The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-21
EThirty-S Seventh Congress,
FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb, I

WASHINGTON, Feb. IL.
SENATE.-The Vice President appointed
Mr.. Conway on Finance Com nittee, 10
place OF Mr.. Bright; Mr.. Sanders on the
Post Office Committee, in place of Mr.
Bright, and Mr.. Wilson, of Missouri, on the
Committee on Indian Affairs, in place oil
Mr.. Cowan.
On motion of Mr.. Fessenden, the Forth
fication Bill was taken up. Mr.. F. said he
should call up the Treasury Note Bill to-
morrow, and press it to speedy passage.
An amendment of Committee to the For
LITIGATION Bill, making an appropriation Of
100000 for the harbors of Maine, in case
of war with any maritime power, was con.
sdered.
Mr.. Trumbull thought it would be time
enough to protect these harbors when there
was danger of war with any great maritime
power. Sufficient for the day is the evil
thereof.
Mr.. D0olittle was in favor Of making the
appropriation larg r, and giving the Presi-
dent power to protect the harbors on the
Pacific coast and the harbors on the West
ern Lakes, &c. He did not believe there
was danger of war with any maritime power.
He referred to the speech OF the French
Emperor as evidence of peace.
Mr.. Dixon was in favor of the amend.
ment, but did not like its phraseology, sug-
costing that there might be war with any
maritime power. He would strike out the
clause reading immediate danger of war
with any maritime power, 60 as to leave
the matter subject to the President. The
amendment was SO modified and adopted,
after further discussion.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to re. commit the
Bill to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Ii the armies of the Union will move for
ward and crush the rebellion, we will have
no need of Notifications on the Lakes.
HousE.-Mr. Maynard said that Mr.. Sc.
gar was known and appreciated ct home.
For more than twenty years he Yves mem.
Der of the Virginia Legislature, and was a
delegate at the time the rebellion reached
its head. When the resolution was intro
duced in the Virginia Senate directing the
Governor to seize and hold certain cannon
at Cologna Arsenal, MIR. Segar said, rather
than thus vote for Selling the property of
the United States, so help me God, l will
die in my seat.
Mr.. Maynard also quoted from other
parts of Mr.. Segar's speech, and showed
the latter's loyalty and eminent services in
the Union cause, and his personal sacri-
fees. But for bis conduct, as given in
secession quarters, Fortress Monroe would
have fallen into possession of the South.
Mr.. Crittenden argued the pending Gaze
as question of law in favor OF Mr. Segar.
The House then by vote of eighty five
to forty decided that MIR. Segar was not
entitled to seat.
The House agreed to the Senate amend.
ment to the bill authorizing the construc
tion Of twenty iron clad gun boats.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb. u.
SENArE.-Mr. Sherman objected to the
amendment to Treasury note bill providing
for deposit, as it would tend to prevent ex-
change into bonds, and do great harm.
Mr.. King moved to reduce the per cen-
tage to one per cent. Rejected.
The amendment providing for deposit
at five per cent. was rejected.
The amendment setting apart the pro.
ceeds of the public lands and certi6cated
property, and duties on imports for the iu-
teres of the debt in bonds and notes, and
for sinking fund was adopted.
Several other verbal amendments of the
committee were adopted.
Mr.. Fessenden moved to amend the first
section 80 as to make the bonds redeema-
at pleasure In five years, instead of twenty,
and payable in twenty years.
MIR. Sherman opposed the amendment as
tending to depreciate the character of the
bonds.
Mr.. Fessenden said the amendment was
to prevent paying too high interest for q
long number of years.
Mr.. Chandler said there was no time
since the first of November, that the war
could not be closed in sixty days; only one
obstacle stood in the way for four months,
which Congress could remove tomorrow.
He believed the order for forward move.
melt would be given and the war closed by
the first day of May. Adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Hickman, from the Judi.
ciary Committee, offered preamble, setting
forth that Henry Wickoff, having transmit.
ted portion of the Presidents last annual
message for publication in the N. Y. Herald
before it was laid before Congress, and hav.
pg refused to state before the Committee
rom whom he received it, therefore,
Resolved, That the Sergeanta at. Arms bring
the said Henry Wickoff before the bar of the
House, to answer for contempt.
The resolution was adopted.
WASHINGTON, Feb, Is.
SENArE.-A message was received from
the House saying that it disagreed with the
Senate amendment to the Civil and Miscel-
laneous Appropriation Bill.
The Treasury note bill was taken us. The
question was on Mr.. Fessepden's amepd.
ment to make the bonds redeemable after
five years, at the pleasure of the United
States, which amendment was withdrawn.
Mr.. ColIamer moved to strike out that
portion of the bill which makes the notes
legal tender for private debts. a
Mr.. Wilson was opposed to the amend.
ment, and if it was adopted, he should vote
against the bill. He considered that it
would be wickedly unjust to place all this
money in the hands of the holders and EN-.
ployees of the Government, forcing them to