Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-05
ABANDONED REBEL PROPERTY.

ABANDONED REBEL PROPERTY.
Mr. CHANDLER called up the bill for the collection of
abandoned property and prevention Of fraud n nsurrec
tionary di.trctshe pending question being the motion
to strike out the sections providing for ths purchase of
cotton, rice, sugar, and tobacco.
Mr. C. hoped these sections would not be stricken out
He said great quantities Of cotton had been collected by
the army at the Southwest but it mostly divided
among certain officers and the Treasury had not received
dollar for cotton collected by the army, except from Hill
ton Heal.
Mr. POWELL hoped the Senator would investigate this
matter before the committee the conduct of the
The motion was lost-yeas IA, nays 81
Mr. CLARK offered an amendment providing that any
officer private coming into possession Of any such absn
doned property shall turn the to the agent of
the Treasury; failing to do they shall be tried by court
martial. Adopted.
Mr. DAVIS offered an amendment that any officer plum
derng secretng any property or barerug selling cot
on rice tobacco in any way aid ng any else to do
this shall be dismissed from the service and be forever 10
capable of holding any office place in the service
Mr. POWELL moved 70 insert the word taking" after
the word plundering and the word money after the
word property He said he knew and had the evidence
in bis possession that officers in the West had taken large
Of money from persons whom they had arrested be-
fore they would release them.
Mr. HOWARD said that The laws and articles Of war
provided for these This amendment offered
simply for the purpose of making the charge against
tain officers; he not willing TO make any such charge
without any evidence
Mr. DAVIS said that ship load Of -four stopped at
the Baize by the brother of certain officer and the
made to sell his -four at ten dollars BARREL and then this
brother sold it ht sixiy.
Mr. WILSON, Of Massachusetts, said he was astonished
that the Senator from Kentucky persisted in making idle
charges against Gen Butler He read an extract from
letter from Gen Butler thanking Mr. Wilson for defend
ing him from illusions made in the Senate that he had
taken the plato and fuGiture of Mr. Alexander Rothers
for his own Mr. Rothers escaped from New Orleans
without taking the oah Of allegiance pass procured
by proessed Union man, who turned out to be scoun
dre Mr. Rothefs was one OF the rebel provost srshas
who destroyed such immense amount Of property on
he earriva If the He Gpn sd
taken possession Of Rohers plate and furniture and turn
ed them to Gen. Banks quartermaser. He was es-
pecay thankful for the offer OF committee Of investga
ton he ready a al times to account for his conduct
though he should not newspaper SANDERS If Mr.
Davis honest and just he could at any time be
satisfied by letter.
Mr. ". e4d he believed all the other charges against
Gen Butler would turn out as groundess this one
After further discussion the amendment rejected
Yeas -, nays %
Mr.. DoOLlTTLE renewed the amendment to strike
out the section authorizing the Treasury agent to purchase
property IN nsurrectOnary districts He did not wish to
have the Government become great factor in property
and be not wish especially to furnish means to the
rebels to buy munitions os war to carry on the fight
Mr.. HENDERSON hoped the sections would be strck-
en- out. The Government might well break up the
blockade 1T az thus to become immense trader and
furnish supplies His information that the rebels bad
received great aid and comfort from the contraband trade
on the Mississippi river The money furnished would be
used to help the rebels and If this policy is adopted the
war will be iptermiuabe.
Mr. COLLAMER contended that this provision Of the
bill would practically defeat the con6scaon act by buying
property which already conse ted lie also referred
TO former act Of Congress- authorizing the President 10
grant licenses to trade.
The motion was agreed to: yeas "a, nays Is
Mr.. CHANDLER sad the bill was now worthless. The
Senate had deliberately voted to continue the present
Of things that its Generals should be demorazed and
that vast amount OF property should be handed over TO
thieves to be divided among them. II bad voted two
three hundred millions of dollars out OF the Treasury and
he moved to lay the bill on the table
Rejected: yeas III, NAYS 90 aud the bill passed.
Mr. WILEY presCn nted the credentials Of Hon LEMuEL
J. BowDEN, elected Senator from Virginia for years
from the 4,h Of March, 1868.
THE ARMY.
Mr. WILSON, OF Massachusetts,, called up the bill to
promote the efficiency OF the engineer corps.