The national Republican., 1862-01-15
|THiKTY.sEvENrn CONGRESS,
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE.
TunsDAY, January IA, 1862.

"0 ,'o"'"S uAo'''"s' "0s0 Ieo0'N0" s"u
ny Mr.. HOWE: From ciusens Of New York,
for the abolition Of slavery BY the war power.
By NJ. KING: From citizens Of New York
and Brooklyn, demonstrating against the ap-
pointment Of Q solicitor of customs.
By Mr.. WILMOT: From citizens Of Chester
county, Pennsylvania, for the emancipation Of
slaves. ......
From Michael Bard and W.. n. Smith, pray
Ing for additional pay as mail contractors.
ticut, for the abolition Of slavery.
BILL INTRODUCED.
Mr.. FOSTER introduced bill authorizing
the President OF ths United States TO accept
the services OF certain officers In the army
without pay.
The Senate proceeding 10 consider the unhn-
ishcd business Of the morning hour, II being
the resolution inquiring Of the Secretary Of War
relative 10 certain war contracts,
Mr.. POWELL charged the Secretary with
contempt Of the Senate, In not making . reply
In some form, and believed he had paid out
money without warrant Of law.
Mr.. COWAN wAs willing 10 ask any specific
item Of information, but regarded this "a sort
of drag net for fishing out some possible wrong;
an imnracticable measure, for which be could
not vote.
Mr.. WILSON had no objection to the fullest
possible ventilation OF any ac, Of the War De-
partment. In the Senate and elsewhere. II
courtcd'the closest scrutiny. II was physical
impossibility, at present, 10 answer that com
plex and sweeping resolution.
Mr.. TRUMBULL deemed It highly proper to
demand and obtain some reply 10 respectful
inquiry. There was nothing In the excuse Of
the chairman Of the Military Committee.
Mr.. WILSON. Don't use the word excuse.
Mr.. TRUMBULL proceeded 10 read from the
| report Of the House investigating committee
| the account Of the transactions Of Mr.. Cum
| uings, and stated that Halls carbincs had been
bought at high prices and sold at low rates
several times over during the summer.
Messrs BAYARD and FES 5ENDEN iavOre !
the resolution. 1t was carried-yeas 81, nsys3.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN TnE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
| A communication being received from tn :
Marshal OF the District OF Columbia, embody-
Ing An order requiring passes to visit the jail
Mr.. HALE moved that all previous orders
be postponed, and the bill for the better ad
ninis;. alton Of criminal justice In the District
of Columbia be taken up. If the marshal has
issued ukase forbidding membere OF Congress
| to visit the Institutions Of the District, thr
Senate should rsbake the outrage, aud remove
the Marshal d once.
Mr.. GRIMES, chairman of the Committee OF
the District, thought that II this foreign sstraI
| from Illinois could thus lord It over Congress
It was time that some notice was taken OF thr
matter. He yesterday went to the jail, and
was refused admsson. He told the janitor be
was chairman of the District Committee. The
janitor said he knew II, but II made no differ
euce the order OF the Marshal was imperative
He then, for the first time 10 six months, ap
preached the foOtstOOl Of executive power, and
was refused admission, or the delivery Of hif
card, though he would not credit II to the In
fluence Of the Marshal.
| He proceeded 10 expose the condition Of the
| i'll. There were two women confined q wit
neses with female murderer. There were
no facilities for cooking or washing, no water
closets, nothing decent or comfortable. H.
further proceeded to expose the character oi
eral, obtaining the removal Of q regiment u
fli brigade at a cost Of $4,000, and obtain
ing the avor Of special trains for himself and
friends.
Mr.. PEARCE wished 10 speak on the general
merits Of the bill The law of the District was
the old Maryland law, which was based on the
common law of England. All prisoners were
discharged il an indictment was not found
against them. There were three terms Of the
criminal court, at the end of each Of which, an
order was given for the discharge Of prisoners.
| DOWetlWte Wtlnohrto dIr hcpt out VI tuo "oy
when the Mar hal Ia satisfied that the party
should not be discharged. He had seen the
man referred 10 by the Senator from Iowa, and
found him sick, a pauper, voluntarily remain.
ing in Jail. There was no law to keep him
there. and he was actually there al the Mar
shal's expense.
Mr.. GRIMES. Then the man should be sen,
W the almshOuse.
Mr.. PEARCE said there was no such institu
ton supported by the Government-the aims
house was corporation affair. II is true ther'
were things done IN the District without re
| gard to law. The bill proposed to do wha
Congress had no authority 70 do, In declaring
that all held in jail, with the exceptions stated
shall be set free.
, Mr.. POWELL contended that the common
law provided q sufficient remedy for the abuse
complained OF, and quoted the bill Of rights o
Maryland TO prove the assertion.
Mr.. POMEROY agreed that the fault wa
, not 70 much in the law a. In its proper execu
ton. There was no perpetual slavery 10 th'
District of Columbia, for Congress had no
adopted the Maryland laws passed since 1871
regarding slavery.
: Mr.. CARLlLE uggcsted that slavery wa
, practically abolished In the District Of Colum
bia. there being but about five hundred slave
within its limits The same criminal jurispru
!. dsnce did not exist in the District as In th
i, slave States, in regard 10 prisoners, white 0
! : black. 1t was alone the fault COngtess. II
deprecated the tff ,rt to make this subject th
. occasion OF manufacturing sympathy for tn
r condition Of slaves. Congress had becOm
wild over the miserable condition Of the inmate
of that prison. The papers had pictured tha
8 misery. and newspaper writer's had presente
II caricatured In "the most ridiculous light"
Mr.. MORRILL, would not allow this gowinI
r and shameful abuse, long continued, TO be pu
aside by such hings at the motives or sent
ments Of this side Of the House. That prison is
dipgrsce to the age aud to The country in whic
n We live. He did not intend tO submit 10 tb
B. insinuation that the opportunity had been take
q 10 get up an excitement, or quietly allow tn
Q Senator TO administer rebuke tn members
the Senate.
@ Mr.. WILSON was glad that the Senator frol
| Maine had properlY rebuked tie Senator froI