The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-03-21
Congressional.
xXXvIIth Congress--Flrst Session.
WILMINGTON, March 10.


hail. nd, WASHINGTON, March 10.
SEyArE.-Mr. Sumner, from the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, reported bill to
fulfil treaty stipulations with Hanover. The
bill passed.
Mr.. Grimes offered joint resolution that.
in the opinion of the Senate, no person should
he appointed commander Of division OF
brigade, except such as exhibit superior COM
potency for the command Of men and gal.
iantry in conflict against the enemy. Re
forred to the Military Committee. ... r
Mr.. Wilson. of Mass, offered u joint res
olution rendering aid to the States OF Mary
land and Delaware, fayoriug voluntary cIhan.
cipation. Mr.. Salisbury objected. Laid
over. ....,.., ..I......
On motion Of Mr.. Sherman the number Of
cavalry regiments was reduced to thirty in
stead Of forty. -rT .l. il 1.1 OIL. ~ IL
The bill to encourage enlistments in the
regular army, with the bill relative to stats
put In MS amendments. was passed.
The con6scation bill was then taken up
and Mr.. Browning spoke against ii. 81,
The House bill providing q new article Of
war was taken up. Itproyides that no OH
Ger or soldier shall be engaged in returning
fugitive slaves, &c. A few amendments were
offered but not adopted, when the bill passed
by q vote of % against 0. ,..FsI.. Al.
HousE.-The Senate bill was considered
providing for the appointment OF suffers ioi
the volunteer service, and defining their du-
ties. Mr.. Baker, OF New York, made IN
unsuccessful motion to abolish such sutler.
ships. The sutlcr system was discussed Q
long time, and passed aiter being amended
It requires schedule of the articles permit
ted to DO held, together with the prices there
of, to be prominently posted. Sattlers are
prohibited from farming out their slfces, nor
are they allowed to sell to soldiers an amount
exceeding one-lourth of their monty pay,
nor shall the sutler have lien on the same,
Mr.. Roscoe Concling, OF New York, asked
leave to offer the following: .....--
Resolred, That tho United States ought to
cooperate with any State which may adopt q
gradual adjustment OF slavery, giving to such
State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State
In iis discretion to compensate for the incon.
yenience, public and private. produced by such
change Of system. Tf.
The rules were suspended for that purpost
SO against 35. The motion to postpone
the consideration Of tho resolution was spir
itedly discussed, but without coming to O
decision the House adjourned.
........ MARCH IL.
SEyArR.-Mr. Wilson, OF Mass, offered q
resolution that the Committee on Naval AZ
fairs be instructed to inquire into the lat,
naval engagement with the rebel steamer
near Fortress Monroe, and the destruction O
property there, and all the circumstances
Mr.. Hale said he did not wish to mako any
objection, but 40 fur MS he knew, since thu
commencement of the rebellion, no matter
what disasters occurred, on sea or land, mel
thcr the War nor the Navy Department, ex
ccpt in single instance, made single in
quiry into the matter. Mr.. Wilson said
from his absolute knowledge. the attention
of the Departments have been called to thil
rebel ship. II has been known for months
that she was fitting out. Merchants and un
derwriters everywhere felt anxious, and Oh,
attention of the Government has been called
to it over and over again, and he thought th,
matter ought to bclooked into. Mr.. Grimes
said in relation TO the disaster ut the mouth
of the Mississippi the Government has done
all that it could. The responsibility Of thi'
late disaster rests on tho Government for moi
long ago sending q military expedition
against Norfolk. The officers Of the Navy
have been ready at all times to break the Pc
tomac blockade, and the Flotilla was under
orders for several days for that purpose, but
a superior military officer, who had command
Of all the forces, forbid the expedition. The
responsibility does not rest on the Naval Dc
partment. r... .n..... sii..f
The confiscation bill was taken up. Mr..
Carlisle spoke against the bill as unconsti.
tutional. The following amendment to the
confseaton bill was ordered to BIO printed
"Strike out first section and insert, the per-
sonal property, moneys, stocks, credits, elects
of every kind and nature wheresoeyer situated,
belonging to persons who have heretofore held
Office under the Government or State, and all
persons who now or may hereafter hold office
under the so-caled Confederate States, or any
State in rebellion, or are or may be engaged In
resisting the Federal Government, shall be con-
fscated, such confscaton to take immediate
effect on commission of the act, and the right
and title TO personal property of such persons
shall cease and vest in the United States" -
HousE.-Mr. Walton, Of VT, from the
Committee on Printing, offered resolution,
which was adopted, that there DO printed
for the use OF the House $4,000 copies OF
Washington's Farewell Address, Jackson's
NATURALIZATION Proclamation and the
Declaration Of American Independence.
The Speaker announced the next business
to be the motion to postpone until Thursday
the resolution OF Concling, OF n. Y, yes.
terday. The House refused to postpone till
Thursday. by only one majority.
The resolution now being open for debate,
Mr.. Blair, of Va, offered the following pro-
yiso That nothing herein shall be construed
to imply that Congress will consent to any
partition Of the territory now held by the
United States. On the contrary, 1t Is again
affirmed us the unalterable resolution of this
House, to prose .ute the war, until the Con.
stitution is restored to its ancient supremacy
over every State rightfully part OF the
Union. 7I.'Hy 1n-.i Is.'Sf gl.i ly
Mr.. Pendlcton, Of o.. suggested an amend
mcnt, that Congress, in order to redeem tins
pledge at its present session, ought to pass n
bill for the levying and collecting of tax
within tho current year, for payment OF the
pecuniary aid so rendered to tho States. i,
Mr.. WickliiTe, Of Ky, opposed the pend.
ing resolution is unwiso and unconstitu-
tional. 'h. .'
Mr.. Biddle, Of Pa, spoke against, and
Mcssrs. Owen and Olin, OF N. y, in favor
of tho resolution. ,1.Ir. :. ...y.- .4a.I. .sl
Mr.. Crittenden addressed the House in OPP
position to the resolution.