The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-10
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
TIIyRTY-sEvENTH CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSION.
Senate.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Q, 1861
ynE INCOME TAX.

SnR INCOME TAX.
MI DIXON, lrop) OF Conn, presented tho resolutions or
the Legislature Of Connecticut asking that Senator'S and
Representatives their secure tho repeal Of
so much of the act for tho increase OF tho revenue i'm
poses an income tax else have tho amount apporoned
among special States and allow them to raise tho
in their own way. Referred to the Committee on III
nnnces
pE1aAL WEIGHTS MEASURES
Mr. DIXON presented the resolutions of tho Lcgis,a
turo OF Connecticut in favor Of system Of decimal
weights and measures Referred to tho Committee on
Finance.
NEW BOMB.
Mr.. CRIMES, rep) Of Iowa. presented petition from
citizen Of Iowa who has invented rebel moving ma
chine or double acting bomb to which he wished to call
the special attention Of the Chairman Of tho Committee
on Military Adass.
corRrs MARTIAL AND ALI orasSr CERTIFICATES.
Mr.. WnsoS, (rcp) OF Mass, introduced bill relative
TO courts martial in the army also bin 10 provide for
allotment certificates among tho volunteers Referred to
tho Committee On Military Affairs.
PETITIONS FOR CONGRESS iEGlsLArE ON TIE SUBJECT or
kaAECrAuoN.
Mr. suyER, op OF Mass. presented several petitions
from citizons of Rhode Island and Vermont, calling
Congress, under the power to legslatc tho sub
jet Of ths emancipation Of the slaves Of rebels.
Mr. CoiIARR (rop) of ", presented several petitions
Of the character.
Tho PRESIDENT also presented petition from citizens Of
Wisconsin OF the same character
All tho petitions were referred to the Committee tho
Judiciary.
RECOGNITION iberia AND HAyT
NJ. SUMNER presented resolution that all memorials
and papers tho Clos OF tho Senate relative TO the recog
milton OF Liberia and Hayt DO taken from tho flies
aud referred TO tho Committee Foreign Affairs Agreed
NJ. CLARK, (rep.l OF N. H., offered resolution re-
questing the Marshal Of the j. trict TO inform the Senate
by what authority no keeps slaves Of the District IN jail
becauae they arc refractory III said he had visited the
Jail aud found number OF slaves Of tho District confined
for only because heir masters or mstresses
sent them there because they were refractory. Tho
resolution agreed to.
TENSIONS AND LAND WARRANTS TO SOLDIERS.
Mr. PoarRoY, (rep) Of Kansas introduced bill grant
ing pensions and land warrants soldiers. Referred
the Committee on Military Affairs.
cAyH.RY REGIMENTS.
Mr.. LANE (rcp.) of Kansas, introduced Joint rcsol1
ton directing the Secretary Of War TO receive ind equip
certain mounted regiments Referred to tho Committee
ON Military Affairs.
Mr.. HARRs, (rep) OF n y, introduced bill to pro-
vide for tho protection Of public property from fire. Re
ferred to the Committee on tho District OF Columbia
TIE SUPREME couWr QUESTION.
Mr.. HArEs (rep) Of N. IL, resolution, directing tho
Judiciary Committee to inquire into tho expeleney Of
abolishing the present Supreme Court and establishing
another, taken up. he sail the present Supreme
Court hid failed He believed If tho rebels now il arms
soldors in Virginia trespassers and rioters,
Mr.. FosTER, (rep) OF Conn, thought that Congress
should legsac only for he great question before Con-
lost the confidence Of the country he did not think tho
Judiciary would be benefited by ne deunciaon Of rs
mtmbers He dd not believe this was the tims for radi
cal legislation on the Judiciary
Mr. BRowssG, (ep) Of H. thought TINT it was not in
the uower of Congress 10 reuea the Supreme Court Such
| rover was not given in the constitution. We had no
more power to repeal that Court tan We lad TO repeal
| the constitution
Of the Presidents Message relating to tho judiciary be
| isrrcd to the judiciary Committee
Mr. Cn.amcr's amendment, substitute, was agreed
| to, AMI he resoli ton as amended adopted
sEcREriRy Tlg TREASURY . REPORT.
Tho report Of tte Secretary of the Treasury was ro
| ccivcd and referred to the Committee q Finance.
