Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-10
Aid for the English Operatives,
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHINGToE, Dec. 9.
sEHETF

AuuuAIhlADh AAOAu LAG 0OOAOEaAy VI " oA1 IL
answer to the resolution calling for infor-
nation in relation to the sale Of colored
freemen captured by the rebels, &c. The
reply Of Secretary Stanton states that no
information on the subject is in possession
Of the War Department.
Mr.. Sherman presented petition in ia
vor Of q general bankrupt act.
Mr.. Davis presented two petitions pro-
testing against the action of the Advisory
Board of the Navy.
Mr. Sumner from the committee on for
eign relations reported bill for the relief
eff the owners of the French vessels Jules
and Elmira.
Mr.. Anthony from the committee on
printing, reported bill to increase the
bonds of the Superintendent of Printing.
Mr. Hale introduced bill to abolish the
grade Of medical officers in the service of
the United States.
The resolution offered by Mr. Salisbury,
relative to arbitrary arrest Of citizens
Of Delaware, was taken up.
Mr.. Hale said the Senator from Della
ware (Mr. Bayard) yesterday referred to
q proper division of power as being the
hope Of a free Government, and he (Mr.
Hale) was not willing to see the Senate
interfere with other departments. If any
citizen of Delaware had been aggrieVed,
the Courts were still open, and he believed
the writ of habeas corpus was not dead
yet. He acknowledged this was an en-
bsrassing question.
Mr.. Bayard said there was no such di-
vision of Government powers. The Judi
ciary was always the weakest. The Pres
ident has asserted the right to suspend the
writ of hsbeas corpus, and he thought it
proper for the Senate to inquire into the
matter.
Mr.. Wilson, Of Mass, said, doubtless
every body regretted the necessity of max
ing these arrests in this country. The
President regretted it as much as any
body. He did not think any loyal man
could charge the President with Wantonly
violating the right of citizens For long
time the leading traitors sat here, but no
arrests were made. When they were COM
menced they were necessary, and the first
arrest was for selling gun caps to the en-
emy. He, for one, thanked the President
for making these arrests. 1t was pow
eIful means Of preserving the Govern
ment, and he hoped that the President and
his advisers would not shrink from ar
resting any man who shows probable
cause of being in league with the rebels.
There was never a rebellion where SO much
consideration had been shown, and 30
much humanity for traitors.
Mr. Salisbury did not doubt there were
arrests made which were justihable, but
these men were citizens of Delaware whose
loyalty had never boen questioned. The
motion to lay the resolution on the table
was disagreed to by s'vote Of yeas and
40 nays. .--..
Mr. Field said he should vote against the
resolution. He was of opinion that the
President had the right to suspend the writ
of habsas corpus. The trainers of the Con-
stitution evidently provided that the ha-
beas corpus might be suspended in time Of
| insurrection and invasion, and he thought
it was clearly an Executive set He was
of the opinion that if any complaint was
to be made it was that the Government
had beed too lenient with traitors.
Mr.. Bsyard continued at some length,
saying the power to suspend the writ of
habeas corpus was not an Executive act
If this was admitted, and the legislative
power had no right to enquire, then the
President might imprison men, or torture
them, or do as he pleased with them.
Mr.. Sherman favored the adoption of
all these resolutions Of inquiry, which
were offered in good faith. He believed
the right to suspend the writ Of habeas
corpus was purely Legislative power and
it could only be done by Congress, but
since the legislation of the last Congress,
the President has had the power given him.
He thought many of these arrests were
great mistakes, and every arrest ought to
be reported to Congress and the reasons for
it. If this power was unlimited the Gov
ernment would become oppressive. The
people have been exssperated at the manner
| of these arrests and discharges, and it was
due to the country and justice that no man
should be arrested for a light cause, and
that the cause and charges should be prop
erly explained, and that Congress had a
perfect right to call for all information
that they may go before the people and be
able to explain and defend these arrests.
Mr.. Trumbun said as he could not see
any particle Of benefit to be attained in pas
sing these resolutions, he was inclined to
vote against them. He thought these ar
| rests had been unfortunate and impolite.
Judges and courts and commentators have
held that the power Of suspending the
writ of hnbsas- OsrPsss-Wus u feg1BIaIIVe
power. 1t is not from any sympathy with
traitors that there is 8 great feeling upon
this subject, but because it is feared this is
an exercise Of an unnecessary and arbi-
trary power, and he would say to his friend
Wilson who gloried in these arrests, that
there was a very great danger in them.
There was a bill now here from the
House relative to this very subject, and
he was in favor of acting upon that as a
practical measure.
Mr. Powell said the president had no
right to make these arrests or to suspend
the writ of hsbeas corpus, and doing so
was usurpation. Mr. Powell cOntended
| that the people had decided that these ar
rests should cease. The recent elections
showed this.
Mr.. Wilson claimed that no such ques-
tion was settled by the elections. The
only thing settled was that the Republican
party could not raise men enough to send
to the field to whip Southern traitors and
still have men enough at home to vote
down Northern Democrats. That is all
that was settled.
The discussion continued at length.
Pending the question, the Senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Conway said he did not regard the
proposition, as was represented, as having
received the assent required by the Con-