Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-12-17
CONGRESSIONAL
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL.
.SENATE

. 4. . NAonANGAONs Leu. IL.
SENATE.
\ message was received from the Presi-
dent recommending a vote of thanks to
Lieut.. George w. Norris for the determ-
ined yalor and heroism he displayed in
defense of the slOop-of-war Cumberland,
against the rebel iron-clad Merrimac; al
so recommending a vote of thanks to
Lieut.. George L. Worden, for the skill
and gallantry exhibited by him in the
battle between the Monitor and the rebel
steamer Merrimac. Referred TO Naval
Com nittee.
The resolution relative to the arbitrary
arrests of certain citizens of Delaware was
taken up.
Mr.. Morrill, eontended that the resolu-
ton as it now stood was not q mere reso-
luton o finquiry, but u charge against the
Government, and an indictment against
President Lincoln. and he (Morrill) should
vote for no such resolution. He claimed
that in this state of war and rebellion
with the land full of traitors and spies,
the Conmander-in-Chie has the right to
arrest such men. No one, not even the
Senator from Delaware, Salisbury, has
claimed that these men were loyal.
There had been many arrests made. and
the proper presumption is that the Presi-
dent has been arresting guilty men and
simply doing his duty. He (Lincoln)
ought to do it. 1t will not do to pretend
that a whole State and all its people are
loyal n it is known that the State of
Kentucky has been a nest of traitors.-
Three out of every four of the able-bodied
men of Kentucky have gone to rebeldom,
and nobody is left there but old women,
yet tho Senator from Kentucky (PowelD
asks for administration for these men,
That Senator Powell had denounced the
Government from the beginning the same
as his colleague who followed the logical
result of reasoning, and had gone into the
rebel army but not a word does that
Senator (PowelD offer against the rebels.
and r~eiOices over the recent elections, and
says the lion-hearted Democracy are re-
buking this Administration. Well, every
rebel ~rejoices in the same way. 1t is
supposed there will be u peace party in
the North that Will force the Government
into an ingloriouS peace, and that party
encouraged JEFF. Davis and foreign
tries Intervention. There ought to be
some proof that these men were loyal.
Mr.. Morrill, contended that there was
no ground Tor complaint that men were
arrested on suspicion, and men were al
ways arrested ON suspicion of crime.
Mr.. Wright moved to amend the reso-
luton so as TO make the call upon the
President instead of the Secretary of War.
Mr.. Wright said he knew no man was
permitted to live in the South who had
II sympathy with the north. He would
like to see some of the spirit that was
shown by Stonewall jackson when he
found f5 of his men skedaddling from
the battle. lie marched them in front of
the regiment and had every man of them
shot. Instead of this we have PROPOSE
tions for conventions, &c, He (Mr. WI
would stand by the Government and the
President he would have the power of
the Government felt by every traitor
North or South.
Mr.. Bayard argued at some length to
show the affairs of the State of Kentucky
had nothing whatever to do with the
State of Delaware, and hat true loyalty to
the country did not imply loyalty to any
individual. If this is a free coun-
try the people in it certainly have a right
to inquire into the acts of the President.
Mr.. Powell said he had said the Presi-
dent had violated the Constitution, and
he was ready to prove it.
He defied the Senator from Maine or
any other Senator on this floor, to the
lists on this question. He denied that
three out of four of the people of the
State were in the rebel army; three
fourths of the people of that State were
not in arms at all, and he believed that
there were more men in the Union than
in the Rebel army.
He (Powell) wanted to indulge in no
personalities with any Senator here, as
there was a way to settle personal matters
He wanted the Senators to
meet his arguments fairly. He did not
believe this Union could ever be restored
by force of arms; therefore he had OPP
posed the war, and should continue to OPP
pose it. He was in favor of the Conven-
ton proposed by his colleague, Davis
He should also vote for an armistice while
that convention should continue to be in
He contended that President
Lincoln had violated the Constitution in
charging the regular army, in suspen-
ding the writ of habeas corpus, in arrest
ing citizens, in interfering with the free
dom of the press, and in his recent proc
Ilmation.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Yeatman offered the following to lie
over for consideration:
RcsoLred, By the House of Representa-
ives, the Senate oopcurring, that the
Proclamation of the President of the Odd
IF November, 1862, is not warranted by
the Constitution.
Rcsokccd, That the notice Of emancipa-
ion, as indicated in the proclamation, is
not calculated to hasten the restoration of
peace, is not well chosen as a war meas
Ire, and is an assumption of power dan
to the rights of citizens and the
De%rpetuity of a free government.
Mr.. Loyejoy moved to lay the resolu-
ion on the table,
Carried-94 against ii.
The House then went into Committee
If the Whole on the Presidents Message.
Mr.. Hutchins spoke at length, taking
or a text that freedom and slavery were
Incompatible beyond hope of reoncilia-
ion and compromise. L
Mr.. Menzies, replying, said he vas in
he habit Of regarding the enemies of the
PROCLAMATION as the friends of the Consti-
ution. He understood the gentlemen
Ohio (Mr. Hutchins) to be opposed
O the Union as it was. No doubt the rea-
ons assigned by him for the recent de-
eats of the Republicans were satisfactory
0 the gentlemen himself, but he MEM
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