The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-16
XXXvII OONGREss.---seoond Session,

WASHINGTON. Dec. L

| Petitions were presented protesting against
the action of the Naval advisory board, in
favor of general bankrupt law and giving
bounties to sick and wounded soldiers.
The bill concerning judgments in suits
brought by the United States, was reported
back from the Finance committee, with a re-
! commentator that the House amendment be
disagreed to- Adopted.
The bill abolishing the grades of medical
officers was reported back from the committee
on Military Affairs, with recommendation
that it do not pass.
Bills were introduced amending the acts
| providing for duties on imports, and the act to
| conflscate property used for insurrectionary
| purposes Referred.
A bill was introduced providing for the ex-
tinction of Indian titles in Kansas, and for the
removal of the Indians Referred.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
President to transmit the report of Reverdy
johnson as Commissioner at New Orleans.
The credentials of Hon. Solomon Foote of
vermont, were presented and filed.
A resolution was offered, that after it be-
came manifest that an instruction against the
United States was about to break out in sew
eral of the Southern States, James Buchanan,
then President, from sympathy with the con-
sprators and their reasonable projects, failed
to take necessary and proper measures to pre-
vent it, and that therefore he should receive
the censure and condemnation of the Senate
and American people. Laid over.
A resolution was ordered to be printed in
structing the committee on Foreign Affairs to
inquire whether some method cannot be de-
vised to manifest the sympathy of Congress
with the sufferngs of the Lancashire opera
tives.
A resolution was adopted that the Judiciary
[ Committee be instructed to inquire into the
expediency of providing by act of Congress,
that any loyal citizen who has sustained
6am anas from fha af Gfa4ae
che rebellion, may set off such damages against
any claim in any suit in equity or action at
law by any such rebellions States, agents or
trustee of such States, or in any case where
such claims or demand is for the use or bene-
fit of such States.
The bill providing for the confirmation by
the Senate of volunteer appointments in the
navy, was taken up and discussed until after
the expiration of the morning hour, when the
resolution relating to the arrest of certain
citizens of Delaware was saken up.
Mr.. Davis spoke at length in favor of the
resolution, arguing that the President has no
authority to make such arrest, nor has the
habeas corpus. He denied that slavery was
the cause of the war, but it was caused by
New England and other States abolishing
slavery and making crusade against the
States which held on to the original status of
the country. He thought the people would
arise and reconstruct the Union, leaving Mas
sachusetts out in the cold. If the war had
been carried out according to the Crittenden
compromise, it would have been finished long
ago.
The Senate then went into executive session.
Adjourned.
bill was introduced to establish postal
money order system.
Mr. CollaX of Ind, introduced a bill to re-
duce the duties on paper from 30 to % per
cent. Referred to the committee on Ways
and Means.
A bill was introduced to procure the abol-
ishment of slavery in Missouri, with compen-
sation to loyal owners Referred.
The following resolution passed the House
by vote of 81 against 81:
Resolved, That in the judgment of this
House, there should be no legislation
changing the existing laws providing for the
payment of interest on the public debt in coin.
resolution was adopted instructing the
committee on Ways and Means to inquire into
the expediency of revising the tariff and in
creasing the duty on all foreign goods not of
prime necessity, so that the imports of foreign
goods shall not exceed the amount exported
OF American growth and manufacture, exclu-
sve of specie.
A resolution was adopted to instruct the
committee on Military Affairs to inquire into
the expediency of providing for the dismissal
from service of all unfit commissioned and
non-commissioned officers.
resolution was adopted instructing the
committee on Military Affairs to inquire into
the expediency of granting bounties to SOL
diers enlisting in the regular or volunteer ar
my since the 4th of March 1861, or who may
have, or may hereafter, serve less than two
years.
A resolution was adopted that the Procla-
nation of the President of Sept. 22d, is war
ranted by the Conatitution, and that the policy
of emancipation, as indicated therein, is well
adapted to hasten the restoration of peace;
that it is well chosen as war measure; and
is an exercise of power, with proper regard
to the rights of citizens, and the perpetuity of
our free government. Adopted, 10 against 81.
The Army Appropriation bill for the year
ending June, 1864, was reported from the COM
mittee of Ways and Means, and made the
special order for Thursday.
Mr.. Conway offered a series of resolutions,
which were tabled 50 against l, Mr.. Conway
being the only person voting nay.
Mr.. NOEL of Missouri asked, but did not
obtain, leave to olIer the following:
Resolved, That while the Government is en-
gagged in actual war to suppress unlawful COM
binations of its citizens in open rebellion |
against its constitutional authority, no person |
owning allegiance to it have right, by reason |
of the fact or his or their belief of the exist
ence of the fact that the war is not prosecuted |
by legitimate and constitutional means, to
withhold his or their support to the efforts of
the Government in the prosecution of the war,
or to resist the enforcement of the laws, rails |
ing, maintaining and regulating the army and
navy, or the laws imposing taxes and burdens
for the payment of the expenses of the war;
and If any person or persons in the United
States, thus owing allegiance, shall, for rea-
sons or pretended reasons as aforesaid, resist
the enforcement of such laws or persuade or
incite Others TO resist them, they ought to be
held guilty of high crime, and punished with
death or Imprisonment in the pententiary;
and that the Committee on the Judiciary be
and is hereby instructed to consider the pro-
priety and necessity of providing by law for
the punishment of such cases, and report by
bill or otherwise.
The House passed the Senate joint resou-
ton additionally increasing the bonds of the
Superintendent of Public Printing $4,000
Roscoe Conklin of New York introduced
joint resolution, authorizing the Secretary of
the Navy to despatch an armed vessel, or
should it be necessary, two vessels, TO convoy
any ship or ships carrying contributions for
the starving operatives of England. The res
olution was rejected by vote of 46 to II.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
Where grievous delays happen in the money
due soldiers, and therefore, in order to ascer-
tain If any and what legislation may be neces-
sary TO remedy such delays:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treas
ury be requested to furnish to the House the
rpa ,yhy ha rauttisitinns Of ha