Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-18
THE PIRATE ALABAMA.
LATER FROM VICKSBURG.
CAPTURE OF A REBEL MAIL.
REBEL AFFAIRS IN ARKANSAS.
Hlndman's Troops Deserving
and Freezing.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Il.

Collamer, from the Postoffice Committee,
reported joint resolution authorizing the
collection Of foreign postage in coin.
Wilson, of Massachusetts,, from the Mil
itary Committee, reported back the bill re-
organizing an Engineer Corps. He, from
the same Committee, reported adversely
on the bill to authorize contracts to Re
made with those States that have advanced
pay to soldiers,
Mr.. Trumbull called up the bill to pre-
vent agents of the Government, as well as
members Of Congress and officers Of the
Government from procuring places, offices,
contracts. Passed.
Mr.. Howard called up the bill for divid-
ing Michigan into two Judicial districts
and regulating the time for holding courts.
Mr. Trumbul opposed the bill, and after
some discussion the bill was postponed.
Mr.. Fessendsn, from Committee on
Finance, reported back the fertilization
bill without the amendment.
Mr.. Grimes called up q 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 nation. This was a bill to establish
priVateers, whose only reward was booty,
as an incentive to enterprise If more
vessels were needed, he would have them
hired and placed under contract Of the
Government, and not send out these self
regulating cruisers.
He could see nothing but danger of COM
| plicatiOn with the great powers who had
solemnly declared against this system of
privateering. This nation had always de-
elined 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 privateering, and
contended that there was nothing TO be
obtained by this bill that could not be bet
ter obtained in another way.
He would not say that Government
should now resort to this policy, but this
was no time to adopt it.
Mr.. MeDougall could see no ground for
the objection of the Senator from Massa-
chusetts, 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 should not be used
against the enemy.
Our commerce to-day was in danger
/
They had been allowed by other nations to
issue letters of marque and grant commits
sions entitling them to enter foreign ports,
and yet we stood questioning whether we
should grant power to private vessels to
seize those vessels. If letters Of maruue
had been granted at the commencement Of
the war, there would have been no running
Of the blockade. He especially wanted
the bill to pass because he believed before
Congress met again we should be at war
with foreign power and need all our
force on sea and land.
Mr.. Collamer said that one great obiec-
ton to the system was that it seemed to be
a remnant of comparatively ancient bar
barism to send out vessels to take private
property on the sea. It was agreed by or
binary laws of war that private property
of an enemy on land was not subject to
capture.
Mr.. Dixon thought there was no neces-
sity for a measure Of this kind. We
had no war with a foreign country and
the rebels had no commerce. 1t was not
necessary to abandon right of this kind
But should we, in a time ofpeaee with all
foreign countries, pass q measure Of this
kind
He thought At would only be attended
with evil consequences. He was not will
ling, without any necessity, to resort to
this policy, which was only q kind Of le-
galized piracy, and which might be attend
ed with unpleasant complications with
foreign powers.
Mr.. Davis said that the rebels had only
few fast vessels, but no commerce If
these vessels were captured, it would be
an end to the matter. He could see no ne
cessity for such measure at this time.
After further discussion a substitute
was offered by Mr.. Grimes, authorizing
the President in all foreign and domestic
wars to issue letters of marque and make
all needful regulations. Adopted
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment,
which was adopted, limiting the authority
conferred by the act to three years.
Mr.. Sumner offered an amendment con-
fning the operation of the bill to the sup
preston of the rebellion. He had argued
that we should not put anything in the
bill like q menace. When we were en-
gagged in a foreign war, there would be
time enough to meet that question.
Mr.. McDougaI asked the Chairman Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations, if we
were not now threatened with foreign
complications2
Sumner said that he had no information
that was not open to the Senate.
McDougal believed that before the meet
ing of another Congress we should be in
volved in foreign war and he wanted to
have the country prepared.
The amendment was rejeoted-yeas, l3
nays, p.
Sumner offered an amendment as a sub
stitute, reviewing the Acts of 1872 and
1918, concerning letters Of marque, and
applying them to that portion Of the uni
ted States now in insurrection.
HOUSE.
After considerable discussion the House
adopted the resolutions Of the Committee
on Elections, declaring that Messrs. Elan
ders and Hahn were entitled to seats by q
vote of 90 against A, and Mr.. Hahn was
sworn in. Mr.. Flanders was not present.
The case Of Lewis Mckenzie was taken
up, he claiming an election from Virginia
Mr.. Dawes explained that the election
was without authority Of law, and that
loyal voters had no opportunity 10 vote.
Mr.. Mckenzie advocated his claims,
when the question was taken on the resO-
luton that he was not entitled to the seat
Adopted.
The House proceeded to the consideration
Of the Senate's amendments to the bill t
provide ways and means for the support o
the Government.
mo adjournment Of the House or Sen
ate received up to A. n.
FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
? HEADQUARTERS ARMY PoTOMAo, /
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