The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1862-05-28

eyas %. nays 26; but before the reading wa
finished, the morning hour expired and tn
Contiscation bill was taken up.
Mr.. Davis, of Kentucky, proceeded t
speak at length upon it. r
HOUSE. = Mr.. Blake reported from tn
Post Office committee bill to establish Ger
tain post routes. Il declares the bridge part
ly constructed across the Ohio river a
Steubenville, Ohio, abutting on the Virgini
shore, to be lawful structure, public high
way, and establishes post route for the pur
pose OF transmitting the mails, and that tb
Stsubenyille and Indiana Railroad Company
and the Halliday Cave Railroad Company
either OF them. are authorized to have, main
tain and operate said bridge when completed
Draws are to be provided for the passage o
boats. -
Mr.. Blake said the bridge would not ma
terially interfere with the navigation OF III,
Ohio river. ..
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. Collax, from the Postofice committee
reported back the Senate bill providing tha
no person, by reason of color, shall be dis
qualified from carrying the mails, with tn,
recommendation that it do not pass.
Mr.. Colfax said; Not single person OF any
color from any State had ever pettioned fol
this repeal; no Postmaster General had evel
recommended it; no public opinion demanded
it. 1t would not emily allow negroes to be
mail contractors, and therefore officers of the
Government. but Indians and Chinese also
1t would impair the securities of the mails
for in some States blacks, Indians and Chi
nese are not allowed to testify against whites,
and If robbed while in their hands, we could
not provide legal testimony as now, OF the
mail carrier against contractors to useS their
slaves as mail carriers for them, instead ot
free whites, whom they are now compelled
to employ, and money wo'd thus be paid out
OF our Postotfice Treasury for labor of slaves,
which is now impossible; and as the bill cod
not even indirectly aid in crushing out this
rebellion, which he thought the main duty
OF Congress, or cripplng the power which
sustains this treason, a large majority of the
Post0ffice committee concurred with him in
seconding that it do not pass.
Mr.. Dawes, referring to an objection stated
by Mr.. Collax, inquired by the way of an.
swer, whether the latter supposed mail dep
redators were tried in State or U. s. Courts
and whether he himself did not assist in ma
king the laws.
Mr.. Colfax replied, that not being q law
yer, ne could not fully understand the matter,
but he understood that in such cases the
Federal Court was governed by the rules
OF the State in which the trials take place.
Mr. Wickliffe approved Of the decision of
the committee. He had been in formed that
this bill had been introduced into tie Senate
to remove the disability of two distinguished
men. If negroes were to be made mail car
riers, we had better carry out the whole
programme. In addition to making them
soldiers and sailors, we had better throw
open The doors here, and admit them as
members Of Congress. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Colfax moved to lay the bill on the
table, but the hour fixed for the consideration
Of the Confscation bill had arrived, the vote
goes over until o-morrow.
Mr.. Elliot, chairman of the select commit.
tee who reported the coniscation bills, said
the war originated in the rebel States. aud
is carried on by rebel citizens against the
Government. This is precisely the character
of the war. Appropriate legislation may
soon be demanded concerning the rebel
States. These bills concern the property,
not the persons Of the rebels aid in paying
the expenses incurred in crushing the rebel-
on. The lands owned by rebels are used
or carrying on the war, and their unwilling
slaves are made to toll that our Government
nay be Overthrown. Their lands and slaves
IRE made instruments for carrying on the
war. Deprive them of these, and the war
must come to an end, and our immense debt
oalked Of increase. The rebels owe $50.
10000. Every dollar of that debt has been
,onfscated by their Government, repudiated
oy rebel debtors, to whose honor the constit
leuts of gentlemen trusted.
He repealed that as lands and slaves are
being used by the traitors as warlike instru
nents, they should be confscated as the
,endipg bills proposed. These were as
much enemies property as if they owed allie
,iance to a foreign power.
MIR. Elliot supported his remarks by legal
arguments.
Messrs. Riddle and Window favored con-
iscation.
Adjourned.