The New York herald., 1862-05-20
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.


senate.
WASHINGTON, May 10, 1852.
BANKRUPT hill
Tho vic- PRESIDENT pro tsm- presented memorial
from the merchants Of New York asking general
bankrupt law.
Mr.. cowAx. (rsp) Of Pa, presented petition from
the citizens Of Philadelphia for the purpose.
NEGRO EMANcPAnos.
Mr.. SUMNER, (rep) Of Mass, presented petitions in
favor OF emancipating the slaves.
THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. WILSON, (rep.) OF Mass. offered resolution that
the Secretary of the Interior report the Senate the
names number of engaged in the slave trade
for the Southern District of New York and arrested
May 1852 the OF the bondsmen the amount
Of bonds and realized by the government Also
that the Secretary of the Interior furnish the
persons engaged in the slave trade for tho Southern
district Of New York. the amount Of bonds &c. and the
amount realized by the government from forfeiture.
THE Array OFFICERS.
Mr.. GRIMs (rep.) Of Iowa, offered resolution that
the Secretary Of War report to the Senate the names Of
persons appointed the stalls OF the different officers,
where employed on the staff, what officer and by
whose recommendation appointed Adopted
STEAMER
Mr. GRIMES introduced bill for the relief Of Robert
Small and others (colore) who recently delivered the
rebel vessel Planter to Commodore Dupont's squadron
The bill provides that the steamship Planter with all the
cargo, appurenances, &C.. be appraised by competent
board OF officers, and that onehan the value thereof
shall 20 TO Robert Small and his associates who ran the
Planter out Of Charleston hrbor with the provision that
the Secretary Of the Navy may invest the same in United
States stocks the interest to be paid TO Small and his
Eociates or heirs.
The bill was taken up and passed.
MEDALS HONOR.
Mr. WILSON, (repl OF Mass, called up the resolntio
who distinguished themselves in battle. Passed.
DEBATR THE coNFEcATIoN BILL.
The Confscation bill was taken up
Mr. SUMNER (rcp.) OF Mass, said-N can simplify
this discussion shall feel that have done something
towards establishing the truth And now il you will
ndI cvem ma attention. shall r a
question such way 10 exhibit clearly all the points
in ISSUE There is saying often repeated by statesmen
direct object of the war which unhappily
compelled to wage; an object sometimes avowed in
in country-''Indemnity for the past and
curty for the future" Such should be comprehen-
sive aim-nor more, nor less Without indemnity for
the past this war will have been wagcd at cost.
Without security for the future this will have
been waged in vain. Treasure and blood will have
been avished in vain But indemnity and securi-
ty are both means to an end; and that end
is tho national unity and the constitution Of the
United States II is not enough if we preserve
the constitution at the expense Of the national unity
Nor enough if enforce the national unity at the
of the constitution. Both must be maintained
Both will be maintained do fail to take counsel
Of that prudent which is never much needed
at moment like the present. Two things seek
end-ndemnity for the and security for
the future. Two things we seek az the end Itse-na-
tiona unity under the constitution Of the United States
Surely In these objects all must But how shall
they be best accompshedS The constitution and inter.
national law each involved in this discussion.
Even the question itself minute, it would be-
important from such relations But it concerns
vast OF property it concerns the liberty Of
men, while it opens for decision the means 10 be EN-.
poyed in bringing this great to a closer
every aspect the question Is transcendent nor it
easy pass upon without considering the various
ghtsof Jurisprudence, Of history and OF policy.
sometimes said that it is exclusively constitutional ques
tion. This is mistake. In every government bound
by written constitution, nothing can he done which is
not In conformity with the constitution But on the
present occasion there need be no difficulties Of
donh fbo
and explicit, that they need only TO be reced The
Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr Cowan) and the Senator
from Vermont (Mr Colamer) have stated them strong
y but complain less OF this statement than of its ap
plication or course proposition really inconsistent
with these provisions must be aoandored. But IL,
the other hand II be consistent there is the open
its consideration in the light Of history and Of policy
r there be any difficulty now it from the question
but simply from the facts often in judicial proceed
ing il is less embarrassing to determine the law than
the facts. If things they roally are and
not Senators fancy desre-H the facts ad
In their natural charGcter-then the cons
tutonal power OF the government be admitted aso for
this power into being the Of certain
facts II is only by denying the facts that the power
solf be drawn in question. But not the Sena
from cnnsylvania, the Senator from Vermont
will deny the facts The facts simple and obvious
They all expressed embodied in the double idea OF
rebellion and OF Both Of these facts facts pa
tent to common observation and common sense 1t
would insult the understanding to say that at
tho present moment there rebellion that there is
war. Whatever may be the doubts OF Senators or
their nespun constitutional theories nobody ques
and in the midst Of dc facto We are in
the midst of and BOTH 1t is enough say that
there rebellion; is enough say that there is
The whole truth is not told in either alternative.
Our is double, and you may call 1t rebellion war
as you please or you may call 1t BOTH 1t is rebellion
swollen TO all the proportions Of and it is war de-
irving its life from rebellion. II Is not less rebellion
present full blown grandeur; is il lsss
war because OF the orous source where IL draws
its lie. The rebellion is manies-s it not? An exten-
sve territory occupied by governments rejoicing
nallegiance TO the Union, and sharing largely in its
of the United States within its borders Its Senators
and representatives have withdrawn from Congress The
old State governments solemnly bound by the oahs OF
their funconares to support the national constitution
have ceased to exist, and in their place have
appeared pretended governments which, adopt
ing the further pretentions OF a conederacy, have
proceeded letters of marque and levy war
against the United States. So far has this displacement
OF the national government prevailed that at this mo-
ment through this whole territory, there are no
functionaries acting under the United States: but all
pretending TO act under the newly established usarpa
ton Instead Of the oath to support the Of
United Staes required Of all officials by the consti-
uton another oath has been substituted support the
constitution Of the conederacy; and thus the rebellion
has assumed a completeness or zaton under the
soc sanctions In point Of fact throughout this
territory ts national government has been oustsd while
the old have ceased exist feless
rebel hands. Call 1t suicide you will or
suspended animation, or abeyancetheyshave the
ess ceased to exist Such is the pan and palpabe fact
II all this DO not rebellion, complete In tri-
umphant treason then is rebellion nothing but name
But the war is not less manifest Assuming all the unc.
has undertaken declare against the United States
In support OF this declaration has raised armies or
ganized navy, issued letters OF marque, borrowed
money impt sed taxes, and otherwise all that
could in wagng Its armies ara among the largest
ever msrshalled by single people, and, at different
places throughout wide spread territory they
countored the armies, OF the United States. Battles
have been fought With the varying vicisstudes OF
war; sisges have place. fortresses and cities
have been captured. On the sea, ships bearing the
commissions of the confederacy, sometimes priva.
teers and sometimes as ships Of Che NAV. have
seized sunk burnt merchant vessels OF the United
States, and only lately an iron.cad steamer with
the Tag OF the confedsacy has destroyed two rigates
Of the United States On each side prisoners have been
made who have been treated prisoners war and as
such exchanged. Flags Of truce have passed from camp
camp, and almost daily during this winter this white
la afforded ITS begcrent protection communica-
ons between Norfolk and fortress Monroe, whle the
whole rebel has by proclamation Of the President
been declared state Of blockade ships OF foreign
countries well as of own, have been condemned
by courts in Washington, Philadelphia, New York
and Boston as prizss Of war Thus do all things TO
the existence of war, which s manifested now in the
blockade uuhed udicia tribunals and novv in tho