Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-05
CONGRESSIONAL.

to inquire into the propriety of vesting
the US. Commissioners with powers to
issue writs of heabeas corpus and hold
prisoners to bail for good behavior, and
TO increase the compensation of said Com
m~issioners.
Mr.. Van Wyck introduced a bill to tax
the salary of public officers. 1t was re-
terred to the Committee on WAYS and
Means.
Mr.. Blair of Missouri called up the SEN
ate bill to reduce the number of cavalry
regiments. He said in explanation that
the number of such regiments is 70. The
organization of some of which is imperfect
besides the arms for all of them cannot
conveniently be procured. Complete reg
Iments can be made up by the pending
bill. Some of the enlisted men do not
know how to ride and perhaps never will
learn. The Government would save about
a fourth of the present expenditures by
the passage of this measure. The expen-
ses of maintaining a single regiment is one
million of dollars a year. The House
amended the bill so as to reduce the num-
Der of cavalry regiments to fifty instead of
forty as proposed by the Senate. The
officers and enlisted men necessary to be.
discharged by the reduction to receive
three months pay in addition to allow
ances prescribed by law. All the officers
OF the cavalry to be examined by a board
OF officers as to fitness, etc. The bill pass
ed.
Mr.. Kellogg, of Ill, introduced a reso-
luton which was adopted, instructing the
Committee of Ways and Means to enquire
into the expediency of levying a tax Of
three per cent. per pound on common
Carriers, and making such a lien thereon;
persons and corporations to be prohibited
from carrying or transporting the same
until the tax is paid.
The House on motion of Mr.. Bake, took
up and passed the bill authorizing the 2.
NJ. General to establish q uniform money
order system at all post offices deem suit
able therefor for orders from n to ten
dollars commission of 5 cents, and for
every additional 10 dollars FIVE cents.
Mr. Colfax reported a bill authorizing
the P. NJ. General to permit additional
articles to be sent by mail at present rates
OF book postage. He said that under the
present law roots, cuttings and seeds could
be sent by mail at one cent per ounce, but
stockings for soldiers, flags and many 9th
er things could only 60 Mt letter postage
rates. The bill passed unanimously.
Mr.. Blair reported a bill establishing
an additional article OF war prohibiting all
officers employing any force under their
command to return fugitives. Any officer
found guilty Of violating this article TO be
dismissed from service.
Mr.. Mallory looked upon this as an eff,
fort to repeal the fugitive slave law.
Mr.. Vallandingham moved to lay it on
the table. Lost AZ TO ST.
Mr.. Bingham introduced an amend.
: ment which was agreed to, prohibiting
any person connected with the Army OF
Navy returning fugitive slaves.
Bill finally passed, yeas 50, nays 43.
SExATE.-Mr. Wade from Committee on
Territories, reported back the bill for the
occupation and cultivation of certain cot
ton lands in possession of the United
States.
Mr.. Hale offered an amendment limit
! ing the appropriation to $4,000. Adopt
Mr.. Carlisle said the bill involved som,
: very important principles OF the Consti
l tuition and of the eXpediency, and h,
wanted time to examine it. He moved t
: lay it on the table.
Mr.. Hale hopedthey would pass this bill
$ and several others, especially for confisca
; ton. There was thousands and million
l of dollars in this very city belonging t
> rebels, which ought to be attended to.
: On motion of Mr.. Doolittle the bill wa
: postponed till tomorrow, and made tn
: special oIder.
$ Mr.. Trumbull moved to take up tn
5 bill for the confiscation of the propert
c of rebels. He said within a few week
> the property of a Rebel General in Wash
ington had been sold and proceeds trans
mltted to him while we were imposing
paper currency on suffering soldiers. l
has been settled by the Supreme COur
that Congress has the power to pass a con
tiscation bill. Government has the rIghi
to take persons who may be bound by
contract, or take a child even and draft
into the service of the Government. The
master canno hold the slave by any
stronger tenure.
Mr.. Pomeroy objected to colonization.
He should nov to amend by providing
for the colonization of the shareholders
who are dangerous to the country and
whose loss would not be felt.
Mr.. Wiley wanted to know where there
was any costitutional power for the pres
ent colonization of negroes. 1t would cost
$500 4 head to colonize and keep ignorant
slaves.
Mr.. Fessenden introduced q bill au-
thorizing the Secretary of Treasury to
issue to public creditors certificates for the
whole amount of debt, or certificates OF
not less than 1000, payable in n year OF
earlier, at the option of the Government
bearing at six per cent interest. the bill
was passed.
The Senate resumed the consideration
of the Confiscation bill.
Mr.. Doolittle said that it was q question
whether the Government should 60 into
raising cotton and attempt to run planta-
tons. He thought it would be a very
difficult experiment in a ~pecnniary sense.
Ii there was q proposition to lease out the
lands, he should not object.
Mr.. Wade said he did not suppose the
bill would realize n great sum OF money,
but there was q large extent of territory
and the slaves left at large, and something
must be done. This was not any settled
policy, but only a temporary measure for
the year to meet the necessities of the
case.
Mr.. Hale said if the war could be prose
cuted to successful issue without hurting
anybody, he would be glad of it, but he
did not think that it was q fact. 1t is 4
fact that seed time is upon us, and if We
do not take advantage of it, we may be
obliged to say the summer is past, the
harvest is ended and we are not saved.
The Starke case was taken up, and a.
long discussion ensued.
Mr.. Sumner spoke strongly against his
admission, charging him with disloyalty,
and saying it would be perjury for him
(Starke) to take the oath.
Mr.. Wilmot said disloyalty might be
defined as unfaithfulness in the country
and Government by assertions and sym
pathy aside from an overt act.
Mr.. Carlisle spoke at some leugth, con-
tending that the Senate had no power to
exclude a person sent with proper quail
fications from q State. He never would
declare, by a vote, that a State is to be
held subordinate TO the pleasure of the
Senate in their right of representation.
D. Z