en-. Lyon
80 peculiar and so admirable that il seems emnen,ly
uroper ilyite tho attention Of the Senate and Of
the country for feW moments longer TO their con-
sleratic while this resOu ION before the Senate.
Il is not my design to dwell the circumstances of
BIS death. The country knows by heart the story
OF that brilliant charge in which has life was sacri-
feed. j shall not hnger upon 1t new, nor
ell are upon shat uu0aUnted courage which
was one o. The least Of his noble quail les.
propose 10 say a single word upon certain other
qualities Of higher order which Gen. Lyon pos
sess2d to derree distinguished as to render him
remarkable among those heonc characters whose
hives and services have illust ated our history. a
hieh sense of official duty devotion to the public
service, these the peculiar and striking points
Of Gen. Lyons character. Other men equaed ana
surpassed 7 IN IN originality, IN ieruhty OF e%-
pedients III ingenuity perhaps IN power OF con ona'
'Tion but think it would be difficult TO find one In
our list of Tubh men, since the days OF Washington,
civil or military, who III bis utter, downright, I'M
shrinking unealcu&ting devotionto auty equaled him.
He wes remarkable for his regard fer his friends,
but lie Looked upon their claims upon him rs nothing
in comparison with the duty he owed the public.
This htS always seemed 10 be ls'gOvernlug pm
cipe, ard when be called to lead our forces Ia
the Wet; il was etrikRgly manifested. Then II was
seen how this high devotion to duty could INSPIRE
the heart with tie nobleft courage ard elevate the
mind into that exalted condition where 1t seems 10
be moved by the inspiration OF genus mus
inspired he entered upon the brilliant career oil VIC
tory which was closed only by his death on the field
of battle. How great was the loss TO his country
whec he fell il is impossible row accurately
10 measure; but this | may safely presume
TO cay, that had he Lived, his career, as II
bersn wOuld have continued, victorious.
I will not reflect upon others. / know well the
difficulties which delay and obs;ruct the progress OF
our arms, and will not add to the perpleMnes OF
our military leaders by my own unskliled Criticism
OF tans which do not unders and, or by comments
upcn purposes of which | am 1nnformed, but this
mach may say in behalf OF the DEAD hero who bow
sleeps within the bosom o. his native state, near the
grave Of Putnam, that had Lyon lived ana led our
forces in Missouri the mistakes and disasters NAlcn
since his death we have there had occasion 10 de-
plore would not have occurred, and to-day we
should have been disputing the possession OF that
Stale with Retes in arms. In him, as the people
bo,ed and believed the hero of he was found.
IN him, such was the wondrous will Of Heaven, the
hero of the war was lost soon as found.
This nan the glorious vision OF day
Was only shown earth and snatched away"
Mr. FOSTER rep, Conn., said he was an init.
mate friend of Gen. Lyon. Some OF the last let
tiers Gen. Lyon wrote were written to BIN. Con,
necticut mourns him az a gallant and tire son, and
the nation mOurns him as parrot ana neIo' ihe
resoluiiou was passed.
Mr. SUMNER REP, Mass.) reported from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs me House oil Tor the
relief Of the owners Of the British ship PerthshITe
Laid on the table.
Mr. TRUMBULL reported back from the Com
mittee on the Judiciary the bill to abolish the United
States Supreme Court and asked 10 DE discharged
from further consideration of the subject whereupon
the Committee was discharged.
Mr.. HALE (Rep., n. h. SAID. with all due def
erence that he thought the Committee had not
acted up 10 their duty.
Mr.. HARRIS Rep., n. " reported bill to
prohibit the sale of liquors to soldiers in the District
of Columbia.
The bill is an amendment to a former bill, and pro-
hibts not only the sale Of liquors 70 The soldiers, but
the drinking Of it On the premises The penalty is
fine and Imprisonment and revocation Of license.
The bill was passed.
Mr.. WILSON rep, Mass.) introduced bill
providing for the organization Of the staff attached
TO divisions of the army and volunteers.
Mr. SALISBURY Dem, Deli resolution, call
ing on the Secretary OF War for "a copy Of the
proclamation by Gen. Phelps, and by what authority
1t was made, was taken up.
Mr. TRUMBULL Rep, ILL., moved TO amend the
resolution 10 include the proclamatiOns Of all
other Generals.
Mr.. WILSON thought there was no necessity of
sending for the proclainatons. Generals ap
pointed to use the sword and not the PEN If they
could not the sword better than the pen, they
fhould be mustered out of the service. The beet
thing 10 do was 70 make statute that no Generals
be allowed TO make a1y prOcamatiOns.
Mr. SALISBURY wanted disavowal from the
Administration that authority had been gwen Tor
nch a proclamation.
Mr.. RICE Dem, Mimi said that if subordinate
officers had not carried out the wishes Of the Tres
dent, IL was bis duty to correct the wrong. lie
moved to lay the resolution on the table.
Motion agreed to.
Nr. WILEY Wal resumed his remarks on his
resolution offered yesterday. He continued his ar
gunent against the doctrine Of Secession, and re-
ferred 10 The declarations Of the leaders Of the rebel
lion az showing an intention 10 overthrow repubi-
eau institutions and establish monarchy on despOt-
ism lie declared that The people had nothing 10 do
with seeding the States from the Union. Virginia
was taken ont Of the Union by secret conspiracy
the resolution was laid Oh the table for The pres
en-.
Executive session. Adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
NJ. BENNETT, Delegate from Colorado, intro
duced resolution, which was adopted, instrucing
the Committee Of Ways and Means TO inquire into
the expedeucy Of establishing branch mint at
Denver.
Mr. BERNHEISEL, Delegate from Utah, moved
that the Committee on Territories inquire into the
expediency Of providing for a geological survey Of
that Territory.
ON motion Of Mr. DUNN Rep Ind.) so much /