Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-04-23
8g !geI1arnp1.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

4 SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April o.
Several emancipation petitions were pre-
scented also petitions for bankrupt law.
Mr.. Clark, of New Hampshire, from the
Select Committee on the case of Senator
Starke, of Oregon, made report. Wheth-
er TWAS adverse or not was not stated. It
was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Anthony, of Rhode Island, offered a
resolution calling on the President for cop
les of all orders of commanding generals,
with the instructions, etc, given to Gencr-
al Sherman, lately commanding the South
Carolina Department.
Mr. Anthony said that the credit of taxi
ing Fort Pulaski belonged to General Sher.
man. He believed that the correspondence
called for would show he had discharged
all the duties required. If Savannah had
not been taken, it was because he had act.
ed in accordance with orders.
The bill for the establishment of De-
partment of Agriculture was taken up
Tho substitute of Mr.. Wright, OF Iudi-
ana, was rejected. a
Mr.. Davis spoke for two hours and half.
lie recommended by saying lie desired an
inhalation OF the spirit of secession. To
war upon and subjugatc that spirit; our
arms in the field were the proper weapons.
He would violate no single principle Of the
Constitution. If he shoald be charged
with disloyalty for his views. whether it
were from malice or SANDER, he despised
the inSinuation and defied its authors
Whether in or out Of the Senate, he would
admit that in great exigencies unusual pow
ers might be assumed, and he justified this
assumption. He has faith that our armies
were efficient in numbers, in prOwess and
discipline to suppress the rebellion.
1t was to be regretted that the measures
should be introduced, calculated in the
slightest degree to affect the harmony of
the conduct of the war. Had party spirit
been merged in patriotism, it would al
ready have saved many lives and hundreds
OF millions of money. He read extracts
from the bill, showing who were affected
0y ITS provisions, and assumed thut the Sc
coded States, with three million five hun
dred thousand slaves and LOYAL populn-
ton no larger proportionately than the dis.
loyal population of the loyal States would
have property OF five thousand millions
Of dollars, subject to contiscatton, to take
winch would be tho most inhuman and UNI
just of meOsures-an act of usurpation ON
the part of Congress, which citizens might
resist by all the means in their power, sub
Ject, of course, to the ordeal of judicial
tribunals, in sustaining them in taeir
rights. 1,
Without concluding, the Senate went
into Executive session, and subsequently
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House was engaged for some time
in securing quorum.
Alr. Mcpherson, of Pa, presented six
petitions in favor of the establishment of n
professorship of German in the WestPoint
Military Academy, on the ground of the
value of study as a decipline, its practical
utility i'll view of the number of Germans
in the army and the richness of the Ger.
man litera turc in the military service.
One of these petitions is signed by most
OF the dis tInguished literary gentlemen of
New York, including Chas King, Chan
cellor Ferris, Bishop Poulter, Gardiner
Spring, VIM. Adams, Frances Yinton, S.
lligsbee, aud many others.
The House resumed the consideration of
the fifteen or sixteen bills heretofore adj
Eersely reported, one from the Committee
on the Judiciary on the subject OF the
cOnliscatton of rebel property. The pend
ing motion to lay the whole on the table
was negNtived-30 against Go.
The fret bill in the series was taken nm.
to forfeit the property aud slaves of per-
shall be engaged in, or aid and nbGt armed
rebellion against the United States.
Mr.. Bingham had submitted nm amend
ment in nature of q substitute for the lat.
ter.
Porter proposed Senator Shermnn's bill,
which he explained by saying it did not de-
sign to confiscate the properly or slaves of
all rebels, hut of those holding official DO.
sitions in the army and navy or civil life
in other words, making quarrel between
the people and their leaders. The former,
assured of our protection, could signify
their willingness TO show allegiance TO the
tue Government This bill would then do
more than any measure to suppress REBEL.
ion.
Bingham explained his substitute, pro.
viding for the capture and condemnation
OF the enemy's property, and to idemnify
the United States for expenses incurred in
suppression of the rebellion. The House
heretofore had, by large majority, record
ed their votes in favor of the principle.
Mr.. Walton. of VT, spoke in favor of
Senator Collamer's bill, which he would
offer, should the pending substitutes be
rejected.
Mr.. Wright argued that there should be
a line of discrimination between the diff
ferent classes participating in the rebel
lion. There ought to be a law confiscating
the property of the leaders. Such men as
Davis, Toombs, Sl;dcll, Mason are not only
deserving of bonds but ought to suffer tho
penalty of the law fol treason. If confis.
cation applied to all in rebellion, without
distinction, it would fail ofits abiect, and
become dead letter.
Mr.. Biddle, of Pn., said that after the
speech of Mr.. Thomas, of Mass, few
days ago, and a speech from an eminent
Senator, he felt that nothing could be adj
ded to these great arguments. which fly