The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-05

PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.

HoUsE.-The Chaplain returned thanks
for the Frightening prospects for liberty to
the slave, and for emancipation from a sys-
tenn which had involved us in sin. sorrow.
and shame.
Message from Senate that quorum was
assembled ready for business.
A similar message was sent to the SEN
ate. A committee of both Houses was an
pointed to wait on the President, and in
form him that Congress was ready to re-
ceive communications.
Mr.. Conklin, of New York, offered a
resolution which was adopted, instructing
the Committee on Naval Affairs to inquire
and report the best mode ofplacing vessels
of war on Lake Ontario, when the exigen-
cy may arise, and establishing water con-
nection from other waters to Lakes, and
report which Of the various plans are most
reliable.
Mr.. Vallandigham, of Ohio, offered the
following resolution, which was adopted:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on the Judi
ciary be instructed to inquire and report to the
House at an early day, by what authority of
the Constitution or laws, if any, the Postmas-
ter General undertakes to decide what newspa-
pers may, and what newspapers may not be
transmitted through the mails.
Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, offered the following:
| WHEREAS, many citizens of the United States
have been seized by persons acting or pretend
ing to be acting under the authority of the
United States, and have been carried out of the
jurisdiction OF the States of their residence and
imprisoned in the military prisons and camps
being preferred against them, and without any
opportunity being allowed them to leave or
disprOve the charges made against them and
WPEREAS, such arrests have been made in the
States where there is no insurrectiOn or rebel
lion or pretence thereof, or any other obstruc-
ton to the authority of the Government, and
WHEREAS, 1t is the sacred right of every citi-
zen of the United States that he shall not be de-
prived of his liberty without due process Of law,
and, when arrested, that he shall have a speedy
and public trial by an impartial jury: therefore,
ResoLUed, That the House of Representatives
condemn all such arrests and practices, as un-
warranted by the constitution and laws of the
United States-as usurpation of power never
given up by the people to their rulers; and
they do therefore, demand that all such arrests
shall hereafter cease, and that all persons so
arrested and yet held, shall have prompt and
public trial, according to the constitution and
laws of the United States.
On motion of Mr.. Colfax, the preamble
and resolution were laid on the table, by a
vote of 80 against 40.
Mr.. Richardson of Illinois offered the
following resolution:
Resolved, That the President be requested to
inform the House of Representatives what cit
liens of Illinois are now confined in any forts
or places of confinement, and upon what
charges such citizens were arrested, and that
the President also inform the House of Repre-
sentatives the names of persons arrested in the
State OF Illinois and confined in prisons out
side the limits of said state, what the charges
are against them, by whom the charges are
made, and by whose order all such arrests were
made.
A motion to lay the resolution on the
table was adopted; yeas "a, nays 40.
The House then took recess to await
the message of President Lincoln.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 1862.
SENATE. - Mr.. McDougal offered
resolution calling on the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury to furnish the
Senate statement of the amount of mon
ey paid for prosecuting land titles, suits,
&c. in the State of California, during 1857,
1853, 1859, 1860 and 1861, and also the
amounts paid for searches in Mexico Laid
over.
Mr.. Powell offered joint resolution
stating that
Whereas, Many citizens of the United States
have been arrested and imprisoned without
any charges being preferred against them
whatever; therefore,
Res0LreG, That all such arrests are unauthOr-
lied by the Constitution and laws of the United
States and are usurpatiOns of the power dele
gated by the people to the President, and that
all such arrests are hereby condemned and de-
clared palpable violations of the Constitution of
a Init 10 ahu cd
that all such arrests shall cease hereafter and
that all persons so arrested shall have prompt
and speedy trial according to the provisions of
the Constitution, or be Immediately released
The resolution was laid over.
Mr.. Davis offered resolution declaring
that it is hereby recommended that all the
States choose delegates to meet in conven-
ton at Louisville, on the first Monday of
April next, to take into consideration the
present condition of the country, and the
proper means to be pursued for restoring
| the Union, and that the Legislatures of the
different States take such actions as they
may deem fit for this purpose, at the ear
Hest possible date.
Laid over, and adjourned
HoUsE-Mr. Hooper from the Commit
tee of Ways and Means reported bill
that all judgments now pending or here
after brought for collection or recovery of
duties, or money due the United States
from Collectors or other officers shall be
paid in gold or silver coin. Passed.
The resolutio2 adopted instructing the mil
tary committee to report on the proprie-
ty of increasing the pay of soldiers to SIS
per month, and reducing the salaries of Of
ticers not actively engaged.
On motion of Mr.. Sheffield, it was re-
solved that the Committee of Ways and
Means be instructed to consider and report
as to the propriety of admitting cotton
brought from foreign countries free of
duty, and report by bill or otherwise.
On motion of Mr.. Edwards, the commit
tee on public expenditures was instructed
to examine into the expenses of the Gen.
eral Land office and report what reduction
may be made consistently with the public
interests.
Mr.. Cox asked leave'to introduce reso-
luton instructing the Committee on Ways
aOd Moons <o ;v,u,;ro into %bo ou,>oJ;ooo,x