The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-02-27
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
BY FHH n. w. LINE.
Exclusively for the Journal.
CONGRESSIONAL.
CoNGREss-FIRsT SESSION.
WAsHISeroN. Feb. 2e.

SENATE.-Messrs. Doolittle and Sumner
presented petitions for the emancipation Of
slaves.
Mr.. McDougaH, from a special committee,
reported bill for the establishment of a
railroad and telegraph line from the Mis-
souri, river to the Pacific Ocean.
On motion of Mr.. Wade, the bill for the
occupation and cultivation of cotton lands
was taken up.
The Senate passed the bill fixing the
number of members Of the House at 241
The case of Mr.. Starke was taken up
Mr.. Sumner spoke at length against the adj
mission of Mr.. Starke.
Mr.. Davis thought the Senate had all the
evidence before them. He contended that
the Senate could not exclude TOR mere opin-
ion. There must be some overt act. What
/ is disloyalty He thought the majority of
! the people think the Senator from Massa-
chusetts disloyal. He could take the resolu-
tions offered by the Senator from Massa-
| chusetts and prove him as disloyal as the
gentleman from Oregon. Indeed that was
his view of the relative state of the case.
The Senator from Massachusetts had bet
ter beware what principles he advocated or
he may be brought to submit to them him
self
| Mr.. Wilmot said disloyalty might be de-
| fined as unfaithfulness to the country and
government by assertions and sympathy
| aside from an overt act. If person is dis
loyal, he certainly should not be entitled to
seat, and he thought now was the proper
| time to settle the question.
Mr.. Carlisle spoke at some length, con-
tending that the Senate had no power to
exclude any person sent with proper quail
fcations from a State. There might be a
different view as to what was disIoyal. He
had seen fifteen Republican papers charging
the Senator from Massachusetts, with dis
loyalty. He would never declare by vote
| that State is to be held subordinate to the
pleasure of the Senate in their right OF rep
resentation.
Mr.. Doolittle thought it a question
whether the Government should attempt to
go into the raising of cotton and attempt to
run plantations. He thought it would be a
very difficult experiment in a pecunary
sense. But if there was a proposition to
lease out the lands, he should not object.
Mr.. Wade SAID he did not suppose the
bill would realize any great gum of money,
but there was large extent of territory
abandoned and slaves left at large, and
something must be zone to take care of
them. This is not any settled policy but
only temporary measure for one year to
meet the necessities of the case.
Mr.. Doolittle thought if Commissioners
had been sent down to Port Royal to see
the elephant we have in our hands, we
have received great deal of information.
Mr.. Wade asked if he (Doolittle) had i.
read the able report of Mr.. Pierce on the
subject.
Mr.. Doolittle said he had not. He con-
fessed ignorance on the subject.
HoUsE-Mr. Voorhees,, of Indiana, asked
off hS
thanks of Congress to Major General Nc
Clellan.
Mr.. Lovejoy objected.
The resolution commends the sentiments
and policy avowed in Gen. Halleck's gener-
al order of February 23d, already publish
ed, as eminently wise and patriotic, and in
strict conformity to the constitution and
that the war should be conducted in accord
anee with the same, and that the thanks
of Congress are rendered to Gen. Halleck
for said order and for his military achieve
ments as commander of the Department of
Missouri.
Mr.. Van Wyck, addressing the speaker,
announced his desire to be excused from
serving as chairman of the Committee on
Government contracts. I some weeks since
informed my colleagues / should resign my
place entirely on the Committee so that an
other could be appointed, but they insisted
that l should continue as one of its mem
bers, devoting such time in its service as
could spare. Recollecting the sentiments
of warm and generous friendship so often
manifested on their part towards me | do
not feel at liberty to disregard their wishes
The Committee has yet much to do, al
though the unhinching integrity and untir-
ing watchfulness Of Secretary Stanton re-
lieves it of many of its cares. would also
ask to be excused from serving as chairman
of the Committee on Revolutionary PEN
sions.
A long debate ensued on the Virginia
contested election case of Mr.. Upton.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered the following re-
solution, which was adopted
ResolUed, That the committee on Gov
eminent Contracts be directed to inquire
into the amount of money received by the
federal officers in the city of New York by
virtue of their offices also as to the own
ership and rents of the bonded warehouses
also the terms, considerations and profits of
the labor contract, general orders contract
for storing, hauling, delivering, &C., of for
eign goods in the city of New York also
when the contracts were made, by whom,
and who are now interested in the same.
The chairman ruled that as to the chair
manship from which the gentleman asked
to be excused from service, that was ques-
ton for the Committee to determine.