Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-03-12
CONGRESSIONAL,


/ Mr., Sumner, of Mass, presented petit
tons for emancipation. Also, from the
Committee on Foreign Relations, report
on the several memorials in relation to
giving relief to Ireland, and asked to be
discharged. The same Committee also
asked to be discharged from the consid-
Grafton of the papers in relation to the
Trent affair
Mr.. Latham, of CAL, gave notice that he
should introduce q bill TO repeal all. the
acts prohibiting foreign vessels from car
rying the mails to Panama and AspinwalI.
Ar. Wilson, of Mass, offered rcsolu-
ton, that the Committee on Naval Affairs
be instructed to inquire into the late en-
gagement with rebel steamers near Fort
ress Monroe and the destruction of prop.
erty there, and all the circumstances.
Mr.. Hale, of N. H., said he did not wish
to make any objection, but as far rs he
knew or had reason be believe, siuce the
commencement of the rebellion no matter
what disasters occurred, on sea or land,
neither the war or navy department, ex.
cept in single instance, has made the
least inquiry 10 regard to the matter.
Mr. Wilson, of Mass, said from his abb
so Lutte knowledge the attention of the de-
partment had been called to this rebel
ship. 1t has been known for months that
she was fitting out and the merchants and
underwriters everywhere felt anxious and
the attention OF the government was
called to il over ond over again, and he
thought che matter ought to be looked
into.
Mr.. Grimes, of Iowa, said in regard to
the disaster Mt the mouth of the Mississip-
pi, the government had done all that it
could. The responsibility for tie late
disaster rests on the government for not
long ago sending d military expedition
against Norfolk.
Mr. Hale, IN. H., said he did not mean
to change the Secretary of the Navy he
meant simply to allude to fact which he
though was very reprehensible to that
Department. He made no inquiry at
oil when the Norfolk Navy Yard was
abandoned, no Inquiry was made into that
or any thing else. He moved that the reso-
luton be referred to the committee on
Conduct of tue War. Agreed to-.
Mr. Wilson, of Mass, from Military
committee, reported a joint resolution au-
thOrising the Secretary of War to accept
the monies appropriated by any state for
the payment of volunteers and apply the
same as desired by the state.
On motion of Mr.. Fessenden, the bill
providing for the purchase of coin was
taken up.
Mr.. Fessenden offered an amendment to
increase the amount of deposits provided
for in the Treasury Note bill, from twenty
Eve millions to fifty millions. The NOR
ming hour expired.
The confiscation bill was taken up.
Mr.. Garlic, of Va, proceeded to speak
at length Hgainst the bill. He contended
it was unconstitutional, and the Supreme
Court would have pronounced it so, if ever
the case came before them. Such a sweep
1 Inc 4
measure was calculated to continue the
war forever. He commended that if the
slaves were emancipated, the only result
could be either their determination or re-
enslaTemeut. He denied that the Consti-
tuition was any the less binding in time of
war than in time of peace. He quoted
from the Presidents inaugural and other
messages, the proclamations of Gen. Sher-
man, Gen. Halleck and Gen. Burnside, and
referred to the resolutions passed by Con-
gress to show that the Government never
intended to make war against slavery
The leaders of the rebellion should be
hung, bat the great masses should be
granted pardon. He thought that if a
proclamation of amnesty was made, we
could have peace in ninety days. He said
that intimations had been made against
his own loyalty by those who think that
in order to be loyal man, he must be an
abolitionist; yet he had periled his all in
defence of the Constitution. He had
stood in the Capitol of his own State,
amid the jeerS and threats of a mob, and
when assassius sought his life. On the
18th of April, 1861, mob of not less
than hundred men, or devils, came to his
lodgings with rope to hang him. He
stood here to-day in the nations Capitol,
to defend the Constitution from attacks
/ yayo0 To
sacrifice his life ITSELF
! Tue Senate then resumed the cOnsid-
Grafton ofthe bill for the purchase of coin
&c. Passed it.
Mr.. Wilson, of Mass, offered the follow
ing amendment to the Cnnfiscation bill to
strike out the first section aud insert the
personal property monies, stocks, credits,
and effects OF every kind, aud nature but
eorporeal andincorporeal Wheresoeyer stu
ated within the limits of us belonging to
all persons who heretofore held office or
commission either civil or military under
the United States Government, or any
State which Office or commission of the
required taking oath or affirmation to sup
port the Constitution of the United States,
and all persons who held or may hereaf-
ter hold any Office or commission, either
civil or military. under the so-called Con-
federate States or any state in rebellion
against the Constitution or laws of the
United States, aud who are or who may
hereafter be engaged in assisting, oPpos-
ing, or obstructing laws, officers or forces
of the Federal Government, or aiding, as
sisting those who are or shall be so en-
gagged, such persons being beyond jurisdtc-
ton of the United States, in any state or
district within the United States now in a
state Of instruction and rebellion against
authority thereof, so that in either case
ordinary process of law, cannot be served
on them, shall be confscsted to the United
States such confiscation to take immediate
effect on commission of the act punishable
by confiscation and right, title or claim Of
persons committing such act, together
with right or power to disposses or aleni-
ate personal property of any kind and des-
1 crinIinn shnll instantly CEASE and deter