The national Republican., 1862-04-03
THlRrY-sEvENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY. April 2. 1862.

IN SENATE
WEDNESDAY. April 2, 1862.
STEVENS BATTERY.
The VICE PRESIDENT submitted report
If the Secretary Of the Navy, communicating
Information relative 10 the expenditures upon
battery, and the correspondence OF The Secre-
tary and Mr.Stevcus relative thereto.
INDIAN ESTIMATES.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE presented Q letter Of the
Secre,ary Of the Interior 10 the chairman of the
COMMITTEES on Indian Affairs, with report cub.
mitting sdditional estimates for the Indian ser
vice for The ysars ending June 30, 1862, and
June 80, 1858 iEJ.f =. -....S.sF. F.
NEW COLLECTION DISTRICT. .. .,..
". LATHAM presented resolutions Of the
Callfornls Legialaiure, in favor Of the creation
Of new collection district from the northern
portion Of the district Of San Francisco, to be
called the District Of Humboldt, with port Of
entry at Yreks, on Humboldt bay, and ports
Of delivery at Trinidad and Crescent City.
REMEMBRANCE AGAINST ABOLITION.
Mr.. WRIGHT offered resolutions Of the City
Councils Of Washington, against the abolition
Of slavery.
THE Floyd ACCEprANUEs.
On motion OF Mr. TEN EYCK-
Resoiped, That the Secretary Of War be di-
reoted to inform the Senate what drafts wore
drawn by Russell, Majors 4 Waddell, or other
parties, on the War Department. and accepted
BY John B. Floyd, late Secretary of War, and
their accounts respectively for transportation,
or for money thereafter tn become due, and
what Ia the amount Of such acceptances now
outstanding and unpaid, and to communicate
to the SeHate any other facts In the possession
OF the Department respecting said drafts and
acceptances, and the circumstances under
which the same WAS made.
THE BARQuE JORGEN LoRESTsEN.
On motion Of Mr. SUMNER, q bill for the
relief Of the officers and crew of the Danish
barque Jorsen Lorcnisen was taken up and
passed.
TIE PRESIDENTS RESOLUTION.
Mr.. TRUMBULL called up the joint resolu-
ton declaring 10 favor oi aid 10 States desiring
TO inaugurate emancipation.
Mr.. SALISBURY offered an amendment
declaring that the Constitution gives no power
10 the United States 10 render aid for emarci-
patton. Lost.
Mr.. SHERMAN spoke at considerable length
upon the principles iavolved In this resolution,
upon the kindred subject OF slavery In the Dis.
trict Of Columbia, and the relations Of parties
In this crisis. He exhibited the great forbe r
ance, rlagnanimity and generosity Of the Re-
publican party, In retaining in Office those who
had outrageously reviled it, In Ignoring party,
| in the face Of efforts OF unscrupulous partisans
TO misrepresent It's position.
lie had no doubt Of The constitutional power
of Congress to abolish slavery in the District,
which he regarded as n email matter in itself,
except as Il involved the question Of cmancipa-
| ton, the number or slaves here not probably
being more than 800, whilo there were 10 900
fiee blacks. And the masters Of many Of these
were disoyal, thus iorfeiting their right To
them. Another reason for emancipation Is the
increased value Of property consequent there.
upon, and its tendency TO develOpe agricultural
and mechanical industry. Finally, this would
be the best place 10 teal the experiment Of
emancipation, there being little prejudice
| gainst color here.
| The vote was taken upon the resolution, re-
sulting-yeas 80, nays 10.
| SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT.
Messrs. DAVIS and MCDOUGALL continued
the discussion upon The bill abolishing slavery
In the District, when the latter gave way to on
adjournment.
| Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
| RErURTs oP COMMITTEES.
The SPEAKER laid before the House the
final report Of tho commissioners on war claims
at St. Louis. Adopted.
Ou motion Of Mr.. DUNN, of Indiana, ten
thousand copies Of the report were ordered to
be printed.
By Mr.. WASHBURNE, Of Illinois. that two
thousand copies Of the message Of the President
relative 10 emancipation be printed. Adopted.
by Mr.. DAWES, that Mr.. Higgins who had
been fubpenacd 10 appear and testify before the
committee on Government contracts ut the
United States Hotel, in Boston, but who failed
70 do 20, be required to appear before the bar
oi the House TO answer for contempt in refusing
10 obey. Adopted.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
Mr.. OLlN, OF New York, reported the Sen
ate joint resolution authorizing the President
TO select field officers Of equal rank and assign
them TO the command Of divisions Of the army
withoutregard 10 seniority Of commission, when
military operations require it. Passed.
| BILL REFERRED.
On motion Of Mr.. BAKER, OF New York, tho
Senate bill for the Reorganization OF the Navy
Department, was appropriately referred
| MEMORIAL,
Mr. KELLOGG, Of illinois, presented a me.
mortal from the Illinois Constitutional Conven.
ton relative to certain internal improvements
In that State. Referred 10 Committee on Mill.
tary Affairs.
TAX BILL.
On motion Of Mr. STEVENS, OF Pennsylva.
mia, the House resolved itself into Committee
Of the Whole, Mr.. Colfax in the chair, j and
resumed the confederation OF the bill to provide
internal revenue to support the Government,
and pay interest on the public debt.
Amongst the changes and amendments are
the following:
STAMP DUTIES.
SIC. 08. On and after May lst, 1867, no tele
graph company or its agent or employee shall
receive from any person and transmit to any
place any dispatch or message without an ad
hesive stamp denoting the duty imposed by this
act IL Affixed to written copy thereon, or hav.
ing the same stamped thereupon, and in defaul,
thereof shall incur penalty of ten dollars.
By an amendment OF the ninety ninth section
; express companies are required to deliver a
stamp receipt 10 the person sending express
matter, excepting transportation Tor the Gov
ernmcnt, and packages, etc. sent free of charge
In section one hundred and one, 1t is provided
a that no person or persons, fins, companies, or
, corporations shall make, prepare, or sell, OIL
remove for consumption or sale, drugs medi.
: cines, &c, without aflixing thereto stamp de
noting the duty, &c.
@ In section one hundred and three, perlumery
0 and medicines for expectation are excluded.
4 NO DUTY On CURRENCY.
( Mr.. ARNOLD, Of Illinois, introduced new
8 section, enacting that no banks or bankers, OIL
r persons acting as bankers, shall DO allowed to
/ Issue any bank bills or notes for the paymcn
n Of money without having stamp affixed there
' on denotlng the duty imposed by this act.
Afler q spirited discussion, the proposed