The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-01-22
xxxvII Congrcss--rir., Session.

XXXvHI COngrcss--First Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l8.
HousE.-Mr. Dunn, from the Military
Committee, reported bill authorizing and
directing the Secretary Of War to furnish
the prisoners Of the United States. in the re-
VOTED States with clothing and other neces-
saries Of life, and, for this purpose, that he
employ such agents as may be necessary.
Passed.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on Judi
ciary, reported back, with amendments, the
bin amendatory Of tina act of 1857 to nforcc
the attendance Of witnesses. Passed. It re.
peals that part which exempts witnesses who
have testified before an examining commit
tee of either House from being used as evi.
dence in court ofjustice.
After debate Of several hours, the House
adjourned, with the understanding that the
question be taken up tomorrow at one
o'clock.
SENArE-On motion Of, Mr.. Wilson, the
bill in relation to the arrest Of persons claim.
ed as held to service or labor by officers in
the military or naval service Of the United
States was taken up. The bill provides that
any officer arresting any persons held to
service or to labor shall be discharged from
the service.
Mr.. Collamer, offered an amendment OF
as substitute, that no officer of the army
or navy, militia or volunteer, shall assume
TO exercise any authority to arrest detain,
hold or control any person held to service,
and that any person 50 offending be dis
missed from the service. Agreed to.
Mr.. Salisbury offered the following amend
ment as new section Nor shall any sold
Ter or officer, under like peralty, in any way,
entice, decoy or retain any such person from
his or her master or owner. $40,
Mr.. Salisbury said that he thought that
the officers or soldiers Of the United States
ought to have nothing TO do with the. ques-
ton at all, either way.
Mr.. Rice novedato add after the words,
master or owner" the words '.who may
be loyal citizen of the United States" 50
Agreed to. -
Mr.. Wilson opposed tho amendment. He
was against any kind ofjustiacation of sla.
very. What he wanted was to prevent
officers Of the army from returning slaves.
Some officers have already disgraced the
service in this way. and God willing, he
(Wilson) if he had the power meant to pre-
vent their confirmation by the Schate.
The contested seat of Kansas was taken
up. vs.
The question being ths motion Of Mr..
Clark to strike eur the word ''not'' in the
resolution of the Committee of the Judiciary
that Mr.. Lane was not entitled to- his seat.
Mr.. Lane said he had refused to accept
the Office on the 22d of July. He referred
to the contest in Kansas with Mr.. Stanton
for the Senatorship, and said that four days
after he was elected, the Governor whom he
had oyerthrown, and his contestant whom
he had beaten, declared the seat vacant.
Mr.. Bright thought the question barely a
legal one that the President having APP.
pointed him to An Office not created, the
Senator from Kansas could not accept il,
and therefore did ppt yacate. his seat ia. the
Senate. Il. 4.
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 re-
gard to CO ltracts, &c. The answer states
that the 6rst resolution was received at the
Department just after the battle of July 2lst
and that since then he has not had sufficient
clerical force to properly answer the reso-
luton. The answer also states myself have
not made single contract fo- any purpose
whatever The heads of Bureaus have
made all the contracts. The subject was re-
ferred.
Mr.. King presented petition that the
lands of convicted traitors be awarded to
soldiers and also to abolish all fees and pre-
quisites Of oGcc. Referred.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill to amend
certain Articles Of War.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution that Ward
H. Lamop. U. S, Marshal for the District OF
Columbia, by his recent order communicated
to the Senate, excluding The members of the
Senate from the jph without pass from
him, has been guilty Of breach Of the priyi-
leges Of the Senate and contempt of the
rightful authority Of this body, and that the
Secretary Of the Sspste be directed to COM
mnnicate copy Of this resolution to the
President. @ .8 saasvr s,
The discussion was confined by Messrs,
Lane, Stanton, Clark and Foster.
A vote was taken on Mr.. Clark's motion
to strike out the word not. 5re so
YEAS Messrs. Bright, Browning, Chan.
dler, Clark. Collamer, Cowan, Doolittle, Fes-
sended, Hale Harlan. Harris, Howe, King,
Lane of Ind, Latham. Morril, Pomeroy,
Rice, Sherman, Sumner, Trumbu,l, Wilnot,
Wilson-24.
NAYs--ADthony, Bayard, Carlisle. Davis,
Dixon, Foote, Poster, Johnson, Kennedy,
McDousal, Nesmith. Pearce, Powell, Sauls.
bury, Ten Eyck, wade-l6.
Mr.. Dixon offered resolution TINT the
usual mileage be. allowed the oontestine
member. Laid over. After executive ses.