Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-07
xxxvIIth coxGREss-First Session.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.
SENATE.
Various emaneipatory petitions were pre-
sented also, a petition from Pennsylvania
that Fremont should be appointed lieutenant
| general. The correspondence on the Trent
affair was received from the secretary OF state,
and made the special order for Thursday
| The Judiciary committee reported IN relation
to the contested Kansas seat, that no new facts
were ELECTED to change the former report that
Stanton is entitled to the seat.
A resolution was adopted, asking by what
authority Cyrus Seymour is appointed suter
of the Sickles brigade.
Mr.. Coamer's resolution, that the commit
tee on tile post office inquire into the expedi-
ency of placing tax OH conveying lntelll-
gence by telegraph, was agreed to-
A Joint resolution was adopted, that the
president procure an exchange OF the prisoners
from the privateer jeff Davis, for prisoners
taken from our army.
Mr. FEssENDEN offered a joint resolution
authorizing the secretary of the treasury to
allow goods, coffee and tea, warehoused before
the passage of the recent act, to be withdrawn
with the duty OF the former act paid and that
the duties collected on such goods under the
late act, be refunded. Agreed to.
Mr.. POWELL introduced bill repeating the
fishing bounty. The bill to establish an arm
The pension appropriation bill for 1868, was
taken up aud passed.
The bill in relation 10 judicial districts
altering the boundaries of certain dis
tlicts after discussion, was postponed till
Monday.
A bill was introduced to define the pay and
enrolment of certain officers of the army
referred. After an executive session, the SEN
ate adjourned.
HOUSE.
A resolution was adopted, instructing the
district committee to inquire into the expedi-
ency Of establishing a steam fire department
Mr. r. CoNKLING of New York called at
tentlon to the fact, that, on the second day of
the session. resolution was adopted with ref
erence to the Balls Bluff battle, to ascertain
who was responsible for the disaster without
proposing an investigation Mr.. Conkling
continued at great length, saying the battle Of
Balls Bluff was hell Of fire. He thought
that, after the publication OF AdJutant Gener-
al Thomas report, in relation to Fremont, no
publication of anything connected with the
army should be suppressed. We should know
whether the commander in chief has taken
pains to inquire who was responsible for the
disaster, ami should make the inquiry with
view to obtaining an answer lie was very
severe i'll his comments and offered pream
BILE, recitng resolution heretofore adopted,
and the response, concluding with resou-
ton, that the answer to it is neither responsive
nor satisfactory to the house, and thar the sec.
rotary of war be directed to return a further
answer.
Mr. RICHARDS, on opposing the resolution,
sad this was not a matter OF proper inquiry
here. If there is one point more prominent
than another on which the country is agreed,
it is that those who fought and fell with Gen.
Baker displayed as much courage and gal
lantry as have ever been displayed OH This
continent. But these things ought not to be
logged in here. Suppose any body living is
found to he in fault, what will you do with
him Discuss him in town meetings? Is
that the way you conduct The war? We
must trust something to the proper depart
ments OF the government. The men who
have committed blunders and acted from
errors of Judgment if living, will not hereaf-
ter be entrusted with important com.
mands. OF the dead, we should cast no
obloquy on their ashes or disgrace on their
memory. The time has come when there
should be movement. The troops ought to
be drilled and prepared with this in view Gen
temen of the army, somewhere or another
knew quite as much about military affairs as
any member OF this house The house should
do nothing below its dignity. This was not
the proper place to investigate battles. He
was opposed to the whole resolution 1t was
subject with which they had nothing TO do,
and the sooner they stopped the proceedings,
as now proposed, the better for the country
Mr.. EDWARDS had the most implicit con
fdence in Gen. Mcclellan, who was surround
| d with so much treachery that he scarcely
dared whisper his plans. We should strength
en- his hands and cheer his heart, in view of
these facts.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN contended that the house
has no power to inquire into matters purely
military.
A long debate ensued. Mr.. RICHARDSON
offered an amendment inquiring into the cir
cumstances of the battle Of Wilson's Creek
disagreed to; and Mr.. Conkling's resolution
was adopted-79 against Ga
a resolution was adopted that the judiciary
committee inquire into the expediency of pro-
viding by law for making final the decision of
the board of commissioners now deciding upon
contracts growing out of the operations in the
western department
Mr.. STEVENS reported a joint resolution
! explanatory of the recent act imposing duties
on tea, coffee, and sugar. Passed. Adjourned.