The national Republican., 1862-01-08
THIRTY-sEvENTH CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.
TuEspAY, January I, 1867

1skpg payment Ior terVices IN preparing re-
port Of census Of 1850.
By Mr.. POMEROY: From citizens Of Kan
sas for the emancipation OF slaves. |
BY Mr.. ANTHONY: From the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, and other citizens Of
Rhode Island, favoring the passage of an act TO
make homeopathic physicians eligible as sur
geons In the army.
By Mr.. CHANDLER: From citizens o,
Michigan, asking for u system for exchange of
prisoners.
From citizens o; Michigan, for the emancipa-
BY Mr.. HARLAN: From citizens of Iowa,
favoring the establishment Of an armory al
Rock Island.
REPORTS of COMMITTEES.
Mr.. SUMNER, from the Committee on For.
eign Relations, to which was referred the House
resolution authorizing Henry Sawyer to re-
ceive medal from the King Of Holland, re
ported II back, and asked its passage. Passed
Mr.. SHERMAN reported from special com
mittee the following resolution, which was
agreed to:
Resoloed, That the bills reported from the
commission on comp pensation and expenditures,
organized under the act of July 81, 1861, be
placed on the files on the calendar, subject to
the same order of business as If reported from
q standing committee Of the Senate.
Mr.. GRIMES, from the Committee on the
District Of Columbia, reported back, with
amendment the bill In regard 70 the admins
tration Of criminal Justice in the District Of
Columbia.
Mr.. WILSON, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported back the bill to provide
for the appointment of suffers in the volunteer
service, with IN amendment.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
On motion of Mr. HALE,
Resolped, That the Committee on Naval AT.
fairs be instructed TO inquire whether any
practice now prevails. or has hitherto, within
the past year, prevailed IN any branch of the
naval service, of making purchases through
nized by the laws and regulations for the gov
ernment of the Navy Department, and, II such
purchases have been made, for what purpose
| the same have been made, and have the prices
paid, In such instances, been greater or less
than those paid when purchases have been
| made in the ordinary mode, and also to inquir
whether any further legislation Is nece cessary to
protect the public interest in this branch of
the public service, from fraud and abuse, and
that they have leave to report by bill or other.
wise, and that they have power to send for
persons and papers.
1t was ordered to be printed.
On motion OF Mr. DAVIS,
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be di.
rected to report to the Senate the aggregate
number Of three years' volunteers that have
been mustered into the service of the United
States; the number Of such volunteers, and
| ALSO the number of regiments from each State
and Territory designating the number of infant.
ry, artillery, and cavalry; the number OF brig.
adler generals and other brigade oficers that
have been nominated to the Senate, for its in.
hrmation, first from the regular army, and
second from without the regular army, Of each
class, stating the number of each class from
each State and Territory respectively; and also
what number of each class each State and Ter
ritory would be entitled to of the whole num-
ber Of such nominations made and to be made;
and also Of such nominations made and to BE-
made, excluding the nominations from tho reg.
ular army
BILL INTRODUCED.
Mr.. POWELL introduced bill to abolish
the franking privilege; which was referred to
the Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads.
WEST POINT.
On motion of Mr.. SHERMAN, the bill 10
increase the number Of cadets at West Point
was taken up.
Mr.. TRUMBULL was opposed to the bill,
first because 1t increased the expenses Of the
Government, without producing any officers
| available for the present war. Besides this
objection, he opposed the whole institution,
and believed that the present langushing con.
dition Of the army was owing to the blighting
influence of West Point.
Mr.. CLARK was opposed to the increase,
but favored the continuance Of West Point
He thought that the Senate had as much to do
with the lengthening of the war as that institu-
| ton, and regarded the statement that West
Point has been a nursery Of treason, as o mis-
take. Much less than a third of the West Point
graduates had proved dislOyal, while nearly
one half Of those officers appointed from civil
life, had shown themselves disloyal. Nor was
1t strange. For twelve years, army affairs
ha h.an nontrolloa hv kha
Government itself has taught rebellion. This
bill will graduate but sixteen more than now
each year, and will cost but $3659O more,
annually. He believed that the institution was
necessary, that the officers graduating there
had the confidence OF the army, and he would
therefore vote for the increase.
Mr.. LANE would vote against the increase,
| and was willing to vote to abolish the institu-
| tion altogether, for the reason that there Is no
| separation made between the naturally stupid
and those who have brains. These stupid grad
uates are hourly engaged in making sport of
volunteers. There should be board estab-
lshed to exclude such as were destitute of com.
| mon sense.
Mr.. SHERMAN opposed the bill. He made
a showing Of the actual number of graduates
and the costs, proving the average cost of q
graduate to be much greater than was esti-
mated. He was not in favor of increasing ex.
penses at this time.
| Mr.. DOOLITTLE thought II safe to initiate
the wisdom Of France, the greatest military
nation on the earth, and make two thirds Of the
appointments in the army from the rsnks-the
remainder from West Point. He favored the
institution, but would destroy its aristocracy
aud exclusveness.
Mr.. PEARCE considered West Point an i'm
portant institution, to be fostered, but not in
creased. He would keep the standing army as
| ANAL aa aafat tu upuld sko
army was pillar OF the State 10 time of war
1t was the caterpillar Of State in time Of peace.
Mr.. WILSON said we were drifting into
bankruptcy. Within ten days there should be
passed bill providing a tax Of one hundred
to one hundred and fifty millions per snnum
and for reduction of salaries, civil and military
Therefore, he was willing to sacrifice this bill,
though he considered the aspersion Of West
Point to be unjust. Many of the noblest, bravest
and best men of the army had been educated
there, and had come from States now In revolt
Mr.. NESMITu thnunht the scienlifc training