The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-12-05
Congressional Proceedings.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. /, 1862
SENATE--1he Senate met at noon. Vice
President Hamlin being absent, the Senate was
called to order by the President pro tempo,e,
Senator Foote.
All the Senators were present, except the
following :-Messrs. Bayard, Doolittle, Hale,
Kennedy, Pearce, Wilmot, and Wilson, Mo-
The Senate was opened with prayer, by the
Rev. DR. Sunderland: a
Almighty Everlasting GoD, who art in Hea-
ven, while we Thy creatures are upon earth,
We come to thee, in our prayers, to be direct
ed Alright this day, before thee. We thank thee
that thy servants are met again in the Capitol,
undisturbed. We thank thee that thou hast
graciously preserved them during the period of
| their separation, and hast brought them togeth-
er in the High Conclave of the nation to delib-
crate upon the affars of people greatly afilic-
ted, but as yet not wholly destroyed and while
we remember with the deepest reverence and
humiliation that it has not pleased Thee to full
ly answer all our former supplications from
this place, we yet implore Thy blessing upon
this CONGRESS- 9a% eony9sdpsa tpasIhfr, 4 ,apor NAV
they stand in more than Jewish reverence. and
in more than Roman virtue before Thy people.
Remove far away from this body and the mem
bers of manners, all profanity and volubility of
speech and all unworthy motives and desires
to give to them all wisdom and gravity, and
prosperity and influence with the people
HousE.-The proceedings were opened with
prayer by the Rev, Mr.. Stockton, Chaplain. in
the course of which he returned thanks for the
brigntening prospects of liberty for the slave
and for our emancipation from a systen, which
he said has involved us in so much sin, sorrow
and shame, and for renewed Union with great.
er power, insuring the enjoyment of every bles.
sing and the prosperity of the nation.
The roll OF the House was called by States.
and quorum answered to their names
A message was received from the Senate.
that quorum Of that body has assembled and
was ready TO proceed to business.
On motion of Mr.. Washburne, Ill, similar
message was sent to the Senate, and at his in.
stance a committee was ordered to be appointed
to act in conjunction with similar one of the
Senate to wait upon the President and inform
him that they are ready to receive any commu.
nication he may be pleased to make.
Mr.. Vallandigham, Of Ohio, offered reso-
luton, which was adopted, that the Committee
on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire and
report to the House at an early day by what
authority Of the Constitution Or law, if any.
the Postmaster General un lertakes to decide
what newspapers may and what shall not be
transmitted through the mails of the United
States.
Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, offered the following:
Whereas, many citizens of the United States
have been seized by persons pretending to be
acting under the authority of the United States,
and have been carried out of the jurisdiction
of the States of their residence, and imprison-
ed in the military prisons and camps of the u.
| ten States, without any further charge being
preferred against them, and without any op-
portunity being allowed to learn or disprove the
charges made or alleged to be made against
them, and
Whereas, Such arrests have been made in
States where there was no insurrection or re-
belon, or pretence thereto; and
Whereas, 1t is the sacred right of every citi-
zen that he shall not be deprived of his liberty
without due process of law, and when arrested,
shall have speedy and public trial by an i'm
partial jury;
Therefore, Resolved, That the House of Rep
resentatives do hereby condemn all such arrests
and practises as unwarranted by the Consttu-
ton and laws of the United States, and is a
usurpation OF power never given up by the peo.
pie to their rulers, and do hereby demand that
all such arrests shall therefore cease, and that
all persons SO arrested and yet held shall have
a prompt and public trial, according to the pro.
visions of the Constitution.
On motion of Mr.. Colfax of Indiana, the pre-
amble and resolution was tabled-yeas 80, nays
40.
Mr.. Richardson of Illinois, offered resolu-
ton, that the President be requested to inform
the House what citizens of Illinois are now
confined in Forts Warren, Lafayette and Della
ware, and the Capital Prison, and any other
forts and places of confinement, and upon what
charges they were arrested and that the Presi-
dent inform the House the names of the per-
sons arrested in Illinois and confined in prisons