Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-17
Night Dispatches.
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, January g.
SENATE.-A communication was received
from the Secretary of War in answer to the reso-
luton of Mr.. Powell directing an answer to the
resolution passed at the last session in regard TO
contracts, &c.
The answer states that the first resolution was
received at the Department just after the battle
of July Dist, aud that since then he has not had
sufficient clerical force to properly answer the
resolution The answer also states, 81 myself
have not made a single contract for any purpose
whatever. The heads of bureaus have made all
the contracts
The subject was referred.
Mr. King presented petition that the funds of
convicted contractors be awarded to soldiers and
also to abolish all fees and perquisites of officers
Referred
Mr. Wilson introduced a bill to amend certain
articles ofwar.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution that Ward III La
mon, United States Marshal for the District of
Columbia. by his recent order communicated to
the Senate excluding the members of the Senate
from the Jail without pass from him, has been
guilty OF breach of the privilege of the Senate
and of contempt of the rghtfuI authority of this
body, and that the Secretary of the Senate he d
rected to communicate copy of this resolution to
the President
On motion of Mr. Wilson, the bill in relation
TO the arrest of persons claimed held service
or labor by officers in the military or naval ser
vice of the United States was taken up.
The bill provides that any officer srresting any
person hold service or labor shall be discharged
from the service.
Mr.. Collamer offered an amendment, or as a
substitute that no officer of the army navy,
militia volunteers shall assume to exercise any
authority to arrest, detain, hold or control any
person held 70 service. and that officer of
tending be dismissed from the service. Agreed TO.
Mr.. Salisbury offered the following amend
ment as new section
Nor shall any soldier or officer, under like
penalty, in any way entice. decoy or retain any
such person from his or her master or owner.
Mr. Salisbury said that he thought the officers
or soldiers of the United States ought to have
nothing to do with the question at all either
way.
Mr.. Rice moved to add after the words master
or owner the words who may be loyal citizen Of
the United States. Agreed to.
Mr. Wilson opposed the amendment. He was
against any kind of justification of slavery What
he wanted was to prevent officers of the army
from returning slaves Some officers had already
degraded the service in this way and God willing
he. If he had the power. meant to prevent their
confirmation by the Senate.
The contested seat of Kansas was taken up
The question being the motion of Mr.. Clark 70
strike out the word not in the resolution of the
Committee on the Judiciary, that Mr.. Lane was
not entitled 20 his seat
Mr. Lane said be had refused 70 accept the
Office OH the 22d of July. he referred 10 the
contest in Kansas with Mr. Stanton for the Sen
atorship, and said that four days after he wa:
elected the Governor whom he had overthrow
and lis contestant whom he had beaten declaret
the seat vacant.
Mr.. Bright thought the question barely lega
one. The President having appointed him TO ar
Office not created The Senator from Kansas
could not accept il and therefore did not vacat
his seat in the Senate
The discussion was continued by Messrs Lane
Stanton, Clark and Foster
vote Was taken on Mr. Clarks motion 4
strike out the word not