Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-09
COSGRE<~uoNAa..

the Military Committee IA place OF Blair, OF
Missouri: and Leaman. of the same committee. in
place of Jackson. deceased.
Messrs Fessenden and Walker were appointed
to iil vacancies on the Committee on Private
Land Claims
Other standing committees remain as hereto
fore
The Speaker appointed the following gentle
men a special COMMITTEES TO investigate The
charges derogatory 10 The standing Of Mr.. Ashley.
as published in the Toledo Blade and other pa
pers named: Blake of Ind, NOEL of No, Casey
of Nv Haight of Y Y
Mr. ckliie introduced bill for the protec
ton and relief OF loyal citizens whose property
and slaves have been seized BY officers OF the
United States Referred 10 the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Other business of minor importance was trans
acted
Mr. Stevens offered series of resolutions re
ferring the various parts Of the Presidents mes
sage to appropriate committees.
Mr. Richardson severely criticised the message,
urging that most of il was about the negro and
nothing about the bravery Of cur soldiers.
On motion of Mr.. Edmonds. it resolved
that the Committee on Indian Affairs be in
strueted to inquire whether any further legisla-
ton is necessary in relation to Indian funds held
by Government, and report by bill or otherwise.
On motion Of Roscoe Conkling. the President
was requested, if in his opinion it was not incom-
patible with the public interest, to transmit to the
House the last official report of Gen Buell.
Mr.. Van WICK introduced bill 60 provide for
the immediate payment of clothing lost in service
by soldiers of the United States army Also
bill increasing the pay OF Drivates, nOn-commis-
stoned officers and musicians.
Both bills we're referred 10 the Committee
Military Affairs.
Mr. Stevens introduced n bill to indemnify
President Lincoln ana other persons for suspend
ing the privileges of the writ OF habeas corpus.
and tor all acts done in pursu ance thereof.
The bill Is the same that offered last week.
Mr. Vallandigham objected to the reading OF
the bill.
Under the rules the question occurred, shall
the bill he rejected?
The House refused to reiect--34 against 80.
The bill was then read a second time.
Mr.. Stevens moved to postpone The further con
sideratio of the bill till Thursday and make
il the special order for that day.
Mr.. Vallandigham objected
Mr.. Cox desired To refer il To the j Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. Stevens then asked that the bill be put OH
its passage.
The main question was ordered-S3 to A.
Mr.. Olin expressed surprise TINT any objection
should be made 10 postp0nement when an OppOr
tunity its discussion could he afforded If
postponed until Thursday, it could be examined
with the care and wisdom which the House
should bring bear upon the subject. What he
objected especially to was that measure of such
great importance, and upon which there such
diversity of opinion, should be hurredly thrust
through the House The President had authori-
" by law to exercise all the power he had
ercised with reg;rrd to the writ of habeas corpus
He concurred with the gentlemen from Pennsyl
vania (Stevens) that bill of this character
proper; but while he thus concurred, he should
4 ~. 4. II.
members knowing its legal provisions 1t
discEedtabe to the House and country. He
should be asha med return his constituents
and say that Congress had passed an act without
permitting word. yea or nay, to be said on the
subject He hope'l. for the credit of the House
and the country, that the matter would be post
poned
Mr. Nallandigham said he had objected only
to the bill being made the special order.
Mr. Colfax differed from the gentleman from
Ohio: he did not think the immediate passage Of
the bill would be discreditable to the House. In
stead OF ibis, it would be cre,iitable This ques-
ton has been discussed all over the land whether
the President has power to suspend the writ of
habeas corpus during the rebellion. He stood
ready to vote for the bill to indemnify him. He
hoped the bill would pass at once
Mr. Stevens was about addressing the House
on the subject, when
Mr. VaIandiglam raised q question that Mr..
Stevens had no right, under the rules. to do
Mr. Stevens asked for three minutes to ex-
plain.
Mr. Valandigham objected unless others have
similar privilege.
Mr. Holman moved to lay the bill on the table
Lost--45 to Sc
Mr. Stevens explained IL Was not his inten
ton to pat the bill ON its passage, but postpone
men prevented. Massachusetts desired an
amendment that those who had been illegally i'm
prisohed might have their remedy.
Mr. Stevens, in further explanation, said ne
doubted the authority of the President to sus-
pend the writ of haieas corpus except from ab
solute necessity during the recess of Congress
He held that Congress was the sovereign power,
and not the President.
The bill pasSed--90 against 40.
SENATE -Messrs Foster. Sumner, Dixon, La
than Fessenten. Grimes and King, severally
presented petitions in favor of general bankrupt
act.
Mr. Wright presented memorial from Cover
nor Morton, OF Indiana, praying for an increase
of pay to common soldiers Referred TO the
Committee on Military Affairs
Mr. NesIniih offered "A resolution iDstructing
the Secretary OF War 60 report TO the Senate the
number and ranks of Aid de Camps appointed
under the act Of August, 1861; also the number
and rank of those appointed, drawing pay and
not in active service. Adopted.
Mr. Wilson, OF Massachusetts, offered a reso-
luton nstruciing the Secretary Of War TO report
to the Senate the number of Major Generals and
Brigadier Generals III the service of the
United States, and where and how they are EN-
poyed.
Mr. Sumner offered resolution that the call
upon the Secretary OF War for correspondence
and matter relating 10 the Army of the Poto-
mac, be EXTENDED - - to embody all operations
since the first movement of that army, which
adopted.
Mr.. Latham introduced a bill 20 provide for
developing the mineral resources of the United
States. Referred.
Mr. Salisbury called up the resolution re
lating to the arrest of certain citizens.
Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, objected.
Mr.. Bayard urged the adoption of the resolu-
ton.
Mr. Doolittle said that in all the cases of rr-
rest offers of liberty had been made if the
prisoners arrested would take the oath OF al
legance. He would like to have the resolution
lie over.
Mr. Salisbury said that ne had referred to
these two persons because he had never heard
any charges against them: they had been arrest
rested in a loyal State, and for no offense what
ever He thought they had at least the right to
examine into the matter There was no DISPOSE
ton to oppose the Governme at all.
After further discussion, the Chair announced
the special order to be the bankrupt act. which
was informally laid aside.
Mr. Fessenden from the Committee on Fl