The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-12-13
BURLINGTON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER d 1862
xxxvm CoNGRRss-sD SESSION.

! xxxvn CONGREss-aD SESSION.
WAsH1EGToR Dec. s-HousE.-The SPEAK
ER announced the appointment of Mr.. NcPher-
son to ELL the vacancy in the Committee OF
Military Affairs, in place Of Mr.. Blair, Of No.
and Mr.. Seaman, Of the same Committee, il
place Of Mr.. jackson, deceased Fessepden Anl
Walker were appointed = fll vacancies in Com
mite on Private Dand Claima The other stand
Ing Committees remain % heretofore. The
Speaker appointed the following gentleman as
Special Committee to investigate the charges re-
lating 70 the standing OF Representative Ashley
pers, nancy: Bloke; Of Iod, Noel, OF No Casey
Of Ky.: and Haight, of N. Y, sg ms
Ar. WICKLIFFE introduced bill for the
protection snd relief of loyal citizens WHOSE
property and slaves have been taken, seized and
| sbstracted BY officers Of the army of the uaited
States Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
On motion Of Mr.. EDWARDS it was resolved
that the Committee on Indian Affairs be instruct.
ed to enquire whether any further Legislation ie
necessary in relation to Indian funds held BY
Government, and report by bill OF otheiwise. !
On motion of ROSCOE CONKLING, the
President was requested, if in bis opinion it was
not incompatible With public interest, to trans.
nit to the House the last official report of Gen.
Buell. s >, 4 ..r,4- ,,.s se..zst - -
Nj. VAN WICK introduced bill to pro-
vide for the immediate payment Of clothing lost
in the service by soldiers Of the q. s. A.
Also bill increasing the pay of privates, non.
commissioned officers, and nusiciana Both
bills were referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs.
Mr. STEVENS introduced bill to Indemnify
President Lincoln and other persons for sus-
pending the writ Of habeas corpus and for all
acts done in pursuance thereof is the same az
that offered last week. e,s4
! Hr. VALLANDIGHAM objected to the read.
ing second time; therefore under the rule,
the question occurred, Shall the bill be reioct-
ed' The House refused to reject "a against 90.
The bill was then read second time ID
Mr.. STEVENS moved to postpone the fur.
ther consideration till next Thursday, and make
it the special order for that day.
Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM objected. m ,-
4. Mr.. COX desired to refer to the judiciary
Committee. ,-,ef ~. e--s5. .-...'
Mr.. STEVENS then asked that the bill be
put on its passage. ss- s..s -e.7gs !
Main question ordered. SO against Al.
Mr.. OLIN expressed surprise that any objec-
tion should be made to postponement, when IN
opportunity for its discussion could be afforded.
If postponed until Thursday it could be exam
ined with care and wisdom which the House
should bring to bear upon. the subject What he
objected to especially was source Of such great
importance and upon which there was SUCH di>
versity of opinion should be hurr;edly thrust
through the House. III ASA ,l;i~ -.tsg !
The President had power, by Law, to exercise
all the power he had exercised with regard to
the writ of Habeas Corpus. he copcurred with
the gentleman from Penn. (stevens,) that bill
Of this character was proper, but while he thus
concurred, he should regret to see the bill hur.
ried through the House withou, ten members
knowing it's legal provisions, 1t was diseredit-
bic to the House and country. He should feel
ashamed to return to his constituents and say
Congress had passed an act without permitting q
word, yea or nay, to be said on the subject he
hoped, for the credit of the House and country,
the matter would be postponed. . Il :
Mr.. VALLANDIGHAM said he had objected
only to the bill being made the special order.
Mr.. COLFAX differed from Mr.. Olin. He did
not think the immediate passage of the bill would
be discreditable to the House. Instead of this j,
would be creditable This question had been
discussed all over the land, as to whether the
President had the power to suspend the writ OF
Habeas Corpue during rebellion. He stood
ready to vote for tae bill to indemnify himself
He hoped it would pass at once. @ gvat,I +
Mr.. STEVENS was about addressing the
House on the subject when Vallandigham raised
q question that Stevens hsdino right, under the
rules. to do so. r,.a s7.g r.s- n :.
Mr., STEVENS asked for the minutes, to e1.
plain. AZ ~ III. 3eas ia ''-e.5.-
Mr.. vALLANDIGHAM objected, unless 9th
ers had similar privilege. s-,,,- sz
Mr.. HOLMAN moved to lay the bill on the
table. Not carried-45 to IS. lA
Mr.. STEVENS explained that it was not his
intention to put the bill on its passage, but q
postponement was prevented; that as Massa-
chusetts desired an amendment in order that
those who had been illegally imprisoned might
have their redress Mr.. S. in further explana.
ton, said he doubted the authority of the Pre-
sident to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus
except from absolute necessity during recess
1 He neld that Congress was a sovereign power,
not the President. He had carefully copied the
bill from preredents of the English Parliament
for the last two centuries, not adding word ex.
cept what was necessary. Under the present
circumstances of the country the President was
justified in exercising the power st the time Of
our extreme peril, when traitors were found in
every household and township North and South
! The bill passed by 80 against 45
4 Other business Of minor importance was trans
acted, when Mr.. STEVENS series of resolutions
referring the various parts Of the Message to
appropriate committees, was taken CD.
| AiSAAnDCS.N eSSeIcly CTNICszcO Tue
Message, saying that the most Of it was abou.
| the negro and nothing about the bravery of our
soldiers, Adjourned. -, a -
| SESArE-Messra Foster, Sumner, Dixon,
Latham, Fessenden, Grimes and King se verally
| presented petitions in favor of general bank
rupt act a1.
Mr.. WRIGHT presented memorial from
Gov. Morton of Ineiana, praying for an increase
Of pay Of common soldiers. 5 Referred to Com
mittee on Military Affairs, @ssg8-gE
Mr.. NESMITH, Of Oregon, offered a resolution
instructiDg the Secretary Of War to report to
the Senate the number and ranks Of Abide.
Camps appointed under August, 1861, and also
the number and rank Of those appointed drawing
pay and not in active service. Adopted.
Mr.. WILSON, Of Mass, offered resolution
instructing the Secretary Of War to report to the
Senate the number Of Major Generals and Briga.
dicr Generals now in the service of the United
States, and where and how they were employed.
Mr.. SUMNER, of Mass, moved that the reso.