ALTERATIONS CONSTITUTION OF THE couHIs.
| Mr.. HALE offered resolution that tho Judiciary Com
mittec BE- instructed to inquire INTO the exIetency "
making alterations in the constitution OF ie sevea
| NE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
On motion various portions of tho Presidents Messa z
were referred TO the Committee On Military Afrs. Com
mittce ludian Affairs and Committee on Naval Al
fairs, &c.
| NJ. DIXON presented a bill to restore NJ b. Woclsey .
| active service in The navy.
or REsoLrros or yqrr, Kro THE cAusEi OF DIS
1 AslfRs D
On motion Of NJ. CHANDLER. (rcp) Of Mich the reso
hutton quiring into the causes Of tho disasters to ou
| army at Bull rln and Bali 8 Bluff, was taken up.
| The question the substitute offered by Mr.
Grimes, that committee investigate the causes Of al
Mr.. PoMERoY thought that these investigations were
| doubtful ext cheney
| Mr. CHANDLER said that officers OF the army
liable impeachment, but one Of our own number ha
fallen (}ker) and body Is to blame. He thought The
| facts ought 70 be known.
Mr.: CHANDLER enumerated great variety Of causes
which had been given for the disaster at Bun run, an
said that he wanted the true to DO known In
gard the disasters Missouri referred TO by tho ena
Tor from Kansas General Fremont is blame lot it b.
known Buff not, in Gods maine, let him be justified
| and lei the country know II.
/ SofX oatd bo ar
the blame any particular officer, but he did know tina
troops hand TO relieve General Lyon and Coone
Mrgan and tho uoope believed that II was the want o
| capacity dcrelicton Of duty somewhere.
Mr. Foster (rop) OF Conn, thought it best not to in
vcstgate the subject row. Under the present circum
stances he thought Congress he'd better not 90 1t.
military officers manage the army badly Congress wou,
| only make bad matter worse b. interfering lie won.
let the military alone ia tine war. An inquiry thi
kind would only call men away from higher duties. A
| the proper time Congress might make tie inquiry
MIR tfSsESDEs, (rep) of Ne, thought 70 harm con
come Of such on inquiry, and soodmiW BE- the result
Congress mig.t make the INQUIRY without any way put
ting obstacles in the path. lie hal seen many thing
which seem wrong and thought !. better to make the y
control Of the military. tho are not second but first
and their requests arc to be obeyed They should per
form their duty and calmly Investigate the subject
Mr. SnsRaAs (rep.) Of Ohio concurred with the scna
| tor from Maine. but thought the inquiry should no
BIO confined disasters Of war, but should be gene
raj inquiry into the whole conduct of the war. Many
orders had been given which might be inquired into.
One officer said to have refused to take any cotton
ceve slaves IN camp, ard high Official Of the govern
ment tho Adjuant General has been travelling til,
country pick up scraps Of testimony which arc not
worth anything and has hal such stun published. Thc
people in the country fun Of enthusiasm but here
is not He knew that in many departments OF the -
| vernment impcdments had been thrown in the way i
the progress CT the army He would record LIS solemn
conviction that before the ceased slavery would al
most il not entirely, cease TO exist; but the war
i should no carried without any reference to the
subject of slavery to free country for free
mon II he could niUsc the spirit Of the people into AZ
the departments OF the government the would
| end.
Mi. GRIMES proposed to amend the Substitute tc
| appont a oit committee of three mcnbers Of the Sc
nate aud four members Of the House TO inquire into the
conduct Of the present war.
! Mr. HALE thought that this not quite pointed
enough and moved to add respectfully the disaster d
Balls B'.tl"
Mr. WILSON was glad the resolution had 10 take wider
| fed. He thought IL time that the proclamation.
by officers should cease and the government have III,
solo settled policy. We must remember that we had no
| tho mon Of large military experience. Great mistakes
had been made and koly to be made, but he
ed it Understood that tho people expected that no mis-
takes would be made but every man give all he has, and
| H. 10 the country.
Mr. LATHAM opp of California, asked for theycas and
| nays
The resolution agreed to- yeas, 80; nays, 3
| Hiossrs Carlile Latham and Rice.) Absent, Messrs
Bright coliamcr Foote THOMPSON, Wiley and Wilmot.
Adjourned.
House of Representatives.