The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-12-26
Congressional Summary.

In the Senate various bills have been intro
duced. A resolution was adopted directing the
Committee of the two Houses on the conduct of
the war to enquire into the facts relative to the
late battle at Fredericksburg, and particularly
as to what officer Or officers are responsible for
| the assault upon the Confederate works and the
delay which occurred in preparing to meet the
enemy-and instructing the committee to report
the result to the Senate. The bill to facilitate
the discharge Of disabled soldiers and the in
pection of convalescent camps and hospitals was
passed, after striking from it provision for the
appointment of two additional medical inspec-
tor generals. The bill to improve the organi-
zation of the cavalry forces was also passed
A resolution OF enqniry was adopted as to the
charter of the transports Thames and Niagara
for the Banks expedition, and the parties exam
lining those vessels and the schooner Nymph in
regard to sea-worthiness. The Bankrupt act was
taken up and debated.
In the House, Mr.. Bingham reported back
| from the Judiciary committee bill providing
! for the compensation of loyal citizens for the
loss of slaves seduced or abstracted by the SOL
diers of the United States and after spicy de-
bate it was laid on the table-yeas &c, nays As
the five Maryland members present voting in
| the negative. The army appropriation bill was
briefly considered and passed, with three votes
against it-Messrs. Norton and Wickliffe Join
ing with Mr.. May in the negative. Mr.. Girls
field on voting yea, said he would explain his
vote at another time. A resolution was adopt
ed calling on the President for information as to
whether the recent Indian hostilities in NIinne-
sofa were incident in any degree to the improp-
er conduct of the agents of the United States.
The balance of the day was spent in debating
the Presidents message.
In the Senate, resolution offered by Mr..
Kennedy, was adopted, requiring the Secretary
of the Navy to inform the Senate if he has ap-
pointed any Acting Rear Admirals since tho last
session; and if so, by authority of what lawl
MIR. McDougall offered resolution of inquiry
in relation to the trial of Maj Gen. Buell., de-
siriug to know from the Secretary Of War the
character of the tribunal by which he is tried,
and whether that tribunal is secret, and had at
tempted to exclude Gen. Buell. from its sessions,
or proposed to him to take an oath not to dis
close any of its incidents or evidence. The res
olution being objected to-, was laid over The
resolution Of Mr.. Powell, inquiring as to whe-
ther State prisoners, in being discharged, had
had to take an oath not to bring suit, was. con-
sidered-as was also the bankrupt bill-but nei-
ther was acted on. Among several bills intro
duced was one by Senator Henderson, in aid of
the emancipation of the slaves of Missouri. 1t
provides compensation to that State, upon the
passage of a law emancipating all the slaves
therein, TO the amount of twenty-five millions
of dollars The second section provides that if
the law of emancipation shall manumit all
slaves prior to July 4, 1866, the President shall
prepare and deliver the whole amount of bonds
on the passage of the act. If such law shall
provide for the termination of slavery, at a la
ter date, the bonds shall be delivered in four
equal nstallments, dating from the passage of
the act to the time when slavery shall cease.
Section third pledges the faith of the United