The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-01-15
THE LATEST NEWS.
IMPORTANT CONGRESSIONAL ACTION
The Secretary of War and tho Contract I
SLAVERY AND THE WASHISGTON JAIL.
The FranlsIsE Privilt Ro AbolLbed by the
House.
xXXyU. CONGREss-scuate.
flr-I Session.

RdshiHJ'on, 7ucsdau Jan I'M. Foster
Comm Introduced bin 10 allow tho President b.
accept the services Of certain persons In the army
without pay. Which was referred.
A communication was received from the Pres-
dent transmitting copy Of the instructions - the
minister from Austria. Referred.
Nj. Puwols tkyl resolution was taken mp ask
ing the Secretary Il War for au answer T. the reso-
luton In regard g. contracts, 81.
Mr. Powell urged tue adoption OF the resolution
~ length.
M. Cowan tPcun.l hoped the resolution would
not pass lie opposed t. calling for the general
rcr,rts from the Departments, though he was will
ing to have any details called for If anything was
Mr.. Wilson tMassJ did not believe tie Depart
ment could give this Information for month.
Mr.. Trumbull I'M }, thought the resolution should
lie answered. 1t appears that two aud a half nil
lions Of dollars were given t. MI Cummings, a civil
ian, 10 make purchases
Mr.. Trumbull read ut some length from the re-
port Of the House Invest Eating Committee the evil
dynca Of Mr. Cummings IN regard 10 the purchase
Of straw hats and pantalpOns, etc, and Halls
hines, for tecn dollars apiece, which the Governs
meut had sold before for two dollars apiece; alter
wards they were re-sold for three dollars and fny
cents apiece; afterwards. In August, they were
rc-purchasod tor the Government, by the agent, for
twelve dollars and ANY cents apiece, and turned over
finally 10 the Government at twenty-five dollars A.
piece.
The Committee oftho House arc trying 10 prevent
this last payment
Mr. Biyard tDelj said that Congress hal the
right " require answer d. proper resolutions.
II Congress- abandons this right, 1t may as well
abandon all control of the Government.
| Mr.. Fessenden tMe3 thought that the Senate
should Insist upun nu answer.
The resolution adopted by yeas, % nays,
3.
/ Ndys-M essrs. Browning, Cowan and Harris.
A communication was received from United
States Marshal Lauon, stating that he had made
certain regulations In regard e. admissions into
the jail Of the District Of Columbia rs follows -
F'rst-Admittng the President and members of
the Cabinet
Court aud the President OF the Senate aud speaker
uf the House.
Fourth.-Almittng members Of the senate on =
pass from the President of the Senate
FiuA,-Admittiug members of the House on a
pass from the Speaker Of tho House.
| Sirth.-An other persons are excluded without a
pas, from Marshal Lamou.
MIR. Hale IN IL said the Senate ought to take up
| tho communications Immediately. II one OF our
servants can issue ukusU denying IA admission, M
senator's a. public institution, he thought It Wa
L time a. give II an emphatic rchuke, and the Presi
dent ought u remove him instantly.
| Mr.. Grimes tlowpl moved h take up the bill re-
lutng e. the jail delivery.
niCatiuu from Marsha! Lamuu WAS not true one
lie tGrmcsl refused aduittance t. the inil yes
terlay, leCtuse he had No pass from this foreign
satrap who was brought here from Illinois, and inn
passed upon the inhabitants Of this district. IL,
| tGrm'sy intended 10 eNlSse the character of TIM
Marshal.
The motion OF Mr. Grimes was agreed 10, and til,
ill Was taken up,
Mr.. Grimes explained tie bin at length, auc
spoke OF the dsguceiul character Of the jail, wher
\ an classes Of persons were huddlcd together 4
L marshal has been brought here g. take care of TN
| Jail who has mo- interest iu the District
| Mr. Pearce tMdg said that the laws in regard /,
L tie iul were tie laws which were Iu force u thI
/ time Of tie cc-Siu of tie District. This bill give
/ certain persons their liberty, 1t l. a sort of eman
| ciphtiuu ill. The Iuul could not bee restored i
Tie y Icy Of the Goyegnmoutwu known h bc euan
/ ,Iatluu.
| Mr. Powell cuutendcl that the common law wa
the remedy for t the abuse which this iii Propose,
| t. uboli.h There was uo necessity ilr this law a
| ALL unless II WAS mtcnlcl for AL Il slaves.
| Mr. pumpTuy ikauslsJ agreed with the senate
| from Kentucky that the fault was MT Il, mach tn
fault ot the law as II was TIE want ul It's pr per exc
/ cutiun.
| Mr. Garlic wa hoped they would come 70
vote ~ that slavery IN the strict may he prncti
| cally abolished, TIM" enough had been spent ol
l the lin, and he wanted Il passed $50 as to remoy
one peg ou which o. hang s}ml dhetic treatise L
| Mr.. morrill, iMel snld That re could not let IN
Il correction of Hu abuse l with ling at this side O
| the chamber. T'sis was simply bill to correc
| an abuse against the liberty of every man, and h
| tMmrlD could not rest under the uuputDtiou q
| disturbing the delicate relation, ut tie negro ques
| Mr.. Wilson thought that the senator from Main
/ IMurry, had well taken uuti e ui tie remarks a.
| the senator from Virginia iCpIi9. senators Ia
| been talked to by her Mason, and lac feared tina
| the Senator from Virginia tC'rlilc( was trendn
in the footsteps ut hi, predecessor but he tWson
i feared the rebukes Of neither. lie also wanted
| add his word of condemnation g. the insulting col
Il duct OF Marshal LamOu, The colnred people In III
i District had never been oppressed for ten yea
1 as they are now, a colonel caIne e. him today wit
| an dor from a Brh adler General ~ hend back
] ug1,NCs,SNe. Than God The name :, .lft pst