Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-01-24

On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the bill to COM
plete the defenses Of Washington was taken
up and the amendment of the House agreed
to.
Mr.. Wilson offered q new section, repeal
ing the act allowing the discharge of minors
and providing no persons hereafter shall be
mustered into the rervice under 10 years of
age, but the oath of enlistment shall be con-
elusive as to age Agreed. to
Mr. Wilson offered another amendment, al
tering the articles of war by providing the.
penalty of death to persons found lurking as
spies. Agreed to. -...- -.
He also offered an amendment providing
the death penalty for any person forcing
safe guards.
After further discussion, the bill was laid
over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Trumbull presented memorial from
w. G. Jewett, of Colorado, protesting against
having tendency to prevent peace, claiming
that the sentiments of the people, either North
or South, we're not represented in Congress,
and proposing joint action by the North and
South for an amendment to the Constitution
providing for a gradual emancipation of the
slaves in 80 years.
On motion of Mr.. Wade, the bill to author
ize the Secretary of War to appoint two As.
sistant Secretaries was taken up.
Mr.. Wilson. offered an amendment, as
substitute, that the President, with the con-
sent of the Senate, appoint two additional
Assistant Secretaries Of War, at a salary OF
s., 900 each, the Office to last one year. Tho
amendment was agreed to, and the bill passed.
Mr. Hale offered resolution regulating the
compensation of Collectors of Customs and
Naval Officers.
HoUsE.-The House proceeded to consider
the bill regulating the carriage of printed
matter outside of the mails, and requiring
the postage to be paid, &c.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.
| SENArE-Mr. Howe, from the Committee
on Finance, reported back the resolution ap-
propriating $4,000 for the expenses of the
Joint Special Committee on the war. Pass
ed.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported back the House bill in re.
gard to witnesses examined before a Con-
gressional Committee The bill provides
that the examination of witness before
Committee of Congress shall not prevent his
Examination in a court of justice.
Mr.. Harris objected to the bill as making
great innovation of the common law rule of
evidence, by which witness is not obliged
to testify to anything which may criminate
him. He opposed making such an innovation,
! and moved to strike out that portion of the
bill which compels . witness to answer ques.
tons which may tend to disgrace or make
him infamous.
Mr. Trumbull expl ined that the object of
the bill was to put the witness on common
law grounds. The law, as it now stands,
enables the greatest criminal to escape if he
can only get before an investigating commit
tee and tell something about the crime That
very case occurred with the clerk who stole
two millions of Indian Bonds, and he got
clear in that very way.
HousE-Mr Blair reported back the bill
to increase the clerical force in the War and
Navy Departments. Passed.
Mr.. Spaulding, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, reported bill to author
! ize the issue of U. S. notes, and for the re-
t deu,ptlon and funding thereof. and for the
funding of the floating debt of the United
States.
The bill was made the special order for
Tuesday.
q On motion of Mr. Blair, it was
y Resolued, That the President inform the
: House whether the act Of Congress, requiring
a officers of the additional regular regiments
:. appointed from civil life to be assigned to the
!. recruiting service, has been complied with,
4 and if so, how many officers have been thus
It employed since the extra session of Congress.
;. The House, in Committee of the Whole,
resumed TIE consideration of the bill making
:. appropriations for the executive, legislative
O and judicial expense.
d Mr.. Diven regretted that there was divis-
s ion of sentiment as to the principle on which
4 the war should be conducted
n Mr.. Diven proceeded to speak in defense OF
e the Executive, against the opposition ofthose
o who have protested and still profess to be
!. friends of the President. Gentlemen who
II wish to prosecute the war for the purpose Of
O abolishing slavery must know that this can
=, not be done till the Southern amy is ami.
e hilated; while others who wish to prosecute
the war for the restoration of the Union,
know that this end cannot be attained until
the military Status of the enemy is destroyed
Both sides of the question were travelling the
same road, &C.