Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-03-19
THIRTY. SEVENTH CONGRESS.
First Session.

First Session.
WASHINGTON, March le.
SENATE Mr.. Fessenden, from the committee
on Finance, reported back the Indian apprOpri-
alton bill, without amendment.
Mr.. Fessenden offered the following resolu.
tlon
Rts0EUsd, That the Secretary of Navy furnish
the Senate with copies of all contracts with R.
L. Stevens for floating battery; also, state
ment OF all payments and advances on said con-
tracts, and the report of the commissioners ap-
pointed to examine said battery.
MIR. Summer introduced bill to remove all
disqu lifcatiOns of color in carrying the mails.
Referred.
MF Wilson of Massachusetts, from the Mil
itary committee, reported back the Joint resolu-
tion authorizing the President to assign the
command of troops In the same field, without re-
gard to seniority, with an amendment striking
out the portion giving the President power to
dismiss from service. Tie amendment was
adopted and the resolution passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Trumball, the bill to pro.
vide for special proceedings on captured proper
tY, and for the better administration Of the
prize law, was taken up and passed.
The re .olution offered by Mr.. Starke of Ore
eNDt 'HN PNPNtCS SNNsI ~ AOiCANuSC w tuS luyhls
ty OF Mr.. Starke bo referred to the Judiciary
committee, wOs taken up
Mr.. Hale thought the question was already
settled, and hoped the Senate would spend no
more time upon il.
Mr.. Howard wanted to know if the Senator
from Oregon (Mr. Starke) Intended to go into
an investigation of the question
Mr.. Starke said he offered the resolution In
order to show that he had no indlsposition to
meet the charge Of disloyalty any where; but
he (Ssarke) had no intention Of being bis own
prosecutor.
After further discussion by Messrs. Hale,
Browning, Howard. Trumbull aud Howe, Mr..
Wilkinson moved to ley the resolution of Mr..
Starke on the table. The motion was disa.
greed 70 by yeas 3, nays 50. Ysss--Messrs
Hale, Salisbury and Wilkinson.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to amend the resoIu
tion so as to make it refsrable to a select com
mittee of five. The motion was carried.
Ire resolution was then adopted-yeas 81,
nsJs D. Nays-Messrs. Bayard, Hale and
Salisbury.
Mr.. Clark introduced bill to furnish cloth.
ing and supplies to the sai!ors and men on
board the sloOp-of war Cumberland.
The bill for the abolition of slavery 10 the
District of Columbia was taken up,
Mr.. Hale merely asked to reply TO the
statement OF the Senator from Kentucky In
regard to the effects OF ths bill, if passed. The
most dangerous and fatal form of skepticism is
when it suggests that 1t il unsafe to perform
plain and simple duty for fear of disastrous
consequences; and this question of emancipation
had rarely been argued in this country on the
great fundamental principle of right and wrong
The question was never asked in political cir
oles, what ia due to the individuals, but what
are TO be the consequencesi The Senator from
Ky. (Dav!s) locks upon IL in that view entirely.
he says the negroes TO be liberated by this bill |
become a burden and charge on the white pop |
ulation; become criminals, pauper5, and pest
TO society, and the power which undertakes to |
liberate them shall relieve the white population
Of such burden.
Bat there are other predictions and other
facts which show different consequences of
He referred to emancipation In
the British West Indies. The Island of Ja,
maica wes the only one that deteriorated in ex.
ports since the emancipation, and that began
long before the emancipation. In Barbados
the exports have increased more than double
since emancipation, and on what are called the
Leeward Islands, the exports have increased
since emancipation some three million pounde,
and the imports still more. The result being
an increase OF 2l5, $50 pounds.
The opportunity Ia now presented to the ma
tion to try the experiment In this District. He
did not ask that any provision of the Constitu.
tlon be trampled under foot The Supreme
Court had not decided against the right Of
Congress to legislate for the District of Co.
lumbia,
The inauguration of emancipation In the
West Indies did not lead to any such results as
the Senator from Kentucky feared, but the re.
suit fully proved the justice and wisdom, and
the expedlency Of the measure.
He said nothing was more unkind and unjust
than to enslave and keep in degradation and
Ignorance the black race, and then abuse and
deride them because they were not able at once
to rise TO an equality with their masters.
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the subject was
postponed till Tomorrow,
The Senate went into executive session, after
which, Ii adjourned,
HoUsE.-The House considered the Senate
bill to increase the efficiency Of the medical
department Of the army.
During the discussion Mr.. Blake said he had
no doubt that the army Of the Potomac had
been we'll medically provided for, but 1t was
not so as to the Western boys, who had been
murdered by neglect He had received letters
from fathers and mothers beseeching him to
have something done so as 10 save the lives of
their children.
Mr.. Blair Of Missouri, replying, said the first
steps to be taken were to place at the head Of
the Medical Department Director General,
who should combine experience with great sur
gical skill.
Mr.. Blake caused TO be read an article in the
Cincinnati Times, showing gross ineficieney in
the medical department Of the West.
Mr.. Kellogg Of Illinois pronounced the arti-
Gle scurrilous and vile slsnder, and this was
apparent upon Its face. It was bad taste to have
the article read here.
Mr.. Blake regretted extremely that the gen.
tleman (Kellogg) thought it necessary to sd
minister him such q rebuke. His (Blake's)
want Of good taste might be owing to his early
training. The article contained facts which
came under the editors own observation.
The subject was then passed over, and the
House went into committee Of the Whole on
the tax bill The proceedings were confined
to discussing and amending the general proviG,
ions.
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