, 1862-01-17

WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1861.
2ENtTE


A communication was received from the
Secretary Of War, in answer to the resolution
of Mr. Powell directing an answer to the
resolution passed at the last session in regard
to army contracts, &c.
The answer states that the first resolution
battlc Of Bull Run, July 21st, and that since
then he has not had sufficient clerical force to
properly answer the resolution.
The answer also states, IT myself have not
made single contract, for any purpose Whit,
eyer. The Heads Of Bureaus hare made I'LL
the contracts"
The subject was referred.
A1I. KING, Of New York, presented pctl-
ton that the lands Of convicted traitors DC
awarded to soldiers, and also to abolish all
fees and Eerqnisites Of office. Referrcd- -,
to amend certain articles Of war, and 3fr.
HALE, OF N. h, offered resolution that
Ward IL La1non, United States Marshal for
the District of Columbia, by his recent order
communicated to tho Senate excluding the
| a pass from him, has been guilty Of .
| breach Of the privileges Of tho SeHatc and
| contempt Of the rightfl authority OF this
body, and that the Secretary of the Senate be
directed to communicate copy OF this reso
| luton to the President.
On motion Of Mr.. WILSON, the bill in rela-
| ton to the arrest OF persons claimed as held
to service O. labor, by officers in the military
| or nuFal service Of the United States, WIS
taken np
any persons held to serTice or LABOR shall
be discharged from the service.
| MrCOLLAMER, Of Vt, Offered Us IN amend
ment, or Is substitute, that no officer Of the
army or nayy, militia or volunteer, shall rs
sunle to exercise any authority to arrest, de.
tain, hold or control any person held to ser
vice, and that any officer so offending bt
dismissed from the service. Agreed to.
1Ir. SALISBURY, Of Del, offered the fol
lowing amendment as q new section =" NO.
shall any officer or soldier, under like penalty
in any way entice, decoy or dctaiu my suct
person from his or her master or owncr." Mr
| SALISBURY said that he thought the officers O
soldiers Of the United States ought to hay'
nothing to do with the question at al, elthe
Mr. RICE, Of Mimi, moved to add after th
words ttmaster or oTrer,'' the words. VIII,
may be L loyol citizen OF the United States
Agreed to- ..-.,
amendment. He was against any kind of jus
titication Of slavery. What he wanted was t
prevent officers Of the army from returnln
slaves. Some officers lave already disgrace
the service in this way, and God willing b
| {Wilsoul, if he had the power, meant to prl
vent their confirmation BY the Senate,
The contested seat Of Kansas was taken VI
the question being the motion Of alr. Clark t
: strike out the VOID "not'' in the resolutio
Of the Committee on Judiciary, that M
l | Lane vas not entitled to his seat:
Mr. LANE said he had refused TO accept IL
| Office on the 22d Of July. He referred to til
l contest in Kansas with Mr.: Stanton TOR IL
scnatorship, and said that four days after i
t vas elected, the Governor, whom he had owe
thrown, and his contestant, whom he ha
beaten, declared the office vacant.
+ Mr.. BRIGHT thought the question barely
+ legal one, that, the President having appoin
-,a4 tod In Aftf1n
from Kansas could not accept it, and thereto
G did not yacate his seat in the Senate.'
| The discussion was continued by Me5st
u LANE, STANTON, CLARK and FOSTER
+. A vote was taken on Mr.. Clazks motion
: strike out the word not:
IS YEA-Mcssrs- Bright. Browning, Chandls
Clark Collamcr. Cowan, Doolitte, FesSende
y Hale, Harlan, Harris, Howe, King, Lane
= Ind, Latham, Morrill,, Ponlcroy, Rice, Sht
man, Sumner, Trumbull, Wilkinson, Wilm.
Wilson-2i-
NAYs-Messrs. Anthony, Bayard, Carli
nedy, McDongal, Neemith, Pearce, Powe
Salisbury, Ten Eyck, Wade-16.
III Mr.. DIXON, of Conn, offered i rcsoluti
- =. that the usual mileage be allowed the conte
= ing mrmber. Laid over. Aftcran efecuti
re session, the Senate adjourned
J. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
" AIr. DUNN, from the Military Commit
IN reported a bill authorizing and directing /
~ Secretary of War to furnish the prisoners
L. the United States In the reyolted States W
clothing and other necessaTles Of lfe, and
4 this purpose that he employ such as.ents
=, nay be necessary. Passed.
Ii- 3ir. WILSON, from the Committee Oh
nd dietary, reported back, with amendments.
I'M biil umcndatory Of the act Of 1857, to enfo
rs. the attendance Of witnesses. Passed.
- II repea1s that part which eSempts witnes
LIS who have testified before an1examining &C
IN mittee of either house from being used Us {
| dence in court Of justice.
After a debate Of several hours the Ho
adjourned with the understanding that
O'clock