Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-03-28
xxxvlI CONCREss.-.FJRsT SESSION

ARLINGTON. 0Arch ~.
HousE.-Mr. Fenton asked. but failed to obtain
leave 70 introduce = resolution insiruc. ting the
COmmittsc on the Conduct Of the war TO inquire
into tho cause Of tho exposure Of large bodies Of
our troops belonging TO the Army Of the Potomac,
consisting OF reg nents, bri gades, and in many in
stances Of whole divisions, who have been de-
prived Of shelter for days and weeks. in eon.s-
quencc Of having their orders to march counter
manded, then being again ordered to msreh, and
again eountensnded, without adequate food, and
to who is responsible for this needless exposure
and suffering ofour troops.
The House went into Committee Of the Whole
on the tax bill. Among other amendments adopt
ed Was . proposition that the tax on goods and
wares, and merchandise manufactured pursuant
to contract undor this act, shall DO paid by pur-
chasers before the delivery thereof. Several sec
tions Of the bill were then acted upon, when tho
committee rose.
Nj. Rice, Of Massach usetts, from the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, reported joint resolution
appropriating SO, 600 to enable tho Secretary OF
the Treasury TO test the plans and material for
rendering ships and floating batteries invulnera-
BILE.
The House. in Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of tho Union, resumed the consideration OF
the tax bill.
Mr. Sheffield offered an amendment that upon
all sales Of goods, wares, merchandise and other
property and estates, which shall be used fer
sumptior or for investment, including all kinds CT
property, excluding jobhcrs or middle men, tax
ef ono per cent on the amount Of euch sales.
After discussion. the amendment was tempo
rarily withdrawn. Further debate followed.
An amendment was adopted taxing candles Of
any material, valued 1t not over Is cents per
pound, one-half per cent per pound; between Is
| and 20 cents per pound, one cent per pound, and
above % cents, one-half cent per pound.
An amendment was also adopted taxin; An
thracite coal Is cents per ton and Bituminus coal
q cent per bushel-sdopted with tbs p-oviso, not
TO 60 into effect until the termination Of the Re-
ciprocity treaty.
WASHINGTON, March -.
SENATE. Mr.. Sumner presented several petit
tions IN favor Of the emancipation Of slaves.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution asking the Ssc-
rotary Of the Interior to transmit to the Senate
all the correspondence in relation 70 tho bark
Augusta. Adopted.
Mr. Hale also ofysrel \ resolution at the
| Committee on Naval Afiirs be instru tied 70 iu'
quire whether there was not any laxity OF The
part of the officers of the blockadipg squadron
! on the coast, especially Mt Charleston, and
whether there was any foundation fur tho state
msnt Of the British Consul at tina. port tn at arm
ed troop. ships Of the Confederate States lave
been allowed to 60 in and out Of the port Of
Charleston, and no attempt to st1p them
Adopted.
The joint resolution giving pceunia:y aid "a
the States in case they should emanciplte theil
slaves, was taken up.
AeuVcI0Ou DAIu EO IelC ulePtSou W SUtS
fer the resolution. There was y strong object
ion to it in the Border States, and they beiiev-
ed that this YVES an attempt to abolish slavery
in those States, and them in the other States
lie was sure there was no such int ,nti n on the
part Of the President, and he thought there was
such intention on the part Of tho members of
| the Senate. Although the subject Of slavery
was the cause of the rebellion. yet there were
other interests in tho State Of Missouri. The
people in that state were deeply interested in
having the Mississippi river kept open to its
mouth. lie had opposed all agitation Of the
| slavery question. He had also opposed the bill
for the abolition of slavery in the district OF
Columbia, NOT because he considered it uLconsti.
tuticnai, but because it was inexpedicnt to bring
the subject up for discussion. fhe South had
| been frightened Ly rome story Of an Abolition
mons'er, yet, il tho Congress should abolish tht
| petty smopnt OF slavery in the District Of Co
| lumbia, he did not believe that his State would
sccede; but hoped that if Senators are deter
| mined to do this thing, they would be quick, fol
| the great State Of Delaware getting a peep be
hind the curtains, .nd discovering tho awfu
plot to enaccpate the lev savcs she has alrs adj
nearly free, might go South for her Constitu.
| tional right, where certainly her Constitut ona
rights will be preserved in full force. Tho Sen
ators from Kentucky arc getting excited, End tn,
! Senators from Virginia and Maryland are getting
! suspicious of some dreadful thing to happen. II,
had been opposed 10 tho bill for the cultivation o
| for the reas0n that it might have bad effec
upon the Border States, yet, il the statement is
true that slavery should TO tho corner stone of the
Government, he was willing 70 fight to the las.
| wi.h tho North against such Government. Moth
ing would tempt him to raise his hand against the
| Government. All the revolution he would want
was the ballot box. He did not think there were
| fifty thousand slaves lett in Missouri, as large
| numbers Of them had teen taken South. The
| people in that State had lost property equal in
| value TO the whole amount Of her slaves At ihe
commencement Of this war. He regarded the
| Presidents Message rot as a threat, but as q
| prophecy which he felt would be fulfilled every
where if the war continued. He was perfectly
| willing that the proposition should 60 to the peo
! pie Of his State, and the matter left entirely t.
the States. Ninety-six days Of the war expense.
would have paid for all the slaves in Missouri
Kcntucky, Delaware, Maryland and tho Distric
| Of Columbia, and the expenses Of the war for twt
! years viii pay for all the slaves in the country.
Mr.. Pierce, from tho Committee Of Finance. 70
ported . bill to allow arms ord~red by States t
mid in the suppression OF the rebellion to COM
free Of duty.
On motion Of Mr.. Fesscnden the naval appre
pr;stion bill WAS then taken up. A long discus
| sion ensued on the completion Of Stevens Bat
terry. No action was taken on it, and tho Senat,
| went into executive session.