New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-05-20
XXXVIlTu CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
cFvATr W,sulvGToY, May ~, 1862.

Tie NltI-BEESllJEN 4 pIo -
memorial from tie merchants OF Ne"-io'" ahAin6
ME- COWAN rep, Pa presented petition
from citizens of Philadelphia for the same Bnrrose.
EIr. SUMNER Gsep., Mass.l presented petitions
In favor If eUancipaiing the slaves.
Mr. WILSON Ntep., Mass.) offered a resolution
thai the Secretary of the Interior report to me sate
the name and number of vessels engaged III the
sI,ve-,rade for the Southern District OF New-ioIk,
ard arrested since Nav, 1862; the names of the
bondsmen the amount Of bonds, and amounts real
lied by the GovenmeBt also that the Secretary OF
tbe Interior furnish tue names OF persons engaged ID
the save-trade for the Southern District OF New
York, The amouat Of bonds etc., ana the amount
realized by tire Government from forfeiture
Mr. GRIMES (kep., Iowa. offered resolution
that inc Secretary Of War report 10 The senate tne
names of yersODs appointed Oh the sia'!s OF '''e ~
ferent officers, where now employed on ..e s'a,,'
what officer ana by whose recommendation az
POINTED. Ado. ted.
AIR GRIMES introduced bill for the reiei c :
Robert Small and others tcoored) VINO fecenlW ue-
liverei The Rebel vessel Planter to CON- dupont
squadron. MI. ,;,h al
,be caro- ,nnurteBauces, &C., be Appraised by
.omnet.nt board of officers, and thai 0Be-hgu The
valne thereof shsll 90 Robert Small aud nus ASSOC
eiutes who assisted in the rescue OF the Plan'.r,
with the rroyi,ion that the Secretary OF the Navy
NAV invest The sane In Tn ted States stocks, the IL
,,rest TO I've paid TO Snail and ms associates or her.
Tue bill was taken up and passed.
Mr.. WILSON tRep., Mass. }, called NJ the resolu-
tiou proyioing for the presentation oi medals Of
honor 20 enlisted men who distinguished themselves
IN battle. Passed.
I e Couilscalion bill wac taken M.
Mr.. SUMNER rep, Mass.) said-H can sni'
pity this dscut sion, shah feel that have done
something toward establishing The trlth. and now,
II Won will kindly give your attention. shall Try
~ omen the question il such way "a 20 exhibit
clearly al he points in issue. Ine.e If SAYING,
often repeated by Statesmen and often recorded oy
pnblicists which embodirs the direct object OF the
war which we are now unhapIiy compelled TO
wege--an o. ject sometimes svowed III European
war, and moe thau once made watch~ord III cur
own country" lid unity for the past and security
for the 1uture" Such should be our compIeheDsIve
aiu-nor more, nor less Without indemnity for the
past this war will have been Vsged at orr cost.
Without security Tor the future this war will lave
been waged IN van. Treasure aud blood viii have
been lavshed in vain. But indemnity and security
are both means to an end; and that end is the
national unity and the Constitution Of the
United States. II is not enough If we preserve
x1e ,,,eiitutiOn at the expense OF the naa.;u unrg
Nor is il eiungh II we eni"lls national unity al
the EXPENSE 81 Ire Consti uiion. Both must be
maintained Both viii be ptlu,ained il we do not
f al 10 take OuDsSi that prudeut courage which l.
never so much needed az at u moment like tie pres
cit. Two things We GEEK as means TO an end; liz
oennity for the past and security Tor the lu'uie.
Two thinss we seek the end iself natioLal urHy
under the Constituion OF the Unite d States. WHAT
ever NAV be the doubts Of Senators or their hue-
scum constitutional theories, nobody can Question
that we are in the midst Of de Jocto rebelOr and
md ia ( midst oil ne tact0 war. we are III the
midst Of each ana both.
So fai has the dis cement of The Nalioual Gov
eminent prev ale that al Ills moneat throughout
q Whole territory, there no iunct0nailes act
ing u.der the United States, but all are pretending
to vet under the ewl y-es'aOifhed u-urpation. Iu-
stead OF the oath TO support the Constitution Of the
limited States reonired OF all OFF Gals by the Co1s
fulfill another oatb has been substiiuted TO support
the Constitution of the COniederacy; and thus tie
rebellion has assumed a completeness Of organl1d-
lion under the most solemn Siuch".s. III p0''t u
fact, throughout this territory, tte National Gov
ernulent has been Quoted, While tie old state Gov
ernments have ceased 10 exit, liieless now fToia
Rebel hands. Cal il suicide, II you Will or sus.
pended animation, or aheyauce, they a8ve none the
les ceased 10 exit. Su.h Is tie psin and ralpah!e
fact lf III this be not rebellion COM icte ia tn
rlnphant treason, then is rebellion LO.hirs bus "a
Government Of the United States unqUestionabiy
ehe1aps exposed 10 all tie incidents OF war; with It's
lenalties Is, COntiibui ms cGnltc9tl)us. cap
lures AID prizes They enemies, because thcr
combination mas assumed the pOr aud proportions OF
War.
Therefore Sir, in determining may
bauish all question of POWER. lie power Is anl lie
aud indubitahle, heinz regulated III the one case W
the Constitution, and IN tie OTHER case ny the nght
under the restraints Of the Constitution. IT. 'rea
them az enemies then ~e have 81 tie latitude sane
toned by the rights Of war. II We treat them a
both then we co lblne penalties from The dCubl
sources What i done against them merely as cnr1
ipaIs will uaurally be In conformity with the Con
stitutioo: but what j. done againtt them as encmc
will have 40 Limitations EXCEPT the rights OF war.
After establishing ia reason and authority the eN
istence OF the two sources OF power, hr Suinne
proceeded 10 consider rst, tie rSghts against crD'
anois, founded eoverei nty, with their limitation
nudsr our Constitution; and secondly, the redt
against euemies, founded Oh war, which are @bso
lniely without constitutional limit .iiOD.
Under tire fret head, b. passed IN review The
various limitations OF the Constitution saying tba
he should BOT be less sensitive Than any oiLer Sen
ators with regard to any ntonai poJO,i ion
Show him that any proposition II without support il
the Constitution or that piiendb agans; ANY q IL
safeguards, and it could not receive lis vote
l. Congress has 10 power over slavery IN the Staics
bit this cannot interfere with taxing slaves is pen
atty for crime. q There must be no &c pat tacto
law 3. No bill Of sttainoer. !. no persOn shall
be deprived Of life, liberty property, without due
process Of Law. .. H. all criminal proceedings the
accused ,hal enjoy speed ana pubic tfiai by Jury
OF State and District where the crime war COM
mitied. 3. No attsinder of treason shall work
corruption of blood forfeiture, except during
the life Of the peisOn attained! linus clearly
the United States may exercise all the Tlgtts
of war which according 10 intefnG'iCu,I law be-
long TO independent States. In offering this pyopo-l-
ton, waive for the present all question whether
these rights ale 70 be exercised by Congress or by
the PRECEDENT II is sufficient that every nation las
in this respect perfect equality nor can auy nights
of war accorded 20 other nations be denied 70 The
United States Harsh and repUlsiye as these rights
unquestlonabiy are they derived from the over
ruling instructive law Of selfdefeuse, which il
mou 10 nations as 10 individuals. Every community
having The form and character Of sovereignty has
,izlt TO national life, and in defense Of such life i
may plt forth al it energies. Any Other pnGcif pie
would leave il the wretcned prey OF wicked men,