The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-01-07
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
sY THE E. = ". LINE.
Exclusively for the Journal.
CONGRESSIONAL.
xxxvII CoNGREss-FIRsr sEss ION
WASHINGTON. Jan.

XXXvII CONGRESS-FTRST SESSION
WASHINGTON, Jan. g.. (
SENATn.-Mr Nesmith presented the cree
dentials of Hon. Benjamin Stark who was
appointed Senator to fill the vacancy caus-
ed by the death of Senator Baker. Mr..
Fessenden moved that the administration of
the oath be suspended for the present, and
the credentials of Mr.. Stark, together with
certain papers which he held in his (Fessen-
den's hand, be referred to the Judiciary
Committee. The papers were well attested
by many of the most respectable portion of
the inhabitants of Portland. These papers
state that Mr.. Stark is an open and avowed
seceessionist, that he defends the cause Of
the South and had given utterance to state
ments at war with the government, such as
approving of the attack on Fort Sumter
and declaring that in case of war, he would
sell his property and go South and aght for
the rebels. r rzeT
He, (Fessenden, had examined the papers
with dsIiberation, and therefore, made the
motion. ---,t- ert.
Mr. Bright said there was no precedent
for such a motion. He never knew of a
case where Senator had been refused the
oath. He thought that the Senator had
better be sworn, and then left the Senate 20
take cognizance of the matter properly.
Never had baser falsehoods been offered
than those in regard to himself which had
been sent to the Senate here. He had in
his pocket copy of the New York Herald,
where it was stated that he Brightly was q
Brig. Gen. in the rebel army. --f,tr =.
Mr.. Fessenden said it was true there was
not precedent, but the state of the 5coun-
try was without precedent and we had now
to make precedents. These papers in ref
erence to Mr.. Stark, were well attested, by
his neighbors and townsmen. Al,
Mr.. Bayard thought the case had better
go over until tomorrow, that the Senate.
might have time to look into it.
Mr.. Trumbull said the case was not with
out precedent and referred to the case of
Mr.. Lanman of Connecticut, when the Gre
dentials were referred and also to the case
of Mr.. Griswold of Ohio, where the creden-
tails were also referred.
Mr.. Sumner said the case was uuprece-
dented The Senate is not examining the
loyalty Of certain members.
Mr.. Bayard said that there u ere men in
the Senate in 1912 who were opposed to the
war with Great Britain, and to the action
Of the Government.
Mr.. Bright said that he supposed he was
referred to by the Senator from Massa-
chusetts Mr.. SUMNER at any rate he was
in the category. He (Bright), was glad
the Senate was examining, and so far as
he was concerned, he was only sorry they
were so slow. He was anxious for a result.
Mr.. Lane thought that Sufficient for the
day is the evil thereof" When the other
cases come up, the Senate will be, ready to
vote. There could be no difference of opin-
ion in regard TO the present war, by any
patriot ~
The credentials of Mr. Stark and the pa-
pers handed in by Mr.. Fessenden were then
laid on the table for the present.
Wilson presented petition from citizens
of Pennsylvania, that John G. Fremont be
appointed Lieut.. General. Wilson also pre-
scented petition in reference to Gen. Nc
Kinstry, representing that he was confined
in prison closely, in violation of the rules
of war.
Mr. Richardson said he was opposed to
the whole resolution. 1t was a subject with
which they had nothing to do, and the
sooner they stopped these proceedings the
better for the country.
Crittenden thought the House had no
power under the Constitution to inqu into
matters purely military. The army is IN
der command of the President, who is re-
sponsibie for its operations. To interfere
with this, therefore, would be an attempt 10
extend our civil Jurisdiction. Even if we
had the right to make suca an enquiry, did
not public policy forbid it? Could war be
successfully conducted on such a principle2
If faults have been committed, they are to
be examined into and punished blythe mill
tary tribunals. Such an enquiry now,
would lead to future similar embarrass-
ments. He believed the whole country has
confidence in Mcclellan. We had better
weaken our army, than weaken confidence
in the Commander-in-Chief An army Of
hares led by lion, is more to be dreaded
than an army of lions, led by hare. -
Oonkling further explained the object
and purpose of his resolution, replying 70
Mr.. Crittenden.
Mr.. Vallandingham said be would at all
times maintain the subordination OF the
military. The British Parliament has exer-.
| cised the right of enquiry into conduct of
the Crimean war, but here the Secretary Of
War had only exercised a discretion allowed
to him by the House, and it was now too
late to complain of it. 4 s--
Lovejoy entered his protest against the
principle enuneiated by the gentleman from
Kentucky, and has always believed the
| military should be subordinate to the civil
powers. We are waiting in the fruitlesr
hope that the rebellion will put itself down.
The idea is, if we don't hurt anybody, the
rebels will return to their allegiance -
HOUSE.
Conkling, arising to question a privil-
| eye, called attention to the fact, that on the
| second day of the session, a resolution was
adopted in reference to the battle at Balls
Bluff. The resolution proposed no investi-
cation into any future operations whatever.
1t simply requested the Secretary of Var to
| inform the House whether any steps have
| been taken to ascertain who WAS response
BILE for the disaster. The resolution was
| handed to the Adjutant General who sub
mitted it to the COMMANDMENTS Chief. He
! (Conkling) was unwilling to believe that
| the CommandeT-in-Chiefh had read the reso-
luton, because he could not impute to him