New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-03-05
XXXVIITn CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
cpv.Tr W.sHrsoroS, March 4, 1862


&c ooas asking i'm mediate action by Congress 10
Ja for the traDspOrtatiOn Of tue malls between
sw.York. Panama, and Aspinwall, as at present the
United States have no arrangement LOT such trahs-
norta,ion. Referred. -
III WIIMOT Rep., Pal presented resolutions
from the Legislature of Pennsylvania relative to the
nayment of the volunteers from the time Of their
enlistment. -.
Mr.. DAVIS (Un., Ky.l presented petition from
The citizens Of Boston asking Congress TO drop the
negro question and attend to the business Of the
Mir. DIXON (Rep., Conn) offered joint resolu-
tion that the vacancy in the Board OF Regents OF tue
Smhsonisn Institution by the death of Professor Eel
ton, be filed by Henry Barnard Of Connecticut.
Laid over.
Mr. DIXON said that Mr.. Barnard WAS known
all over the country as a man who had devoted NE
whole life to the Of popular education TO the
very object for which the Smithsonian Institution
wac formed--the diffusion Of knowledge among
mantiDd.
The resolution was referred 10 the Committee on
the Library. A.
Mr.. WILSON (Rep.. Mass reported from the
Military Committee the House bill making ah audi-
ON motion of Mr.. HARRIS rep, N. " the bill
for the safe keeping and maintenance Of United
States prisoners was taken up, and passed.
On motion of MIR. COLLAMER KEEP, VIZ the
bill authorizing the Commission for the preservation
Of the Atlantic Fisheries wac taken up
The bill authorizes the President TO appoint
Commissioner To meet with the British aud French
Commissioners, to take measures for the preservation
OF the fisheries.
The bill wac passed.
Mr. SUMNER Rep, Mass.), from the Committee
on Foreign Relations, reported resolution provld-
ing for the custody of the presents received from the
King Of siam.
The bill provides that the presents be deposited
among the curio.ties Of the Department OF the In
terror. The bill was passed.
The Senate took up the ConftcatIon blu
Nj. McDOUGALL Dem., Cal is speaking against
Mr.. GRIMES Rep., Iowa., from the Committee
the District Of Columbia, reported bill for the
codcaon and revision of the laws Of the District OF
Columbia. ~
On motion of Mr. HARLAN Rep, Iowa. the bill
provditg for the satisfaction Of claims for certain
lands sold by the United States in Louisiana was
taken up, but after discussion was laid aside'
The CoDiscation bill WAS then taken up.
Mr.. McDOUGALL tUn., Cal resumed his speech.
He quoted from Justice Story, and other writers, rs
showing that there should be no coDtscatlon OF any
private property lie (McDougall contended that
lhe provision the bill relating 10 the free ny OF TIE
slaves WA unconstitutional. He then quoted from
the declarations of the President and Secretary OF
State 10 show that an entirely different Lohcy nsd
been declared by the Government. The COLONIZATION
scheme wild and impracticable. de tMcDou-
Rall) contended that maguaDimity was the greatest
virtue Of vietors aud that We should 90 forward
with the Constitution, our common Cons'ltuion, IN
She one hand and with peace in the other.
Mr. COWAN Rep, Pa II agree with the Seua-
tor from California (Mr. McDougall in considering
this one OF the most important bills ever before Con-
Rress and as one upon which the fate Of the Amer-
can Republic may depend. We are nos standing
squarely face to face with questions which are most
pregnant with results for the future. Shall we
stand or fall by the Constitution or leaving enter
for the future upon the wide field Of revolution 7
Shall we attempt 10 go back to those doctrines which
marked the middle ages and Introduce now iu;o this
country feuds like those which intervening centuries
have not suficed 10 remover These ere the gres!
questions which are in this bllevery Of them.
fhs bill proposes to 20 forward and strip the whole
population OF the South of their property aud reduce
them to povertysnd while yet 400, 900 of them have
ARM in their hands. II there is anything calculated
70 make that entire people enemys slways 1t will
be the PRONUNCIATION Of sueh an act az this. VIII
they yield 10 any in view o. such destruc-
tiop ] What would we ourselves do under any such
circumstances need hardly ask that question Of
men who have descended from fires who refused to
pay petty ,sx on tea. and from grandsires who
raised revolution rather than pay twenty shlllings
shp-moDey-tbat think was the amount demanded
" IRON Hampden-a revolution which cost King
Charles his head. No such sweeping measure
this has ever been enacted. Even in the days Of
William the Conquerer the proud Norman and his
bsrons content with the fefs and csste Of the
Saxon leaders. They did not dare to strip the people
OF their property, nor even much increase
their burdens. They knew that, victorious as they
were, they would have involved themselves in iuI
more dangerous struggle, in which every peasant
u
glish, in their contest with, and bills Of attande
against, the Irsh attempted TO touch the po.
sessions of the common people, but only the property
of the mobiles. This bill goes further, and attempt
10 con6sca.e another species Of property. which can
Dot be put into the Golfers of the conqueror. near
the property 10 ssves don't intend 10 stop 10 dis
cass the question OF property OF this kind. II il
enough for TO say that all the people Of the SOuf
seem TO agree 10 this kind of property with won
derful unaplnity, and 10 resent any interference
with IL. This bill proposes to Gberate 1900, 0D0
If slaves-truly the most stupeDdous stroke for
universal emancipation ever attempted in the world.
Indeed. ] think il virtually Eberates the whole
1900 600. What lie to be the effect Of tits upon the
war Shall we be stronger, or shall We mud that
We have only donbled the number OF those in arms
against us They now have cause for rebellion.
Will not this bill furnish them one Let the loyal
men Of that section who know them, answer tits
question. 1 will abide their i submit
again that del berative assembly in the world
ever before sat in judgment on 30 stupendous an
issue Yes US if to tlind still MORE this bill has
a proposition Of still greater magnitude, and il
possible, Of still greater diff guilty: that il,
20 tropical cline, and to protect them
there with all the rights and guarantees of freemen.
And this is all provided for in single section and q
single sentence Of nine lines. Truly, we must have
recently transported ourselves from the practical do
main OF facts and set down in the romantic ions
Of Eastern fiction. DO the advocates of this meas
ore propose TO confer upon the Presiden, the gold
making touch Of Midas Nothing short Of the ring
and lamp Of Aladdin, with their attendant GENT
would insure the success Of such scheme unless il
II believed that the Trea,ury Note possesses this
magic power. And even under that supposition,
shnk the owners Of those Southern climes, and
the transportation Companies, ought to be con-
presume it is not supposed that this modern
exodus will be supported on the Way