, 1862-05-21
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.


SENATE.
Mcsars. HARRIS and KING presented petit
tions from merchants Of New York for gen
era1 bankrupt act
Mr.. WADE Of Ohio presented petitions for
an efficient confscation act.
Mr. SUMNER Of Massachusetts gave notice
that be should tomorrow call up the resolu-
ton for the expulsion of the Senator from Or
cgon, Mr. Starke
Mr: McDOUGAL Of California moved to
take up the Pacific Railroad bill.
The Pacific railroad bill was taken up by
yeas ~, nays 16, but before the reading was
finished the morning hour expired, and the
Con1scation bill vas taken up.
Mr. DAVIS Of Kentucky proceeded to
speak ut length upon it.
ral discussion without action, when the Sen
ate adjourned.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MF. BLAKE reported from the Post Office
Committee bill to establish certain post
routes It declares:the bridge partly constructed
abatting On the Virginia shore to be lawful
structure and public highway, and establishes
post route for the purpose Of trans-
mitting the mills, and that the
steubenyille and Indiana Railroad Company,
and the Holiday Cove Railroad Company,
either Of them are authorized to have main
tain and operate said bridge, whea completed
boats.
Mr. BLAKE said the bridge would not ma
terially interfere with the navigation of the
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. C0LFA4 from tie Post Office Com
Dittee, reported back the Senate bill prorid-
Ing that no person By reason of color shall
be disqualified from carrying the mails, with
the recommendation that it do not pass.
h1T. COLFAX Of Ind, said that not single
nrFCF.1r 1f nn1rr boI
petitioned for this repeal No Post Master
General had ever recommended it, no public
opinion demanded it. It would not
only allow negroes to be mail con
tractors. and therefore officers Of the
Government, but Indians and Chinese also,
It would impair the security Of the mails, for
in some States blacks, indians and Chinese
are not allowed to testify against whites; and
il robbed willie in their hands, We could not
procure legal testimony, as low, Of the mail
carriers against the robbers. It would also
allow slayeho1diDg contractors to use their
slaves as mail carriers for them, instead OF
free whites, whom they are now compelled to
employ, and money would thus be paid out Of
our post Office treasury for the labor Of slaves
and as this bill could not even indirectly aid
in crushing out this rebellion, which he
thought the main duty Of Congress, Or Grip
a large majority OF the Post Office Committee
concur1ed with him in recommending that it
| do not pass.
Mr. DAWES, referring to an objection sta
| ted by Mr- Colfax, inquired By way of answer
whether the latter supposed mail depredatora
| and whether he himself did not assist in INA.
| king the laws.
Hi. COLFAX replied that not being Iaw.
yer, he could not fully understand the matter;
but he understood that in such cases the Fed
eral Court was governed by the rules Of the
State in which the trials take place.
| Mr.. W1CKLIFFE approved Of the decision
Of the Committee. H had been informed
that this bill had been introduced into tn,
Senate to remove the disability OF distinguish,
ed nlcn- If negroes we're to be made mai
carriers We had better carry ont the who'll
programme. In addition to making then
soldiers and Eailors We had better throw ope1
the doors here and admit them as members o
| Congress. Laughter.1
A1r. COLFAX moved to lay the bill on th
table, but the hour liked Tor the consideration
Of the Condscation Bill having arrived tn
vote goes over until to morrow.
MIR. ELLIOT, chairman Of the Select Com
mittee, who reported the Confiscasion Bills
said: Tie war !oEiginated in the 1ebe
States and is carried on by rebel citizen
against the Government. This is precisel
the character of the war. Appropriate legIs
lation may soon be demanded concerning tn
rebel States. These bills concern the propert,
-~o
may make the property OF the rebels aid il
paying the expenses incurred, in crushing t1
rebellion.
The lands owned By rebels are used for car
rying on the war, and their unwilling slave
are made to toll that our Government may b
| overthrown. Their lands and slaves are mad
instruments for carrying on the war. Depriv
them Of these, aud the WAT must come to a
end, and our immense debt balked of in
| crtast.
| erop
that debt hns been coDfscatcd by their Coy
trnment, Tepudiatcd by rebcl debtors, t
whose honor the constituents of gcn1leme
trusted: He repeated, that as lands au
like instruments, they should be coniscatc
as The pending bills proposed. These wer
as much enemies properly Us If they owe
ale iance to foreign power.
Mt. ELLIOT supported his remarks b
legal arguments.
| Messrs. NOEL, RIDDLE and WINDOW
favored conflscation.
I Adjourned