The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-07
THlRTY.sEVEyTH CONGR Ess.
WASHINGTON, Jan. &, 1856:

Mr.. Fessenden moved that the administration
of the oath be suspended for the present and
that the credentials, together with certain pa
pers, be referred to the Committee on the Judi
ciary. He had papers we'll atlested from per-
sons of Portland, Oregon, stating that Mr..
Stark was an open, avowed secessionist.
Mr.. Bright said there was precedent for such
a motion.
Various emancipation petitions were present
ed, also petition from Pennsy vania that Ere
mont be appointed Lieut.. General Correspon-
dence in the Trent affair was received from the
Secretary of State, and made the special order
of Thursday. The Judiciary Committee report
ed relative to the contested Kansas seat that no
new fact had been elected to change their for
mer report that Mr.. Stanton was entitled to bis
authority Cyrus Seymour was appointed su,ler
of the Sckles brigade.
Mr.. Colamer of VT, offered resolution
that the Committee on the Post Office inquire
into the expediency Of placing a tax on convey
ing intelligence by telegraph agreed to.
Mr.. Fessenden of Maine offered Joint reso-
ury to allow goods, coffee and tea, warehoused
before the passage Of the recent act, to be with
drawn with the duty of the former act paid,
refunded agreed to-
Mr. Powell of Kentucky, introduced a bill
repeaing the fishing bounty
The pension appropriation bill for 1853 was
taken up and passed. Bill relative to judicial
districts altering the boundaries of certain dis
tricts after discussion was postponed till Mon
day. A bill was introduced to define pay and
enrolment of certain officers of the army re-
terred A fter an executive session the Senate
adjourned.
resolution was adopted instructing the Dis
trict Committee to inquire into the expediency
of establishing steam fire department.
Mr.. R. Conkllng Of New York called atten-
ton to the fact that on the second day of the
session resolution was adopted with reference
to the Balls Bluff battle, to ascertain who was
responsible for that disaster, without proposing
an investigation.
The resolution was handed to the Adjutant
General, " no submitted it to the Commander
in-Chief. lie (Mr. Conklin) was unwilling to
believe the Commander in Chief had read the
resolution, because he would not impute to him
design to trife with the House and return an
evasive answer. If he did read it, he certainly
misunderstood it's purpose. Lilo seemed to have
received the impression that future inquiry
was to be instituted and that of a very general
character, and accordingly expressed his opin
ion to the Adjutant General, which was re-
ported to the Secretary Of Wal and transmitted
to the House.
The resolution did not inform the House that
steps had been taken to inquire WHO was to
blame for the disaster at Ball $ Bluff. The re-
Spouse was eyasiye. Now this was disregard
of the privileges OF the House, which Dug int to
require prompt notice unless We consent TO
trampling On our rights. We should watch
with u jeaous eye the right of wholesome isqul
ry. The inquiry related to great national
calamity to IL most attrocious military murder
ever committed {; to most humiliating triumph
of rebelion-a blunder 80 gross that every man
can see, and none has ever dared TO deny or de-
fend Besides u defeat and large loss Of arms
and ammunition there Was q sacrifice OF $50 men
The resolution was proposed out of respect to
the memory of the men, and in Difference to
public propricty and the selfrespcct of the
nation to inquire whether the military author
tiles had taken any steps to ascertain who was
responsible for the slaughter of the sons OF Mas.
sachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. 1t
was proper to state that the House should be in
formed and some inquiry should be made Gen.
Stone who was at the time in command is a
member of the regular army. Colonel Baker
was volunteer The respective friends Of these
gentlemen had raised question as to the merits
of the case, involving the efficiency of regulars
and volunteers
lie had no liberation Tor such controversy. -
An enquiry was absolutely necessary Suppose
it Should turn out that Gen Stoue was only
half way either in toldiershp or loyalty, was
that a reason why there should not be an in
vestigation Was that a reason why he should
be relieved from responsibility of disastrous
! blunder The man who is to blame should fall
| upon his knees and ask pardon. If Baker was
responsible, most lamentaOly has he suffered
If Gen. Stone was responsible, a greater weight
of guilt never rested Oh any other man.
Mr.. Conkling continued at great lengt, stat.
ing that the battle of Balls Bluff WIS hill Of
fire. He thought that after publication Of AID.
|, jutant Gen. Thomas report relative to Fremont
certainly no publication of anything connected
with the army should be suppressed We should
know whether the Commander in-chief has tax
| en- pains to inquire who was responsible for the
disaster, and should make the inquiry with d
view Of obtaining an answer.
lie WAS very severe III his comments, and Of
fered preamble reciting the resolutions hereto
fore adopted and the response concluding witt
resolution that the answer to IT il neither re
sponsivc nor satisfactory to the House, anc
that the Secretary Of War be directed to return
further answer.
Mr.. Richardson Of Illinois, in opposing TIL,
resolution said this was not a matter OF proper
! enquiry here. II there is one point more prom
| nent than another on which the country il
| a. Ill ,,,I Ill 81