Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-28
LATEST NEWS.
70 TINE WORCESTER bAllY SPY
xxXv1I.h CoNeREss-Flr.t ses.lon.
Hx TELEGRAPa

XXNEllth CONe6 S-t1rst session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. q.
SENATE.
Petitions for national armory at SPRING
field, Ohio, and indianapolis, and against all
further traffic ia public lands, and a memorial
OF the New York chamber of commerce in ia
vor of continuance of the coast survey, were
received.
Mr.. HALE from the naval committee, report
ed in relation to the answer Of the secretary of
the navy to a resolution in regard to the Nor
gan contracts.
Mr.. WADE offered joint resolution empow-
ering the census superintendent to collect such
war statistics as in the judgment OF the secre-
tary of war are right and proper. 1t was
amended SO as to read that he be authorized to
furnish the secretary of war such war statis-
tics as are necessary tor use in the department,
and passed.
Mr. HALE offered resolution as to the cost
of the ships Pennsylvania and Alabama,
whether they are fit for sailing vessels or can
be altered to steamers; laid over.
Mr.. WILSON introduced bill fer more ef-
fectuaEy suppressing the slave trade; refer
red.
Mr.. WADE called up the resolution making
it incumbent on either branch of congress to
go into secret session, to consider matters from
the government pertaining to suppressing the
rebellion, etc, and modified it SO as to strike
out the Limitation of the speeches to five min
utes
Mr.. SUMNER offered an amendment that the
question of secret session shall be submitted
to the body ia which it is proposed, and if a
majority so decide, it shall go Immediately
into secret session without debate
After debate, the resolution was nodded
so that when any member makes a motion to
go into secret session, the doers shall be shut
and members shall state their reasons, and the
majority shall determine whether TO continue
an secret session on the subject, and then post
poned.
The case of Mr.. Bright was taken up, and
MIR. LATHAM opposed the expulsion of Bright,
eontendng that public opinion at the time of
his writing the letter was different from what
1T is now. He enforced his argument at great
length. But without action, after an execu-
tive session, the senate adjourned.
HOUSE
Mr.. WATTS, delegate from New Mexico, in
troduced bill ia aid of the construction of a
military road west of The Missouri river, by
Leavenworth and Riley, to Denver City Re
ferred to the select committee on the Pacific
railroad.
Mr.. CoLFAx introduced bill to render more
uniform the postage on printed matter
The house went into committee on the
West Point academy bill, and MIR. MEMBERS
of kentucky spoke against emancipation and
disunionists
Mr. BIDDLE of Ohio enlarged on slavery
and the war, cOutendlng that there is ample
power within tue limits Of the constitution for
changing the personal status of slaves, and he
would contscate the property OF rebels and
declare them Tree.
Mr.. SHEFFIELD WAS not surprised, after the
announcement that congress had power by a
single enactment to emancipate the slaves OF
all the slaVeholding states, to near the principle
asserted that in q certain contingency congress
has power to declare dictator TO control the
government He held that slaves are property
and that we canuot take property witloU. due
process Of law. The constitution must be
taken as a whole, not in detached parts We
should not undertake to egSlate rebellion
down. He would put it down by fighting; and
after the war is over he would act in the best
light in reference o slaves
The military academy bill was reported to
the house and passed, and the executive APP
pro- ration bill was taken up, to which Mr..
CoNKLING offered an amendment that no pro-
vision in the bill shall be construed as giving
authority to any senator or repres entative to
receive mere than two mileages for this cou-
gress. The chair ruled it out of order.
Without action, the house adjourned