Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-20
CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Dec. 10.
SENATE.

Il sented petition for the emancipation q
t slavery under the war power.
Mr.. Foote offered resolution tha
. Waldo p. johnson, by sympathizing witt
e and participating in the rebellion agains
j the United States, has been guilty of con
: duct incompatible With bis duty as sen
: ator of the United States, and that h
: therefore be expelled from the senate O
: the United States. Lsid over.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a joint resolu
: ton to provide for the payment of tn
commissioners appointed to Investigate
the claims against the Western Miitar,
department. Referred to the committe,
on finance.
Mr.. Harlan introduced a bill to au
thorze The President to acquire territory
for the settlement of free persons of AT
rican descent. Referred to the commit
tee on public lands.
! Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill for the
reorganization of the medical department
of the army. Referred to the commit
tee on military affairs.
Mr.. Hale called up his resolution in
structing the committee on the Judiciary
to inquire into the expediency of abolish
ing the present judicial system of the
United States, and establishing another
in pursuance Of the constitution Agreed
| to.
Mr.. Nesmith introduced a bill 10 pro-
vide for the protection of overland emf
grants to California and Oregon. Re-
ferred to the committee on Territories.
HOUSE.
On motion of Roscoe Conkling OF New
York, the Attorney General was request
ed to report his views as to the means of
obtaining the retrocession Of that part of
Virginia formerly belonging to the dis
trct of Columbia.
Mr.. Potter, from the committee or
public lands, reported bill providing a
homestead to actual settlers, and provid-
in bnunties for soldiers ia lieu of grants
of public lands. lie explained that the
homestead feature Of the bill was here
tofore passed, but there is an addition
that all soldiers, marines and seamen
shall be entitled TO the provisions of this
act. 1t also confers a bounty of $50 on
the three months volunteers. The con.
sideration of the bill was postponed till /
the 18th inst.
The house concurred in The resolution
from the senate for a joint committee to
inquire into the conduct OF the present |
war with power to send for persons and
papers.
Mr.. Pendleton of Ohio moved that the
memorial of Messrs, Howard, Getchtll
and Davis be referred back to the COM
mittee on Judiciary, with instructions
declaring that Congress alone has power
under the constitution to suspend the
writ Of ha6eas corpus, that the exercise
of that power by any other department
of the Government is an usurpation, and
dangerous to the public liberty; that the
persons above named shall be delivered
10 the Marshal to the end ,hat they may
be indicted, with the right of speedy trial,
f there be probable cause for such pro-
seeding.
Mr.. PendIeton spoke at length on the
subject, which is that of the Baltimore
police commissioners. He said it the
President can suspend one provision of
he Constitution he can all, and reduce
he nation to the condition of slaves, by
the theory Of the government.
Any nation willing to adopt this theory
S so lost to a manly sense of indepen-
lence, dignity and to a just consciousness
,f their courage and duty of defending
he government, that the yoke is a fit
emblem of their degradation. No one
should listen to the doctrine of state ne
.essity, the history Of which is written
n the wreck of public liberty.
Mr.. Bingham of Ohio replied that all t
lis colleague had just said or could say
lad been fully and satisfactorily answer O
d by the argument of the Attorney a
General, heretofore submitted. Not :,
the ability of his colleague, q
e had been unable to disguise the fact 3
hat the time contemplated by the words i,
{ the Constitution for the suspension of a
be writ of habeas corpus was when re-
ellion was trying 10 shake down the [
illars of the Constitution. 1t was no
me to be splitting hairs as to whether "
congress or the President should first il
xercise the power.
On motion Of Mr.. Bingham, the whole 81
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