Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-05

Agreed t0--yeas ~ nays Ia
| Mr. ANTHONY moved amendment TO exempt per-
sons from the provisions OF the enrolling bill account OF
religious scrupes He said intended TO apply par
tculary to the Society OF Friends He thought wrong
10 compel them do that which they believed God had
forbidden No class of persons had contributed more
cheeruy to the charities aud necessities of the war; and
many of the young men had not followed 10 the footsteps
of their fathers but had enlisted in the He had
been educated among these people, and though he might
continued in their faith he would bear tribute to
their worth and high character.
Mr.. RICHARDSON opposed the amendment, on the
ground that these people should take their chances with
all other citizens He thou hit the provisions Of the bill
would be less heavy on them than on many others
Mr.. LANE, of Kansas thought it unWise to make dis
tiuction in favor OF any sect or church.
Mr.. COWAN said, although he represented perhaps
larger class of these than any one yet no should
oppose the amendment he thought it would be unfair.
The Constitution of Pennsylvania did not exempt them
from the operation of it's military laws.
The TI9 amendment was rtjectedIyess H. nays -
authorizing the President to commission certain officers
He said not worth any thing unless intended
to commission negroes in the army
MIR WILSON, of Massachusetts,, said it not intend
ed 10 commission negroes 1t proposed to commission
white for certain regiments
Mr.. RICHARDSON opposed to using the negroes
for any thing but labor They would be good for nothing
to fight and would lose every battle.
Mr. LANE, of Kansas, said there regiment of ne
groes in his State At first there prejudice against
them but by their manly bearing and dcipne they had
dsarmed prejudice They had been under fire and fought
bravey Senators would yet acknowledge the bravery
| and fighting qualities of the negro.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. TRUMBULL offered amendment to repeal so
much of the enrolling act allows exemptions from the
draft on the payment Of sum OF money to he fixed blythe
Secretary of War, not to exceed $500
After deba'e the question was put and no quorum OF
the Senate voted
Mr.. POWELL moved to adjourn. Rejected-yeas A,
nays 30-still no quorum.
Mr. GRIMES moved that the Sergeant Arms request
the att ndance of absent members. agreed to-
Aquorum being obtained the amendment was rejected
yeas TO- nays 25.
Mr. DAVIS offered an amendment that negro, free
slave shall be enrolled in the military marine, naval
service OF the United States Rerced-yeas IL, 23
Mr. POWELL offered an amendment as pr0vso, that
person Of African descent shall be commissioned
officer in the service of the United States. Adopted:
THE INDEMNITY BILL.
Mr.. TRUMBULL called up the report of the commi tee
of conference the indemn6cation bill at quarter to
Mr. WALL addressed the Senate at length. He con-
sidered this bill most dangerous to the liberties of the
people 1t, with the conscrpton BILL will give the Pres
dent than dctaoria powers and will open the iron
doors OF the bsstes of the country to immure innocent
men 1t the embodiment of the peslienal heresy
that the power Of suspendng the writ of habeas corpus
was vested in the Executive The last hope Of liberty will
be gone if this bill is passed. and all the old landmarks OF
the Constitution will disappear one by one. During the
last years every right Of the citizen had been violated
imprisoned without and refused trial. and
incarceraed for months Every constitutional outpost
driven in, and every personal guarantee of the citizen
brushed away and all this by Government protesting
be fighting for the Union and the Constitution and the
forcemen of the laws. And this conduct appauded
by lawyers, and divines and conracthunng renegade
Democrats He himself had been in the grasp of this ar
brary power and imprisoned without cause aud released
and to this day be had been able to learn any
He remembered what shudder went all the civilized
world when the infamous King Bomba imprisoned few
young the dungeons of Napes aud though the dun
geons filed the vengeance OF outraged people
vlndicate their rights and to day Naples is redeemed
and the Bourbon family driven into exile. Vengeance is
certain later overtake the oppressor and the
Nemesis Of rerbuton, with flaming sword follows swiftly
after the tyran The bill proposes to shelter the Pres-
dent and his subordnes from the consequences of their
unlawful acts and to egaZ llegaty. lie referred to
the history of the habeas corpus act in England and to the
debates the subject in this country aud claimed that
the right to suspend this writ exclusively legislative
act and granted intended to be granted to the
| Executive.
He replied at some length to the speech made by Mr.
FIELD in favor of the of this power by the Exc
cutve whose arguments be said the those
made by Charles of England in favor of his divine right
TO suspend this writ and quoted at considerable length
from the debates in tbs English Parliament at that time
When contrasts the sentiments of the of the
Revolutionary with the thoughtless indifference and
wreched subervency Of the who profess to be states
and patriots now, he may wei stand aghast at the
fearful degeneracy of the times 1t libel on the wis
dom and patriotism of fathers to suppose that the
Executive has any such power as to suspend this writ
| At twelve O'Clock Mr.. SALISBURY moved to adjourn.
| ReJected-yeas 5, nays 81
Mr. POWELL comm need speaking against the bill
Mr.. DOOLIrTLE asked if the Senator admitted there
any power to suspend the writ of hsbeas corpus at
| any time
| Mr.. POWELL said he did admit that.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE asked if there was rebellion in the
country.
| Mr.. POWELL said there very formidable
Mr.. DOOLITTLE asked If it endangeriug the pub
| lie safety.
Mr.. POWELL thought it was and the action of the
Senator's party also endangered the public safety
Mr.. DOOLlTTLE asked if the Senator could conceive
of rebellion likely to endanger the public safety and
| to require the suspension Of this writ.
Mr.. POWELL sad certainly be could he thought
/
the Government and at the North against the Const.
| tuition.
At twenty minutes to Mr. RICHARDSON moved
| to adjourn. kejected-yeas 5, nays 30
Mr. POWELL resumed, conteDding at length that the
bill unconstitutional, and Of itself admitted that the
| President had violated the Constitution
Mr. COWAN said it the duty of the citizen to obey
the law expressed by the constituted authorities We
| now at war; and if the declared by the
| prosecution and nobody should oppose the war. In
time like this should instead of daily attempting to
pose the faults Of the Executive be willing to throw the
mantle of charity his Our duty in his judg
ment is to make and to keep people hopeful aud
united in the contest that heart may fail in the srug
ge He had respect for the who were attempt
ing to overthrow this Cove rnment for their unanlmy
He could conceive the rebel Senate with the fate Of
the nation in their hands, occupying their time at hapat
one in the morning with flibustering.
Mr.. WALL said this not legislation against rebels,
bnt against our people Of the North.
MIR. COWAN regretted the state Of things that inside 1T
necessary He thought in time like this should unite
instead Of trying to the seeds Of disseDson ard he
thought would get any thanks credit for this OPP
position, down below
Mr.. RICE. (In his seat.) Not above.