Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-22
Capture of a Fort and Stores
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS,
The Payment of Army and Navy,
CONGRESSIONAL.

wAsHuOrOx, Jan. q.
SENATE.
Ten Eyek presented the credentials of Hon
James W. Wall, elected Senator from New Jer
sey.
Wilson presented the credentials of Hon
Chas Sumner, reelected from Massachusetts
for six years.
Anthony, from the Committee on Printing, re-
ported resolution to provide for printing tht
eighth census.
The bill for the organization Of the Court o
Claims was taken up, the question being on the
motion Of Mr.. Foster to lay the bill on the
table, was rejected by yeas Is, nays 8. The ques-
ton then reeurred on Grimes motion to insert
his substitute, repeating the original act estab-
hshmg the Court Of Claims, which was rejected
Hale conten led that if this bill passed it would
/ open the way for thousands Of claims He pro-
posed II he could get the opportunity TO offer an
| amendment, that no money should be drawn
i from the Treasury judi gments nom the Court
until all the bills arising from the war we're set
| tied. This law will open the doors of the Treas
ury to vast horde Of contractors and private
i claimants who seem TO have the idea that the
Treasury IS their private property and law open
/ ing the Treasury is like law Of the Medes and
Persians, never TO be repealed.
The discussion was continued at length BY
Sherman, Bayard, Doolittle and Trumbuil
Wilson said in reply to remark Of the Senator
from New Hampshire, that Congress was in no
way responsible for the non-Dayment Of the
soldiers, and he wanted the country and the
army to understand this. Congress had given
the secretary OF the treasury power to sell the
bonds of the Government, and had passed law
that the soldiers should be paid every two
months, but the bonds we're not sold for some
cause. The Government had asked for no spe-
cial legislation, and professed to be preparing
way to pay the army; yet the army was not
paid and q great many complaints are being
made. On the tEentieth of December the House
Of Representatives passed resolution for the
prompt payment Of the army and navy, and the
Finance Committee of the Senate amended Il,
making an appropriation Of S50i0Oo,0o0 and the
House appropriated slOO, 900, and now from
the public press Of the country, and he was sorry
70 say, from the executive branch Of the govern
ment, the idea has gone forth that Congress has
not provided the means to pay the army, and has
not done its duty.
There never was an hour when the Govern
ment did not have full authority from Congress
to provide means to pay the army. He (Wnsonl
DID not choose to take the responsibility for the
non payment Of the soldiers, and disowned it
for the Senate and House. We were Obliged last
Summer and Autumn to raise a large body of
troops and agreed to pay S25 bounty, and expe-
diuons were sent away and had to be paid in ad-
vance. This rule required that the soldiers
should be paid every two months, and the Gov
eminent professed to be providing the means to
pay the army, yet the payments for September
and October were not made.
He supposed the large drafts on the Treasury
had exhausted the funds. The Secretary had
sent no request for additional means, but had
sent great financial scheme which would take
months to carry into execution. But Congress,
without waiting for any official request, prompt
ly passed en- act to provide for the payment of
the soldiers. The trouble had arisen mainly
from the peculiar circumstances of the case
After the adjournment of Congress, the Presi-
dent found it necessary to call out 800 900 new
troops, giving large sums in bounty, and large
expeditions were sent to a distance, and these
men had to be paid.
The trouble seemed to be that those were not
paid first who had waited longest.
Hale offered an amendment that no money
shall be paid out of the Treasury under judg-
ment Of the Court of Claims until after the ap-
propr alton shall be estimated for by the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury. Adopted.
Foster moved to strike out the provision for
two additional Judges. Agreed to. Yeas 21
nays II.
fhe bill then passed by a vote Of . against Is.
HoUsz.
The House yesterday passed the resolution
declaring Mr.. Vandever not entitled to his seat,
sion.
Mr. Maynard had raised a point that such ac-
ton on the part Of the House being in the char
acter ofan expulsion, required, under the con-
sttution, vote Of tWO-thirds.
The Speaker oTerruled the point, from which
decision Mr.. Maynard appealed.
Mr. Cox to-day moved to lay the appeal on the
table Agreed to, 50 against sc.
Mr.. Washburne moved to reconsider the vote
by which the resolution was passed.
"a.
After long arguments pro and con, from several
members, the resolution was postponed to the
S4 " AnaACn luALi 20 dHhllSL %
The House concurred in all the Senate amend
ments to the Military Academy bill and then
went into Committee Of the Whole for general
debate.
Mr.. Harding OF Kentucky said the Presidents
emancipation proclamation had united the South,
as he had predicted, as one man, and paralyzed
the efforts Of loyal men so as to leave little hope
ofthe restoration Of the Union. He spoke about
arbitrary arrests, and said any man in the Exec
utive Department who usurped power under the
miserable and detestable subterfuge of military
necessity, deserves TO be called tyFant He had
no hope Of reunion under the present radical
policy.
The Democratic party Of the North and South
would crush out both abolitonists and secession
lists and snatch the Government from ruin.
Wilson read the Crttenden resolutions, here
tofore adopted by the House, that the present de-
plorable condition Of the country was caused by
the disunionists Of the South For this the gem
tlemsn from Kentucky voted, but now the same
gentleman declares it was brought about by the
Rbolitionists. He (Wilson) accepted the declara-
ton as expressing the gentlemen under his oath,
while he repudiated the sentiment of the speech.
The Committee rese and the House adjourned.