Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, December 9.

SENATE-The Chair laid before the house a
communication from the Secretary of War in
answer TO resolution calling for information in
relation To the sale OF colored freemen captured
by the rebels, &c.
The reply of Secretary Stanton states that no
information on the subject is in possession of
the War Department.
Mr.. Sherman presented petition in favor of
a general bankrupt
Mr.. Davis presented two petitions protesting
against the action of the Advisory Board of the
Navy.
Mr.. Sumner. from the Committee on Foreign
Relations reported a bill for the relief of the
owners of the French vessels lnes and Et
Marie.
Mr.. Anthony, from the Committee on Print
ing, reported bill to increase the bonds of the
Superintendent OF Printing
Mr. Hale introduced bill to abolish the grade
OF medical officers in the service Of the United
States.
The resolution offered by Mr. Spaulding rela-
tive to the arbitrary arrest of citizens of Della
taken up.
Mr Hale said the Senator from Delaware (Mr.
Bayar.) yesterday referred 10 proper division OF
power being the hope OF free Government
and he Hale not willing to see the Senate
interfere with other Departments II any citi
zens of Delaware had been aggrieved, the courts
were still open He believed the writ OF habeas
corpus not dead yet. He acknowledged this
was an embarrassing question
Mr.. Bavare said theirs such division OF
Government power The Judiciary was always
the weakest The President has asserted the
right to suspend the writ OF habeas corpus, and
he thought il proper for the Senate inquire
into the matter
Mr. Wilson. of Mass, said doubtless every
body regretted the necessity of making these
rests in this country The President regretted it
man could charge the President with waHtony
violating the right Of citizens for long time
The leading traitors sat here, but arrests were
made When they were commissioned they
were necessary, anu the first arrest for sell
ing gun caps to the enemy
He for one, thanked the President for making
these Frests. Ii powe riui means of pre-
serving the Government, and he hoped tie Presi
dent aud his advisers would not shrink from ar
resting any man who shows probable cause OF be
ing in league with the rebels. There was never
rebellion where so much consideration had been
shown, and so much humanity for traitors
Mr. Salisbury did not doubt that there were
arrests made which were justifable; but these men
were citizens of Delaware, whose loyalty was
never questioned.
The motion to lay on the table was disagreed
TO by a vote of 3 yeas to 40 nays.
Mr.. Field said he should vote against the reSo-
luton He was of opinion that the President had
the right TO suspend the writ of hlbeas corpus.
The trainers OF the Constitution evidently in
tended that the habeas corpus might be suspended
in time of instruction or INVASION and he thought
it was clearly an Executive act. He was of the
opinion that if any complaint to be made it
was that the Gov eminent had been too lenient
10 traitors
Mr.. Bayard continued at length, saving that
the power to suspend the writ OF babeas corpus
was not an executive act Ii this admitted.
and legislative power bad right inquire,
then the President might imprison men. or tor
ture them or do a. he pleased with them.
Mr. Sherman favored the adoption Of all these
resolutions of inquiry, which offered in good
faith He believed the right to suspend the writ
of habeas corpus purely a legislative power.
and il could only be done by Congress- but since
the legislation of last Congress the President has
had power given TO him. he thought many of
these arrests we're great mistakes; and every ar
rest ought TO be reported 20 Congress. and the
reasons for it, If the power unlimited, the
Government would become oppressive. The
people have been exasperatei at the manner OF
these arrests and discharges. and il was due 10 the
country and Justice that no man should be
rested for light cause The cause and charge
should be properly explained Congress bad a
perfect right to call for information that they
may 90 before the people. and be able to explain
and defend these arrests.
Mr.. Trumbull said that be could not see
any practical benefit TO be obtained in passing
these resolutions, he was inclined 70 vote against
them. He thought the arrests had been unfortu-
pate and impoltic Judges, and courts. and
commentators have held that the power of sus-
pending the writ of babeas corpus was legs-
lative power IL is not from any sympathy with
traitors .hat there IS great feeling upon this sub
ject but because it Is feared II is exercise of
an unnecessary and arbitrary power. He would
say to his friend. WILSON, who gloried in these
arrests, that there was veIy great danger in them
there was bill now before the house relative to
this very subject, and he was in favor of acting
upon that a. a practical measure.
Mr. Powell said the President had no right to
make these arrests OF To suspend the wrif, and