Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-16
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELEGRA
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
xxxvIm Congrcss-Tlrst Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1868.
SENATE.

| tive to new railway line between Washing
| ton and New York
| Mr.. LANE Of Kansas introduced, on leave,
bill providing that all traffic in gold, silver,
| and foreign exchange, for speculative pur-
! poses, or the purchase through broker by
depUsiting less than the full amount Of the
purchase on what is known as Il margin. is
expressly prohibited. 1t prohibits the sale Of
gold, silver, or foreign exchange by any
banker or broker. directly or indirectly, at
any place except at the regular banking house
or brokers office, and the sale of gold, silver,
or foreign exchange, unless actually delivered
| and paid for on delivery. The penalty for
violating any Of the provisions of the act, is
fine not less than one or more than ten
thousand dollars and Imprisonment for not less
than on or more than twelve months for each
oflensc. Informant to have one-half the fine
Mr.. FooTE introduced a bill granting pub
liz lands to the Peoples Pacific railroad and
telegraph line by the northern route, and ask
ed that the bill be referred to special COM
mittee.
Mr.. SUMNER introduced a resolution for
the appointment of commissioners to revise
and codify the statutes Of the United States.
| Laid over.
On motionof Mr.. HALE the following reso-
luton was adopted;-
Resolved, that the committee on naval affairs be
instructed 10 inquire into the proprety and expedi-
| ency ofproyiding by law that appointments in the
| naval service commonly called acting appoint
ments, be submitted to the senate for consideration
in all cases when similar appointments in the regu.
lar army are required to he submitted to the senate
Mr.. ANTHONY submitted the following reso-
luton, which was referred to the committee On
military affairs -
Resolved, that the thanks OF congress be and they
| hereby are presented to Mai Gen Ambrose L Burn.
side, and through him TO the and wi
have fought under his command, for their gallantry
| good conduct and soldier-like endurance.
Motions of reference of the respective sub
| jects embraced in president Lincolns message
were then entertained, and the same were re-
terred to appropriate committees.
Mr.. LANE of Indiana introduced bill to
amend the act entitled ian act to define and
punish conspiracies," passed July Slst, 1861
also the 24th section Of the act for enrolling
and calling out the national forces, passed
| March 3D., 1868.
| Mr.. HENDRICKS introduced bill to extend
time which states may avail themselves of the
grant of land for agricultural and industrial
colleges.
Mr.. DAVIS called up the resolutions in re-
latiOn 10 the exchange of prisoners, arguing
vehemently against the policy of refusing to
exchange our suffering white soldiers, the
languishing, starvin and disease white men
because the rebels refuse to exchange the ne
gro captlyes. lie denounced at length the
policy of the administration, upon the several
points in which the negro is affected, character
izlng its position at monStrous, and referring
to the present era as the reign of Abraham
the first. He averred that his own loyalty
was unspotted. That he hated the crime of
secession, and that he should ever in seeking
to avoid the scylla of the rebellion, use
constant vigilance not to fall into the chary-
bdiS of abOlItOnism. 1t was evident at
this policy was only part of that disagreed
TO perpetuate the party power of the admins
tration. He closed with an indignant and
earnest protest against the refusal of the ad.
mnistratiOn to liberate thousands of starving,
dying white men for the sake of Il few ne
groes.
Mr.. JOHNSON deemed it perfectly clear
that humanity, which is the highest policy,
demanded the continuance of the exchange
of prisoners. As the negroes in the hanls Of
the rebels were but few in number, he would
suggest that an equal number of confederate
prisoners should be held as hostages for col
ored soldiers. lie proceeded to combat the
opinion OF the senator from Kentucky (Davis)
that these men should not be protected, and
corrected his views of the power of the pres
ldent by quoting from The constitution rela-
tive 10 the executive and legislative powers.
Even supp0sing there was no army or navy
existing to put down the rebellion, it
would still be the duty of the president
to execute the laws and provide therefor
the means. If a foreign foe has put lis
foot upon these shores has not the presi-
dent the right to call around all the facil-
tiles which the power of the government can
supply? He cannot force men into the ranks,
but lie can call for volunteers. Has not con-
tl,..Y H..
laton to the defense of the country? Though
the negroes are called property for purposes
of taxation, they are still persons. 1t is not
essential that they should be citizens to be
called upon. If they are not citizens they are
men. But being property, they must be paid
for II thus called out in pursuance of the
power given the president In conclusion, he
said the constitution will be returned to us in
its original excellence, and the men who have
violated it will he held to account, but until
that day comes, we should with one heart and
voice unite in supporting the whole moral and
physical power of the government putting
an end now and forever to an ambitious, I'M
provoked and reasonable attempt to destroy
government, the best ever vouchsafed man,
and by destroying it, constitutional liberty it.
self would be destroyed.
Mr.. DAVIS, in the course of his reply, said
OF habeas corpus, which was a Legislative, not
an executive function. He altogether dis
scented from the positions and principles
sumed by the senator from Maryland All
the powers to be exercised are conferred by
the constitution alone, and there are no pow
ers vested in the government, or any of Its
departments, which are not conferred by the
constitution. Hence the president cannot
raise troops or armies, nor has he the power
to organize any measure to put down inSur-
rectiOn without the assent of congress. The
positions Of the senator from Maryland are
contrary to the decisions of the supreme court,
aud his doctrines heretical and dangerous.
Just in proportion as the principles of the
constitution are dsregarded the government
is weakened and the rebellion strengthened
executive had been governed by principles
heretofore announced as the true intent of
the war the rebellion would long ago have
been put down, and the only way to regain
what has been lost is to return to the proper
basis on which to prosecute the war. 1t was
the determination of the party in power that
the war shall continue until the next president
tial election. The war would have been
brought to close long ago if the administers
ton had singy and in good faith devoted it:
self to the principles announced in the Crit
tenden resolution, and if the commanders of
the armies had not been selected, not because
OF their hostility to rebels but because of
their opposition to slavery.
Mr.. HALE of New Hampshire said lie rose
to Indignantly deny that it was the desire of
gentlemen on this floor to continue the war
N inf Tho Il -,