Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-02-18
THIRTY-SEvENTH CONGRESS-
Third Session.

| WASHINGTON, Feb 16.
| EVENING SESSION.
| SENATE. Mr.. Chandler called up bill 10
the relief of the crew of the ship Nightingale
| Passed.
The Senate proceeded to the consid GRAFTON o
the bill for enrolling and calling ont the ma.
tional forces. The pending amendment of Mr.
Collamer was adopted.
Mr.. Clark moved an amendment, which wal
adopted, allowing the person drafted to be OK
empted by procuring substitute or paying
sum OF money not exceeding $500, to be fxet
by the Secretary Of War; but failing to appear
or procure substitute or pay the required sum
to be arrested and tried by court-martial.
| Mr.. Wilson OF Massachusetts moved al
amendment, which wac adopted, to make tn,
fret class include those between the ages o
twenty and thirty FIVE, instead of eighteen an,
thirty FIVE.
Mr.. Sumner moved an amendment that al
ministers be exempt.
After discussion, the amendment was reject
cd, and the bill reported to the Senate. Tn,
question required on agreeing to the amend
ment exomptng Governors and judiciary o.
States.
Mr.. Trumbull favored the amendment.
Mr.. Dixon thought it highly important thai
all should be included, as it would tend to ALA,
any dissatisfaction that might arise.
Mr.. Rice said if the bill didn't EXEMPT those
exempted by Slate constitutions, then there
would be revolution. [SeverRl voices-"Oh
no, no."
Mr.. McDougal said If there was to be a rev.
olution in the North, let ii come now He did
not believe there would be any such revolution
Mr. Rice wanted Senators not to touch the
constitution of any State.
The amendment was not concurred in-l7 to
I9
The amendment to exempt members of Con.
gress was rejected-l6 to 90.
Mr.. McDOugal offered an amendment, which
was adopted, including citizens of foreign birth
who may have declared their intention to be
come citizens, In the provisions of the bill.
Mr. King renewed the amendment to exempt
Governors of States, which was adopted. Al
IL o'clock the bill passed the Senate.
WAsBrNeToN, Feb. II.
SENATE -Messrs.. Foote, Davis, Collamer
and Howe presented petitions for camp hos
pitsl and ambulance corps
MIR. King presented petition asking for
equal privileges to all telegraph companies.
MIR. Collamer, from the Postoffice commit
tee, reported joint resolution authorizing the
collection Of Foreign postage in coin.
Mr.. Wilson of Massachusetts, from the Mil
itary committe, reported back the bill reorgan-
izing the engineer corps.
Mr.. Noel, from the same committee, report.
ed adversely on the bill to authorize contracts
to be made with those States that have ad,
vanced to soldiers.
Mr. Trumbull called up the bill to prevent
agents of the Government, as well as members
OF Congress and officers of the Government,
from taking any consideration for procuring
place, Office or contract. Passed.
Mr.. Howard called up the bill dividing Mich
gan into two judicial districts, and regulating
the time Of holding courts.
& Mr.. TrumbuH opposed the bill.
After discussion, the bill was postponed.
Mr.. Fessenden, from the committee on FL
nance, reported back the fortifcation bill with
out amendment.
Mr.. Grimes called up the bill authorizing
letters Of marque and reprisal. He briefly
urged the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Sumner thought the bill would bring
new and difficult embarrassments upon the ma
ton. This was bill to establish privateers,
whose only reward was booty as incentive to
enterprise. IT more vessels were needed he
would have them hired aud placed under the
control of the government, and not send out
nothing but danger of complication with great
powers who had solemnly declared against this
system Of privateeriDg. This nation had al
ways declined to pass any general law on this
subject, having always required special act
of Congress specifying limited time. He
quoted from q number of authorities against
the principle of privateeriDg, and coutended
that there was nothing to be obtained by this
bill that could not be better obtained in another
way. He would not cay that government
should not resort to this policy, but this was no
time to adopt it,
Mr.. McDougal could see no ground for the
objection of the Senator from Mass, unless on
the hypothesis that he belonged to the peace
establishment. He could see no reason why,
In time of war, our most effective force on sea
should not be used against the enemy. Our
commerce to-day was In danger from private
armed vessels Of the rebels. They had been
allowed by other nations to issue letters Of
marque and grant commissions entltling them
to enter foreign ports, and yet we stand ques
tioniDg whether we should grant power to pri-
vate vessels to seize those vessels. If letters
of marque had been granted at the commence
ment Of the war, there would have been 20
running of blookades. He especially wanted
the bill to pass because he believed before Con-
gre69 met again We enould De az war with O
foreign power, and need all our force on sea
and land.
Mr.. Collamer said one great objection to
the system was, that It seemed to be remnant
of comparatively ancient barbarism, to send
out vessels to take private property on the SEQ.
II was agreed now by the ordinary laws of war,
that private property Of an enemy on land was
not subject to capture.
Mr.. Dixon thought there was no necessity for
a measure of this kind We had no war with
q foreign country, and the rebels had no COM
merce. 1t was not necessary to abandon right
of this kind. But should we in time of peace
with ell foreign countries pass a meature of
this kind, he thougnt it would only be attended
with evil consequences. He was not willing
without any necessity to resort to this policy,
which was only kind of legalizsd piracy, and
which might be attended with unpleasant CON-
plications with foreign powers.
Mr.. Davis said the rebels only had few
fast vessels, but no commerce. II these yes.
sells were captured 1t would be an end Of the
matter. He could see no necessity for such a
measure at this time. t.F Ff3tfa
After further discussion substitute wsh Of
In