Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-12-13
xxxvIIth Congress --- LIST Session.

xXXvIIth Congress --- LIST Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.
HousE-Mr. Dawes, from Committee on
Election, introduced resolution, which was
passed, authorizing parties in the contested
election case of Brach against Upton, in the
Fairfax District, Va, to take evidence him
self !
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, gave notice of his
intention to introduce bill donating lands
to the several States for the benefit of agri. |
culture and the mechanic arts, and the estab-
lishment of colleges.
Mr.. Richardson, from the Military Com
mittee, offered the following, which was
passed r.
WHEREAS, Exchange of prisoners in the
present rebellion has already been practiced,
and as such exchange would not only increase
enlistments and vigor of the army, but sub
serve the highest interests of humanity, and
would not involve recognition of the rebels
as government, O.. fFo,
| Res0lued, BY the ccn.,yi:: j louise, that
the President of the United States be re-
quested to inaugurate systematic measures
for the exchange of prisoners in the present
rebellion. rl .
On motion, it was -4
| Resozved, That the Committee on Foreign
Affairs be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of furnishing relief to the starving
population of Ireland, and to report by bill,
or otherwise. t.-.y.
Mr.. Wickliffe, from the Committee on Mil
itary, reported bill authorizing the raising
of volunteer force for the better defense of
Kentucky.
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.
| SENATE -Messrs. Fessenden and Sumner
presented petitions for the emancipation of
slaves under the war power.
| Mr.. FoOte offered resolution that Waldo
P. johnson, by sympathizing with and par
ticipating in the rebf lion against the United
States, has been guilty of conduct incompati
BILE with his duties as U. S. Senator, and that
he therefore be expelled from the Senate of
the United States. Laid over.
Mr.. Harlan introduced bill to authorize
the President to acquire territory for the set
Element of free persons of African descent
Referred to the Committee on Public
Lands.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill for the re-or-
ganization of the Medical Department of the
army. Referred to the Committee on Militia
~ Affairs.
Mr.. Hale called up the resolution offered
yesterday, that the Committee on the Judi
ciary be instructed to inquire il to the expedi
ency of abolishing the present judicial sys-
tenn of the United States, and establishing
another, in pursuance with the Constitution.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Nesmith introduced bill providing for
the protection of overland emigration to Cali
fornia and Oregon. Referred to Committee
on Territories .4.
Mr.. Chandler announced the death of Sen
ator Bingham, of Michigan. After tribute
to the memory of his deceased colleague, Mr..
Chandler offered the customary resolution
that the Senate 60 into mourning thirty days,
and TO adjourn.
Messrs. King Clark and Sumner spoke in
feeling terms of the deceased.
The resolution was agreed to, and the Sen
. ate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Roscoe Conkling offered resolu-
ton, which was adopted, requesting the At
torney General to report his views as to the
means of obtaining retrocession of that part
of Virginia formerly belonging to the District
of Columbia.
Mr.. Potter from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported bill providing homesteals
to actual settlers, and providing bounty for
soldiers in lieu of grants of public lands
He explained that the nominal feature of this
! bill was heretofore passed, but there is an ad.
dition that all soldiers, mariners and seamen
shall be entitled to the benefit of the act II
= also contains section giving bounty Of
y $50 to the 3 months volunteers.
- The House concurred in the Senate resolu
. ton for joint committee to inquire into the
conduct of the present war, with power tc
=. send for persons and papers.
~ Mr.. Pendleton moved that the memorial Of
= Messrs. Howard, Gechiel and Davis, be re
y :, ferred back to the Committee on the Judicia
- ry, with instructions declaring that Congress
} alone has the power under the Consti
tuition to suspend the writ of Aatsas corpus
:. that the exel else of the power by another de
: partment of the government is a usurpatioI
y and dangerous to public liberty; that the per
sons above named be delivered to the Marshal
=, to;the end that they may be indicted with tn
y right of speedy trial, if there be probable
n cause for such proceedings, He spoke a
a some length ON this subject, saying that those
gentlemen were members of the Board of Pc
' lice of Baltimore, and on the LIST of July last
; in the dead hour of night, were arrested by
: order of the military, and without charges be
ing preferred against them, conveyed as pris
ones to Fort McHenry. They ask that Con
. gress may examine into the question: or that
t and yet this Mr. Pendetons colleague on the
i fitting response to the m emorial than that il
should lay unread on the table,
The question here presented was as to the
legality of their present punishment. which
he denied.
Mr.. Bingham said his colleagues position
was, that Congress alone can suspend the
writ, while conceding that the time has come
for its suspension. When the rebellion lifted
up its head over large portion of the Repub,
lie and essayed to strike down the pillars of
the Constitution and drench the land in fra
ternal blood, it was no time to be splitting
hairs, as to whether Congress or the Presl-
dent should first exercise the power Did his
colleague contemplate general Jail delivery,
or wish to confine his sympathies to the reb-
els and conspirators of the city of Baltimore j.?
Had he no sympathy for those confined in
the old Capitol? Why should they not,
also, be discharged? Assuming his COL
leagues position to be right, he was derelict
In duty in not moving suspension of the
writ in accordance with the oath he
had taken to maintain, protect and defend the
Constitution. The laws are to be executed
and not only executed by force, but by the
sword, against the powers of rebellion. 1t did
not lie in the mouths of the memorialists to
claim the benefit of the Constitution. every
provision of which they have trampled under
foot.
On motion of Mr. Bingham, the whole SUBJ
ject was tabled; los against SO.
a message was received from the Senate,
announcing the death of Senator Bingham, of
Michigan. Eulogies were delivered BY Messrs
Beaman, Trowbridge and Ashley, of Ohio,
and Mr.. Sedgwiok of New York. The usual
resolutions were passed, after which the
House adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
SENATE.-Mr. Sumner presented petition