Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-24

officer not below the grade of Major General
: who has distinguished himself by courage and
! skill &c, which was referred to the Committee
/ on Military Affairs
Mr.. Watson introduced a bill to amend the
CONSUMPTION act, and also declaring slavery
/ incompatible with free government and that
il is therefore prohibited in the United
States, and involuntary servitude is prohibit
ed save for the punishment of crimes, and
Congress shall have power to enforce this
provision by appropriate legislation, which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Fernando Wood submitted the follow
ing resolution:
Whereas, The President in his message delivered
to this House on the 9th inst, and in his recon-
mendation the people to assemble at their place
of worship to give thanks cd for the recent vic
tories claims that the Union has gained i'm
portant and substantial victories, and
Whersas, In view OF these triumphs il is no lon
ger beneath our dignity or dangerous to safety
to eYlnce that We generous, great and powerful
people, by offering the il Surgents an opportun-
ty to return to the Union without imposing upon
chem degrading destructive dtions therefore,
RcSOired, That the President be required ap-
point three commissioners, who shall be empow-
cred to open negotiations with the authorities at
Richmond, to the end that this bloody. destructive
and lnhuman war shall cease and the Union be re
stored upon terms Of equality and fraternity under
the constitution.
Mr.. Washburne moved to lay the resolu-
| ton on the table, which was carried bv yeas
SO, nays SO.
On motion of Mr. Crayens, a resolution
was adopted instructing the Committee on
Military Affairs to enquire into the expediency
Of providing for the payment of losses of
property taken or destroyed during Morgan's
raid in Ohio and Indiana.
| Mr.. Holmes offered resolution that this
is not a war of subjugation, but so soon as
the enemy lay down their arms it ought to
| cease which was laid over.
A resolution was offered, the Senate con-
curing, that when the two Houses adjourn
on Friday next, it be to Wednesday, the 9th
day Of january, which was passed by Il vote
of 80 to A.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dee. Is.
SENATE
Senator Wilson presented memorials asking
| for an increase of pay for Paymasters Clerks
| Hospital Stewards and Inspector of Customs
| in Boston.
Senator Lane, of Kansas, introduced 4 bill
. providing that all traffic in gold, silver and
p: foreign exchange for speculation, or the pur-
| chase of these by brokers by depositing less
! than the full amount of purchase, or on what
| is known ga Margin" is expressly pro
hibited. Section 2 prohibits the sale Of gold
| silver or foreign exchange by any banker OF
broker, directly or indirectly, at any place
except at the regular banking house or bro.
ker's office. Section 3 prohibits the sale Of
gold, silver or foreign exchange unless actually
delivered and paid for on delivery Section
4 provides as the penalty for violating any OF
| the provisions of the act, on conviction be
fore the United States District Court in the
District where the otlense is committed, a
sum not less than 500 or more than $4,000,
and imprisonment for not less than one OF
more than twelve months for each offense.
| Section gives the informer half the fine
Senator Foote introduced a bill granting
public lands to the Peoples Pacific R. R. and
| Telegraph line, by the northern route, and
asked that the bill be referred to a special
| committee
The motions of reference of the respective
subjects embraced in the Presidents Mcss2 q
| were then entertained, and the same were
referred to the appointed committees
| Senator Lane, of Indiana introduced Il bill
| to amend the act entitled can act to define
and punish conspiracies," passed July 31st,
| 1861 also the 24th section of the act for
| enrolling and calling out the national forces,
| passed March Sd, 1863.
Senator Hendricks introduced a bill to eX-
tend the time in which States may avail
themselves Of the grant of land for AgricuI-
tural and Industrial Colleges.
Senator Davis, of Kentucky, called up the
resolutions in relation to the exchange of
prisoners, arguing vchemently against the
policy of refusing an exchange to our suffer
ing white soldiers-thc languishing, starving,
and diseased white men-because the rebels
refuse to exchange the negro captives. He
denounced at length the policy Of the Admin
=, -,
negro is affected, characterizing its position
as monstrous, and referring to the present
era as the reign of Abraham First He aver
ed that his own loyalty was unspottcd, that
he hated with undying vigor the crime of
secession. 1t was evident, he said, that this
policy was only part Of that design to per-
petuate the party power of the Administra-
ton. He closed with an indignant and ear
nest protest against the refusal of the Admin
istratiOn to liberate thousands of starving and
dying white men for the sake of few ne
groes.
Senator Johnson deemed it perfectly clear
that humanity, which is the highest policy,
demanded the continuance of the exchange of
prisoners. He proceeded to combat the opin-
ions of the Senator from Kentucky, Davis
that these men should not be protected, and
corrected his views Of the power of the Pres
ident, by quoting from the Constitution rela-
tive to the executive and the legislative pow
crS.
Senator Davis replied, saying the preamble
| of the Constitution confers no power on the
| Government The Supreme Court had so in
terpreted it. He also claimed that the Presi-
dent had no right to suspend the writ of hoi'cas
corpus, which was a legislative and not an ex-
ecutive function. The powers to be cxercis-
I'D NV hn a,
and there are no powers vested in the Gov
ernmcnt which are not conferred by the Con-
stitution hence, the President cannot raise
troops or armies, nor has the power to organ
ize any measure to put down Instructions
| without the assent of Congress. 1t was the
| determination Of the party in power that the
war shall continue till the next Presidential
election. The war would have been brought
| to a close long ago. if the Administration had
singly and in good faith devoted itself to the
| principles announced in the Crittendcn reso-
luton, and if the commanders of the armies
had not been selected, not because of their
hostility to the rebels, but because of their
opposition to slavery.
Senator Hale, Of n. H, rose to Indignantly
deny that it was the desire of the gentlemen
on this floor to continue the war in order to
influence the next Presidential election. A
more atrocious allegation against honorable
men was never listened to from the begin
ming of time to the present moment. If the
allegations Of the Senator were true, he
would rather take into his own hand the hand
of man from the charnel-house rocking
with pestilence, than the hands of those
around him. If the allegation was true, then
every Senator was stamped with the foulest
treason and perjury. The destinies of the
country have been submitted to the gentle