Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-21
Night Dispatches.
CONGRESSIONAL.
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SEykTE-Messrs Harris ana King present
ed petitions from merchants of New York for
general bankrupt act.
Mr.. Wade presented petitions for an efficient
cou6scauon act
Mr. Sumner gave notice that he should to-
morrow cali IN the resolution for the expulsion
of tue Senator from Oregon, Me-. Starke.
Mr.. MeDougal moved to take up the Pacific
railroad bill.
The Pacific railroad bill was taken up-ayes
%. navs l6-but before the reading was finished.
the morning hour expired, and the conhscaiion
bill was taken up.
MIR. Davis OF Kentucky proceeded TO speak at
length upon il.
After Mr. Dlviss speech there was some gen
eral discussion without action. when the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE-Mr Blake reported from r. o. Com
mittee bill to establish certain post routes. Ii
declares the bridge partly constructed across the
Ohio river at Steubenville, Ohio. abutting on the
Virginia shore 10 he a lawful structure, public
highway and establishes post route for the pur-
pose of transmitting the mails, and that the Steu-
benyille and Indiana Railroad Company and the
Holiday Cave Railroad Company, either of
them are authorized TO operate said bridge when
completed Draws are to be provided Tor the
passage of said boats.
Mr. Blake said the bridge would not materially
inter fere with the navigation of the Ohio river.
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. Cofax, from the Postolfice Committee, re-
ported back the Senate bill providing that no per-
son of color shall be disqualified from carrying
the mail, with the Recommendation that II do not
pass
Mr. Colfax said that not single person OF any
color from any State, had ever petitioned for this
No Ter
mendei it, No public opinion demanded 1t. IL
would not only allow negroes ~ be mail con-
tractors and therefore officers of the Government
but Indians and Chinese also. lt would impair
the securities of the mails, Tor in some States
blacks Indians and Chinese are not allowed TO
testify against whites and if robbed while in their
hands we could not procure legal testimony, as
now. of the mail carriers against the robbers Ii
would also allow slayehoding contractors 10 use
their slaves as mail carriers for them instead oil
free whites whom they are now compelled 10 em
poy, and money would thus he paid out OF our
postotfi e treasury for the labor OF slaves, which
is now impossible and as this bill could not even
indirectly aid in crushing out this rebellion, wlici
he thought the main duty of Congress. Grip
ping the power which sustains this treason a
large majority of the Postofhce COMMITTEE con
Cured with him in recommending that il do not
pass
Mr. Dawes referred to an objection stated 10y
Mr. Colfax, and inquired by way OF answer
whether he supposed mail depredators were tried
by State or United States courts, and whether he
himself did not assist in making the lawsI
Mr. Coiiax replied that not being lawyer. he
could not fully understand the matter, but he un
derstood that in such cases the Federal court was
| governed iy the rules of the State in which the
/ trials take place.
Mr.. Wicklle approved Of the decision Of tn,
l Committee. He had been informed that the bill
had been introduced into the Senate TO remove
the disability OF two distinguished men. II he
groes were TO he made mail carriers, we had bet
ter carry out the whole programme. In addition
10 making them soldiers and sailors, we had bet
ter throw open the doors here and admit them a
members OF Congress. Laughter
! Mr. Coliax moved to lay the bill on the table
but the hour fixed for the consideration of tn
coniscation bill having arrived, the vote goe
over till to, morrow.
Mr. Eliot Chairman of the select committee
who reported the cuufscarOn bills said the Wa
originated in the rebel States and is carried on b.
rebel citizens against the Government his
! precisely the character of the war. Appropriat
legislation may be soon demanded concernin
the rebel States. These bills concern the proper
ty not the persons of the rebels. and Congress
may make the property OF the rebels aid in pay
ing the expenses incurred IN crushing the rebe
lion The lands owned BIZ rebels used fc
carrying on the war and their unwilling slave
are made to toll that our Government may b
/ o,erthrown. Their lands and slaves are mad
the instruments for carrying on the war. d.
prive them of these and the war must come
: an end and our immense debt baked of increas
The rebels owe $500 900. 900. Every doll;
( of that debt had been coniscated by their CO.
e vernment, and repudiated by rebel debtors,
whose honor the constituents of gentlemen trus
! ed He repeated that the lands and slaves al
being used by the traitors rs warike instrument
f They should be confscatei tie penalty, as Il
e bill proposed. They were as much the enemy
9 property as if they owed allegiance to iorels
power.
n Mr.. Eliot supported his remarks by the usu
: arguments.
@ Messrs. Noel Riddle and Window favored co
: fiscation. Adjourned.