New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-19
XXXVuTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

,;,tee apuointed in July last, TO inquire into the
question of the property of the Government ct the
Aunory Of Harper's Ferry, made volumnous re-
mort. which was ordered TO be printed.
Mr. HARRIS (Rep., n. ~, introduced bill IN
creaspg the salaries of the Surveyors Of the ports at
Albany and Troy, N. Y. He explained that this bill
dispensed with several officers at those ports and In
creased the compensation of the Surveyors, so that
the business Of the Government could be attended
to as efficiently by three instead of the seven officers
now, while iavng Of s., 600 1000 year woald
be effected.
The bill was referred
Mr.. SUMNER (Rep., Mass.) introduced resolu-
tion calling on the Superintendent OF the census
Bureau for the names of all persons who own slaves
in this District the ages Of the slaves, and other H.
formation relating TO them. Agreed 70.
Mr. KING tRep., n. ~ presented four petitions
in favor of a Bankrupt law.
Mr. CHANDLER (Rep., Mich. presented memo
rials from citizens Of Michigan in favor OF the con-
fscaon Of the property OF the Rebels and emancipa-
tion of their slaves
Mr.. McDOUGAL Un., Cal.) introduced resolu-
ton calling on the Secretary Of tue Interior LOT
statement Of the amount paid for legal services Dy
the Government in legal suits In California onrihR
the last four wears and also during the same period
in Mexico, and for what special service SAD sun'
were PAID
| Mr.. SHERMAN Rep., Ohio suggested an amend
ment, calling for 9 statement OF the sums PAID oy ,iie
/ DIptrlct ATTORNEYS IN suld kGlit. Iic
letter from the Secretary Of the Interior stating ta
tbe bill passed by Congress the other day reguiatinB
the salaries of District Attorneys, was que useless
as the salaries large enough win tpesnpie GA
cep,ion Of those of Massachusetts,
| Ibe resolution was passed without Amendment
Ibe hill establishing an armed mail steamship
! linz from San Francieco to ShGnghae, touching AZ
Yhc Sandwich Islands and japan, each vessel TO be
commanded by Lieutenant OF the Navy, was tnch
taken up. o., , a. ,;u a..
causing expenditures ho' ""ii""''u '""e WV
present war. 80,
Mr.. LATHAM Dem., Call favored the bill ar
one of real economy, and compared our Pacific
squadron with that of Great Britain IN the North
Pacific and argued that this armed steamship line
would increase our naval strength IN these waters
He urged it's vast importance in commercial view.
Pending a vote ON the bill, the hour for the
enecial order arrived aud Mr.. HOWARD addrcssed
the Senate on the bill to conscate the property and
free the slaves Of Rebels.
AIR. HOWARD REP, Mch.) proceeded to say
that the lii was one OF great noyel;y-one which
be thanked God had not been necesstated during the
tast eighty years. Rut we must remember that we
are living in novel times-that the country was
engaged 10 struggle unequaled in history, and We
were bound by the laws OF man 10 do our whole
duty TIE idea of conliscatiOn was as ancient a.
nro3ertv itself England in al her wan had seized
properly from the enemy, coniscated ai the properly
of ihe Catholic church during the reign oi Heniy
VIII, and had plundertd the seas orH ...,,, ,,v
towns Of the colonies, os recited in the Declaration
Of Independence. England in all her history bad
SGT the precedeut Of eontscation and sho ought to
be the last 10 complain Of IT. lie quoted from
Thierss History of the French Revolution, to chow
the general seizure Of property at that time, and ne
Howard thought that the course OF the revolution
lists at that time was not altogether unlike that OF
the Rebels in the South. Mr. Howard then pro-
ceeded to show that during me war Of the Revola-
ton the several States had onffcaed all the property
of those who had leve,i war against them, IN
etsnced in the case q Georgia. which had conGscatod
tie property OF over hundred citizens OF Savannah
who were disloyJ The report Of the proceedings
of these confscaiioDs are found IN Marburys Digest
of the Laws Of Georgia. The Sspreme Court had
recognized the validity OF these conf-eetiOns IN that
State and they were likewise acknowledge in The
fifth article OF the Treaty OF Peace with Great
Bri ain. South Carolina had outlawed 800 persons
and forfeited their property in l7s2 for giving aid %
the king. North Carolina IN l719 passed a coniis-
cation act against disoya persons and against those
who even absent from the state, showing that
rho regarded il wrong not 10 be NJ home 10 de-
fend the State Virginia, Mary hand, New-York,
Massachusetts, New-Hanpslire aud New-Jersey had
all passed laws orfctng the property oi the rebels.
These special acts and their results were alluded Ia
| by Mr. Howard at length. lie had no doubt Of the
Constitutional right to pass tins coni.caiion
/ bill, and lie maintained that this night was
fully covered by tho power gwen M
in the Constitution 10 levy war. Coniseation was Il
principle of self-defense and he held that foreign
enemy was entitled 10 greater lenty than a rebel
because the former has violated sacred obligations
of allegiance TO bis country He assumed that an
attalnder had nothing more TO 60 with coniscatior
Of property than il has with a mortgage or sheriff
, execution. lie reviewed at some length the cause
which led TO the war; and argued that by this rebel
lion the States bad severed every liganent of STATE
Cons itutional rights which bound them 10 this Gov
ernment They lad abdcaed those relations. Ii,
would favor discrimination IN the confsCation, gu'
not let the innocent suffer with the gully; but lie
the bghtng breath OF this bill fall upon the leader
of the rebellion. The people Of the country dc
manded that those who led and aided the rebellion
q should be made TO suffer part Of the immense bur
4 dens rlaced on the country by the war. He con
clnded by urging tine immediate passage OF the bill
which would be hailed with JOY throughout ti
, land.
The Confscation bill was then hid aside, whe.
the San Francisco and China Mail steamship Lin
bill was again considered.
Mr.. LATHAM advocated the passage Of the BIZ
, as of Importance to the Pacific Coast, and TO th
commercial men of the East.
, Mr. FESSENDEN Rep, Me- thought the prees
ING demands of the Government would not warran
tho establishing Of systen Ike the proposed b.,
. tis bill, which in fact had been abandoned IN time
of ueace when the treasury wHs lull. The Pacih
Coast must expect 20 be deprived u measures k'
these i'm common with other States when the Gov
ornment needed every dollar ior extraordinary ex
penscs.
Pending "A vote on the bill, the Senate adjourne,
till Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
the House passed the bill making further appro
priations for certain evil expenditures, including
half million Of dollars for completing the ives
wing Of the Treasury Department.