Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-21
xxxvlI CONGRESS --rJRsr SESSION

xXXVl1 CONGRESS ..FJKSr SESSION
WAsHINoroS, May go
SENArE.-1he Pacific Rsiload bill was taken
up, but before the reading vas fnisnei, the
morning hour expired, and tho Condscat,on bill
VAS taken up.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Kentucky. proceeded to speak at
length ulon it.
HoUsE.- NJ. Blake reported from the Post Office
Committee. ball to establish certain post rOute,,
&C. II declare. the bridge party constructed
across the OHIO river ut Steut envillc, Ono abut-
ting on the Virgins shore, 20 be lawful struc
tors; public highway, and Q tabiishes . post
route or the purpose of tran smiuiEg toe ma,ls,
and that tho n,eubenvillc d Indiana Co., and the
Holiday Cove H. r. 20, either OF them are auth
orized to have, maintain and operate ii bridge
when completed. Draws are to be provided tor
the passage OF boats.
Mr. Coliax, from the Post Office Com mu,ittee. re-
ported back the Senate bill providing that no
person by reason Of color shall be disqualified
fro rrying the mails, with ,hc Recommendation r.
that it do not pass.
Mr.. Co!fax Aaid that not siugle person Of any
color from any State had ever pet,loned for ,his
repeal no Postmaster e. neral had ever rec. m
mended it, and no public opinion demanded il.
I. would not only allow negroes TO be mail con
tractors. and therefore officers OF the govern
ment, but Indians and Chinese also. II would
iLLair the securities OF the mais-fur
m some States backs, Indians and
Chinese are not allowed to testify against wh ties
and il robbed whils GU their hands We could not
procure legal tes lnUny us row, of tho mail oar.
riers against the robbers. 1t wou i also sllow
slave hol ting contractors to use their slaves as
mail carriers for them inst ad OF free whites,
wnom they are now co PEELED to employ and
money would thus be paid cut Of our Post Ofioo
treasury for this labor of slaves, which is GOV
,mpossib Z, as tho bili would not even in iirec,Iy
ala in crushing ou' this rebellio I, which he thot
the main duty Of Congress, Or Gripping The power
which sustaius this reason. lar mas Of the
Post Office COmni .tte coacurred with him in re.
commencing IT. at it do not pass.
MIR. Davis, referring 10 an obligation stated bv
Mr.. Colfsx, iuqu re- by way of answer whether
the latter supposed mail depredations were t,isd
in state or Unit States CT uris, and heher he
himself did oot assist in making the laws.
Mr.. C0lfax replied that not being . lawyer. he
he could not tuly understand the matter. knt no
understood that in such Cases the federal cou,t
Wa governed by the rules u the State in which
tho tri4l takes place,
Mr.. Wi klifis approved Of tho decisit n of the
committee. liz had boon informed that the bill
bad been introduced into the senate to remove
The disability OF Distinguished men. If me- roes
we're to be made nsil carriers VIC had better car
~ out the Whole prog gramme-in addition t. max
ing them soldiers and sailovs ha better throw
open the doors hero, and admit them ~ Members
of ngress. Laughter
Mr.. Cvlfrx moved to lay tho bill on She table,
b t the hour fixed for tho consideration Of tho
coniscaiion bill having arrived the vote goes over
unit! to-mouow.
Mr.. Elliott. chairman Of tho select committee.
who reported the Condsc .tipn bill, said the war
originated in tho rebel States, and s carried on
by rebel citizens agains. the Government. This
IS pre- ciss.y the character Of the war App7opri-
ate legislation may soon lie demanded conc ernlng
the rebel States. These bills concern the prop
erty not tho persons of tho rebels, aud Congress
may make the property Of the rebel. aid in ray
| ing the expense. incurred in crushing the rebel
iiun. The lands owned by rebels are used f,r
carrying on the War, an / their unwi'liGs sav es
| are made to toll, that our Government may be
OverthrOwn. Their land and slaves are made ia.
| strrments for carry ing the war. Deprive
them Of II ese and the war must como to an end
and our immense debt balkcd Of iHcreAse. Tbs
| rebels oso $S0o,OO0, ,ooJ. Every dollar Of .ha:
debt has been con6sca,ed by heir government,
repudiated by rebel debtors, to whose honor tn 9
constituents Of gentlemen trus ed. Ho repeated
that ss lanGs and slaves are being usei by the
traitors Is warlike instruments, they should be
couf.ca,ed as the pendiog bills proposed. They
wore rs enemies, properly, US II they 1wed allegi
ance to a foreign power. Mr. Elliott supported
his reinaiks by 10 al arguments.