The New York herald., 1862-04-15

THE REPORT OF THE SANITARY CONDITION OF THE
ARMY.
in the special despatch regard the sanitary
dtion Of the army published in the SUNDAY HERALD and
copied in Mondays Tribune the figures denoted the
ber Of sick in each thousand soldiers.
THIRTY.sEvENTH CONGRESS.
"a PIRsT SESSION,
Senate.
,t- WASHINGTON, April IA, 1852
TIE PRESS AND THE MAILS.
Mr. cARInE, (Union) Of Va, presented petitions in
favor Of allowing democratic papers the privileges
in the mails as the republican papers.
ABOLITION PETITION.
Mr. SUMNER, (rep) Of Mass. presented petition 700
feet long, signed by 900 women praying for the abo
tion Of slavery. tfA
THE BANKRUPT LAW AND THE BILL
Several petitions presented in favor OF Bankrupt
law, and demonstrating against tax leaf tobacco
Mr.. WILSON, (rep) Of Mass, presented a memorial
from the msehacts of Boston in favor Of the Bgelow ss
tern oftaxation.
FUGITIVE SLAVES AND THE ARMY.
Mr. WILSON, (rep Of Mass, called up the resolution Of
inquiry further legislation necessary enforce the
articles Of for preventing the reclamation Of slaves
from within the lines Of the aroy.
Mr. GRIMES (rsp Of Iowa, at length reviewed the
instances lately occurring in General Hookers DIVISION
showing that efforts had made by slave owners to
reclaim their slaves within the lines with the knowledge
of the commanding officer; that slaves taken at
Fort Doneson, and carried TO Columbus, Ohio and
forced render menal service under military law to
rebel masers-hus establishing system OF slavery in
free State. lie cited similar instances in Iowa and Illinois,
and he thought high time that Congress should
adopt some legislation in regard to this matter There
were as many different systems as there military
departments some slaves fogged and return
ed others shot others called conrabands and admitted
within the lines and others prohibited from entering
the lines, as in the celebrated order No. Of General
Haleck, which ought 10 be at countermanded and
forever erased in obedience to the popular feeling He
thought that great of information could be ac
quired from these people, coming they do from the
enemys line, IL they were properly availed Of The
Northwest would not submit to any temporzing or CON-
promising policy now. They had suffered too much al
ready and they demanded that the rebellion should be
crushed The forts Of the South Atlantic were vet to
be captured and must be held for to How
should they be garrisoned when recaptured? He would
that he was in favor Of garrsoning them wholly
or in part by soldiers Of African descent, TO DO
commanded by white officers. Our troops would
wither under the enervating influences Of the
climate Of the Gulf States therefore this measure was
of humanity saving many valuable lives He had
doubt OF its efficiency. for contrabands had worked
the guns the Minnesota at Hatteras Hc was thank
u that in the navy had followed the disgraceul
examples Of the officers Of the army in issuing procama
tons in regard to slavery and had returned slaves
He argued that the rebels were using by thousands the
slaves at Yorktown in throwing up fortihcations Why
should we not use them in putting down this rebeonY
RESIGNATION THE CHAIRMAN OF NAVAL COMMITTEE.
Mr.. HALE. (rep) Of N H., resigned Chairman Of the
Naval Committee and in order that msappr
might he stated that he influenced BY no cause
outside the senate.
SPEECH com1scAros BILL
The Conhscation bill was then taken up.
Mr.. HARRIS, (rep.) Of N. Y, addressed the Senate
stating that this the anniversary Of the
men Of the war and tracing the great uprising Of the
had been one OF preparation. Now the grand armies
were pressing forward from Fortress Monroe to New
Orleans like vast wall Of hre, and the rebel foe was
giving way to the onward march at every step. He
thought that the magnanmity extended by the govern
men had been without parallel yet he glad that
this The gaows and exile for the leaders con.
scation and outawry for those who aided the rebellion
with malice aforsthought, but mercy for the dsuded
followers Referring TO the bill under consideration he
contended length that under the article Of the const
tuition empowering Congress 10 punish treason, the
property Of traitor could be condemned as easy
as his life could be forfeited. The next quss-
ton the expediency; how far the government
was going in connscaton. He agreed with the Senator
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cowan) that some distinction
must be made between rebel general and private
soldier. In his bill he had made discrimination: nrst
he had provided that property Of every kind within the
limits OF the United States belonging any person who
having heretofore held any Office civil military or ma
val under the government Of the United States or in
any state holds under the Confederate govern.
ment the States now in rebellion, civil military or
naval should bo forfeited and conscaed second that
any person found holding exercising any Office CIVIL
military or naval under the Confederate government or
who shall be found with assisting those who have
taken up against the government Of the United
States or in any way resisting opposing, or obstruct
states or aiding, abstting assisting those who
shall be engaged shall be forfeited conscated 10
the United States and all tho rights privileges of ali
such persons arising from the constitution Of the United
states which but for the provisions Of this act
such persons would be entitled forfeited To these
extents the Corhscation bill imperiousy demanded
The personal prosecution Of traitors he thought wsud
mostly prove Intellectual il would be far more Aifcut
TO the arbitrator jefferson Davis II within the
power Of the Federal government, than some people
imagine where would he be trieds Who would be tho
These questions that worthy
General would find IL difficult answer He did not be-
eve this government would profit dollar by the
conscaton Of rebel property No government had ever
been thus benetted and none would be- He efavored
conhscaton OF saves the slave had been the
Of the present and had been for year disturbing
thoeemsns OF our national politics. Northern potjcans
had covered before 1t and gnominously yielded to lis
mperous exaconf. The rebellion inauguratcd be-
the political power wrested from the hands of
the slave olgarchy. To limit tho power Of slavery is
the dictate OF statesmanshp and while he would scru.
puouly observe ali constitutional provisions he would
tutonally The time had not arrived as 20 what
requisite 10 affect this purpose As the army
numbers Of slaves liberated and az 10 what
become Of them he could lot determine This one
would say, OF them would ever be returned by
authority Of the government TO bondage II the master
seeks them, the burden Of proof on him TO
show that he himself is loyal Aprovison Of the original
bill founded on the presum pton that every slave.
holder rebel This change was the most effective
part Of tho bill in seeking the restoration Of the Union
should prudsntiy take now steps. We should
adminstc law With maguar unity and forbearance aud
tender generous oTG 10 al penept rebels, This