Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-02
House ofpeleantes.

The Senate bill to amend the Dog law
was read a first and second time and COM
mitted. a1aa
Mr.. RUFFxER moved to take up the SEN
ate resolution fixing Monday tor adjourn
ment, sine die.
The motion was agreed to, aud Mr.
Rutfner moved TO Substitute Wednesday
Mr.. KITCHEN moved to substitute Friday,
but it not agreed to.
On Mr.. RuPPNER's amendment the vote
was taken by yeas aud nays, and it was
agreed to by yeas 20, nays ., aud the
resolution so amended was adopted.
Mr.. SMITH, from the Committee on
Courts of Justice, reported a bill exempt
ing certain counties from the Stay Law;
bill to regulate the election of officers
by the Council of the city of Wheeling
and bill to confer upon the President OF
the second branch of the Council of the
city of Wheeling the powers of Justice of
the Peace.
The vote was suspended and the bills
relating to the city Council were passed
SSotheir engrossment.
The bill comforting power uponthe Gov
ernor to arrest disloyal persons as hos
tages, was taken up on motion of Mr.
Patrick.
Mr.:RuFFNER objected:to the phraseolo.
gy of the bill. He thought it was too
broad in its language, in authorizing the
Governor to arrest persons sympGthisiug
with the rebellion He thought such lat
itude would lead to improper arrests. 1t
should he confined to persons guilty of
overt acts.
Mr.. PATIcK thought the language was
not as broad as the raids made every few
days by the rebel brigands into the differ
ent counties. They must fight the devil
with fire. 1t was harsh, he knew, but if
loyal citizens could not be protected bv
modes consistent with the character OF
civilized people, he was prepared to re-
sort to uncivilized, barbarous, or savage
modes, if that was the only way it CouII
be done.
Mr.. RUFFNER moved to strike out "per-
sons sympathizing with the rebellion" and
substitute "persons of known disloyal SEN
timeuts."
Mr.. DAVIS moved still further to amend
by adding "Within the Confederate lines. y
Mr. PATRICK said that would make the
bill perfect nullity.
MT. FARHswORTH said the effect of it was
to recognize come legal and lawful lice
belonging to the rebels, and to forbid ar
resting the traitors amongst US. He never
would acknowledge such line. The whole
nation was ours; aud he regarded the trai.
tors within our own lines more dangerous
than those in the rebel camps. He was
for arrestiug every rebel let him be found
where he might. He said there was no dan
ger that the Government would arrest a
loyal man for the redemption OF LOYAL
man. 1t was our policy to arrest such men
as are known to be disloyal for it was only
tor such that the rebels would give up our
citizens.
Mr. PARsoNs said the amendment was
the most extraordinary thing that ever
came before this House. Why, the SYM.
around US are the very men most
TO blame. They point out the Union men
when the guerrillas come in. He was sure
the gentleman from Harrison never was ex-
posed to any danger from these guerrillas
or be would not makv such motion.
Mr.. DAVIS said he had no disposition to
screen from just punishment any party who
may be guilty OF committing these depre.
daIons. he abhorred the practices OF
these guerrillas as much as any one; but
he considered similar practices on the part
OF the Federal army justAs wrong. Here
GREETED that gentlemen should let their pre-.
JUDGES and passions so mislead their judg-
ments as to give their endorsement TO a
measure which he conceived to be frauEht
with immense evil.
Mr. DAVIS continued to speak at length
against making arrests for opinions sake.
No mans liberty was safe when such laws
as this were in force. He was willing for